Hawaii - Maui

Lahaina was a tender port, which means the ship wasn't at a dock but anchored. Passengers were transported ashore in small boats called tenders. The orange boat in this picture is one of them.

This was the only port where we were greeted by folks giving out flowers! Not leis, but individual flowers. I wore mine above my ear, it lasted all day. (No picture; didn't even occur to me to take a selfie at the time.)

The shore was lined with businesses. 

My excursion here was to the Maui Ocean Center - the local aquarium. The state fish is a trigger fish, the humuhumunukunukuāpua'a. I learned how to say it, too, thanks to Lokelina's Hawaiian lessons on board the ship. It's the whitish fish with stripes. 

There are two buildings in the complex. I had a brief moment of culture shock when I found out there were outdoor tanks. In Chicago, we don't do outdoor turtle or shark tanks! But of course it makes sense in Hawaii. Here's the view of Ma'alaea Bay from the aquarium. 

And here's the entrance to the second building. I love this! 

Inside, along with display tanks, is the Really Big tank. After watching the diver for a while, I wandered over to The Big Tube. 

There's a tube built through the tank that people can walk through. Fish swim all around you. Glass plates in the floor, too! Of course, there's a place to sit and watch the action. 

This ray swam above me. It was at least three feet across. 

Back outside, on my way to the gift shop I saw the only outrigger canoe of my trip. 

My favorite item to buy as a souvenir is earrings, and I hit treasure in the Ocean Center gift shop. I managed to contain myself and only get six pair. Jellyfish, octopus, orca, and more! The tentacles on the jellyfish swing, and the octopus have adorable eyes. (Not sure that shows in this photo.)

The best shave ice in the islands is said to be at Ululani's in Lahaina. It was only a few blocks from the dock, a pleasant walk along the water. I took a picture of the Grand Princess at anchor on the way. 

Success!

I ordered a small Hawaiian Rainbow, with mac nut ice cream in the bottom and a snow cap (sweetened condensed milk on the top). Insider information said this was the best. The lady shaved the ice, packed it in a neat ball, and asked me if the size was good.  I said yes.  She said, "This is a mini."  Oh, gee.  The mini was plenty big. 

I took my shave ice lunch to a bench by the water and savored every bit of it.  

One of the more popular songs Lokelina and Kimo sang on the ship was about the little black crabs that run around on the rocks in Lahaina. So, I had to find some!

The view from my balcony just before we left Lahaina.