Aloha to Maui - the Wo Hing Museum in Lahaina

Lahaina - "cruel sun" - is a whaling port turned tourist town in West Maui.   Nestled in the north side is the Wo Hing Museum.  The Chinese symbols wo hing refer to "peace, harmony, and prosperity."  

From the Lahaina Restoration Website (at this link),

In 1909 the Chinese living in Lahaina formed the Wo Hing Society, a branch of the Chee Kung Tong, a fraternal society with chapters throughout the world. In 1912, using private donations, the society built a two-story temple on Front Street. The building served as a fraternal and social meeting hall.

Upon entering, one is greeted by a ceremonial lion – the “Dancing Lion of Taipei” – a traditional symbol of good luck.

It housed a sacred altar room on the second floor for religious ceremonies. 

Here are gifts for their religious ceremonies .... 

... including fruit, candy, and coins! 

We found a dragon for a New Year's parade!

The kitchen outside demonstrated how the immigrants cooked ...

 .... that is one big wok!

Do you like Chinese food?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash.  This giveaway is open to all readers.  Comments are open through Saturday, October 13, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, October 14.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

Also from the Lahaina Restoration website,

Dr. Sun Yat-sen, known as the Father of Modern China, was a Chinese revolutionist and a western medical doctor who began his education in Hawaii. From 1879 to 1910 he made six trips to Hawaii and spent more than seven years in the islands preparing for the 1911 Chinese revolution which led to the overthrow of China’s Manchu Qing Dynasty. Dr. Sun was then elected as the first provisional president of the Republic of China. His brother Sun Mei, a silent hero behind the revolution, operated a large cattle ranch in Kamaole, Maui and he, as well as many Chinese on Maui, provided crucial financial support for the revolution.

Aloha to Maui - Ka'anapali

Leaving the rural roads behind, we drove to the Ka'anapali area with the big resorts .... 

... the Hanakao'o Beach Park is home of the Kahana Canoe Club whose hulls are posed to race to Molokai in the distance.

Even on the beach boardwalk, we found flowers ...

... in all colors!

This is the first time I have seen these birds!

Everyone's happy in Hawaii!

  

The palm trees cast shadows on the golden sands of this former plantation.

David catches a wave!  Ka'anapali offers a wide range of beach activities - snorkeling, surfing, sailing, stand up paddling, and building sand castles!  What do you like to do at the beach?   One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash.  This giveaway is open to all readers.  Comments are open through Saturday, October 13, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, October 14.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

David catches a snooze ... 

Aloha to Maui - Honolua Overlook and Kahakuloa Head

Continuing the Road to West Maui ... 

... we stopped at Honolua overlook.  The cove is popular with snorkling cruises.   

The winding road leads to ...

... to the Kahakuloa Head.

From Hawaii Web (at this link)

The 18th Century Maui king, Kahekili, use to spend time in this area. Legend states that before breakfast, the agile King would climb 200-feet up the hill and "leap" into the water below.

I loved the vastness of the rolling volcanic hills with green cover.

Underneath is rich red rock!   Are you adventurous to leap off a rock? One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash.  This giveaway is open to all readers. Comments are open through Saturday, October 13, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, October 14.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

Beauty grows from the beast.

Aloha to Maui - Papanalahoa Point, Nakalele Blowhole, and Da Stand

We continued the drive around the northwest corner of Maui, including the Papanaloahoa Point.   

My camera cannot capture the beauty of the aina (land) and kai (sea).

Meanwhile, the kai continues to perform ...

... around the volcanic shelves.

Ah, the Nakalele Blowhole!

Below is a fruit stand that closed before we could enjoy its bounty.   What would you buy from a fruit stand? One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash.  This giveaway is open to all readers.  Comments are open through Saturday, October 13, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, October 14.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

Aloha to Maui - Dragon's Teeth

Maui is famous for its Road to Hana in the southeast corner of the island.  Since we stayed in the northwest corner, we found a "new" road ... to Dragon's Teeth.    

From Hawaii Web (at this link),

Makalua-puna was created from one of the last lava flows on Maui. However, the lava here is a little different from the rest of the lava on Maui - it is much lighter, denser, and fine-grained. The wind sweeping over the point caused the lava to harden in an upward fashion. The jagged points of this formation look like dragon's teeth, thus the name.

Hundreds of years of salt spray has whitened the lava and even eroded holes through some areas.

 

Nearby is the Honokahu Burial Site ...

... where generations of Hawaiians were buried since 620 AD.  

The cove offers a scenic point ...

... for generations to come. 

Have you seen any "dragons" on your travels?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash.  This giveaway is open through Saturday, October 12, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, October 13.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

Sunset from our condo ...
with Moloka'i in the distance.

Aloha to Maui - Krispy Kreme, Iao Valley, and Royal Kahana

We have a winner from last week - BN100 wins a Maui 2013 calendar!   We visited Maui - the Valley Isle - for Fall Break.   First stop - Krispy Kreme!   Maui hosts one of the few places to buy them hot off the assembly line!  We enjoyed apple fritters (left) and chocolate bars (right).  

Pumped up on sugar, we headed to Waiehu Beach for Maui's archaeological sites.  From Hawaii Web (at this link),

Haleki'i and Pihanakalani Heiau are two of Maui's most accessible archeological sites. The lava foundation is the remains of these ancient heiaus, or Hawaiian temples, originally built in 1240. On occasion, some of these temples were used to perform human sacrifices to pay homage to the ancient gods.

It is thought that Pihanakalani Heiau is probably the last site where Kamehameha I performed such sacrifices on Maui as a tribute to the war god, Ku. These heaius were reconstructed in 1958 and are on the National and State Registry of Historic Places. 

A deep sense of ancient Hawaiian history fills this site and makes the visit very worthwhile. The views of Wailuku and Kahului are also spectacular from this area.

The heiau guard the entrance to the Iao Valley.

Also from Hawaii Web (at this link),

The lovely, deep valley of 'Iao features the 'Iao Needle, a natural rock pinnacle presiding over the 'Iao stream and surrounded by the walls of the Pu'u Kukui Crater. Once used as a natural altar, the 2,250-foot stone pillar, covered in green foliage, is really a basaltic core that has survived eons of swirling water. 'Iao Valley is a peaceful lush area with easy hikes, exotic tropical plants, and clear, natural pools. The ridge-top lookout offers a fantastic view of the valley and Kahului Harbor.

'Iao Valley is a peaceful lush area with easy hikes, exotic tropical plants, and clear, natural pools. The ridge-top lookout offers a fantastic view of the valley and Kahului Harbor.

'Iao Valley is the site of one of the most famous and bloody battles that changed Hawaii history forever. On this site, In 1790, King Kamehameha I destroyed the Maui army in his effort to unite the Hawaiian Islands.

The battle site is called Kepaniwai, "the damming of the waters", as the fallen soldiers and their slaughtered families littered the 'Iao Stream.

Today, the stream offers recreation to Hawaiian ohana (families).

Everyone gets into the water!

Despite its bloody history, the 'Iao Valley has returned to its serene setting.

We descended down the valley and followed the coastal route to our condo at the Royal Kahana - north of Ka'anapali.

What's your favorite doughnut?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash.  This giveaway is open to all readers.  Comments are open through Saturday, October 13, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, October 14.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

Paddle boarding outside our condo.