Day 7 Thursday - Maui

We had to get up pretty early for our drive the Ma'alaea for the snorkel and whale watch cruise. The rain started right as we were leaving and the sun slowly greeted us as we drove south from Makawao. Despite not knowing where to go exactly since the harbor is not a location in the GPS, we were able to make it with ten minutes to spare for the check-in.

Once we got onboard, a briefing was given for the snorkeling gear usage. We rented a wet suit for use in the water and to stay warm. Breakfast consisted of pastries, muffins and fresh fruit. On our way to the snorkel location, we passed by some North Pacific whales. Apparently Maui has 60% of the world's whale population during the winter and spring. 10% go to Japan and 30% go to Baja California. They all come here to mate and give birth. They head back to Alaska during the summer as food is more plentiful there. They lose 1/3 of their body wait while in Maui.

We got off the boat and went snorkeling with schools of fishes. The water was very salty and once I got enough of it, I went back to the boat to rest. Lunch began shortly with burgers, chicken and hot dogs. It was pretty awesome coming straight off the grill. We were not able to make it tithe Molokini crater due to the heavy waves that picked up through out the day. We went to a different site instead to see turtles while snorkeling. The bar opened as well along with cookies for dessert. We headed back to the docks after an hour and saw more whales along the way. The weather improved as the sun came out.

After the trip, we headed down south to see the lava rocks in Makena. On the way, a stop was made at ABC to get fresh batteries for the digital camera. A pit stop was made at Wailea beach for taking pictures and enjoying the view. Makena was the south most point on the island made via the roads. The lava rocks were abundant near the shore and then we went through fields on lava rocks. The end was a monument to Le Perouse who came to Hawai'i back in the 1700's. We were pretty tired from getting up early and from the previous day of traveling so we headed back to the condo.

After a quick shower, dinner and watching the rose bowl, we headed off to bed for an early rest. It was a great day in Maui although we did not get to see Molokini crater.