18. Last Night in Lahaina

On Friday night, we returned to Lahaina for dinner and a stroll along the streets at night. The town is really very beautiful with the torches all up and down Front Street, with some shops and restaurants overhanging the seawall, and other areas open to the sea, with only an occasional palm tree to add to the beauty of the waterfront setting. Before dinner, we made our initial visit to Hilo Hattie’s, which is a general store with many logo items displaying the distinctive Hilo Hattie logo. The brand began with a store in Honolulu where a large area was given over to a sewing room floor. We remember several years ago when tourists could peer into the sewing room and see approximately a hundred women sitting at sewing machines, making the bright floral print dresses and men’s shirts that reflect the classic Hawaiian imagery of flowers, palm trees and islands. It seems that everyone that comes to the islands ends up with at least one of the colorful prints. The women are no longer on display in the Honolulu store, but now the clothing items, and many other general store items fill their shelves, like coffee, calendars, macadamia nuts, chocolates, and many other souvenir items. And the stores have popped up in virtually all the major islands. Mary Etta and Chester found a jewelry counter that interrupted our dinner quest, and after her purchase, and Chester’s “fishing” for an oyster that yielded a “double pearl” discovery inside, we made our way to the wharf, where we enjoyed our dinner at Captain Jack’s restaurant. Our outdoor balcony table overlooked the Pioneer Inn, a 19th century hotel on the waterfront, that has been converted into a modern hotel for those who desire to stay in the middle of the old whaling village. The night-time setting accented by torchlight up and down the street, made for an impressive last night in Lahaina, at least for the Browns. Tomorrow would find them making our way to the airport, but not before another brief daytime walk through the streets of Lahaina. Daytime is a very different experience in the town of Lahaina, but the tourists are just as numerous as at night. And the view of the neighboring islands of Lanai and Molokai make for a picture postcard image to keep in memory long after one’s departure. Cynthia and Lorita enjoyed a day by the pool at the Westin resort, while John drove the Browns back to the airport, sent them on their way, changed the van for a sedan rental car and then returned to West Maui for another week of ocean fun and relaxation.