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I spent more than an hour this morning looking over comments and deciding whether they were spam mail or people surfing the web from their office desks.

In any case, it’s nice to hear your comments. So if you’re sitting in your office, dreaming of an island vacation, this is for you.

As you may or may not know, Maui is the second largest island in the Hawaiian Island Chain. There are seven  inhabited island and many more uninhabited ones. One inhabited island is privately owned, so most of us have never set foot on it.

Honolulu (the capital of Hawaii) is located on the island of Oahu. It’s another 20 minutes by air to get to Maui.

The flight to Maui from the west coast takes about five hours. If you do not fly direct, you’ll need another flight to get here. It’s not that bad to stop over on another island-at least you get to see a different island, even if it’s from the air.

In my opinion, plan your vacation with one island in mind, especially if you don’t have much time to spend. All islands have hula girls, historical sites and luau food. Island jumping costs money, and you’ll be too overwhelmed to remember what you saw, anyway.

Here are some facts to think about when you plan your Hawaii vacation-

Niihau is privately owned, and you can’t go there.

Oahu has the Arizona Memorial, Waikiki and Pipeline.

The Big Island of Hawaii has the lava flow, Waimea, Kona and Hilo.

Kauai has one main highway.

Molokai prefers to be left alone.

Lanai is idyllic.

Maui has a crater, Jaws, Paia, a winery, Hana, Lahaina, Kihei and whales.

Each island has good snorkeling, swimming and surfing. So pick one and enjoy your stay. Keep in mind that you can always return again and visit another island.

Not only is Cafe O’Lei the best spot for dinner in Kihei, but its Wailuku location offers half price sushi on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. Plan sightseeing at I`ao Valley before then, and then cruise into the historic town of Wailuku for antique wares and shops you’d never find in Wailea or Ka`anapali.

There are so many places to dine on Maui, it’s impossible to review all of them. A handful are established and have been around for more than a decade, others are gone within a month.

Maui’s restaurant prices are high, possibly because we are in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Or maybe it’s because restaurateurs have to pay exhorbitant rent. Whatever the reason, many restaurants offer produces from Maui local farmers and ranchers. One of them is the Cafe O`Lei.

The upstairs location on 2439 South Kihei Road is consistent with their cooking-I’ve never had a bad meal, and we go often. Their prices are mega less than other restaurants with the same type of menu.

My favorite on the pupu menu is their Manoa Lettuce Wraps filled with ground chicken. A little on the sweet side, the chicken has a hoisin sauce that can be downplayed by spooning less of the meat into the fresh lettuce leaves. Wrap it like an envelope, and the ono juice won’t drip all over your top.

Their House Baby Greens with julienne veggies, blue cheese and basil vinaigrette is heavenly.  This is a good side when you order a dozen fresh oysters during the summer.

My partner and I like to sneak in through the back door and sit at the sushi bar. Their uni is always fresh.

BTW-their service is excellent, too. Go early or later because you can’t hear yourself talk between 7:00-8:00 p.m.

As far as things to do on Maui besides swimming, snorkeling and basking in the sun, Kihei is central to all places to see and visit. Kamaole Beach Parks I, II and III are among the best beaches on Maui and across the street from Kihei Akahi, Kamaole Sands, Hale Kamaole and Maui Kamaole. Makena Big Beach is only about 10 minutes from Kihei going South.

Plan your day by not attempting to do everything in one day even though places seem close.

For example, the road to Hana is only 56 miles but it is winding and slow-going. Take your time, as the ride is where you see the beauty of the rain forest and beautiful vistas of the Pacific Ocean caressing Maui’s coastline. The town of Hana is very small. Visit the Hana Coast Gallery for local art. You can continue on the highway after Hana to get around the other side of the island, but check with the Maui Police Department to see if the road back to town is clear via that route. Land slides occasionally occur during winter rains. The view along that coast, however, is outstanding. Caution-car rental companies suggest you do not take this route, but this route will take you through Kaupo, Upcountry and then down again to Kihei. Breathtaking if you risk the drive.

You don’t necessarily need to see the sunrise at Haleakala Crater unless you like to get up at 4:00 a.m. The inside of the crater is beautiful when the sun is up. Hiking into the crater is easy, but hiking back out is strenuous especially if you are on the Sliding Sands trail. Bring water. Maybe not a good idea for young children.

Surf the Internet and find The Maui News. In the Thursdays and Sundays issues, “Currents” has a complete listing of nightly entertainment or things to do during the week you are here. Also visit the MACC (Maui Arts and Cultural Center) website where concert dates are listed.

The inflight magazine on your flight to Maui will have advertisements of activities. Kiosks all along South Kihei Road sell activities, also. You won’t have trouble finding things to do here. One luau is as good as the other, but I recommend the “Old Lahaina Luau” if you are planning a trip to Lahaina that day. It is very hot in Lahaina, so figure on driving over later in the afternoon, see the town and then go to the luau.

You will notice that food and restaurants are expensive compared to where you live. Many visitors stop at Costco (five minutes out of the airport), but avoid shopping there unless you know you’ll be able to consume everything. The supermarket closest to the Kihei Akahi is Foodland. Times and Safeway are further north, about another 10 minute drive.

Organic food and local produce are sold at Wholefoods in Kahului, Down To Earth in Kahului and Mana Foods in Paia.

I’m glad to post this today. It was an iffy morning for all of us who live in Kihei and all other tsunami evacuation areas.

The commotion actually started the night before. The neighborhood was pretty restless, and by 4:00 a.m. the feral roosters were already crowing.

By 6:00 a.m. our phone lines were jammed with relatives calling to see if we knew about the possible tsunami, and Upcountry friends offering their hospitality to us who live near the ocean.

If it wasn’t for the news coverage on television (especially KHNL), we wouldn’t have known how and when to act-without being utterly surprised. This was the longest warning we have had for a near tsunami.

We watched the live video of Hilo Bay’s water surging in and out, waiting for the time to really  leave our house and head to higher ground. We decided earlier that we weren’t going to drive out of Kihei because of the heavy traffic.

Earlier in the morning, we drove our cars uphill, filled water jugs and our bathtub with fresh water, and remained glued to the television.

When the waters at Hilo Bay started to gurgle, I felt it was time to leave. I thought we were going to go on foot toward the upper highway, but my partner insisted we take his truck and drive on South Kihei Road to get to our friend’s house in the safe zone. I was never so nervous in my life, even though we had at least 20 minutes before the wave would hit Maui after the Big Island.

There were a few fools on the road and at the water’s edge, but everything else was shut down-stores, restaurants and traffic. It reminded me of 911 when we were insecure for good reasons.

I looked over to the ocean, and it was crystal blue and beautiful. Incredible day for the beach.

It was another hour before we could go home again.

Tsunamis are terrible things. I was a little girl in 1960 when Maui was hit hard.

Sometimes, even a local needs to visit places on the island where he/she has never been. I was one of them a day ago.

Lynn, a friend from Iowa, suggested going to the other side of the island to find a blowhole. I’ve seen many blowholes-here if not there (not Iowa). OK, I thought. It should be interesting. I think I know where it is. I think I’ve seen it before.

That night, we checked the map only to find out that I was wrong and it was right.

The drive takes about an hour from Kihei to mile marker 38 past Kapalua. Dirt parking was open to a handful of cars, and out we went, down a grassy knoll, along unforgiving cliffs with gorgeous olivine pools, over an an ancient craggy lava flow and to Mother Nature’s place of unleashed ejaculations.

That’s the best way to describe Nakalele Blowhole. I sat at a safe distance for nearly an hour, watching this spectacular display of energy. Lynn explored more of the plateau. With the right wave, the built-up energy sounded like a steam engine shooting a spray of saltwater at least 20 ft into the air. Mini rainbows appeared as the mist lingered between black shelves of lava.

I was immediately regenerated from the ocean’s spray and trade winds. I imagine this is what a spa would like to be.

This isn’t a hike for the entire family. Leave the toddlers home or carry them in a carrier. The trek is not long but it is rough, and there is no way to rescue anyone within an hour if one would to fall into the depths of the Pacific.

A word of advice, never turn your back to the ocean (even if you are on an idyllic sandy beach.) A clueless couple stood on the edge of the cliff behind the blowhole while we were there and almost got wiped away by a huge wave. I’m sure they’ll remember that for the rest of their lives.

Next time you are on Maui, visit this spectacular natural wonder. Remember to take your trash with you when you leave the area.

No, it’s not for your nose. Snow on Haleakala occurs maybe once a year, if ever. During a morning walk one year, I pointed to the 10,000 ft. mountain peak to some visitors. “Look at the snow,” I said.

At first they didn’t get my drift, but after the shock of a local actually talking to them, they turned around and saw my point.

“Wow,” they said.

Just goes to show that it’s a good idea to look around sometimes.

Here it is already 2010, and this is my first post of the year. Yes I’m slow, but when I remember to blog, I’m there.

There was another event yesterday that was my first for the year. A friend invited me on a whale watch.

The vog (air scum from the volcano) didn’t help the sky’s color reflecting on the ocean, but the sunset was scheduled to be glorious.

The boat headed toward Lahaina since no one spotted any whales in the Maalaea/Makena area, except me, but the captain didn’t believe it.  It was fine, though, because we came upon mother whales and their calves in many instances. Some also had companion whales with them.

Looking toward the Pali, hundreds of spectators stopped by the side of the highway to witness the whales flapping their tails, and waving their fins. We were at the safest distance allowed between the whales and us. Sometimes they came closer to us, which made the evening one to remember for a long time. The crew dropped a microphone into the water so we could hear the whales singing.

Whales never cease to amaze me. They are so wonderful to see, even if I’ve seen them a hundred times in my life. They’re here now until the end of April.

As for the sunset-I missed it.

Hardly any one of us own raincoats or umbrellas. So when the rain comes, we go into shock. We don’t like to get wet either, so we make use of what we have around to keep us from the rain.

A thick section of an old Sunday paper is good to hold over your head when you’re caught in a sudden shower without rain gear.

A clean plastic trash bag is also useful. Slit openings at the seams for your head and arms, and you’re ready to go.

A beach hat or baseball cap also suffices.

Better yet, you can put on your bathing suit and run crazy down a sandy beach. The raindrops are pretty warm.

This advice is only good if the rain is dropping vertically. If the drops are coming to you diagonally, stay indoors. That means a heavy storm is coming.