Hotel Hana-Maui Romantic Getaway

I have to admit, when , my husband suggested we go stay in the Hotel Hana-Maui for our wedding anniversary, I was giddy. It is my favorite resort on the planet and only a couple of hours away from where we live. It is a stunning property located on the hillside next to Hana Bay overlooking the ocean. It is a property that has a lot of history and long time employees whose families have worked in the hotel for generations.

Hana is incredibly relaxing anyway, but the hotel makes it easy to settle in quickly and enjoy just being on vacation. I think not having TVs in the rooms (or clocks for that matter), make it easier to relax and keep the grounds peaceful. There are a couple of pools on property and one of them is an infinity pool that visually drops down into the ocean. It is the perfect temperature to hop in any time and get in some laps or just float on the surface watching the palm trees sway overhead.

We were fortunate to be able to stay in a Sea Ranch Cottage with a full ocean view which just added to our joy when we arrived. The lanai has a couple of chairs and a table where you can enjoy your breakfast or cocktails and you can fall asleep with the sound of the ocean in the background.

The impeccably managed grounds are simply idyllic. The pathways through the property are lined with plumeria trees of all colors, monstera leaves, travelers palms, enormous banyan trees, lipstick palms, heliconia, ginger and ti leaves along with many others. This time of year, the Royal Poinciana Trees are in full bloom on the grounds, filling the background with red blooms and show stopping neon red.

We had perfect weather for the three days we were there and had a chance to stop by Hamoa Bay for some beach time and body surfing. If you have the chance during your stay on Maui to spend a couple of nights at the hotel, it is well worth the money and the road trip to get there. The staff is full of the aloha spirit and the food options are numerous now with amazing roadside stands filled with delicious plate lunches featuring fresh fish, chicken, steak and shrimp. We couldn't get enough of Bruddah Hutts just outside of Hana town in the row of pine trees. HUGE portions of food cooked to order including garlic shrimp, steak plates, chicken and veggies, shrimp pasta and more... The family that runs the stand changes up the chef daily and each adds his or her own recipes to the mix daily so you can go almost every day and have a slightly different menu which makes it a great option for food in Hana. Ono Organic Farms sets up their stand a couple days a week in town just past the gas station (there is only one gas station in Hana) and if you are lucky enough to catch them, be sure to buy as much as you can fit in your cooler. They have amazing fresh fruit and veggies and many times will let you try it before you buy it which helps because some things (like dragon fruit) are beautiful but more of an acquired taste. They have fabulous organic tropical fruit of all varieties.

We also discovered Hana Fresh located right at the Hana Health Center in the white tents. They are open every day and feature lemongrass iced tea which is addicting, fresh local coffee (iced or hot), a freshly caught sashimi and local fish fillets, fresh fruit and granola, yummy banana mac nut bread, a full espresso bar, fresh locally grown veggies and local crafts. If you are in Hana on Sunday or Monday, check out the delicious Thai food just behind the ball field.

Just before you get to Hana town, Nahiku Marketplace now features Thai food, Chinese food and tacos available along with the freshly baked (and addicting) coconut candy, full espresso bar and art gallery. The adventure to Hana is definitely changing for the better with more roadside stands featuring local flowers, fresh fruit and veggies along with flower lei for the road traveler. Take a trip and enjoy the ride!

A hui hou,

Aubrey

http://www.aubreyhord.com

Headed to Hana...

Forgive me blog followers for I have sinned... It has been 10 days since my last blog...

Hana is one of those places on Maui that I never get bored of visiting. It is a remote a lush tropical paradise that has retained the Hawaiian culture and embraces you when you arrive. The community is built around a bay on the eastern shoreline of the island of Maui, accessible by a long, narrow and windy road on either direction or by the small Hana airport.

There is a spirit in Hana, they call it "mana" in Hawaiian, meaning "life force." It seems as if this "mana" embraces the Hana community and protects it from over development for the time being. It is a strong community of families who have thrived for generations in the area. Many have worked at the Hotel Hana-Maui for decades - just check out the wall of photos of employees next to the concierge desk. Fishing, farming, ranching, hunting and traditional crafts are still part of the lifestyle in Hana. The Hana Ranch retains a presence both in town and just outside town along with Hasegawa General Store (a true historic staple out in Hana).

Hana is the home of many famous people, past and present and sometimes you will get a glimpse of them as they take their morning jog along the road or enjoy a beach mat next to you at Hamoa Beach. You never know who you may see in Hana....

One of the largest heiaus, or ancient Hawaiian temples, Kahanu Gardens, is found just before you arrive in Hana town and is a definite must see. It is part of the National Tropical Botanical Garden System and you could easily spend a couple of hours wandering through the grounds and marveling at the enormous, hand built and wonderfully restored heiau.

Hana also harbors a stunning red sand beach, white sand beach and black sand beach just down the road at Waianapanapa State Park. The red sand beach has turned into a clothing optional beach so be prepared to see anything. The surfing, boogie boarding and body surfing is fun at Hamoa and Koki beach just be sure to check with the local surfers when you arrive on the conditions- the strong currents and surf can be dangerous if you don't know what you are doing.

Designated as a bird sanctuary, idyllic Alau Island capped with a few palm trees, sits just offshore of Koki beach.

Hana Bay features the historic harbor and pier with a cute beach, picnic tables, Tutu's cafe and a short little hike along the shoreline that leads to a cave which was the birthplace of Queen Ka'ahumanu which is an historic site.

A few windy miles outside of town, Haleakala National Park dips down to the ocean and contains Oheo Gulch in the area of Kipahulu. This is the area where one of favorite trails winds through the bamboo forest to a 400 ft waterfall called Waimoku Falls and there are pools of water cascading down the hillside, ready for swimmers to take the chilly but refreshing plunge. You will have to pay the fee to enter the national park but it is worth the adventures you will have exploring, swimming, hiking and relaxing in the lush, tropical area.

You just gotta make the drive to Hana one day if you haven't already. Enjoy it, respect it and leave it as you found it, if not a little nicer.

A hui hou,

Aubrey

Honolua Bay - perfect conditions

Aloha! It was a perfect day at Honolua Bay when I stopped by last week.

It was a gorgeous day with clear blue water and blue skies with my favorite white "Simpsons" clouds.

A couple of sailboats were moored in the bay, allowing their passengers to float above the marine preserve, enjoying the extensive coral reef, pristine conditions and abundant marine life.

It made for great shooting conditions for the magazine too! Hope they like 'em.

Water water...everywhere

We live on an island on one of the most remote land masses on the planet so I figure I should probably do an installment on water and the ocean. We are surrounded by it and it changes every day with sun, the wind, the current, seasons and the moon cycle. Some days it is smooth and calm, revealing what lies beneath.

And some days it is "snotty" as we used to say on the boats. Those are the days that I hoped I wasn't working on the boats when I worked in the Lahaina Harbor in the early 90's. The water turns almost black and the skies range from grey to dark blue in a stormy cast.

These days I am more of a "land lubber," taking photos from the shoreline and getting out on the water every once in a while when my boating friends take pity on me.

Hawaii provides a great venue for photographing water and on its good days, it is stunning. The water turns various shades of blue and turquiose and the reef and sands below cast a colorful contrast through the water. This is my favorite time to shoot.

I have dropped to my knees on a beach or two, dialing in my polarizing filter to capture the range of colors in the water with the reef beneath, probably frightening some visitors who were wondering what a fully clothed person was doing crawling around the beach in the middle of the day.

Getting the sun shooting through the water at just the right angle is the trick to getting a really great shot in my eyes.

Colors and textures and tones appear from the depths, providing interesting compositions and stunning landscapes (ahem, excuse me, oceanscapes).

So stop sitting in front of your computer reading this blog and get outside. If you live near water, go jump in! It's just waiting for you...

a hui hou,

Aubrey

Jacaranda Heaven

Every Spring on Maui, the rolling hills of upcountry are filled with vibrant purple blossoms of the Jacaranda trees. The tree blossoms stay on well into the summer, lending a lavender glow to the hillsides and roadways into Kula, Keokea, Pukalani and Makwao. It is truly a sight to behold especially when the light is just right on the trees in the early morning and evenings. The trees are native to India and the rural legend says were planted upcountry originally to draw visitors to the area and make a scenic byway.



They line the upper Kekaulike Highway and Haleakala Highway making the drive upcountry something you will never forget. Artists and photographers from all over the world make their way to the area to capture the beautiful purple glow of these trees against the green background of the hills above or the blue background of the ocean below.