Snorkeling Our Way Through Maui

     Maui is indeed a lovely place.  At every turn, I feel like I see a new color of blue or turquoise.  The morning and sunset colors of the ocean have a deep and dusky hue while the mid-day brings the brightest blues, vivid turquoise, and even an olive green tint at some locations.  It's a big part of what we love about the ocean, and no where is it more intense than Maui.  
     Since my last post, we went out to celebrate a 50th anniversary, the reason that brought us all together on the islands in the first place.  Dinner was right on the water, complete with a band next door and tiki torches lighting the night sky.  Jack even spotted a six-foot shark slinking by our restaurant as we dined.  The meal was amazing, the service was wonderful, and we toasted the happy couple that brought us all together (and for my husband, his brothers, my niece, and my own children...the ones that brought them into the world).
     Sunday was a day for snorkeling and pool time.  We checked out Honolua Bay in the early afternoon.  Three big boats filled with paying customers told us that we'd picked the right spot.  We saw dozens of cool fish (I kept shouting, underwater mind you, "like in Nemo!"), and some in our party saw an octopus, getting to watch it change colors as it went near the sand and back into the deep water again.  The bigger guys in our groups ventured out further and swam with some sea turtles too.  Such an awesome adventure!  The trek down to the snorkeling spot was even part of the adventure with a little hike filled with what Nick kept calling "Jurassic Park" type trees and vines.  We ended the day with dinner in the penthouse (Susan and Steve's condo for the week).  The night sky was so clear and packed with stars that we even caught a glimpse of Mercury and Venus.
      Today, we took off to find a nearby rainforest, but side-tracked to see the Nakalele Blowhole.  If you've followed my travel posts for long, you know that I loved finding and watching Thor's Well along the Oregon coast.  This little blowhole was not nearly as large, but it packed a massive punch!  We explored the Olivine Tide Pools there too and found the Heart in the Rock as well.  The hike down and up to the blowhole was not for the faint of heart, but it was worth it for sure.  
     We attempted some more snorkeling this afternoon, but didn't find much this trip.  Tomorrow we're off on the famous Road to Hana.  I've done a TON of research and mapped out our stops and things we want to see.  Let's see if I can earn my keep as a tour guide or not.