Noelani Good Time Together
Great Weekend!!! Continued
Two things before reading on; 1) Back ground music can be turned off by using the first control box above. The second control box is another music file you can enjoy while browsing website. Play one music file at a time. Zooming in on a slide show is much more enjoyable with music, so you might want to right click on the hyper link and open in new window. 2) The thumb nail images are link to a Hi Resolution picture which, on most computer monitor, will expand larger than you monitor settings. Also, you must login to view these Hi Resolution pictures. Pictures were kept at original format for those who want to save the pictures to there hard drive and manipulate it.
Started early Saturday morning of August 16, 2008, 03:00 alarm goes off. Drink coffee and start going over the check list. Not much to check but better to be safe than sorry, right. Most of the items were already in the new Sissy Bar Bag from Saddleman. Gear up and out the door at 04:15.
What a great ride down to pier 19. Cool morning air, still dark and no traffic. Got to the entrance of the Hawaii SuperFerry inspection at about 04:50 and no one from our group was there. Chris was already taking pictures. There was so many lights that possibly caused the flash not go off.
Marv and Patty showed up next with his newly re-faced VTX1800C. Again was still dark and he had to point it out. Both rear and front fenders were black, and not just those, but the gas tank as well. Thanks to bradda Brad.
Brad and Anita was next to arrive. Kehau and Peter were following behind Brad. His VTX1800C is also getting a make over. Custom rear fender has a close contour of the 240 tire, and the tail light is a flush mount single horizontal line that encompuses turning signal, running and brake lights. Looks cool. The make and model of the fender and tail light is not known but maybe Brad can add some comments. Front fender also looks like a custom fender. Both rear and front has a custom paint job. Wheels are also aftermarket. The gas tank is Marv's original tank and still purple. Brad's larger gas tank is still at the customizing shop.
Then Uncle Bob and Aunty Lee, they had to get their boarding passes and could not hang around.
That was a bummer because we took some group pictures.
Check this VTX wanna be, da moped dude. haha!!! Nah but, in this picture the four VTX's should have been captured. Moped dude sqeezed in.
Marvin and Patty on their VTX Black&Silver(Raiders) first in line for inspections. Shots are dark again. Camera is picking up the back ground lights.
Uncle Bob and Aunty Lee already done with the inspection, while the none Harley guys have to wait in line. haha.
Round 06:15 we were directed on board and started tying down the bike.
Here is a shot of all bikes in our group.
From left to right; Russ (VTX1300C, Al (VTX1300R), Brad (VTX1800C), Marv (VTX1800C) and Uncle Bob (Harley Dividson Softail Deluxe).
Al unpacking tie downs used to strap bikes unto the vehicle deck and can see Brad working on his bike.
Al's bike has a stock VTX1300R seat and you can see how Russ' Mustang seat has a better contour. Image below. The VTX1300R stock seat angles upwards much sooner so it is really made for smaller butts.
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The Hawaii SuperFerry Experience
On board the Hawaii SuperFerry - Alakai, you can see how kicked back we were. The Molokai channel (Kaiwi channel) crossing was mild making the boat experience most pleasurable. From the aft of the Alakai 45 minute out of harbor, you can see Diamond Head. There is Russ at Aft, and in the back ground Kahala to Kuiliouou Road.
Within the three hours on the Alakai, we talk storie, go out port side and look at South side of Molokai. We could also go out starboard side check out some flying fish and Lanai. There were two eateries; the "Galley" and "Surf Break Lanai." Flat screens everywhere with the 2008 Bejing Olympics tuned in. And ofcourse, some of us tried to catch some zzzeee...
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Kahului Harbor
We disembark around 09:45 made our way out of the pier to Kaahumanu Ave. Because we needed to undo the bike's tie down, we were last to leave the Alakai and last in line. The line of vehicles was long, but with our bike's motor rumblin and the anticipation of traveling unknown roads, the wait did not seem too bad.
From Kahului Maui Seaside Hotel, Brad led the pack to north entrance of Kahekili Highway, along the winding coast, heading towards Kahakuloa Bay. With the beautiful cliff side view of the ocean, though pictures does not totally capture its feel and majesty, we are fortunate to have experienced this garden paradise.
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The ride along the north shore cliff sides is well secluded, rarely any vehicle traffic and not many homes. Weaving left, right and mostly up hills. There were occational down shift for downward slopes. Speed must have peaked 35 mph. As motorcycle operators, we can not stare at the scenere but our passager could and just so happened Chris took more pictures. No really, more pictures. There are some blurred shots left in the slide show for effect.
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It was about 11:00 we stopped at the east side of Kahakuloa Bay cliffs for some photo opts. These you may have seen:
Kehau and Peter. If Peter is 6'-4", Kehau grew to 6'-0".
These are more pictures at Kahakuloa Bay east side cliffs.
Chris was asking to pack Al from Kahakuloa Bay to Poelua Bay.........NOT!!! But she does look good on Als' VTX1300R.
Kehau wanted to take picture from the front, so she sat in the back of the CRV with the hatch opened. Pictures she captured were well composed and vibrant.
Brad sent a link to the DeMelo pictures (Kehau pics included). "DeMelo's pics"
Bobby also took many pictures and Russ provided a link. (Awana's Pics)
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After convincing Chris to let Al operate Als-VTX1300R, we started on the Honolua bay. Along the way, we went through Kahakuloa. A little town with a church. The name is unkown but just nice to see a place of heavenly worship. At least we hope its heavenly. haha.
Just after the most northern tip of Maui, Kahekili Hwy changes to Honoapiilani Hwy. At about three miles in after the transition, we came to the north side of Honolua bay. What was neat to see at a distance was Kapalua - Plantion course. A line of tall pine trees hard to miss. These trees highlight the green grass of the golf course. Honolua bay is like a tourist stop for driving/snorkeling. All these catamarans bringing in tourist. Nice bay but all these people took away from its potential beauty. We stopped there for a little while and then headed to Lahaina.
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Somewhere between Kapalua and Lahiana we stopped at a beach that had some kind of surf tournament. It was also a good rest stop, just lots of traffic in the parking lot. Amazingly, Chris did not take pictures at this beach. I think there were too many females in riskie bikinis. Bobby and Anita took some and it can be viewed in their slide show. Link is above.
From this beach, we head to Lahiana thinking about having lunch there. Lahiana was like Waikiki market place so we rode right through town and headed to Maalaea Harbor for lunch. Lots of beaches with no one in site. Views of near by islands and dark blue water. The Awanas' want to do a manual crossing via stand up paddle or kayak. Hopefully we all can do it together.
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After lunch, we started for the Ulupalakua Winery in Kula. At one time, the dust and head winds got pretty bad on Mokulele Hwy. Wow, we reached Kula 25 miles for Maalaea harbor and it was like a different ecology. Cool and damp with plush green pastures outlined with thick forest areas. Stopped at Sun Yat Sen Park to pet the Fu Dog.
At the Winery, Marv really loved this one tree. Someone needs to find out what kind of tree.
We tasted a few different types of wine and even bought a few bottles. This picture of the DeVry Boys is from the DeMelo's slide show.
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Brad let Peter operate his VTX1800C back to Kahului Maui Seaside Hotel. Peter, you are in like flint. Halfway down Kula will stopped at Harold W Rice Memorial Park then last stop at Maui Seaside Hotel for the night.
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Brad packed the specially made water jug filled with home brew in Kehau's CRV. Before dinner around 18:30, we sat on the lawn at Maui Seaside Hotel over looking Kahului Harbor and drank some fine tasting home brew beer for about an hour. We walked to Ale House for dinner, by dinners end we were nice and relaxed.
The last ride in Maui was for breakfast which some confusion as to where. First choice was I-Hop, not good, too long of a wait. Next was we rode up to Wailuku on Mill St (Tasties?) and same situation, too long of a wait. Marv & Patty broke off for a bento and a ride up to Iao Valley. We ended up across the street of Kahului Harbor at Burger King. Thanks uncle Bob for breakfast.
The Hawaii SuperFerry back to Oahu was packed. We could not all sit together and most of us sleep any more then sight see.
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Thanks to Uncle Bob & Aunty Lee, the DeVry Boys & their half, Kahau & Peter and especially to my wife Chris. To Russ and Brad for being the better master minds in putting this old concept back to life. Moreover, without everyone involved in this adventure, the experience would not be so memorable.
As a quicky, I compiled photos into four slide show. They are not full resolution but you can right click on an image and "save as".
Click here to zoom Slide Show 1
Click here to zoom Slide Show 2
Click here to zoom Slide Show 3
Click here to zoom Slide Show 4
