Happy Thanksgiving- November 27

Diamond Head in Honolulu

As we sailed out of Honolulu harbor we waved goodbye to Diamond Head.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!! Hard for us to believe it is Thanksgiving but since we have a mini-parade to look forward to this afternoon- plus some turkey for dinner- we know it must be Thanksgiving. Giving thanks this morning for friends and family among the other wonderful joy and goodness in our lives!

Last evening we were invited to a special concert by a Hawaiian popular singer, Danny Couch. It was an event for Regent Society members Gold level and beyond. I am glad to be at the Gold level and doubt we ever get any higher but it was a fun concert. He has a nice voice, sang lots of familiar songs and did the funniest imitation of Don Ho you can imagine. He asked for a paper napkin from a member of the audience and then proceeded to put the napkin in his mouth and chew it up a bit. He then sang with the mushy sound so like Don Ho. The “tiny bubbles” just bounced around. The audience loved it. He also had four lovely young women who danced. Was quite a production!

Went from there to listen to music in the Mariner Lounge and chatted with two singers from the entertainment troupe. Both Brits and both loving being on a cruise ship. They were talking about the parade today- each of them have some character role to play and even Santa Claus is to appear- just like Macy’s!

Seems all the crew we talked to- including Samuel our butler- went ashore and went shopping. This morning he said he was going to the Kmart because they were giving a discount since it is Thanksgiving.

Dinner last evening was tasty. Had offered to share a table but neglected to say “only 4 people” so the table for 6 wouldn’t do for us. Talking and hearing is difficult with that number…..so we sat by ourselves and enjoyed another wonderful dinner. Jim went to the entertainment- a classical pianist- and stayed about 10 minutes and returned to the cabin. What a busy day.

Sunrise sailing in Maui

Sailed into the port of Kahului on the island of Maui after a rough night of rolling and rocking. The views were beautiful as the sunrise hit the mist on the hills. 

There was even a rainbow. 

The waves at the sea wall at the entrance to the harbor were big. Maui boasts world-class conditions for anything that involves a wave.

As we ate breakfast we watched a group of about 8 kayaks gather and wait and wait- then all of a sudden a wave would come along and they paddled to catch it and see who could get the closest to the shore. What a great way to begin the day- for kayakers and for watchers.

Haleakala Volcano, or the East Maui Volcano, is a massive shield volcano that forms more than 75% of the Hawaiian Island of Maui. The western 25% of the island is formed by another volcano, Mauna Kahalawai. Mauna Kahalawai is the older of the two volcanoes at 1.4 million years old and Haleakala is 1.2 million years old. Many with that many years who is really counting- they are both OLD!!!!

The tallest peak of Haleakalā ("house of the sun"), at 10,023 feet (3,055 m), is Puʻu ʻUlaʻula (Red Hill). From the summit one looks down into a massive depression some 7 miles across, 2 miles wide, and nearly 2,600 feet deep. The surrounding walls are steep and the interior mostly barren-looking with a scattering of volcanic cones.

Early Hawaiians applied the name Haleakalā ("house of the sun") to the general mountain. In Hawaiian folklore, the crater at the summit of Haleakalā was home to the grandmother of the demigod Māui. According to the legend, Māui's grandmother helped him capture the sun and force it to slow its journey across the sky in order to lengthen the day.

The Captain broadcast an announcement this morning into all the cabins (what a way to start the day)  to tell us the pilot had suggested we sail an hour earlier this afternoon to try to avoid the rough water at the mouth of the harbor. The pilot said there was a brief window of time at sunset where the water calmed so the Captain made the decision to sail earlier. Can’t help but make it somewhat easier for all of us.

So far I couldn't say which is my favorite island because each is such different landscape and the personality and stories told by our driver/guides make each sound terrific! I guess a person must be happy wherever they live in order to be happy in the other parts of their lives.