Ka’anapali Beach Club-Day 5 Leaving

We got all packed and ready to go and then at check out we were told we had to pay full price for our room, that we had no reservation! Again? When we checked in the woman told me that but said she was calling Diamond Resorts and it would all be worked out. I asked her to let me know if there was a problem to resolve, she told me it would be fine, and of course I heard nothing. Clearly it is not resolved. Since we paid the 2014 dues last Nov or Dec why would we have closed our account? They had us call Diamond on their phone, but it is still not resolved. We had to leave for the airport so we just had to pay the exorbitant room rate and hope we can figure it out later. Maybe I need to stay home because I don’t feel a lot of compassion for the incompetence we have experienced on a couple of fronts this trip. Our trip to the car return and airport shuttle ride there were uneventful. We ate our sandwich and drank our drink before passing through security. The passing of security went very well, even fast. The flight was almost full and uneventful. No turbulence from the 2 hurricanes heading to Hawaii, the pilot said they were south of us, they couldn’t even see them. We were checking into the Quality Inn in Oakland at 12:02am. Good night!

Ka’anapali Beach Club-Day 4

Today Steven and Saira flew out for the mainland. Their flight was at 2pm. They were packed and ready so we went into Lahaina and dropped them off by the banyan tree for some last minute fun. We had a few things we wanted to look for as well. It was a quick trip to the airport after that. We dropped them off and they texted that they were on the plane just after 1:30pm so I suppose their flight left on time. On the way back we went into Lahaina again as there was one more thing I wanted to look for. That done we were back at the timeshare and ate lunch, then packed up some of our things for our flight out tomorrow. We are now getting weather warnings that the troublesome weather will begin to arrive on Thursday, we will be home by then! S&S made it to San Jose enough to drive home so I hope to hear they are safely home soon…. 

Ka’anapali Beach Club-Day 3

We heard there is a category 4 hurricane heading toward the islands, you can read about Hurricane Iselle here. Looks like we’ll be home before it really arrives in Hawaii.

Steven and Saira were up and out early, picking up the paddle board from the bellman and taking it out for some fun. We were heading out to the beach when they were heading back in to eat something. They went to McDonalds to get something “cheap” but of course that is not the case in Hawaii. Steven has yet to get over sticker shock in Hawaii. We continued on to the gazebo we rented for today, going all out for comfort. I blame it on the fact that John must be taking good care of his foot and it IS helping because when I put on a new bandage today it is looking considerably better. I expect the doctor to be surprised how well it looks when he sees him the day after we are home. Seriously, John burns so easily it helps to have this nice, clean area with no sand etc. to penetrate his bandage and keep him in the shade most of the time. Before S&S returned the board John took a little run out on it. The water was a bit rougher but he really enjoyed it. Before S&S were back from returning the board they began giving out free hotdogs, chips, popcorn, and juice. We just ordered some Kalua pork sliders but we managed to force down a hotdog! Nice touch, I didn’t think anything was really “free” in Hawaii. We enjoyed the pool and headed up to shower and get ready for the 'Ulalena performance tonight at 5pm. We all really enjoyed that, no photos allowed but I am sure I can find some on the internet that will be appropriate to remember the evening. We came back tired but the kids headed out to the beach or something to enjoy their last night here in Maui.  

John in the Gazebo

John wanted to go out on the paddle board

Go John (and Steven)!!!

Kalua Pork Sliders…YUM!

(Hawaiian buns, Kalua Pork, Maui onions, pepper jack cheese)

‘Ulalena

Ka’anapali Beach Club-Day 2

What a lovely and relaxing day for us. First we attended a welcome orientation that was really quite boring. If you have never been to Maui it would have been somewhat interesting. The reason to go to this little orientation was to get the free buffet breakfast voucher, which we did. We rented cabanas and we were nicely situated between the beach and the pool. It was very enjoyable. Steven and Saira walked to Boss Frog’s and rented one paddle (surf?) board and snorkeling gear. They enjoyed snorkeling right off the beach, we watched! A lot of people were snorkeling and this one threesome came in from spear fishing with a nice sized fish. I am not sure what kind of fish it is, maybe someone said Ono. By the time S&S came in, Steven was thrilled to see shrimp and artichoke pizza waiting for them. All that swimming works up and appetite. They went back in a couple of times and got some great photos with his new camera. They saw a really scary looking eel too.  The bellman will store the surf board overnight and they will no doubt be out there early in the morning to attempt to paddle on the board, it was too choppy by this afternoon to try it. I will say the water is much calmer and protected here than at Kamaole Beach Park I but it is not as sandy and does not go out on a gentle slope like Kamaole either. They didn’t seem to mind. It is early but we are tired and looking forward to bedtime!

There goes Steven!

Happy Fisherman!

Lunch (Shrimp/artichoke pizza)

Relaxing in the Cabanas

Ka’anapali Beach Club-Day 1

It did rain some last night! It’s always bittersweet to leave Kamaole Beach Club, it feels like home “ohana” there. However, it is time to move along! We were up and all packed and ready to leave by the 10am time.  Check in at Ka’anapali wasn’t exactly “uneventful” since they said we didn’t have a reservation!!! However, I guess they figured it out with our reservation number and my printed reservation in hand. We checked in and went for lunch at the grill, then enjoyed the pool area for the remainder of the day. It’s still warm and very humid but lovely just the same.

Kamaole Beach Club-Day 7

We all slept in somewhat, compared to other days anyway. I was up and made coffee, the other straggled in. S&S eventually decided to rent paddle boards but it was late morning and they guy at Boss Frog’s next door told them they only had about an hour of use left as the water was getting rough. Wholly cow, was it rough. They even had signs with red flags out, which I have never seen on this beach before. Needless to say they didn’t make it in the water. Steven was very disappointed but Saira was apprehensive and for sure I didn’t blame her. Common sense prevailed and Steven didn’t give it a go either. The boards got toted back and a refund was given. If they are up early enough and ready they can try to re-rent them tomorrow morning. We finished off the rest of the lobster raviolis, adding salad and fruit for lunch. I did laundry so when we leave everything will be clean. There is laundry at the next place but not IN the unit so I would rather do it all here where it is handy. I also spent a lot of time posting a special edition to the blog from the Feast at Lele we liked so much last night. Very special, but I still think I might prefer the Old Lahaina Luau for the atmosphere. The food is definitely gourmet at Lele, and the table service is nice, but we don’t mind going to a buffet, etc.

Steven’s BD-Kamaole Beach Club-Day 6

Today Steven is 25 years old! It is a little hard to believe! We had a good night’s sleep and after getting up and dressed we headed to Sarento's on the Beach for breakfast. I had the “Pacific” which is crab eggs Benedict, delicious! Actually Saira had that too, John had traditional eggs Benedict, and Steven had an omelet. I think it was something like a meat lovers omelet and is made with FOUR eggs…Yes, he finished it along with the potatoes that come with it, and the toast! We thought we would eat this big breakfast and then not eat until the Feast at Lele Luau tonight. After breakfast we just came back to the condo because Steven had to do homework and we read. I also changed the bandage on John’s foot, it is slowing healing, thankful for the healing. We left about 4pm for the luau, picked up our tickets at Boss Frog’s (purchased there online), and took the short drive up to Ka'anapali Beach Club where we will move to on Saturday. After a brief walk out to the beach and through the lobby area we headed  back to fine the Feast at Lele and secure parking. We checked in and spent a few minutes walking around the area browsing in shops until it was time to be seated. It is a small area in comparison to other luau’s we have been to. it is a lovely setting with the tables facing the narrow stage, then a few shrubs, the beach, and the ocean. More intimate than most luau’s. As you enter you are greeted with aloha, a fresh flower lei, and a choice of Mai Tai or beer on the way to your table. Reaching your table you find a nice white table cloth with a simple fresh leaf and candle for the décor on the table. Waiting for you are banana, sweet potato, and taro chips with fresh salsa and poi. Immediately our waiter Miguel came to see what we would like to drink. There is quite a menu, which I cannot post at this time but John and I had an Island Tea, Steven had a Corona, and Saira had frothy banana drink to start with. S&S ended up having a Blue Hawaii after that while John had Moscato and I had a glass of Riesling (I’m the self designated driver this evening). Instead of listing each course here, I will make a separate post showing the food and menu items. After each course you are presented entertainment from that specific area your food course is from. At dessert time they brought Steven’s with a candle, very nice and we sang to him with their help. It was a delightful evening ending with a fire dance and the performers passing though the audience to say aloha and pose for photos. The 30 minute drive back to Kihei was uneventful. We were all tried and went to bed. As I said, I will post the menu and photos of the food separately, quite the gourmet feast!

Breakfast at Sarento’s on the Beach

Pacific Eggs Benedict

Feast at Lele