KAHULUI, MAUI ISLAND

So, Coral Princess has diverted from its intended destination of Lahaina after the devastating fires and relocated to Kahului on the eastern side of Maui. My research suggests that Kahului is really a non-touristy town and a commercial hub with businesses and shops; although it has the island's airport and a good harbour for visiting cruise ships. 

Here's a little bloody history from around Kahalui harbour:

Kahului Town & Harbour

Volcanic eruptions, tidal winds and torrential rains have shaped Maui’s landscape. Sacred myth has it that the beauty of this island was created by the Polynesian demigod who pulled the Hawaiian islands from the ocean’s depths, captured the Sun and set it atop Haleakala, the island’s highest peak. Kahului was not colonised until the 19th Century when sugar plantations were established by families of missionaries. 

Just look at these mountains coming down to meet Kahului Harbour as we sailed in this morning. It is not difficult to believe they were created by the gods!

Ancient Hawaiians believed the demigod Maui stepped out of the Haleakala Crater and captured the sun forcing it to slow its journey across the sky so his people could enjoy more sunshine. More than 75% of Maui’s land area is isolated and inaccessible due to extreme terrain and rainforests.

A fifteen minute minute walk into the town of Kahului confirmed it was unused to being a tourist centre. The island’s airport is nearby and helicopters buzzed the skies with tourists or for commercial purposes. It has a sugarcane museum to mark its early history in the sugar industry.

Evening meals are mostly accessed from two large restaurants that come with the cost of the fare. Whom you join over dinner depends on the luck of the draw as settings include tables of four, six, eight and ten. We try to join smaller tables to compensate for my poor hearing but they are all manageable. Everyone has a story of course and most people share the time; but occasionally one person thinks their story of where they live, past employment, family, where the have cruised to, and so on is the most interesting and monopolises the conversation. But most are sensitive to sharing the time. Last night we had a delightful dinner with two Kiwi couples from the North Island.

Tomorrow is Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii.