Maui and the Beach, Big Beach

Maybe you read my posts on the Hana Relay in Maui last weekend... well that isn't all we did on Maui.  We had some really good food, lots of good beer and took a trip to Big Beach.  Past Big Beach is Little Beach, and then an area of rocks where we jumped in a cooled off.  It was beautiful.  Oh, and if you like nude beaches, Little Beach is for you.  You can hang out with nude surfers, body boarders, and hackie sackers.  (Or you can walk on by to the jumping hole...)

Here is Big Beach, hence the name, it is HUGE.

Little Beach, don't look to hard, you might see a bare bum!

See the little rock right in front?  That was our spot.

Going in for the plunge!

Getting out is always an adventure...

Hana Relay 2010

We did IT!  Team Nacho Business finished the Hana Relay 2010 in 7 hours and 41 minutes.  We ran a total of 52 miles and kicked butt!  Everyone ran 3 legs a piece, no cheating, and we all finished our own run.  It was fantastic.  When I say we didn't cheat, I mean we saw other teams cheating and said HEY NO FAIR! We aren't cheaters, they can't cheat!  :)  Come on Rainbow Bright Team, run your own legs to the end...

We had amazing luchador masks that Melissa found in San Diego and then we all made our costumes from there.  We had 2 drivers, 6 runners, and a microphone.  That's right, a microphone.  You can't have a race with no announcer! 

We started at 5:30 am when it was still dark!  If you have never ran this race, you should!  I don't even run and I loved it...  We came in 103rd out of 157 teams.  Not bad!  (49th out of 73 in the mixed division)  There were some great runners out there.  Mostly though, people came to have fun!  So even if you have to walk it, you'll have an amazing time viewing Maui on foot.

To see the race results click HERE.

Imagine running next to this.... (amazing)

Getting Ready for Hana Relay 2010!

This weekend, September 11th, is the Hana Relay on Maui.  In case you haven't heard of it before, it is a 52 mile run along the Hana Highway.  Teams are made up of 6 people and each person runs 3 legs each.  A good old fashioned relay!  More than that, it is full of fun costumes and spirit.  Read more about it HERE -> http://www.virr.com/home/races/upcoming/hana/. They also have a facebook page, ->http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=141797575854349&ref=ts.

My teams costume if lucha libre, or mexican wrestler costumes.  I have a cape and a headband, AND a mask!  One of our teammates found really cool fighter masks...  So, I will be away this weekend on an awesome journey, but will return Sunday with lots of great pictures and fun stories.

Enjoy the weekend, and think about me trudging along the highway in Hana looking at the most beautiful coastline most people will ever see!

Zipline fun!

I went ziplining on Maui with Kapalua Adventures.  It was super fun.  We arrived and were suited up and then driven in an eco friendly truck to the top of the moutain.  We did the lower moutain loop which had 4 ziplines, including their longest line.  They also offer a upper mountain loop, challenge courses, and a giant swing.  You can check out the prices and more pictures at www.kapalua.com/adventures. 

"Whatever your ultimate vacation fantasy may be - whether it's a zipline tour above the treetops, a kayak trip along West Maui's jaw-dropping coast, or a hike through a historic arboretum - Kapalua Adventures can help make it a reality. " from the website www.kapalua.com/adventures

Maui's Beauty

I just returned from a short 3 day trip to Maui, and I wanted to share some of my photos with you of Maui's beauty.  For an island so close, it has such a different a varied landscape than what I am used to on Oahu.  There are no cities even close to the size of Honolulu, most towns rival the size of Kailua, or North Shore Oahu.  The mountains are more rugged and have numerous valleys and peaks that glow in the morning sunlight.  Mount Haleakala can be seen from all over the island and is beautiful on clear days.  It is peaceful, yet inviting and the perfect place to relax and venture into the unknown. 

Awesome little boutique on Maui... soon to be on OAHU!

I just got home from Maui yesterday and I had an awesome time. Maui is a whole different kind of Hawaii and is filled with new and beautiful adventures. I will be blogging about all of those adventures in the upcoming week, but today I wanted to share MAHINA with everyone.  (The photo above is one I took of their Paia location.)  Mahina is a local boutique that has trendy jewelry, clothes, and shoes. My favorite items were the owl earrings, tako pendant necklaces, and the super cute slippers. They also have cute little reusable shopping bags! Thanks for thinking green Mahina, the earth appreciates it! I have already used mine at the beach and the pool. :) In Maui, they have stores in Kihei and Paia, and they will be opening one this December in Waikiki. This shop fits right into Paia, with its little boutiques and hippie feel. I can imagine it will be a great addition to the Waikiki shopping scene, with reasonable prices and unique finds. If you are going to be on Maui and love little boutiques like this one, don't miss it. Great for gifts for you and your friends.  The picture below is one I took of their store front in Paia.

HOW TO FIND MAHINA:

WEBSITE: http://www.mahinamaui.com/

paia (808) 579-9131

kihei (808) 879-3453

lahaina (808) 661-0383

*soon to come to Waikiki!*

Here is a picture of the owners and some information that I pulled from their website: "We, owners Jody and Joe, opened Mahina because it was frustrating trying to find clothing we liked that didn't cost a fortune. We named the shop Mahina, which is the name of the Hawaiian moon goddess, because our first store in Paia is called Lotus Moon and we wanted to keep with the moon theme. We like the moon. It's sexy, mysterious, powerful, mesmerizing. We like to make things fun and easy. Fun because we love the thrill of discovery, finding that just-right piece that makes you look and feel great. Easy because we cherrypick from lots of different designers so there's always something cute to be found. Since we're always on the hunt for cute new stuff, there's new styles at the stores every week."

***Check out their website for pictures and updates of new items, shop locations and hours, and more information about their boutique.