Another (and hopefully the last) NEW HOME

2715 Kauhale Street
Kihei, HI 96753

Cruisin' down South Kihei Road

I think I can pretty much let this image speak for itself.

Just another day in Molokini Crater

Molokini: A tuff cone in the middle of Maui County, formed about 150,000 years ago when a crack in the crust of the earth blasted rocks and ash, forming a half crescent shape islet. Additionally ash blow off from concurent explosions on Haleakala continued to build up the islet, forming layers much like the rings of a tree, allowing geologists to accurately age the island.

Also a seabird sanctuary, frequented by Great Frigate Birds and Wedge Tail Shear waters, it is illegal to set foot on Molokini.

The back side of Molokini- a treat to visit on a particularly calm day, is fragmented with sharp holes; remnants of World War II when the United States Army and Navy declared Marshall Law in the Hawaiian Islands and used the nearby island of Kahoolawe for target practice. As bombs (and the works) bounced off Kahoolawe, they hit Molokini forming these indentations.  Also visible on the backside of Molokini is the "wave bench." This bench is a result of constant waves and erosive forces on the backside of the islet. An almost identical wave bench sits at approximately 350 feet of water, indicating the sea level at Molokini was once much lower than its current position. Though the inside of the crater (where we snorkel daily) is a shallow, protected zone, the backside of Molokini almost immediately drops to 600 ft and is subject to strong currents and winds. 

Voyager!

Cruising along!

Just Another Day in Paradise

A beach walk by my house in Kihei

These paddlers are seen out on the water every morning

Coral head washed ashore

An abandoned Lei in the sand

Maui Cruisin'

Its official: I am a car owner. Well, co-owner I should say. Annie and I purchased this beauty for a whopping $1,200 bucks. The car was a real steal, with the custom design exterior (duck tape) and specialized door handles (yup, they've been ripped out). We'll be riding in style!

Oh, and I almost forgot . . . the lovely, foam enforced headlights! woo hoo!

 Only 102,000 miles since 2001. . .  so the real question is, who managed to beat this car up so much in a measily ten years?

 Cruisin'  (and very proud of my new stick skills)

(And Niki, I know I am a dirty, greasy hippie. No need to comment)

Stick driving, unfortunately, is not my only new car-related talent these days. I am also a skilled repair-woman, as the car has a small coolant leak and needs to be "watered" every few days. SO FUN!

Celebrating my success

I call it the Gremlin (coined by mommy dearest), and its our lovely Maui Cruiser.

Tom is Crazy

This makes me laugh

Things 1, 2, 3, and 6: Tetons or BUST(ha ha ha . . . that title is for you, DAD)

Six days off from work: red-eye to Bozeman, lunch with Mike and Greer, and down to the Tetons with Mom, Dad, and Max just in time for an elk siting and a sunset lake hike.

                                                                

Then a day of canoeing interspersed with more wildlife sitings

 

The boys decide to go for a swim

 

 

Max loves family vacations

Maybe the cutest thing I have ever seen

QUACK! 

 

Ducklings along for a free ride

Fish siting- by far Max's favorite part of the morning

 

Then, time for an afternoon hike

Pretty waterfall!

With Marmots!

Chipmunks!

And honeybees, oh my!

(yes, Liesel/Niki, I know you will make fun of that relentlessly)

A quick Safety Dance on the top of the mountain

Before heading down

Even after a quick Moose siting on the way home, Tom wasn't ready to call it a day

Because  you have to GO CRAZY WITH IT!

Saddle Seats

Sampling local beers

The Bar

Bigfoot- he has finally met his match

Day Three begins with shopping in Jackson Hole with Mom

Then a quick hike

Are we awkward enough?

Moosetracks!

WHAT!?!?! A flower Tom can't identify!?!?!

Spider eats Butterfly

Then a evening wildlife rafting trip.

Waiting for the boat. . . Max still lovin' life!

Bald Eagle siting!

Our guide

Beavers are cute!

Justin Beiber . . . just a normal kid rafting through the Tetons

Deer!

My time with the fam concludes with another day of hiking around a beautiful lake

And down to a stream

On the way back to the house, a few Bison

And another run-in with Mr. Moose!

The next day, I headed to Big Sky for lunch with Greer and then some hiking with Mikey just outside Bozeman

Pretty lake!

Greer, Mike, and I had dinner outside in Bozeman and enjoyed a passing tribute to Zombies (a parade of over a hundred zombies . . . what? Not weird at all)

Going out in Bozeman!

So good to see my best friends!

In the morning, I had time for a quick breakfast with Mike before flying back to Maui, with a rainbow landing in Kahului! Welcome home!