...snorkeling amongst sea turtles

Laura peers into the lens of the underwater camera.

Our first sea turtle of the morning.

Snorkelers legs dangle below the surface of the ocean as a sea turtle swims past.

Mrs. Huffy in her snorkeling gear.

Grandma and Grandpa aboard the Quicksilver II.

The Quicksilver II at anchor while snorkelers swim about the ocean looking for fish and sea turtles.

Kirsten takes a breather while snorkeling.

An underwater scene.

Keith snorkels below the surface.

We boarded the Quicksilver II at 7:30 AM, for a trip to Molokini where we planned to spend the morning snorkeling.  The trip started on rolling waves as we spotted whales spouting and their tails far in the distance.  Before long the boat was splashing through bigger waves and when we arrived at Molokini there weren't any other boats in what is the most popular snorkeling destination for Maui visitors.  We were "blown out" as our captain said, so off we went to find an area protected from the wind.  Once we arrived we were unable to find a solid anchor, so off we went to a third location.

Solidly anchored, snorkelers geared up and jumped off the boat into the briny sea.  Within minutes we were just feet away from a large sea turtle which seemed to be just as interested in us as we were in it.  It was a surreal experience and we took photos with the underwater camera we had rented for the day.  Eventually the turtle drifted away and we swam around looking for fish and more sea turtles.  We didn't have to go far.  Fish darted below us and turtles would just appeared out of nowhere.  It was difficult to fathom there were so many of them.

After an hour we boarded the boat and made way for another snorkeling location.  We were back in the water in no time and once again turtles were in abundance.  We snorkeled for about 45 minutes before the water began to get rough.  The captain had us climb back aboard and we went on a short boat tour before returning to the harbor in heavy seas.  It was just after 1:00 PM, and we were back on shore filled with the happy memories of...snorkeling amongst the sea turtles

...Emily's Luau

Members of the audience went on stage to learn the hula.

Emily performs the hula with the instructor on stage.

A dancer with bulging eyes and a huge tongue which was used to intimidate enemies in days past.

Dancers perform on stage.

The fire dancer takes the stage.

A slow exposure captures the fire trail.

More fire dancers.

After the luau dancers lined the exit allowing for photos to be taken with them.

Emily poses with one of the dancers after the luau.

More than anything else, Emily wanted to go to a luau during our trip to Maui.  So we got reservations to attend one on our first full day in Maui.  Then, the morning of the event I received a phone call from Jennifer saying the luau had been canceled due to inclement weather...in Maui!  We all got a good laugh out of that.  It was a bit windy and there were some occasional rain showers, but it was above freezing.  Go figure.

At any rate, we rescheduled for the next evening which meant our luau would follow our Haleakala sunrise/biking adventure, which you might recall started at 1:30 AM.  Made for a big day.

We arrived a few minutes early and received shell necklaces while we waited in line.  When we got to our seats we were greeted by a man with a big tray of fruity Hawaiian drinks and it wasn't long before Master of Ceremonies, Warren Miliani, took the stage and the show began.  The roasted pig was brought out and lifted into the air for all to see while the band played Hawaiian music.  Warren soon asked all the people wanting to learn how to perform the hula to come up on stage. Emily jumped right up and made her way through the crowd to a spot right next to the instructor.  It was her dream come true and she was ecstatic!

We went through the food line next where we piled our plates with pulled pork (of course), mahi mahi, and other Hawaiian foods.  Then, I was lucky enough to sit next to a man from Missouri who asked if I knew Sarah Palin.  I told him I didn't, which he couldn't believe because he thought everybody in Alaska knew everybody and so on.  He had lots of ideas about politics which he was more than happy to share.

Luckily, it wasn't long before the show began in earnest and we watched as dancers performed traditional Hawaiian dances as Warren interpreted their meaning for us.  He said the movement of the dancers hands was very important as they told the story being conveyed by the dance.

Then it was time for the fire dancers.  Evidently fire dancing is not traditionally Hawaiian.  It was performed on other Polynesian islands and eventually made its way to Hawaii--mostly for entertainment at tourist luaus.  In any event, we were looking forward to this and watched as the fire dancers twirled fire batons and threw them into the air.  It was great!

All too soon the show was over and we made our way to the exit.  Along the way many of the dancers waited to greet the crowd and Emily got her photo taken with several of them. It was a great evening and we were glad we attended...Emily's Luau.

...Haleakala sunrise and bike ride

Mrs. Huffy and Laura wait for the sunrise in the Visitor's Center at Haleakala National Park.

Many other sunrise watchers were waiting in the Visitor's Center as well.

Uh...sunrise atop Haleakala.

Our intrepid group with our Haleakala sunrise in the background.  Don't look for the sun.  It isn't there.  But, now we are ready to ride!

Laura and her bike at the staging area on Haleakala.

Laura and the cloud enshrouded West Maui Mountains in the distance.

Mrs. Huffy and fellow bikers on Haleakala.

Laura and the first rainbow of the day.

Laura and Mrs. Huffy cruise down Haleakala.

Laura poses under another rainbow as we near the bottom of Haleakala.

Mrs. Huffy somewhere under the rainbow.

I was there, too.

1:30 AM--the alarm goes off.  We move slowly after just a few hours sleep and soon we are out the door of the condo and in the car on our way to the Haleakala Bike Company headquarters in Haiku, Maui, Hawaii.  The road is wide open, albeit dark and we make good time.  We arrive plenty early to be outfitted and briefed for our trip up Haleakala to watch the sunrise and then bike down its flanks for 26 miles.  We climb aboard a van and and start up the volcano.  The driver provides information about the volcano, the sunrise, biking tips, and points out landmarks we need to know about to make our way back to headquarters.  It was too dark to see much so he promised to give us a map before we started biking.

We arrive atop Haleakala in some serious wind, rain, and dark.  Of course, we got there an hour early to get a prime parking location for the van, which has to be turned off in accordance with national park service regulations, so there is no heat.  Our driver tells us it is warmer in the visitors center, so we brace for the wet, gale force cold and make our way toward it, along with many other sunrise viewers/bike riders.  Once inside we huddle against the chill and look at the items for sale which include beautiful posters of the sun coming up over Haleakala.  Our sunrise wouldn't be anything like the posters.  The park ranger announces 'time to sunrise' every few minutes and after a serious wait we head outside for the sunrise chant into the wind--which continues to blow like a banshee.

Then, suddenly, it's light.  Even though we can't see it, the sun has risen right on time.  The scene is grey, ethereal, and other worldly in our sleep deprived states, but we can see.  We all look at each other and laugh at our good fortune with the sunrise.  Quickly we make our way back to the van which we hop aboard and ride to the bike staging area to begin our descent of Haleakala.

When we arrive at the staging area we collect our gear and hop on our rental bikes.  Already the clouds are breaking and the temperature is warming.  We grab the handlebars and steer downhill without pedaling.  Before long we are clamping the brakes to slow our speed.  In the remaining 26 miles there would be little need for pedaling as it is almost entirely downhill!

After a couple of miles we stop for photos of rainbows and valleys.  Our fingers operate the camera controls much better now that the air is warmer and they have thawed.  After photos we hop back on our bikes and continue to careen down the side of the volcano with reckless abandon.  We lean into corners and grind the brakes most of the way.  It's fun and the sleepiness has left our heads.  Every few miles we stop for more photos and marvel at the beauty of the ride.  Other bikers pass us and we pass them.  Everyone whoops it up upon meeting another group.

Before long we are near the base of the volcano and close in on the bike company headquarters.  We pull into the parking lot at 10:15 AM.  The day is done as far as sunrises and biking down a volcano goes.  We return our bikes and get in the rental car for the trip back to our condo, happy for the memory of a...Haleakala sunrise and bike ride.

...Maui

The Hufford girls arrive at the airport and received flower leis while waiting for their luggage.

Emily enjoyed playing the ukelele in our condo.

We ate an entire pineapple our first morning on Maui.

Laura and some flowers.  They were everywhere.

Emily loved visiting the beach near our condo.

If you look closely at this sign you can see there was quite a contrast between the weather on Maui and Anchorage.

Back in February it was dark and cold in Alaska...and it had been that way for a long time.  So, one night at dinner I blurted out that we should all go to Hawaii for Christmas and invite our families from California and Montana to meet us there.  I remember there was was a stunned silence and blank stares for a moment before the Hufford girls erupted with joy, laughter, and disbelief.  I remember one of them saying:  "Really?  You mean it?  Really?"

So, for about ten months we planned and dreamed of Maui.  We talked with people who had been there, searched the web for information, and made our reservations for condos, tours, and luaus.  We wanted to spend time on the beach, watch the sunrise from atop Haleakala and then ride bikes down its flanks, see a luau, snorkel with sea turtles, eat dinners out, and drive the road to Hana.  Essentially, we put as much as we could into a six night stay.  It was quite the trip.

Of course, it would be difficult to put all the photos and details into one blog entry.  Too much happened for a single sitting.  So, if you're interested, check back often for updates of our trip to...Maui

...ice fishing at Forest Lake

The day got off to a great start. 

Ice fishermen standing around a bonfire on the ice.

The Quickfish 3 on Forest Lake.

Due to ice build-up on the auger blades we couldn't drill through the ice.  So, we put it in the fire to thaw out.  Worked great.

Izzy...the ice fishing hound.

Waiting for the bite.

An ice encased fishing line.

Minus 13 at the parking area.  It was cold.  Charlie and I pulled our gear sleds out of the back of the truck and started for the outlet at the far end of Forest Lake, just about a mile away.  It wasn't long before we warmed up.  About 30 minutes later we stopped, drilled three holes with the hand auger (the power auger was too heavy to haul on this trip) and set the Quckfish 3 on the ice.  We were ready to fish. 

Several other ice fishermen arrived and it wasn't long before more holes were drilled and the first fish was caught.  The search for wood soon began and before long a huge bonfire was blazing.  More ice fishermen arrived and more holes were drilled and tents popped up.  More fish were caught...and so the morning went.

The sun rose above the trees but no heat could be felt.  A few hours passed and several ice fishermen started to talk about leaving.  Had to be home in time for dinner and to make it back to town for the parade and fireworks display in Kenai.  So, slowly the lake was abandoned and the fish world under the ice returned to normalcy.  The parking area was still cold but we knew heaters would soon be blasting and the ride home would be toasty.  That's how it was...ice fishing at Forest Lake.

...the cabin at Kelly Lake

The Hufford girls at the trailhead on our way to the cabin.

Mrs. Huffy on the trail to the cabin toting a full backpack and towing a sled full of gear.

Laura hiking along the edge of Kelly Lake on her way to the cabin.

The cabin at Kelly Lake.

The cabin's heat source.  It kept things plenty warm.  I had lots of fun adjusting things for maximum warmth and wood burning duration throughout our stay.

We had a birthday party while we were at the cabin.

The birthday cupcake.  One of those candles would not extinguish.  Very funny.

Laura helps Emily add up her score during a rowdy game of Phase 10.

We all had fun playing the game.

The bunk area of the cabin.

Emily climbs the ladder to her bunk at bed time.

We brought a Coleman lantern to use as a source of light during our stay.  We used an entire tank of fuel as the darkness is pervasive this time of year.

The view of the cabin in the early morning.

Emily and Mrs. Huffy play Bananagrams as the sun comes up outside.

Big Head Todd and the Monsters provided the early morning musical entertainment from a cell phone.

The gear sled loaded, bungeed, and ready to go back to the truck.  It was easier to hike than it was to ski due the minimal snow coverage.  So, the skis got to ride on the sled.

Laura blazes the trail back to the truck with a loaded pack and gear sled.

The public use cabin at Kelly Lake is maintained by the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.  We have visited it several times during our hikes on Seven Lakes Trail which passes by its front door.  Last summer we were looking around and said, "We should rent this sometime."  The next day we called the KNWR Headquarters and reserved our date.  At $45 a night it is a great bargain.  It's also kid friendly as the hike to the cabin is on a well established and level trail.

So,  on Saturday morning we loaded our packs and sleds with everything we would need for a birthday party and a night at the cabin.  Upon our arrival we started a fire to warm the place up and began to think about dinner. Afterward we played Phase 10 and Bananagrams, and told ghost stories before going sleep for over nine hours!

When we finally woke up Mrs. Huffy and Gabby took off for a hike following the trail to the turn-off to Hidden Lake while the rest us us stayed behind and lounged about the cabin.  Upon Mrs. Huffy's return we packed things up and left the cabin around 11:15 AM.  We had a great time and we know that we will return to...the cabin at Kelly Lake.