Monthly Archives: December 2013

New FAQ’s on Maui

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Aloha!
Ta-da! There is something new at Mauidailyescape.com. So many readers have been writing to ask questions about moving to Maui that I was spending hours each week answering individual letters. So instead, I spent a few hours compiling “FAQ’s on Moving to Maui” (frequently asked questions). You’ll find the Tab at the top of each page.

It’s my Christmas gift to you (and myself!) because this leaves more time to post on this blog. And I will continue to post new questions as people ask me, so check back on the FAQ’s once in a while. Today I just added a section on “Questions to Ask Yourself Before Selling Everything and Moving” at the bottom of the FAQ’s…so Janet and Gaylynn, those are for you!

The Tab that was called “Moving to Maui” (my own story )is now called “Unexpected Paradise.”

Readers, please do me a favor and take a moment to share how you found this blog, so I can see what I’m doing right….what were your Search terms that led you here?

As always, thank you for your interest in the blog…thank you for your very kind words and comments on how the blog is helping to expand your view of Hawaii and Maui. I appreciate you all, and look forward to sharing the islands with you in 2014. And I ask that if you enjoy mauidailyescape.com, that you’ll please tell a friend!

A hui hou! If you’d like to subscribe to this blog, please click the “Follow” button on the Homepage.

Warm Aloha, Jamaica

Christmas, Hawaiian Style

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Aloha!

Christmas in Hawaii usually means a trip to Long’s Drugs for their ubiquitous gorgeous Hawaiian-scene calendars for the New Year. They make good Christmas gifts, as they come with their own envelopes for easy mailing (easy is good!) and those on the mainland, especially those buried in snow up to their patooties all winter, get to dream of hot sand and palm trees as they flip the calendar page each month. (Note: Long’s Drugs changed to CVS drugstores everywhere but in Hawaii. Long’s was an institution here, and the Hawaiians put their foot down. The name did not change.)

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Besides the calendars, there are the boxes of macadamia nuts (Long’s and Costco) and the Kona coffee.
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Sidenote: a woman sued Safeway in my hometown in California because she believed there was not ENOUGH Kona coffee in her bag of coffee from Safeway. And she won! The coffee WE buy says 10% Kona coffee. (Have I ever thought to question it, let alone sue? Apparently, she had way too much time on her hands.)

So there you have it…the typical box of Hawaiian Christmas goodies.

This holiday season, may you not tape your thumbs to your packages. May you always have enough marshmallows for your hot chocolate. And may you be surrounded by loved ones and good cheer.

A hui hou! If you’d like to subscribe to this blog, please click the “Follow” button on the Homepage.

Aloha, Jamaica

Aloha from the Isle of Traffic

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Aloha!
Did you know that the island of Oahu has the worst traffic in America? Seriously. Google it. It’s held that distinction for a number of years.

Maui is known as the Valley Isle, and Kauai is known as the Garden Isle. Oahu is known as The Gathering Place, which is pretty evident, as the most populous island. But having been here for a week, I think they should change the name to the Traffic Isle.

I LOVE Honolulu…it is probably the cleanest big city I’ve ever been to, and it has everything that Maui doesn’t, like a brand new two-story Nordstom Rack. And dozens of restaurants that we only wish we had on Maui (read: affordable), such as California Pizza Kitchen…which is the first place we head for.

But I honestly don’t know how these people do this day after day. We were on the freeway heading out of Honolulu by 3:30 in the afternoon, and it was bumper to bumper.

Sitting in traffic, spotted a popular new bumper sticker here, which I haven’t seen on Maui yet (thankfully): “Defend Hawaii”….(a picture of an Uzi) and then “Don’t mistake Aloha for weakness.”

Guess it’s on a par with that old stand-by: “Welcome to Hawaii. Now go home.” And: “If you don’t like Hawaiians, why did you move here?”

Yep, lots of reading material while sitting in traffic. I’d like to propose a new bumper sticker: “Peace, Love, and Aloha.”

That is what I’m sending you.

A hui hou! If you’d like to subscribe to this blog, please click the “Follow” button on the Homepage.

Aloha, Jamaica

On Oahu for Pearl Harbor Day

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Aloha!
We just happen to be on Oahu for Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, today, December 7th. Here is a portion of this year’s Proclamation by the President of United States:

More than seven decades ago, on a calm Sunday morning, our nation was attacked without warning or provocation. The bombs that fell on Oahu took almost 2,400 American lives, damaged our Pacific Fleet, challenged our resilience and tested our resolve. On National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, we honor the men and women who selflessly sacrificed for our country and we show our enduring gratitude to all who fought to defend freedom against the forces of tyranny and oppression in the Second World War.

You can read the full Proclamation here: http://governor.state.tx.us/flag_status/

My mother first took me to see Pearl Harbor Memorial while on vacation. I did not understand the enormity for her, until we got there. Then I did the math, and realiized my mother would have been seven years old at the time of the attacks. Each generation gets it’s defining moment, such as those who can remember exactly where they were when John F. Kennedy was shot.

Pearl Harbor was the defining moment for my mother’s generation.

Yesterday marked the one-year anniversary of my mom’s death. So it seems fitting that we are on Oahu, where history was made that so impacted her life. Rest in sweet peace, Mom.

I am thankful to the men and women who fought, and still fight, to keep our country free. I am thankful that Hawaii, where I choose to live, is not owned by Japan today, all because of those who sacrificed their lives.

My deepest Mahalo.

A hui hou! If you would like to subscribe to this blog, please click the “Follow” button on the Homepage.

Aloha, Jamaica