Posts for tonight… I always like to do our kids birthdays is separate post… And today is our son Max’s 34th birthday. What a wonderful human being. Got to talk to him on our way back from the road to Hana drive today…

The road to Hana is a much hyped to do here in Maui… But I have to tell you… It’s not what it used to be. Dianne and I did it 36 years ago on her honeymoon and it was quite an adventure… He drove around the island in unimproved roads and got to see a lot of unspoiled beauty. What it is now is like a carnival ride. There are so many people going down there that  everything you want to see is either at or near capacity… Natural beauty is still there… But you can only imagine what this is doing to the locals.… their roads, their stores, they’re swimming holes are packed with people from out of town.… it’s quite a bit like what’s happening in our town in Vermont…. Like there I’m glad that people get to see this natural beauty… I just wish we could figure out a way of doing it in a more respectful and less overwhelming way like

All that said… The nearly 12 hour round-trip did have its pleasures. We got to see a cool Arboretum, got some very yummy vegan ice cream had a great 4 mile hike to see some waterfalls… But you had to see them from a distance.… And had some really nice pokey on the way back as well as some great views. All in all it was a great day… But  I would not recommend this trip to anyone until they can make it more respectful to the land and to  the local people

thanks to Gabe for doing all the driving on this swervy and packed road.

nite all, nite sam

-me

Today is our wonderful son maxes 34th birthday!… He is such an amazing human being. Clever, creative and kind….   I love seeing  what a great man he’s become and how much fu,   grace and craziness he spreads as he  moves through  the world. I am so proud to be his father.  Happy birthday Mutz . I love you so much !

Niote all, nite sam

-me

Diane and I woke early and took a beautiful almost  4 mile walk on the beach ..  wonderful way to start the day.  the day was open. We all headed down to Makenna beach  which is a little south from here.. beautiful and not too crowded.. it’s below all the hotels.. so it backed up to beautiful forest and cliffs..

.. Sammantha, who has been a great source of “what to do next” ,… suggested the Waihe’e Ridge Trail. .. we stopped for snacks including gummy sushi !

Waihe’e Ridge Trail. . turned out to be an amazing walk up in the mountains.. .  cool and cloudy .

The trail closed at seven so we had to really hustle to avoid being locked in for the night.… Turns out that we made the up and back of the 4 mile trail in an hour or less than the average time.… Makes me really wonder what average means ?!

We ended the day with a wonderful fish meal at the. Paia fish restaurant in Kihea

Slept great with all that exercise

nite all, nite sam

-me

Another day in paradise !.

Gabe and Sam rented scooters and drove around Kihei while ‘Diane and I drove as far south as we could to walk on the lava flows below Makenna beach.… The lava had last float here in the late 1700s… But it look like it had just happened. It was a mars like landscape of big and small volcanic rock that went right to the sea. We thought about  taking the two mile hike on the kings highway to a secluded beach.. but the 2 mile walk on sharp rocks in the blazing heat persuaded us to take the shorter walk to the  automated lighthouse instead

Around 4 we met up with Gabe and Sam and cleaned up. We then I’ll drove up to Lahaina (which is about an hour) to go to a luau. It was a big fancy deal and so much fun.… There was great live music amazing dance and the people deserve that was so funny and kind. The food was great… For the most part pretty simple. Lots of different ways of cooking taro and fish.. Super interesting and delicious.… I can’t say enough how much the hula shows which could’ve been really catchy actually work very well done. You can tell us a thriving are lots of storytelling. These folks compete in worldwide advance and the range and scale was just amazing

long and fun day

nite all, nite sam

-me