After missing a year, we’re heading back to Maui!
Following a tip over at Go Visit Hawaii on Tuesday about airfare deals to Maui, I dove in late that night and hit up the United Airlines site to see what I could find. The following morning, we were booked for a week to Maui for the Maui Photo Festival once again. Needless to say, we’re pretty excited to be going back.
The Travel Crew
There are four of us traveling this time, with our son Christian making his maiden Maui voyage. My mom has graciously volunteered to come along to help watch him while Cindy enjoys some beach, spa, and pool time. After all, of the three of us, she has deserved this vacation the most after 9 months of pregnancy and being a new parent this year. By the way, it was rather intriguing to see how many people offered to come with us to Maui to help with Christian this trip. Intriguing, but not surprising. All in good fun, though. 
It’s my mom’s 2nd trip to Maui, since we brought her along in ’08 to celebrate her 50th birthday. Our son with be almost 9 months old by the time we return home from Maui, so while he won’t remember much of the trip, he’ll be at the fun age where everyone that gets to meet him is going to walk away with a big smile.
The Photo Festival
As with our last Maui trip, this one is scheduled around the Maui Photo Festival and Workshops, in its third year at the Hyatt Regency Maui. We’re heading up a few days early to spend some time out on our own. The festival starts officially on Thursday and lasts through Sunday morning. We’re playing flying back on the red-eye that night, but hoping to fit in another get together with our Maui friends like last time.
This time, its shaping up to be a meet-and-greet with our little guy, and with our friends expecting their first child any week now, we hope the meet-up will be a multi-baby affair.
More Trip Details Soon
As with our previous trips, I hope to be sharing more details of this upcoming trip as they’re available. I also have been meaning to update the site with details from our last trip, but for now, you can take a look at my review of the ’09 Maui Photo Festival to see what I’m looking forward to.
Less than 3 months to go. This is going to be a great trip!
- Kris
Kris — We are really excited that we’re going to get to meet y’all. For some reason, I always pictured we’d meet in Chicagoland, but meeting on Maui is going to be even better!
Aloha Sheila, we’re pretty excited as well. This is shaping up to be such a great trip with so many firsts for us as well as seeing our old Maui friends, too. Very happy that we’ll be meeting you and Andy in person as part of this trip, too. Looking forward to that slice of Hula Pie.
You’ll fall in love with the Hyatt Regency. Usually the Hawaiian phrase, No Ka ‘Oi, (meaning the best) is used when referencing the island of Maui; but after my husband, baby and I stayed here for two weeks in July of 2010, I can honestly say, “Hyatt Regency Maui No Ka ‘Oi!” From the moment of our arrival at this tropical paradise, we had a fabulous time! The resort is a sight to behold with it’s beautiful scenic grounds, to the tropical birds, penguins, ponds and amazing pool area. And I still bring my daughter monthly. They offer a wildlife tour at this location and it’s really nice.
We stayed at the Hyatt last trip as well, when we were there for the Maui Photo Festival in ’09. That year, we were late in registering, so we missed out on the Hyatt festival rate they were offering. Although we had to pay full price, we had a **gorgeous** room on the 20th floor of the Atrium Tower there. It was a corner unit, so we actually had two – yes, two – lanais and when you opened them both, the breeze through the room was amazing.
Last week, however, we ended up with one of the festival rooms. It was a partial ocean view plus a partial view of the luau, so it wasn’t as spectacular. Plus, there’s a little bit of renovation going on right now near the ground floor, too, but after all is said and done, it’s still Maui, right?
I’m in NY right now and I find myself missing Maui… although Lake George is beautiful and I have fond memories of the lake. We’ll enjoy another few weeks here before we head back to the islands. I do love the change of seasons and the crisp air. And Kris, the festival rooms are still really nice. But Kris, I have to say that you said it best, “but after all is said and done, it’s still Maui, right?”