2018-06-07 The Secret Beach and Expectations

Mau’umae Beach is located between Spencer Beach Park and Mauna Kea Resort.  It is sometimes called the secret beach.  Here is how you access:  Go to the Mauna Kea Resort (a swanky resort) and request a Mau’umae Beach pass at the guard shack. Only 10 passes are available at one time, so it is best to come in the morning. After being given a pass, follow the road for approximately 400 yards and take the second right turn. Continue across two small wooden bridges until you arrive at the unpaved parking area above the beach. The trail down to Mau’umae Beach is marked by a sign. If no beach passes are available or you didn’t know this!!!  Mau’umae can be accessed by parking at Spencer Beach Park and then hiking for a quarter mile (it is more than a quarter of a mile – they are lying)  down the coastal trail.  Try dragging beach chairs, a 7 year old, food and a cooler.  It had to be more than a quarter mile.

Granted there are not many people on the beach.  The group also found a great spot in the shade.  It was so good that Wendelin was able to fall asleep on the beach.  She also declared after the long hike that she was done with the beach in Hawaii.

Next stop was the introduction of Mia to shaved ice.  Mia embraced the shaved ice along with Debbie’s hat.

While on the plane, Mia read a story about a luau.  She had developed expectations about a laua.  1).  There would be dancing  2).  Dancers will have rolls (Mia’s  name for a lei) on the wrists and ankles 3). fire dancers.

So often the group went to the luau with the above expectations.   There is road construction that has been going on for at least two years on the way to Kona.  Debbie has not actually seen a worker in the two years that she has traveled the road but the lanes are closed.  Unfortunately, the group was delayed on the way so missed the beginning of the luau.  They were not at the end of the line but definitely in the last third (A shocking placement for  Debbie.  She has never been that far back in a line).  They were seated and lined up for food.  Debbie was most distressed when the group seating was moved while she was in line.  (Turns out they were recognized as royalty and moved closer to the stage).

Once the show began, Mia was thrilled.  Dancers?  Check!  Leis on the wrist and ankles?  Check!  Fire Dancers? Check!  However, the fire dancer failed somewhat when he dropped the fiery baton onto a guest table which lead to the guest table standing up and running.