I always say I'm not a beach person but I think maybe I haven't been to the right beaches. Beaches in Alberta creep me out with the seaweed, algae and mud. Maui is definitely different! I have been to the Caribbean and the beaches are nice there too.

Our morning at Keawakapu Beach in Waileathe beach was outstanding with two first for me.
1. The first time I tried boogie boarding and
2. The first time I've had a sea turtle swim around me.

Boogie boarding was so much fun! The water is warm and clear. The sand is like soft like flour. Challenging to wash off but easy to walk on.

Watching the sea turtles swim around us was surreal. They are so big but they gracefully float through the water with the odd fin wave or head pop out of the water. I didn't get any photos so they are etched in my brain.

After the beach we cleaned up a bit and made the hot and sweaty walk down the road for ice cream. The ice cream and AC were a relief from the heat. We visited Kevin & Liz at their condo across the street and were treated to drinks and tuna. It was like happy hour but much cheaper!

After dinner we all needed to cool off in the pool. Kate challenged James and Uncle Rick to swim races. I think she won.

We booked a few tours so we have some fun adventures ahead of us. Tomorrow we are snorkelling at Molokini.

After Costco we hit Walmart and Foodland. We won't starve for a few days at least. And we have enough alcohol to last us!

After lunch we went to the pool in anticipation of the Wednesday Mai Tai Pool Party. It is hot and the pool was a welcome relief. As soon as 3 pm hit, we were ready for Mai Tai's! It was bottomless Mai Tai's for an hour and 45 minutes. There was a singer/guitar player and a woman doing hula. James, Kate, Erin and I participated in the hula demonstration. We have the leis to prove it. Aunty Mary-Lou said the drinks were weak so don't let the photo below with all the empty Mai Tia cups lead you to believe anyone was intoxicated!

We had a fabulous first day!

I think James and I are the only people on the planet who haven't been to Hawaii. Everyone seems to have been and everyone loves it! I also haven't been to Vegas. I have no plans for that.

We are off to Maui today to celebrate my parents 50th anniversary with family. As luck would have it I had a crown fall off on the weekend. The tooth doesn't hurt but I thought I better check it out before we leave. My regular dentist is closed until mid August and the only time available at the emergency dentist was 8:30 am this morning. I was hoping to have it crazy glued back on and we would be off. Not the case. It's more complicated (and I suspect more expensive) than that.  I have pain killers and antibiotics in case it acts up. Fingers crossed that it's fine for two weeks or it's a vacation of pain killers and Mai Tai's for me!

To be honest we really didn't do much preparation for this trip. We bought some beach clothes and US dollars. And packed our snorkels. That should do it. We booked one snorkeling adventure with Four Winds out to Molokini.

We're not sure what to expect but everyone tells us we will fall in love with Maui. I am not really a beach person but I understand there is so much more than beaches. I have a whole list of recommendations of places to go and things from  friends. Mama's for lunch (too expensive for dinner), road to Hana, the sunrise at Haleakala, a luau, happy hour at Fleetwood's or Five Palms, Fred's for tacos, the Saturday market at Lele, poke around Lahaina, 7 sacred pools, snorkel to Molokini...and take time to relax.

Sounds like we'll be busy! I'm looking forward to fun times with family. With or without my crown.