My First Time in Maui

And my first time in the tropics

Maui — Credit: Author

Introduction

Back in 2001, my husband Andy and I went to Maui in the Hawaiian Islands. He’d already been on business to Hawaii two years previously. Nice place to go for a business trip, you might think.

But as a business trip, he wasn’t there for the fun. Instead, he spent a week in meeting rooms each day until 6 p.m. So, except for his first day, which was a Sunday, he didn’t get to see very much.

Mind you, though jet-lagged and in need of a rest, Andy nevertheless booked a cycle ride down the volcano, Haleakala, on the Sunday. And he had the time of his life!

He’d promised to take me one day. So, buckle up your seat belt! We’re off!

Arrival

The Hawaiian Islands are only just inside the tropics and, unlike most tropical areas, have no nasty illnesses like malaria.

We left winter behind in March to arrive at Kahului Airport on Maui in the warmth of a T-shirt climate.

Because of its isolation, quarantine regulations for agricultural products are enforced. I took my apple and a few seed packets, bought in mainland USA, to the quarantine officer at a lonely stand at the airport.

The declaration we’d filled out on the plane was right on top of his pile. We were cleared in seconds and went to catch a taxi to the resort.

The taxi ride to the resort at Papakea took 45 minutes. Here I caught my first real glimpse of Hawaii. Sun, sea, sand… palm trees, sugar cane, pineapples and rugged coastline.

After miles of sugar cane fields, never having seen sugar cane before, I checked with the driver that I was right about it being sugar cane. His answer: Yes, either that, or they forgot to mow the grass! Well, it did look like super tall grass only with stripy stems (see below).

Author standing next to sugar cane — Credit: Andy Read

Papakea resort

On arrival at Papakea resort, I just marvelled at the unfamiliar trees and plants, while Andy got on with the serious stuff. Some problem was sorted out and, with key in hand, we headed for our apartment.

I’d never seen ginger growing before. It was being used as a landscaping plant, and very pretty it was too with its bright red flowers.

Ginger plants — Credit: Author

We were greeted by a notice informing us of the pest control man’s visit the following day. Then I remembered, the guidebook did warn of insects… And what to do if you found your place infested by cockroaches! Argh!!

Papakea resort — Credit: Author

Now, what would you do in such a situation? Me? I checked out everything carefully and didn’t put anything away unless I was satisfied there were no creepy crawlies around.

Finding no infestations of any sort meant we could happily drop off to sleep after a hard day’s travelling.

Of course, we were completely jet-lagged with our circadian rhythms out of sync and woke up at 2 a.m. It was fun out on the patio listening to the ocean waves crashing on the shore only a stone’s throw away.

Night-time in Hawaii — Credit: Author

The palm trees whispered loudly in the wind and the moon kept the pitch-black night at bay. We have so much light pollution in night-time London that this was a rare experience for us.

Breakfast

Next morning we found a dead, six-legged visitor on the table top. Since there was nothing we could about our find, we wandered off to the orientation session for a ‘continental’ breakfast, a strange combination of coffee with fresh fruit and tea bread. Back home in England, a continental breakfast would mean coffee with croissants and jam and butter.

We could then go and explore the local supermarket (grocery store) for provisions as we were going to be catering for ourselves. It was extremely well stocked. Fruit, vegetables and fish were abundant. Japanese and Korean visitors are seriously catered for, too.

There was a very clear notice asking customers not to squeeze the papayas and pineapples for ripeness. Do you think people took any notice? Within minutes, I spotted someone ignoring the notice.

Hmmm, I’d quite fancied some of that fruit. I wonder how bruised and squashed the fruit ends up despite the sign?!

Pest control

Shortly after our return to our apartment, the doorbell rang, and we opened the door to a friendly Polynesian pest-control man, ready with his spray gun. These guys come every three months to keep the bugs at bay.

I handed him our six-legged visitor, which, he cheerily confirmed, was a cockroach. He also confirmed what the guidebook had said, that they don’t carry diseases in Hawaii.

That was a definite relief to know. We had to leave the place for several hours, so as not to get knocked out along with the bugs, and left him to do his job.

We went off to sort out things such as a tour and a car rental, and drove off to another supermarket, where we could stock up for the week with heavier items. The locals in the shops are generally very friendly and say hello — or rather, ‘aloha’, the Hawaiian greeting — even just as you’re passing.

Were we so obviously not from around there? The white legs, hidden away behind trousers (pants) over winter, must have given us away.

Finally…

Still jet-lagged, we woke up far too early the next day again, and went off for a walk along the beachfront at 5.30 a.m. The sun was yet to rise.

Once the day had started properly, we set off for our first day’s sightseeing with a stop at the local post office and a spot of whale watching on the way. Though Maui is only a small island, you can tell it has the whole of the United States supporting it. Both supermarkets and the post office were well supplied.

Next time we start discovering the amazing flora and fauna of Hawaii, a complete delight that I look forward to sharing with you.

Thank you for reading

People, who’ve asked to be tagged: Aidan Gerard Patrick McCarthy Lu Skerdoo

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