Aloha Aweigh

This last day in the State of Hawai'i began with a bit of accidental whale watching. This is always more interesting than conventional watching wherein the animals are actually under contract with tour operators. During breakfast, several critters were spied not far from the anchor position of the ship.

We were among the first to board the tenders and head in to Lahaina. Perhaps that was a mistake; the city, already resembling touristy ports (Acapulco comes to mind), when barren of its hawkers, smells of lunch fish, lost tourists and screaming kids, appeared rather bleak. The bright moment was being met at the dock by the local assembly of elderly Hawaiian musicians and hula dancers. They're a delight. One may think of younger hula girls being better at their craft than these old ladies, but it's just not so. Their grace, supple movements and tender smiles were a welcome greeting.

After an hour long walk and a visit to a great art gallery, we were almost ready to return to the ship. First, though, was a lingering stroll through the city's central park, 4 square-blocks large and shaded by a single, massive banyan. The tree was planted in 1873 and today is the only plant on Maui which has it own 3-person crew devoted to the tree's maintenance, health and protected accessibility.

While boating back to the ship, I took one long, perhaps final, look back at Lahaina and snapped a reminder that some past events are past whilst their memory colours the future.

This is likely the last post of this trip. The quiet mood of the next few days may not provide material to share here. Be assured: should something truly fun, interesting or overpowering take place, we'll put it up.

Aloha!

PS: We just received word that our Uncle Tony Galli passed away this afternoon. He was 89 years old. We enjoyed seeing Uncle Tony one last time during the Galli Reunion, last August.