Terry's Journey in Retirement

Chapter 652


8/15/2023

Maui

50 years ago

The worst natural disaster in Hawaiian history recently occurred with the wildfires that devastated Lahaina, the first capital of the Hawaiian Islands. Avoiding that discussion. This is that whaling port where Kathy and I visited in 1974. I recall the tsunami sirens mounted high atop tall poles in town. There were tsunamis prior to (1960) and after (1975) our visit here.

We rode in the Anna locomotive on the Sugar Cane Train, a narrow gage coal fired steam train of the now defunct Lahaina Kaanapali Pacific Rail Road . It was a pleasant 12 mile round trip through the plantation from the now defunct Pioneer Mill north and back. They burned sugar cane residue from the 225 foot tall stack (which survived the wildfire). The decline of their industry caused by cheaper labor in India, South America and the Caribbean.

We considered a whale watch cruise but believe it wasn't in season and might have just done a catamaran sunset cocktail sail.

I checked my slide photos to discover that I only had 4 poor shots from that entire trip, but I felt like it would be worthwhile for my memories to attempt a recreation of that trip. I did one lousy rendition of this morning sunrise over the Haleakala volcanic crater.  There was no focusing in the darkness of sunrise.

We stayed a day or so in nearby Keihi in the Southwest at the Wailea Beach Resort, the Marriott Maui.  Mostly we were just lounging on this trip with minor side trips to other beaches or some simple tourist things.

On our first night in Maui we were able to get into this Sheraton Maui in Kaanapali  just north of Lahaina. Always using the cut rate airline discount for rooms we could only get one night in their available space so had to move to other locations during the week. We liked this one the best.

After going south to Keihi then back up the coast to Kaanapali we coudn't get back into the Sheraton so we took this Marriott Maui Ocean Club . I remember swimming around their interconnecting pools and going under the lava structure to the outdoor bar for a Mai Tai cocktail. In the morning we left for the Kailua Airport on the east side to turn in our rented Japanese car. Then Hawaiian Airlines to Honlolulu before getting on flight home, maybe American Airlines.

This was a slide just prior to our Maui trip. It's from the Allegheny Airline Christmas party at Schliesmans Restaurant near the Airport. Various airlines gave us free flight tickets at these parties so we always attended.

Did we have a charmed life, yes. This was just one of 5 trips to Hawaii. We were spoiled with many trips to great world class destinations.

Not to show off, but just to be grateful for what we had. 

Hawaii offers a great climate and natural beauty.  Can we say weather extremes are becoming more frequent? Yes, there can be devastation anywhere. There will be loss and suffering in life.