Rainbow Eucalyptus - Colourful Trees in Hawaii • 10 comments • Aren't these incredible? I saw pictures of colorful eucalyptus trees online before we visited Hawaii, but they all looked phoney. These are real! Everyone seems to boost the saturation, but, I can assure you: trees that look like rainbow sherbet actually exist. From the minimal research I did, I discovered that the tree's bark sheds to reveal a bright green layer that matures to different hues and shades. They're also called Eucalyptus deglupta, Mindanao Gum and the Rainbow Gum. Around the 7 mile marker, on the Road to Hana, they’re in a pasture on the ocean-side of the road. I snapped a most of these photos on the side of the road, and the last few at the Pineapple Maze in Oahu. - Mina
Happiness • 11 comments • ... is a chlorinated pool.* *Sometimes the waves are too rough to swim in the ocean and you need a break from salt water. At least, this is how we justified using the hotel pool when there were so many gorgeous beaches nearby. You know it's a rough day when you need to make a choice between the ocean and a pool.
Feast at Lele • 4 comments • The judgement of authenticity has no place in deciding whether you should attend a Luau in Hawaii. It’s touristy, but it fulfills your childhood notion of what visiting Hawaii is all about. The only decision that needs to be made is which Luau you’re going to spend an evening at. We chose the Feast at Lele, on Maui’s West shore in Lahaina, and weren’t disappointed. The evening starts by having leis placed around your necks as you arrive. This is THE mythical experience of Hawaiian tourism, and denying yourself the enjoyment of the novelty would be treasonous. We were guided to our seats, mini-parasoled fruit drinks in hand, provided with island appetizers, and given a rundown of the various courses to be served. The main attraction of this Luau is the multi-course meal, featuring entertainment and dishes from various Island cultures, including Hawaii, New Zealand, Tahiti and Samoa. Beginning with a sunset Hawaiian dance, the night alternated between generous portions of food (including the famous pork roasted in a traditional underground oven), and song and dance. The night culminated with a high energy Samoan fire knife dance set against the, by then, dark night sky bringing a finale to the Luau. - Alex
