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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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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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Ready Runners Workshop

 Yesterday I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with a delightful group of thirteen New York runners, readers, and bloggers along with my personal trainer, Lauren. As part of our partnership, Equinox and I are working to plan a few events throughout the year that can help area readers get in touch with their bodies and improve their workouts. 

This month’s event, Ready Runners Workshop, was focused on an aspect of running that many of us don’t focus enough time on: repair and adjustment. Lauren broke the class up into four parts:

  • foam rolling
  • adjustment and stretching work
  • agility
  • body part specific relaxation

The great thing about the class was that each person was able to spend the time doing each exercise on their own with their personal foam roller and mat while Lauren and I helped with adjustments.

 This meant that when they get home hopefully there will be some muscle memory that will help ensure these are exercises become a regular part of their workout routine. In addition, Lauren took time to answer questions during the workshop and provided helpful handouts!

 Foam Rolling General Tips

  • Foam rollers are inexpensive and can be stored in almost any size apartment or home and can quickly become one of your most important pieces of workout equipment or gear. (Here is the one Equinox uses in their gyms.)
  • Foam rollers aren’t just for your legs. They can be used for the entire body.
  • When you find a tender spot in the area you are working on, don’t fear. Keep the roller on this spot and wait to feel a release or diminished discomfort.
  • Foam rolling can be used before and after exercise, both weight bearing workouts and cardio to help activate the muscles and release tension.
  • The most common areas to work are the thorasic spine, piriformis, itBand, hamstrings, and qauds. However, yesterday many of us found that the calves and adductors were the most painful.

You can find more information regarding foam rolling here. In addition, Lauren highly recommends this site for great exercise information and low price gear.

Adjustments and Stretching

During the stretching and adjustments portion Lauren led us through a few workouts to help stretch our tight hip flexors and strengthen and engage our glute muscles for more balanced running.

We started with multi plane hip stretches as you can see below. There are three which help stretch all aspects of your hip muscles and allow you to get deeper than a static stretch.

We moved from the hips to the glutes focusing on bridge work both one legged and two legged to strengthen these muscles which tend to be weak for female runners. Due to our anatomy, women naturally engage their quads more than their glutes when running which can lead to injury.

Next we used bands to help build these muscles further through simple side step exercises which can be taken to the next level by adding squats in between. These bands, which can also be purchased on her favorite site, Perform Better, are only $2 and can be great tools to bring with you anywhere! Yesterday we used yellow (light) and green (medium) resistance bands due to the upcoming MORE Half Marathon many of the ladies were running today. 

Agility

For our final movement portion, we broke into groups to go through agility drills which can be used the day before or of a race to help loosen and shakeout leg muscles. The cone drill was a sidestep and sprinting exercise which forced you to move in all directions. The ladder exercise is a traditional agility drill combined with quick movements. The last station combines a hip opener exercise with a follow through movement.

 After all this movement we ended with relaxation. Lauren led us through guided progressive muscle relaxation which allowed us to focus on individual areas of our body while laying in a dark room. Similar to the savasana in yoga, this ten minute exercise left each of us completely relaxed and calm. By focusing on certain areas (clench and release your hands, then clench your feet, followed by your face, etc) it is easier to stay in the practice and not find your mind wandering. While she suggested this for right before bed or a big race, I think this can be a great exercise to use anywhere at anytime, even if you’re not lying down.

After the relaxation portion, the Equinox spa manager, Tim, joined us for some massage therapy education. While some of us, ahem Emily, were lucky enough to enjoy his touch during the demonstration, he reminded us that there is no point in pushing your muscles through constant workouts and training if you don’t allow time for repair. He should know as he is a former football and baseball athlete! His portion left me craving a massage even though I know I won’t be having one anytime soon since I just had one down at Sea Island.

Question: Are you a foam roller? Stick user? None of the above?

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