Visiting Maui and Lanai islands, Hawaii................

 This is our view from the lovely house we are staying in on the island of Maui this week.  Across the water, where we saw whales this morning, is Molokai.

 A short walk through the garden brings us to 

the small private cove with plenty of kayaks available.......

 ...........and the swimming pool, all very lovely.

I have to admit that I love this kind of outdoor living in Hawaii and, despite always saying I was not a lover of the tropics, this is not so bad after all! In the living area, the entire wall of glass slides open and the garden becomes part of the space where one can enjoy breakfast and other meals, or just kick back and relax, listen to the birds, and feel the trade winds gently blowing. There don't appear to be any flying, or more important, biting insects here......perhaps I am in paradise.

 Yesterday we took a day trip leaving Maui and crossing to Lanai by ferry.  The pleasant 45 minute boat ride included some whale spotting and I did manage to get the good pic below..........

....'fluke up' dive, occurs when a whale lifts its tail upward as it begins to dive revealing the ventral (underside) flukes. 

Lanai is a very interesting island.  We loved exploring this desolate beach named for a WWII liberty ship which wrecked here and has been left in the ocean, a rusting hulk battered by the relentless waves.

 There were a few ramshackle shacks with interesting, think 'shabby chic' peeling paint, probably used by fishermen......

........and flotsam and jetsam thrown up by the sea.

Paula had us climb the rocks - Bob, me, Rob and Kim - for a beach shot.

More on Lanai later.......it is the former home of the huge Dole company which shipped up to a million pineapples daily when growing here. Sadly, if a Lanai resident wants to sink their teeth into a juicy, fresh pineapple now, they have to shop for one on Maui.