Part II

February 7, 2006

Time seemed to fly by and soon we found ourselves back at the harbor making our way towards the venue for the “luau”.

A luau is a Hawaiian feast characterized by island food and entertainment and it begins after sunset. The “imu” ceremony, which involves taking out the cooked pig from an underground pit, takes place first. Then, the start of the festivities is heralded by the sounding of conches.

The buffet dinner has a variety of dishes for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. Interestingly, the taro plant, which is popular in Mangalore for delicacies such as “patrode”, is a major feature in the diet of the Hawaiians. In fact, taro forms a significant portion of Hawaii’s agriculture. Poi is a paste made from taro roots and is used as a kind of sauce with various dishes. But its taste does not appeal to many, including me!

As the dinner crowd began thinning, the evening’s entertainment began with a performance of the traditional hula dance. Young men and women dressed in grass skirts danced to the foot-tapping music of drums. A variety of performances representing the Polynesian islands as well as Hollywood’s version of the hula and fire dancers from Samoa followed. All good things must come to an end and so did the evening.

The "imu" where the pig is being cooked

People waiting for the luau to begin

Hula dancers performing

More dances

Fire dancers on stage

Maui’s spectacular beaches were our next destination and it was soon evident why they attract so many water sports enthusiasts and sunbathers. The color of the ocean and the sand varies from beach to beach. But each one of them has crystal-clear visibility and smooth, clean sand. Snorkeling is a popular activity on most beaches and there are some dedicated exclusively to wind-surfing. Wailea, Makena, Kapalua, Ka’anapali, and Kihei, have all the popular beaches.

For lunch we decided to sample the seafood at one of the many local eateries. Unlike on the US mainland, the food here was more suited to the Indian palate. Over delicious fish kebabs and grilled ahi fish, we made the decision to explore Iao Valley State Park in north Maui. This park is known for its spiritual value to the islanders and the lush greenery that draws in visitors.

Wailea Beach

Big Makena Beach

The Iao Needle

The peaks of Iao Valley enveloped by clouds
 

Iao Stream

Iao means “supreme cloud” and refers to the clouds that are often seen over the peaks around the valley. The valley was the site of one of the famous battles in the history of the islands. The focal point here is the Iao Needle which towers to a height of 2,250 feet. This stone pinnacle is believed to have been used as an altar in ancient times and later as a lookout point during war.

The Iao stream winds its way through the park and is fed by rain water. The valley and the surrounding mountains receive over 400 inches rain each year making it the second wettest spot in the state. Many easy trails are found in the park helping visitors explore the area