Hawaii Day 7 - Maui

When we decided to go to Hawaii I got it into my head that I wanted to learn to surf. It was hard to find a time to actually try it, since diving took up most of time. Given the success I had paddle boarding in Australia I expected to fail epically. Luckily I found a place that guarantees you stand on the board or your lesson is free. I scheduled this fully expecting it to be free. 

Our first photo is us posing by a surfboard. I think this picture makes me look really short. 

Next come the funny ones of us looking completely incompetent.  When you fall off a surfboard you are apparently supposed to land like a starfish. This helps minimize how far you go under the water. It wasn't very deep where we were, walking level not swimming. The ground was covered in dead coral and rocks, so not hitting that with your face is a plus. Belly flopping at high speed isn't much fun either, but it does make for a ridiculous picture. 

Despite the above pictures we were both very successful at this. We both stood up on our first try. It is surprisingly easy when you have momentum from the wave. The lesson included about 4 waves per person, we both managed to stand up on each wave. The pictures above are our failed attempts at ending gracefully. 

It was a lot of fun. If the water here wasn't 55F on a good day, I might want to try it again. 

Near the condo we were staying at was a restaurant called Slappy Cakes. I originally wanted to go there because the name was ridiculous. It also came recommended by our less busy travelling companions. We didn't have a chance to go until our last day. (Silly dive boats leaving before breakfast.) The idea of this place is you make your own pancakes at a griddle at your table. We chose the whole wheat mix, and added pineapple, banana, and macadamia nuts. It is probably for the best that we only had a chance to go here once...

Our afternoon was busy despite having no plans. We spent it running around the Front Street area doing all the things we kept saying we would come back to. As well as some dive shop errands. It was hot, so I got a delicious Hawaiian shaved ice. Mine was green tea, almond, and lychee flavored, all over a scoop of macadamia nut ice cream. Also probably for the best that this waited until the last day...