Firsts on the First Day

After leaving our house at 3:30 a.m., flying across the globe, and checking in at our hotel at 3 p.m., Hawaii-Aleutian Time, we had to immediately change and get ready for our luau. This was something that my husband thought first-time visitors should attend, and though I told him it was a cheesy-touristy thing to do, we made our reservation months in advance. Fortunately, the Te Au Moana Luau was only a mile down the Wailea Beach Path (previous post photo).

We arrived and were shown to a large round table of fellow guests. It was nice to meet and chat with people from all over. In one of those 'small world' moments, I discovered that the woman next to me had a father who grew up in the town neighboring the one where I grew up. After ordering our first ever mai tais, we strolled around to see artists make jewelry out of shells (though there were NO seashells on Maui), watched orchid leis being made (the ones they put on us were chilled - straight from refrigeration), and watched some children playing a game similar to bowling, only you had to get the ball to roll between two sticks standing in the sand.

There was a short ceremony over the Imu Kalua Pig that was roasting in banana leaves underground, then it was time to eat! Going through the buffet line, we were able to try the roasted pork (sweet/salty and delicious) with poi (I didn't think it was bad . . . sort of tangy and good with the pork), Hawaiian fried rice, Molokai purple yams, pineapple coleslaw, Shoyu chicken, teriyaki steak, and assorted desserts made with coconut and macadamian nuts. I stayed away from items I can eat at home, like salad and stir fried vegetables.

It was a beautiful evening. Did I mention that the entire luau takes place on a lawn in front of the Pacific Ocean? After we ate, we watched the sun go down. It was our first time seeing a sunset behind the ocean.

How magnificent is that?

Once it started dropping, it went fast. I think it was all over within a few minutes.

Then it was on to the storytelling through dance and song. Te Au Moana means 'ocean tide.' That's about all I got out of it! Everything was gorgeous and it was exciting to see the fire dancers at the end. We walked home hand in hand along the beach path, listening to the ocean. It was a romantic end to our first day in Maui.