Maui Jazzercise Classes Are Finally Here

Thankyou Lucy for providing the following information about the new Jazzercise classes on Maui. 

"I’ve been waiting for EIGHT years for Jazzercise to come to Maui and finally it has arrived! YAY!
If you aren’t familiar with Jazzercise, it is really a great overall workout.  When I was attending regularly, I was in the best shape ever! 

 

They have spent many years perfecting Jazzercise and I find the workout to be fun and not boring at all and it works every part of your body without stressing joints etc.  Kind of like Zumba but I enjoy the music much more and, because Jazzercise uses bands/weights etc., it includes a strength training element not available with Zumba. 

Maui Jazzercise Instructor, Nicole Ayala

The instructor, Nicole Ayala is also a personal trainer at the gym called “Reps”.  This Gym is exclusive “by appointment only” (did I say exclusive?…  I saw Steven Tyler there last night!) And the location is very convenient especially for those of you who live in Kihei/Wailea.  The Wailea classes are held on Saturday mornings at 8:00 AM Tuesday, 10:00 AM and on Thursday evenings at 5:30.
Nicole will also be starting classes in Wailuku on May 1,2013.  They will be held at the Maui Unity Church on High Street, every Monday and Wednesday at 4:30 PM. I am so happy because I can walk there and won't have to drive all the way to Wailea.

Here is a link to the Jazzercise Website.  You will find more information about Jazzercise and you will be able to search for locations worldwide, where the classes are held.  

Thanks again Lucy for this info. I can't wait to get back on Maui and try this out.

 

Vacation at the Maui Garden House in Kihei

The following is another post is by our guest writer Pat Anderson Thankyou Pat!

 

It’s February and I am in Hawaii, Kihei Maui to be precise. I know I know....it’s a dirty job and all that. Maui is a place where the sea is always blue, the sand is soft and warm, and the sun a welcome golden light.

As I was lounging on my deck surveying the lush landscape below I started to think about all the families here and what a great place this is for a family holiday. There are oodles of things to do for everyone and I pretty much can guarantee that the weather is warmer and more consistent than where you are at the moment.... I've been entertained just watching all the kids playing on the beach having a blast. It's a bit of a miracle I know but so far have only heard one kid crying. Something to do with ice cream I think! Kids are just too busy having fun to do much fussing. I would love to come here with my grandkids one day.

I, however, am not here with children and am having a wonderful time regardless. We are staying at the Maui Garden House booked through www.idealvacationrentals.com and it is a perfect fit for us.
It has 2 bedrooms 2 bathrooms, pool, hot tub, BBQ area and only 60 seconds from having our wine on the beach at sunset. Gotta love it! I've heard through the grape vine that due to a cancellation there is still some availability in March and April.

Anyway, Aaron and I explored the Kula botanical Gardens and was that ever something! Some of these exotic flowers look like they could be in a Harry Potter movie. Every time I come here I get to do something I didn't do before. Here are some pictures to enjoy. Aloha

 

 

 

Thankyou Pat for sharing these fabulous photos!!!!!

 

Hana Day Trip - A Top Ten on Maui

The following post was contributed by our guest writer Pat Anderson.  Thanks Pat for sharing your story.

Alice White

Our destination for the day is Hana.  So we hopped in the enormous Cadillac (now named Alice White) and hit the road.  As we gained elevation the weather shifted, a light rain started and a misty shroud slipped in to hang over the mountains creating a slightly mystical atmosphere.  The road was scarily narrow; these things can give those wee little roads in Ireland a run for their money!  As we lurched along through the hairpin curves and one lane bridges, I was riding shot gun so I was very busy flinching, gasping and jamming down my passenger side brake pedal...was it possible to have any bigger of a car on that road???

 

 

 

Everywhere the scenery was lush and green and enchanting and I felt like I had somehow stumbled onto the island of Dr Moreau.  Remember that movie?  HG Wells flick with Burt Lancaster cast as the evil Dr Moreau and cute Michael York as the ship wrecked sailor who ends up on the Island?  At first he is elated to be there but then to his horror he discovers that that Dr Moreau is conducting these diabolical experiments meshing animals and humans together.  Of course it all goes terribly wrong….  I loved that movie!  Well this isn’t really like that, but the lushness of it all and the island thing stimulated my memory…

Just outside of Hana we picked up a hitchhiker and he told us that the word Hana means work.  He also said it is a ton of work to keep your car from rusting, and the houses from rotting and keep yourself safe from all the tourists on the crazy road ….

Wonderful Vistas

 

It is a fabulous day trip!

The Missing Hawaiian Quilt - A Heart Wrenching Story

M. R. working on a Hawaiian Quilt

I first met M.R. some five years ago when she came to Maui to visit her daughter Lucy, who happens to be a very dear friend of mine.  MR stands for Mamma Ruth and how she got that nickname is another story.
I knew that Ruth loved crafts, especially quilting, because I had long admired the beautiful Hawaiian quilt on Lucy's bed that her mother had lovingly created for her. Lucy and her Mom worked as a team on the quilt. After Ruth had done the painstakingly challenging work of sewing all of the quilt blocks, Lucy and her friend Margaret from Colorado sewed the quilt together and Lucy's sister-in-law in Washington quilted it. Since then it and it has been a permanent fixture on Lucy and John's bed.


The first Hawaiian quilt Ruth made for Lucy

Last year, just before Ruth passed away she had been working on another Hawaiian quilt which was to have the place of honor in Lucy's guest bedroom.  She had sewn almost all of the quilt blocks together before her passing. A week before she died she and Lucy spread the squares out on the floor and Ruth had Lucy iron them and put them away for safe keeping, because at that point she knew that she wouldn't be able to finish the quilt project. 

The pieces for the second Hawaiian quilt

Lucy decided to put the quilt blocks away in a suitcase, which caused a mishap that turned out okay in the end.  After her Mom died, her brother Brad headed on a trip to Colorado, oblivious to the fact that his suitcase held a precious cargo. Lucy managed to get the pieces back before he left Evergreen, and carried them home herself to Maui.  Little did she know at this point that the quilt pieces were destined for another unwanted adventure.

After M.R. passed,  Lucy hired a local quilter (Ellen) who teaches quilting at The Maui Quilt Shop in Kihei, to finish sewing the pieces. To quote Lucy, "After she delivered the pieces, she gave me a big hug and said that even though she didn't know my Mother, she was so grateful to be able to have contributed to this loving quilt"

Just as with the previous quilt,  Lucy and Margaret decided that when Lucy visited Colorado last month,  they would get together again and complete the work that M.R. had started. Lucy mailed the pieces along with the fabric needed to finish the quilt. Unfortunately Margaret's mailbox in Pine Colorado was robbed before she received the parcel.  Apparently the Sherriff's department had just come in with some mail that they had found after the theft, and even though they have a suspect, the parcel has not yet turned up.
Lucy is so saddened that this precious heirloom and memory of her Mom has disappeared, most likely for good, but is still hopeful that someone might find it and return it to her so that she can complete her Mom's irreplaceable masterpiece.  The High Timber Times in Evergreen Colorado will be publishing a story about Lucy's missing quilt this week and she to offering a $100 reward for information leading to the return of the lost parcel.  She didn't think to insure the package--- I mean who would have thought that someone would steal a box of fabric including an unfinished Hawaiian quilt.  Lesson to us all. Insure everything you send through the US post office!!!!  The only problem is that money can't replace sentimental value but it might help a bit.
I am going to be optimistic that a miracle will happen and someone will return the missing quilt to its rightful owner.  Hopefully my next blog regarding this will be a happy ending to this sad story.

Coming soon:  A happy Christmas story about finishing another one of M.R.'s projects.

Lucy on right Margaret left

Sunset in Lahaina Maui

A few day ago I was stuck in Lahaina due to a traffic issue on the highway.  So I drove back to Lahaina. Had a burger at Burger King and then walked up and down Front Street, people watching and checking out some of the stores. That whetted my appetite, so I got an ice cream cone and sat on a bench on a little side street, down by where I had parked, and did more people watching. Made some new friends of folks strolling by.  While I was sitting on the bench, a pretty little sunset bloomed right in front of me!  Was a fun evening.  Here's the sunset.....

Note catamarans seen through the hole in the branches.

Thankyou Nancy for your contribution to our blog!! Great photos.

Favourite Hawaii Flowers - Photos taken on Maui

I love the tropical exotic, Hawaii flowers so today I just want to share some photos of flowers I have taken on Maui. This first photo was taken at the Polynesian Village Luau in Kihei. 

This lovely girl taught us how to make a traditional lei with orchids.  She wears a plumeria flower in her hair. One of my favourites for the beautiful scent!!!

Bird of Paradise

Red Ginger

Plumeria

Night Blooming Cirrus

Bougainvillea

Heliconia

Pin Cushion Protea

There are two photos here without labels. If any of our readers know the names of them please leave a comment and let us know.

We still have availablility in July,  August and September in our Maui Garden House two bedroom vacation rental.  We give a great deal in the off season and you can go and experience the wonderful Hawaii tropical flowers first hand.

Stand Up Paddle Surfing in Kihei Maui

Laura getting ready to go

Every time we walk by Cove Park in Kihei Maui we are amazed at the number of people trying Stand Up Paddle Surfing.  It seems to be getting even more popular than traditional surfing possibly because it is easier to master and not so extreme.
I guess is was originally called "Beach Boy Sufing" over in Waikiki and the idea is that surfing skills are combined with outrigger canoe paddling skills, hence the long shafted paddle and oversized board. I haven't tried it yet but have heard from friends that it is an excellent workout for the feet, legs, core, shoulders, arms, chest and back which sounds to me pretty much like a full body workout. 
The main thing seems to be getting your balance and then experimenting with different strokes and steering techniques.


Getting her balance and preparing to stand up



In between strokes

My friend Julie says she is beginning to like it even better than kayaking because she is high enough to have a great view of the coral, turtles and any other sea life you might be lucky enough to see.

Julie hanging out looking for turtles

Riding the waves can be a bit tricky but like anything else, practice makes perfect. There are a number of places on Maui that offer rentals and lessons. The photos are of some of my friends who love Stand Up Paddle Surfing. I think one of these days I am going to give it a try. It looks like too much fun!!!!!

Belle and Gordon over in Kaanapali