Cruising home.

The last bit of the cruise, other than NYE parties, Mila performed in a talent show, NagyMa did a performance with her Hula class, and we did a whole lot of eating and doing nothing.

Mila awaiting NagyMa's performance.

NagyMa hula-ing

Anton catching a game on the deck by the bar overlooking the pool, it's tough.

Cocktail hour....er I mean Cocktail Day....er I mean Cocktail Week, no make that Cocktail Cruise.

So accustomed to the lifestyle.

New Years Eve. We got new dresses

Yep.....Happy to be here.

Maui - Kaanapali Beach and Whalers Village

Last stop was Kaanapali Beach and Whalers Village.  After our romatically kitchy stroll along Front Street in Lahaina, we were anticipating a delightful tiki style shopping town on the beach.  It couldn't have been more opposite.  A concrete mall butting up against the sand, packed with tourists with little regard to the fact that they were in one of the most beautiful places on earth. I flew through the mall to get to the beach, I couldn't get past the Ralph Lauren, Coach and Burberry stores quick enough.

The beach itself was disappointing compared to the tranquil protected beaches of Oahu and Kauai.  It was far more exposed than the other places we had been and the elements were harsh.  The waves were crashing close to the shore, so they weren't really surfable and these stupid tourist filled catamarans kept pulling to shore to let the Japanese tourists off to grab a quick Coach bag and a pair of Jimmy Choos.

Nonetheless the girls loved it and I got to put my feet up for a moment, I never complain about sitting on the beach

Maui - Lahaina

Our last island to visit was Maui.  It was the one I was most excited about visiting as most people I know choose Maui and in a former life prior to children, I was on the design team for the Ritz-Carlton here at Kapalua Bay.

The ship came into the Port Town of Lahaina. The ship was too large to dock so we had to take the emergency boats to shore.  It was claustrophobic to say the least.

Our ship from the life boat

Inside the lifeboat, June loved it.

This plantation style restaurant got us well and truly drunk before we boarded our ship again in the evening.

Nagy taking June for a stroll in the shade.

A gazillion stands selling everything from fishing trips to snorkelling tours right down to just the plain old fish for anyone who didn't want to bother with the trip.

Ye Olde Courthouse and Gaol.

Anton and Mila

I was in love with these Banyan trees.

We hadn't really done any touristy shopping, so we wandered along Front street for a while .

Yep, it's hot, maybe time to head to the beach.

Sunrise

Where was I? That's right, Kauai!

So, I am sitting at my desk on a Sunday afternoon happily working....as no one ever said, ever, ever. And I start to procrastinate and decide to download my pics from Halloween.  I realise on the same card I have pics from Hawaii, which lead me to realise that Hawaii was the last time I posted, so once again, I am going to try and be a teeny bit more vigilant because I have plenty of other things that need doing that I dont want to do.  I left off with us about to visit Kauai.  Kauai was by far our favourite. 

 Coming into the Nawiliwili Harbour

Mila was the only one awake with me as we came in that morning.  It's moments like this that we were so happy we had a balcony.

 First on our schedule was a trip up the Wailua River to visit the Fern Grotto

We had local dancing and music for entertainment as we cruised down the river.

It reminded me a lot of Papua New Guines.

The lush grounds were amazing.

The fern grotto with hanging ferns coming down the top of a lava cave. 

Me and my girls.

Yep, if she could give the bird, she would.

Our tour bus stopped momentarily at the Coco Palms which was a famous 1953 hotel which started the "hospitality" concept of "tiki" themed hotels.  It was the site of many an Elvis movie.  Sadly, a hurricane destroyed it in 1992 and it has been sitting rotting in disrepair, sad......

This is a Before picture of the lobby

This is it as it is now, the tree is not decoration.

This was our sad view.

Next stop was some food on the Kalapaki beach.  Although the Wailua River reminded me a lot of PNG, the beach had that laid back, barefoot, salty hair, surfee feel of Australia, I loved it.

Surf lessons anyone?

Anton waiting for our delish burgers.

Surfee chicks

This made me wish desperately that my girls could do this everyday.

Anton and the girls going for a dip while I stared at the sky through the coconut palms.

My view

Naptime

Tuckered out

More of my view