Aug. 30, 2016  Walk along Kamaole 1 and Kealia Ponds:

Last full day here!  Ordinarily I'd be really sad now, but tomorrow we head on over to Kauai for the rest of our vacation, so I'm not too sad.  We've been to kauai 14 times before, so really feel at home there.  Anyway----you would think we'd spend the last day here snorkeling.  But Ken is looking a bit tattered and tired.  Plus the last couple times we snorkeled the South side it was pretty choppy and not too clear.  I didn't figure Ken wanted to drive to the West side again, so we piddled around here.
 But I did head down to Kamaole 1 right across the street from Worldmark (or way down the street from our unit!)  Took my Canon 60D and took a few pictures.   No volleyball players this morning, but this court is used quite often.  I enjoy watching them---and wishing I was out there playing.  After about 45 years of playing, I haven't played in over a year. 

 heading up the beach.

Aug. 29, 2016  Kahekili, Kapalua, and another amazing sunset in Lahaina:

I was anxious to get on the road and up to Lahaina to Maui Digital Imagine who advertised online that he specializes in underwater cameras and had a few different models, including the Olympus I was considering, in stock.  We left Kihei about 9.
Gotta add a few more pictures of our drive West!

Aug. 28, 2016  Back to Kahului and then to the Maui Tropical Plantation and Kealia refuge:

I took pity on Ken today and let him have the day off from snorkeling.   But we still left the condo by 9:30.  We headed back into Kahului to return the Nikon underwater camera I bought yesterday.  After studying it last night, there were a few things I didn't like.  The main one being that the lock to make it water tight was a sliding door.  I can't see that sealing very well.  I was also hoping it would use the same battery as my other Coolpix, but of course it doesn't!  But we did find out that there is a camera shop in Lahaina that specializes in underwater cameras---they just happened to be closed on the weekends.  So tomorrow I hope to make it there and discuss things with them.

We had planned to also go to Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge visitors' center, but it was closed.  This is the 2nd time we tried to go.  Apparently they aren't open on weekends, either.  Since they were closed, we drove around Wailuku and then went to the Maui Tropical Plantation.
On our way to the East side we passed this house on Kihei Rd.  We found the patio decor interesting!

We noticed a cruise ship was in port.  we always thought that would be a fun cruise.  Maybe next time!

Aug. 27, 2016  snorkel Kapalua Bay---

Figured we'd try to find a calm place to snorkel today.  Kapalua came to mind.  So that's where we went.  It was really calm, somewhat rainy, but we were getting wet anyway so who cares.  I was anxious to give the Fuji another try.  So off to the West shore we headed again.
Couple more pictures of the drive West.

Aug. 26, 2016  snorkel Po'olenalena and back to Keawakapu:

I was up fairly early this morning.  I forgot to mute my phone and it rang about 4:30.  Ken's went off about 6:30.  So I decided it was time to get up.  Dang all these junk phone calls especially when you're not on the mainland!

Anyway, I was anxious to try out the new camera.  So by about 8:30 I headed down the road to Kameole 1 and took a few pictures with my Canon 60D while Ken finished getting ready and joined me with the car a short while later.

Aug. 25, 2016  Snorkel Ahihi and search for a new camera!

Well, I guess I complained about the Nikon underwater camera too much!  Today it decided it has had enough.  The whole day was a little frustrating.

We thought we'd try Po'olenalena today (which I again had wrong and was calling it Polo beach).  When we walked up to Polo beach, I was surprised it didn't look familiar.   The surf was already pretty rough.  So we decided to leave.

pretty flowers by the parking lot.

Aug. 24, 2016---snorkeling Kahekili---finally!

So people who know from the Maui Tripadvisor forum have been telling me we need to go to Kahekili beach to snorkel.  Don't know why I thought that was the beach by Honolua, but I looked it up and found out where it really is.  Since housekeeping was coming to clean our room today, we decided to spend the day on the West side again and Kahekili would be our first destination.  Or should I say the first destination was the ride to the West side?!

 we even get to go through a tunnel.

first glimps of the West side waters.

From the moment I first saw the beach, I was wowwed and wondered why we hadn't been here sooner!?

 not only was the snorkeling suppose to be great, but the beach is gorgeous.

 I was so excited to get in there that my Fitbit went with me---for a coule minutes.  Fortunately it's still working.  Too bad I can't get one for snorkeling!

There certainly are lots of fish here!

 The water was really clear, too.  Love the designs on the black triggerfish when the water is so clear!

 goldring surgeonfish

 brownside hawkfish

ringtail wrasse---there were a bunch of them here!  

 At one point, an outrigger canoe came by.

a moray eel

 another new species!

another moray eel.

 I actually saw 2 of these here---Crown of Thorns.

3rd of the 4 eels I saw.

 This was the first time I've seen more then 1 emperor fish at a time!  There was a school of about 30 of them here.

 another ring tailed wrasse---male this time

 more schools of fish

love how they school together

 these guys were quite large---unicorn fish

 These guys were my favorite!  Such a variety of colors and so rare everywhere else!  Another ring tailed wrasse.

one more eel

 Don't recall seeing any of these guys anywhere else on Maui, either!  See lots of them on Kauai---rock mover wrasse.

cigar wrasse---see a lot more of these around Kauai, too.

Hybrid Sergeant

Looking back towards the beach

 blue eye damselfish

 male bullethead parrotfish

stocky hawkfish

another school or variety 

 a blue goatfish

 Saddleback butterflyfish---first one of them that I've seen on Maui

juvenile yellowtail coris

Another rare fish for me here in Hawaii---I've seen them a few times in the Caribbean.  Their name escapes me.

After 4 hours of snorkeling, the surf was picking up, so we decided we had enough fun for the day.  I  like that they have a nice restroom with a changing rooms in it.  There's also a lot of picnic tables and shade.

and an informative sign to read 

as i was waiting for Ken to change, these little love birds perched on a tree branch near me.  Haven't seen any birds like them before!  Someone on tripadvisor was nice enough to identify them for me---Java Sparrows.

 By now it was about 3, so we headed to Lahaina for lunch/dinner.  Love all the sailboats.

 Just a few more pictures of the cute little town of Lahaina. 

Will have to research this queen theatre building one of these days.

We decided we wanted fish and knew Bubba Gumps had good fish, so that's where we went.

 We had a coupon for a free appetizer of the day, too.

 Ken enjoyed his seafood assortment

 and I enjoyed fish and chips.

 Cute place---not too busy yet.

nice view from our seats.

 Got back to our condo about 5:45.  Ken stayed there while I went in search of another sunset.  Ended up at Kameole 2.

 Not much color in the sky and it didn't linger long, but it was still pretty.

 one more.

Hard to believe we've been here a week already!  Time just keeps speeding by!