In Maui and Beyond...

On Saturday, the 24th, I left Hong Kong at 11 A.M. and flew to Manila for about two hours. Later in the afternoon, I took another plane to Honolulu and then a puddle-jumper over to Maui where I was to hook up with my oldest daughter, Chimene, her husband, John and my two grandchildren, Jasper and Kiana. Because there's an 18 hour difference between Hong Kong and Maui, I actually arrived in Maui at the same exact time that I left Hong Kong: 11 A.M. on Saturday, the 24th. My grandkids did not know that I was going to be there so it was a huge surprise when I showed up at the baggage claim area. My daughter and her husband rented a stunningly beautiful one bedroom condo on the western beach just north of Kaanapali with an outstanding view of the islands of Molokai and Lanai. We're just a few yards from the water's edge. We all went to one of the obligatory Hawaiian luaus that they have around here. This particular one (the Royal Lahaina Resort)is so successful that it pulls in several hundred tourists a night...seven days a week. Lots of great foods, traditional dances, fire displays and great fun for everyone.
My friend Gino is still in the US and emailed that he will be flying from San Jose to LAX tomorrow evening so there's a chance that we'll be able to hook up in L.A., too. It's amazing that I've seen this guy in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Hong Kong and now in Los Angeles. What a great new friendship we're forming!
Well, my friends, I'm going to be signing off for a while. I'll pick up the blog again when I get back on the road in another month or so. Hope that you've enjoyed hitchhiking along on my adventures.