k, now that I've posted on the house I can talk about our trip to Maui:-). It was awesome - calm, warm and relaxing, just like we remembered it. The weather was perfect, 87 and sunny every day, the convertible came in pretty handy for all the driving we did all over the island. We stayed in Makena but made many trips to Lahaina, Pa'ia, Kannapaali, etc... We didn't have a lot planned for this trip aside from the luau at Lahaina, Haleakala and dinner at Mama's Fishhouse but nethertheless, time just flew. Typical day - get up really early since we were on seattle time, get coffee, go to the beach, lay around till about noon or later, go back, clean up and head out to check out a town and grab dinner. I made a list of restaurants I wanted to try and I think we hit just about every one of them..all the fish here was amazing.. in the week here I had ono, opah, monchong, mahi mahi, snapper.. all very good.

On our 2nd day we did the Haleakala crater..left our hotel at 3am to see the sunrise 10,000 ft up. It was about 75degrees when we started and by the time we got up there around 5am it was freezing cold and windy with a slight mist..around 42degrees I think.. too bad there was cloud cover but we still got to witness a pretty amazing sight, watching the clouds and fog clear while the sun rose above.. beautiful... drove down, got some breakfast - spam and eggs haha..then back to the hotel and off to the beach!

The Lahaina luau - it was so much fun and the setting is just amazing.. we also had an awesome dinner the last night before we left at Mama's Fish House..probably the most popular place in Maui but totally worth it..we saved the best for last.. as the hostess walked us in I asked if he had any more tables by the water.. "for you miss, yes"..and he wasnt' joking. not sure how we lucked out but best seat in the house! this place is just amazing. The restaurant itself is on the beach, lots of beautiful palms and flowers, water..we couldn't have asked for better.. the food was oh so good too..all the fish is caught that day by different fishermen who's names are on the menu.. anyhow I could probably go on and on but overall another unforgettable visit to Maui and we cannot wait to go back..time to start saving;-).. Oh and I am going to say it again ..I LOVE my new camera! We took over 400 photos while there...so fun to test it out on all the beautiful flowers, water, sunsets.... too many to post here but some random ones..

beach at our hotel.

so cool! we found him in the hotel courtyard..

Haleakala sunrise at 6:15am, 10000 ft up

at the luau..he's demonstrating how to open a coconut with a sharp stick- you know in case you ever get stranded on an island:-)

luau dancers

Our table at Mama's fish house

Tahitian black pearl dessert at Mama's..almost too pretty to eat..almost

Brian enjoying a cold beer at the Pa'ia Fish Market

pretty feather??/flower..