I brake for sacred gardens

An experience that was probably more special to me than my S.O. was a stop at the Sacred Garden just outside of Pa'ia. The best way I can describe the Sacred Garden is that it's like a metaphysical bookstore manifested as a botanical garden. If I had been on my own I would have likely spent the rest of the afternoon in this space wandering the labyrinths, meditating and swatting away the mosquitoes. 

I had never walked a labyrinth so my S.O. waited while I tried this one out. According to the Sacred Garden website "You do not walk the labyrinth to learn about the labyrinth - you walk the labyrinth to learn about yourself. Everything is a metaphor". Like with any sort of prayer, meditation or other spiritual practice, walking the labyrinth allowed me to momentarily shut out external stimuli. As the stones crunched beneath my feet, I reflected upon the thoughts and feelings that bubbled up: some I pondered further and others I let go. I didn't experience any deep revelations while walking the path, but I did feel a sense of calm and mental reprieve afterward. 

Mock a what?

Just upcountry of Pa'ia is what's supposed to be Maui's cowboy town. But Makawao (pronounced mock a wow) seems like more of a haven for trust fund kids who bilked the hand that padded the fund in favor of being "free", man. They want to make art, not money, man. As a result, the main strip is chock full of art galleries and clothing boutiques with a few eateries thrown in for good measure. Makawao ranks as my second favorite Maui town behind Pa'ia mostly because Pa'ia has something very important that Makawao doesn't - beach access.

Operating on island time.

Do I find the cats or do they find me?

Pa'ia

Considering that when we visited the Big Island we stayed in a hippie town called Pahoa, and when we visited Maui we stayed in a hippie town called Pa'ia, I'm thinking that when we vacation on islands we should just stick with hippie towns that start with the letter "P" and we'll be alright. But Pa'ia was more than just alright, with easy access to 3 beaches, a main street lined with beachy boutiques, several decent dinner spots, an ice cream parlor, a jungly cafe with kick-ass sandwiches and chai, affordable accommodations, and a grocery store that easily rivals Whole Foods, we definitely were in my version of paradise.

Outdoor cafe with the killer chai.

Saw him every day. Named him Keoki.

The closest beach.

Cafe des Amis - great crepes and sangria.

Just like Whole Foods only smaller and grungier.