Ah, sushi. Penny pose please.

Ah, sushi.
One thing we had a hard time finding was  a  sushi restaurant in Kahului or Wailuku, Maui.
We tried calling the Sansei in Kihei, which was the closest to Kahului, but both times we couldn't get reservations.

Honolulu, of course, has many Japanese restaurants so we went to Tokoname in Manoa SC.  I had the Ahi and Hamachi sushi (the sushi rice could've been better ) and Katana Sake, and R had Yakitori with his wine.

Hazy sunset at Ala Moana Beach.   It's  going to be a rainy weekend, according to predictions.

Despite my New Year's resolution of
not putting things on pets,
I couldn't resist this cute dress,
which was a gift to Penny.
Penny…smile.

Even a cookie couldn't get her to stop pouting and get up and pose.

Until I took off the dress.   Penny's favorite dress
style and pose.

Maui no kaoi-Lahaina, Makawao, Lavender Farm

Looking like an alien being, the
old banyan tree (imported from
India in 1873) is 60 ft. high.

       Lahaina
 
  It means "cruel sun" in 
Hawaiian, because of the sunny, dry climate. 
  In the 19th century it was
the center of the whaling industry.
   

It's also one of the oldest in
the U.S.

The old Courthouse is right behind
it.

One of their interesting displays.  A light prism
used to shed light below
deck on the old ships.

Lahaina Public Library.

From the back door to the
front.

It can get really hot so
shaved ice hits the spot.

The beach along Front St.

                                                            ***    ****     ****     ***

Upcountry Makawao, the Paniolo (cowboy) town.
It is an art community in a rustic, western
setting.
The famous Komoda store was closed (Sunday) so
we missed their famous doughnuts.

 ***                    ****                 ****                ****               ****                ****            ****      

We also missed the
lavender season, but the
Alii Lavender Farm has
so many other flowers, and
there are always some
lavender in bloom.

*********

The perfect pick me up--fresh squeezed lemonade ( mine was
with watermelon and basil) in a Mason jar, from M's
favorite stand in Kahului.

We went back to have pork adobo
at Tante's in the Maui Seaside Hotel.

The Halo Halo dessert
was super delicious!
Avocado, cantalope were
among the tasty fruits and the ice cream was Okinawan sweet potato.

One last beautiful sunset on Maui but we're coming back
for more.  Thank you M!

Maui no ka oi, Kula Strawberry farm, La Provence, Cafe O'Lei

Good morning.
There was the Pride of America cruise ship, that tours around the islands, outside our hotel window heading into Kahului Harbor.

Off to the Strawberry Farms in Kula on the slopes of Haleakala Volcano.

There for the picking.

Cute signs in their garden plots.

The country store where
there are honeys and
jams also.

The goats from the neighboring
Surfing Goat cheese farm were
out in the pastures grazing.
My jams: Lilikoi marmalade, Strawberry pineapple and lime kiwi.

M wanted us to taste the Nutella
crepes here,  at La Provence, a
pretty place with a crepe nazi for
an owner (from Provence) and
known for its very indifferent
service.

We were late (around 1:30)
they close at 2- so they weren't
taking dining guests.

We'll save meals for the
next trip.  The food is supposed to be excellent.

Sigh.  Even the bakery was
depleted, but we bought a
chocolate macadamia bar and
macadamia tart and took them
to a little Lavender farm to find a place to enjoy them….

There was a pergola in the garden
which had a beautiful view.
There is a Zip Line business
next door.

Unbelievably delicous pastries!

The little shop also has
light food and coffee.

**
When M first mentioned Cafe O'Lei as having the best  Prime
Ribs and Macadamia Nut Chicken Sandwich, I thought of
"Cafe Au Lait"?  or "Cafe Ole"?

It's the restaurant at the
Dunes golf club in Maui
Lani

Wow.  Prime ribs.  Tender, juicy, flavorful.
Da best!

Just so I wouldn't miss out, I
ordered the macadamia nut
chicken sandwich .
Da best!

This area in front of the restaurant soon became full.

Maui no kaoi. Kahului, Aria's, Iao Valley, Maui Winery

     

Early one morning in Kahului.
Lovely wall painting.

We had breakfast at Aria's.

Luckily we arrived early.

 After breakfast we walked around the little town.  There was an
old fashioned theater, in a historic building, which today, being Sunday was  being used to hold Church services. 

Next stop was lovely
Iao Valley.

Quiet town with
interesting stores where you
can sew shoes and buy
rocks and minerals.

King Kamehameha
defeated the King of Maui
here.  The latter fled to Oahu
and was defeated at
Nuuanu Pali.

Humans look so tiny (by the
lone coconut palm) at one of
the lookouts.

According to M,  it is better to come when there is a light rain because then the many waterfalls along the cliffs are spectacular.

Maui Winery at Ulupalakua Ranch

At 1800 ft elevation in volcanic soil,  the Tedeschi Vineyards
grow syrah, chenin blanc, chardonnay, malbec and viognier.
They also crush Maui Gold fresh pineapples to get the juice to make their pineapple wine.

Wine tasting.

On the grounds of the winery.  We missed seeing the vineyards.  Next trip.

Jade vine flowers are beginning to grow.