On day five of our Maui trip, we spent two days on the southwest shores of Maui in the beautiful town of Kihei. This town is the sunniest and driest place on the island, as it reportedly only gets about ten inches of rain per year. Interestingly enough, Kihei was not always called ‘Kihei.’ In fact, it was once called Kama’ole, which in the Hawaiian language means ‘barren’. Today, Kihei is a much different place with lush green golf courses and beautiful tropical landscapes. This once barren town is now thriving.
We started out our day as we often did on this trip with a nice slow morning. Makena loves playing in the car, especially when she gets to pretend that she’s driving. Don’t worry, we were stationary and the car was off. On this specific day, Makena helped me prepare for the drive by adjusting my glasses.
We headed out first to Secret Beach in Maui, not too far from Makena beach, the very beach we named our daughter after. Secret Beach in Maui is a hidden gem and is made up of sand with lava rocks sprinkled along the shoreline. Although it’s called Secret Beach, it’s not so much of a secret especially to the locals. Luckily enough for us, a local restaurant owner who we randomly met told us about this beach. The waters are calm and clear perfect for snorkeling and capturing some footage underwater. (Note: we did go back to this beach and found out it isn’t always calm, so be sure to the surf before you make the trip). Afterward swimming for a few hours, we played on the beach and enjoyed some much needed snacks.
After our day-trip to Kihei, we headed back home to the southeast side of the island where we were staying for part of the trip. But before that, we made much needed stop at the local Costco in 
Kahului. When we stay in Hawaii for more than a week, we like to cook our own food. It’s a great way to save money, and not to mention my wife is a great cook. We stocked up on our essentials (which consist primarily of fruits and veggies), and head towards our cottage.
On our way back we stopped by Ho’okipa Beach for a quick dip before sunset. We timed it well and were met with calmer waters – a great opportunity to bring Makena in the water. I also had a chance to snorkel a bit. Ho’okipa mean “hospitality” in Hawaiian, however don’t let this name fool you because at times the waves are not that hospitable. This beach is all about action! Known for the massive waves and gusty winds, Ho’okipa has front seats to the best kite and windsurfing on the island. The winds not only create the sizable waves, the reef system stretches across the whole bay, allowing for excellent well-shaped waves to break. Shaka!
Once we arrived at our beach cottage, we unpacked our groceries and Kari began cooking something special while I spent some quality time indoors with Makena. While we were picking up groceries at Costco, I landed a full-face snorkel by Head Sport (which I later found out isn’t safe for inexperienced swimmers). While Makena and I were unboxing the snorkel, she quickly became very interested in the box and the contents within. Funny how kids are kept entertained with items that aren’t intentionally designed for kids to play with such as box. Maken is so smart and has a big
imagination, especially at such a young age. I’m so thankful I get to witness her growth.
I goofed off a little before we put her to bed but not before I did the classic Star Wars line, “I am your father” while breathing heavily through the face mask.
Thank you for reading, Mahalo and Aloha!