ashleyd /

Maui Fruit & Fish

Our lack of sleep and early adventure left us craving breakfast as soon as we started the switchback path down the mountain.

The eucalyptus trees reminded us of California's redwood trees!

Since none of us know Maui very well, other than the few places my Papa insisted we visit, Dad and I have been relying on Yelp and Trip Advisor for tips and tricks, especially in regards to food. As we headed down the mountain I searched on Yelp for restaurants which were within a few miles of the base and open for breakfast. Based on ratings, it was clear that the only choice was Kula Lodge & Restaurant. 

Perched on the side of a luscious hill, 3200 feet above sea level, their expansive dining area is lit naturally with wall to wall windows, allowing diners to enjoy amazing views while they eat breakfast, lunch or dinner.

The first thing on our mind was their fresh brewed Kona coffee! They even had coconut syrup for it but we both all found that to be far too sweet.

While my mom had her eye on their macadamia nut and banana pancakes, I had one thing in mind: fresh fruit. Due to dehydration and passing multiple closed fruit stands on the way up the mountain I wanted nothing to do with savory egg dishes or sweet pancakes. Luckily, their tropical fruit salad delivered more than I could have expected! Priced at $14.50, the Tropical Fruit Salad with a side of homemade granola included nearly a half pound of Maui fresh mango, strawberry, banana, and pineapples paired with vanilla yogurt.

I was in heaven!

Having the chance to enjoy a bite of my mom’s decadent pancakes and my dad’s savory Portuguese sausage was the perfect way to complete my first taste of Maui!

Check out the amazing gardens surrounding the restaurant! We could have spent hours exploring their beautiful trails and flowers!

Later in the afternoon, around 2pm, we were done exploring my Papa’s boyhood and family beach home in Kihei and finally hungry again. Within minutes Yelp was able to direct us to “the best fish tacos in the world.” at Coconuts Fish Cafe in Kihei.

 Opened 2009 by a local couple, they only deliver the freshest seafood in the “healthiest way possible” to diners eagerly awaiting food at their surfboard tables and small outdoor area. They never use microwaves and everything is made to order whether you’re carrying out or dining in.

Based on the Yelp reviews we knew that fish tacos were the primary draw but as soon as we stepped up to order we saw their fresh coconut shrimp and were sold on splitting one of those as an appetizer.

These are hands down the best coconut shrimp we've ever had!!

After the coconut shrimp we were even more excited for our fish sandwiches and fish tacos!  I don’t know how to begin describing these fish tacos other than that you can definitely split an order of the two fish tacos! Each one includes 17 different ingredients ranging from the mango cilantro salsa to the freshly grilled mahi mahi. Their suggestion for eating is to pick up by the edges, lean forward, and take a huge bite incorporating every flavor!
 
 
My dad was a wimp and didn’t think he’d like the fish tacos since he has somehow never had mahi mahi before. Luckily his choice was just as delicious, a mild fish that was perfecly seasoned and topped with their housemade slaw and all the toppings!
 
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ashleyd /

Aloha: Arriving in Hawaii and Haleakala National Park

Aloha from the gorgeous island of Maui! Who knew that I’d be 10,000 feet up today and braving 40 degree weather?

Last time we chatted yesterday I was just starting my travels from JFK. Yesterday included 15 hours of traveling for me, the most I’ve ever traveled in a day! My flight from JFK to Los Angeles was exactly as I planned. The flight itself was very smooth, I was able to secure a seat in the exit row which made for a pleasant flight experience, and I was able to get a blog post done and enjoy The Descendants.

I can never stay hydrated on a long flight, even with a bottle this size and many rounds of seltzer!

Once I arrived in Los Angeles I walked three gates over to meet my parents flight which was landing fifteen minutes later. We easily met up and spent the next hour catching up and finding a dinner option before our flight to Kahului (Maui) departed. The Delta terminal which we were in yesterday was very disappointing. The food choices were minimal and lacked freshness. My best option ended up being a putrid California Pizza Kitchen to go salad along with a banana and some nuts for the flight. My parents’ sandwiches, all premade, weren’t much better. Oh well, if this is the worst thing we deal with all week then I’m doing dandy, right?

I'm so lucky that my parents are supportive blog parents! Smile for the camera 🙂

We weren’t really sure how to handle this leg of the trip which was another six hour flight. Based on my body’s east coast clock, we would land in Hawaii in around 2:45am. Instead of sleeping the entire flight a few passengers recommended
that we sleep a few hours and stay up the last hour or two so it’d be easy to crash when we got to our hotel.
 
Our hotel last night, Maui Beach Hotel was economical, within five minutes of the airport, and hasn’t renewed their marketing or website since the 1980’s. If you get my drift, it wasn’t exactly what we were expecting but we survived and it has made for multiple laughs today.
 
By 5am, Maui time, we were all lying in bed staring at the ceiling trying to sleep. My friends who said that this was the best day to head up to Haleakala National Park to see the sunrise and enjoy the view from above the clouds. The drive took you from the arid portion of Maui up to the volcanic crater 10,200 feet above sea level!
 
 
The drive, while only 40 miles, took a little over an hour due to the extreme switchbacks. Now let me tell you, my dad has driven many a switch back in the Appalachian Trail region, Vermont, and Grand Canyon but today was like something we’ve never experienced. Evidently after you pass into the National Park land there is no such things as gaurd rails or curbs. This meant that my mom and I were literally leaning toward the center of the car for over an hour. In addition, about 10 minutes into the drive we passed a sign saying “Last chance for food and gas.” I haven’t seen a sign like this since I spent time in Montana a few summers back. Once we arrived at the summit the views were breathtaking. The winds were gusting at 30 miles per hour and the temperature, before wind chill, was a brisk 40 degrees. Needless to say we scampred across the Moon like (or what I imagine) terrain taking pictures and enjoying the views above the clouds.

So to recap, if you come to Maui, definitely plan to drive up to Haleakala National Park the morning you arrive as you’ll be awake bright and early thanks to the time change. Learn from our mistake and stop at the roadside coffee stand before heading up the mountain for a delicious dose of caffeine, otherwise it will be about 2 hours before you enjoy breakfast. On that note, the next post will include the amazing food we’ve eaten today. Yelp has been an absolute savior thus far, recommending two awesome breakfast and lunch restaurants!
 
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