Day Four, Maui

Today we decided to relax more and drive less.  We had mango and banana breads for breakfast, along with pineapple, papaya and mango.  We walked to the farmer's market two blocks away and bought more fruit, including Hawaii strawberries that I can't wait to try.

Mid-morning we headed to Iao State Park to see "the needle."  It's a tall rock structure covered with plants that towers above a stream which cascades down from Pu'u Kukui, Maui's western volcano.  We saw more water rushing down this stream than we did in all the waterfalls on the road to Hana.  The state park, curiously, charges $5 for parking.  It's tiny, with three short paths, a bridge over the stream, and a small garden.  The needle is interesting, and the view up the valley is gorgeous.  But the most fun thing about this park is the chickens!  Roosters crow regularly, and we saw several hens leading their broods in the search for food.  I'm pretty sure I took more pictures of the chickens than of the mountains.

It was almost noon when we left Iao, and we decided to go back to Pa'ia for lunch at Mama's Fish House. The setting is absolutely gorgeous, and the food was wonderful.  We had dessert mostly so we could stay a little longer at our oceanside corner table.  After lunch I bought a tablecloth like the ones they use on all the tables, and we strolled the beach, sat on benches, and enjoyed the sunshine.  It was cloudy in Honokowai where we're staying, and threatening rain at Iao.  It was a nice surprise to find sunshine on the north shore!

From Mama's, we went to Kanaha Beach Park to watch kiteboarding and wind surfing.  There were three outfitters giving kiteboarding lessons.  It looks like a blast, but I'm sure it requires a higher level of fitness than we have.  We watched at two different locations for half an hour or so.  Our next stop was Tom's Mini Mart for shave ice.  This tiny neighborhood store off the beaten path is our guidebook's pick for the best shave ice on Maui, and we thought it was wonderful.  We drove a little west to a beach park and watched the waves rolling in while we indulged.

We spent the evening at home, tired from several packed days in a row.

Mom and her brood.  Someone had thrown some food i the parking lot.

Strutting his stuff!

The needle.  Notice how low the clouds are.

My oho with carmelized onions, avocado, stir fried vegetables and jasmine rice.

Pat's uhu with capers, stir fried rice and veggies.

Kite boarding at Kanaha Beach

Kites ready for use.