In 1993, Mitch took me to Maui for our first anniversary. Neither of us had ever been to Hawaii but it immediately took ahold of our hearts and refused to let go.
In our usual style we had pre-booked lots of activities, not wanting to waste a moment. We smile when we remember that trip. On Tuesday of that week, we cancelled all of our busy-ness and spent the rest of our time with me on the beach reading a book and watching him body surf for hours. We slept on the loungers on the lanai and of all silliness, watched Bonanza reruns. Maui will always be our symbol of letting go, relaxing, and spontaneity, none of which we are very practiced at to this day.
The Condo
We know a lovely family now who owns a 2-bedroom, 2-bath condo right off the Kaanapali Golf Course in Lahaina and are generous enough to rent it out when they’re not there. It has become our go-to home-away-from-home when we’re in Maui and we have difficulty imagining staying anywhere else.
Our habits are much the same, no matter who comes with us. We land in Kahului airport, rent the car, go to Costco with our rebate check from the previous year, and buy groceries for the week. Sometimes we visit Haleakala, sometimes we do the Road to Hana. But must do’s include lots of snorkeling, lots of strolling, and lots of relaxing. On Sunday mornings, I walk across the dew-soaked golf course to attend Kaanapali Beach Ministry held at Leilani’s Restaurant in Whaler’s Village. Sometimes with loved ones and sometimes alone, I watch that Hawaiian sister interpret How Great Thou Art through hula. For me, it takes worship to a whole new level.
Why am I telling you all of this? Well, the condo might not be available for that much longer and we realized we’ve never been there alone. And because when I got up this morning Mitch was looking at flights for January. That will mark a year since he’s been anywhere and that’s a long time for Mitch…maybe even a record. He just has to have something that he’s looking forward to.
What energizes you? Do you like to travel? Is there a spot that warms your heart? Share your thoughts with me at Lifting Her Voice, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
Guilty, Guilty, Guilty!
I love to travel and haven’t been anywhere since just before Christmas last year, which is a really long time for me!!!!
Secretly, I dream of vacations to take, but have limited myself to the US mainland this year. Dreams, that is all they are. The first one was a fall 2020 RV trip to Utah, CO, and New Mexico. That one has been renamed to Fall 2021♀️.
In the meantime, adventurers have posted their trips to Minnesota this fall and now I have another leaf peepers RV tour, possibly for 2022?
Then there is the RV trip I could still take this leaf peeping season over to Arkansas to take a waterfall tour in the RV. Not sure the family can get excited about that one.
Oh, and my passport expired in March and I haven’t even bothered to renew it!
I hope you and Mitch can do a getaway to Maui!!!
I knew that post would resonate with you! I know that your family has played a big part in Mitch’s and my hunger to travel. And speaking for myself, that trip to Arkansas sounds awesome!
You might want to start that process of renewing your passport. Whereby it used to take weeks, it took ours upwards of five months to get ours back.
If Mitch is willing to have them stick something up his nose so that he can get to the island, you have to know that he needs a getaway! I’m praying it goes thru too. And I hope you get to peep some leaves!