Coaching for Pizza: First Two days in Kihei, Maui with the Johnson Clan

Sunday, December 16, 2018

First Two days in Kihei, Maui with the Johnson Clan

Friday, December 14 - Saturday, December 15, 2018

We had been invited to join our long time friends Mark and Susie Johnson, along with their daughters Sophie and Mallory, for a week's stay in their condo in Kihei on the Hawaiian island of Maui.

It was an offer that we

could not refuse

I dressed the part of the

Hawaiian tourist on our flight

Our Friday started in the wee hours as our flight from LAX departed at 7:00 a.m.

It was a bit of a bumpy ride but we arrived at Maui's Kahului Airport none the worse for wear.

After grabbing a taxi to the condo, as the Johnson Clan was not scheduled to arrive for another four hours, we were ready to explore Kihei on our own.

This was our third trip to the 50th State, all on Maui and our second Hawaiian yuletide vacation with Mark and Susie. We had been here with them in 2016 as well.

The view from the Johnson's

condominium lanai in the

Kamaole Sands complex

About a two minute walk

from the condo

Vistas in Paradise

Laurie WAY overdressed

for island life

It was a BEAUTIFUL day for a

walk in Kihei

Unexpected internet news about

dropping Holiday Bowl ticket prices

Not to worry, Rose Bowl ticket prices for the Ohio State-Washington game are still high.

Soon after sharing a good pork sandwich at the 808 Deli, I know that it is hard to believe that I shared food, the Johnson's arrived.

We unloaded their bags and were off to Costco for a Christmas shopping spree where I saw . . .

. . . another omen about my

impending departure to Varese

Also from the internet, a reminder

that the Skorpions U16 team was

playing in an opening round

playoff game at home on Sunday

Saturday morning sunrise

Our hosts, L. to R.:

Mallory, Sophie, Susie and Mark

We hit the road at a decent hour to do, what else, shop!

Where there is smoke,

there is island BBQing!

Mark knew exactly where to go first off as this roadside BBQ stand is only open on Saturdays.

One Whole Chicken and

One Whole Slab of Ribs please

Mahalo!

Giving us two delicious ribs to gnaw on as parting gifts for stopping by was a nice touch I thought.

They were BUSY at this early hour

While we would save our order for a late lunch back at the condo. The aroma, every time we got back in our rented SUV of the BBQd meat, definitely qualified as Cruel and Unusual Punishment as defined in the U.S. Constitution in my opinion.

Of course we stopped at the Saturday

Arts and Craft Market on the campus of

Maui Community College

How I pass about 50% of every

vacation on every continent

Of course Laurie found several trinkets that we just had to have to make our home even more museum-like.

Colorful fruits and vegetables

were also for sale

At the massive

Da Warehouse store

Da Warehouse specializes in buying used furnishings of all types from Hawaiian hotels going through remodeling projects and then selling them to people like Mark and Susie who are still furnishing their condo.

Although they are well known to the owners of Da Warehouse from what we saw, today the only transaction was the purchase of a nice lamp for a mere $5.00 USD.

With this sale, Da Warehouse now only had about 30 more of the exact same lamp to unload.

After devouring the BBQ food for lunch and then spending some quality time at the condo complex pool, we were off for the short walk to find a dinner spot for some local fish based cuisine.