Vacation Day four: Maui Day 1- Mother's Day

Today is Mother’s day!  I have a plan. (hehehe)  Anyway mom and I went to church this morning.  It was Christ the King church on Maui.  We arrived a little late because we had to walk there and didn’t know our way around.   The church was packed and we had to stand in the back.  Then one of the ladies motioned to us to go around to a side area where there was some seats.   My mom believes that they gave up their seats for us and some other visitors.  I’m not sure about that, but there was more room in this annex area.   At the end of the service all the mothers were given a card, and all the visitors (which of course included both of us) were given hand knitted or crocheted yarn leis.  My mother’s was pink and white, and mine was just solid white.   What a nice way to welcome visitors!  At this point I was looking for a nearby grocery story – but didn’t see one.  We did get a drink in wal-greens on the way back though. 

Later my parents and I drove in a rental car to Iao Needle park.  The parking fee was 5 bucks – but we think we were tricked.  There was someone in the lot taking money, but he never gave out any sort of pass or sticker for the car.  We concluded later that it must be free on Sunday – and the person was scamming visitors.  Oh well.   The “needle” itself is a large straight and narrow rock sticking up from the surrounding landscape.  Here a major battle took place that was instrumental in Hawaii’s future.   I just scanned the signs, but took pictures of them to read later.  (I’m horrible at history anyway.)  We had to climb a bunch of stairs for a good view of the needle – then we went down into a mini garden area.   There is also apparently some sort of nature center there with interactive exhibits – but we didn’t see it.  (I found this info on the park site online). 

            In the meantime… I forgot my hat – so I was trying to find a hat similar to one I had bought in Hawaii years ago.  My mom suggested Hilo Hatties – which is a “all in one” store chain on most of the islands.  So we put “Hilo Hatties” into the GPS and headed off to the nearest one.   It turned out it was RIGHT next to a Safeway.   Perfect.  So I mentioned I needed to pick up a thing or two from Safeway.  (I really did – I needed a small empty bottle – but I also wanted to go for another reason.)   Well I didn’t find a hat.  All the hats I liked were “made in china”  which defeated one of the purposes of me wanting a hat.  (I wanted one made in Hawaii).  Thought I NEEDED a hat – I didn’t want to spend a lot if it was just to cover my head.  I was looking for the same type of flexible “straw” hat I had bought last time.   At Hilo Hatties they also had a Maui Diver’s Jewelry section with “Pick a Pearl”.   This is where you pick the oyster and pay roughly $15.  They open it and you get a pearl.  They come in various colors and sometimes can be doubled.   Admittedly I discovered the Oysters are from a farm overseas and not Hawaii, but Hawaii specializes in pearl jewelry.  So I bought one – and got a nice size black pearl.  Later I decided to collect a pearl from each stop/island we went and one from the boat.   Most of the time it was at the pick a pearl places – but two times I picked one from “The Pearl Factory” which boasts being the first store to offer picking your own oyster – and also say their oysters are cultivated in salt water rather then fresh.   I did verify later that the Pick a Pearl’s/Maui Divers’ oysters were done in fresh water… but to be honest I didn’t see a difference between the oysters or pearls from each store.  (shrugs).   Oh and I also got to pick a random paper from a basket that gave me 50% off. :)

            After that I went to Safeway – while mom waited with dad in the car.   This allowed me to not only get the little item I was looking for --- but also buy her a rose for Mom’s day.  :)   We will do our traditional mom’s day garden center shopping a little late – when we get back from the cruise, but I wanted to give her a little something in the mean time.   So I was glad I was able to do that.   I hid it behind a paper bag and presented it to her when I got back to the car.   She used a water bottle for a vase back on the ship. 

            Last note of the day – went to dinner at one of the free cafés.  These are in addition to the buffet and they serve a little bit better quality food for free.   Some parts of the menu change, and others do not.  The ship also has specialty restaurants you can go to for a flat fee.  Anyway they had Salmon tartar (I believe tartar means “raw”) and it was really really good.