As I’ve posted previously, we’re headed back to Maui this April and we’ll be on our favorite island for my birthday (on the 16th). While it’s still a ways away (77 days to be exact, but who’s counting) I can’t help but think what my perfect Maui birthday would be like.
We’re still in the planning stages for booking all of our activities this trip (likely starting the end of February), but here’s a little glimpse of what I would dream of.
1. Watch the Sunrise – Maybe not all the way up top at Haleakala this year, but definitely be out on the beach or somewhere to catch the sun greet me on the anniversary of my birth. Staying in West Maui, it might be a little tricky with the west mountains, but I think I could manage.
2. Whale Watching Tour – When it comes to watching the whales in Maui, April is getting a little late in the season. However, part of my perfect birthday would be heading out on a boat with the Pacific Whale Foundation, of which we are members, and hearing them sing Happy Birthday for me. Okay, maybe not singing a birthday greeting, but being up close enough to get just a few great photos and some memorable video would be just amazing.
3. Relaxing by the Pool - Why the pool when Ka’anapali Beach is right there? Just a little slower pace, and being able to order pineapple wedges and spiked lemonade which listening to HAPA on my iPod and reading whatever book I end up bringing with on the trip (probably something techie). I bust my hump 50 weeks of the year, so it’d feel nice to take it easy and try not feel too much older than I really am.
4. Dinner at Leilani’s – While Cheeseburger in Paradise is hands down our favorite place to eat on Maui, we always reserve that for our first full day of a trip. Seeing that would be Monday this trip and my birthday will be that Wednesday, you get the idea. Besides, what better birthday cake could you want other than a slice of Hula Pie while watching the sunset over the horizon between Lanai and Molokai. I get chicken skin (pidgin for goose bumps) just thinking about it.
5. Touring the Stars – Most people would consider a gorgeous Maui sunset the perfect end to an evening, with perhaps the quiet stroll down the beach afterwards. We’ll, it’s my birthday and I want to stay up past my bedtime. After falling in love with stargazing on Maui during our first trip, it’s been a big part of our trips ever since. Why not make this one even more special by having a guided tour of the stars, from the resident astronomer at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort. Their nightly Tour of the Stars sounds like the perfect way to enjoy the heavens above and create memories that will be the envy of birthdays for years to come. Besides, what better way to feel younger on your birthday than by watching stars that are billions of years old. 
So that would be my perfect birthday on Maui. In all honesty, just being on the Valley Isle for my birthday is more than perfect enough. Having the chance to do just two of these things would be absolutely incredible. Getting to do all five would be truly unforgettable.
