Yesterday rounded out 14-days of self-quarantine after coming back from Hawaii, coincidentally paralleling the national effort of “15 days to slow the spread.” I gotta admit it felt like a long time and a lot has changed. The U.S. now has the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the world and our physicians are overworked and under-resourced as states bid against each other for PPE and ventilators. Today happens to be National Doctors’ Day, and now more than ever physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, techs, and countless others deserve to be celebrated for their sacrifice and resilience. THANK YOU! I consider myself lucky to have had relatively little true disruption to my life. I didn’t get to trek to Machu Picchu with my two best friends in med school, which is a bummer, but a small inconvenience compared to the hardships of people who have had to postpone their weddings, lost their jobs, or worse, lost a loved one.
All this time at home has been an opportunity to “Marie Kondo” my life. To evaluate what has brought joy to my life and how much waste materialism generates. In the spirit of the Disney movies I’ve been watching of late, I’ll be striving towards “the simple bare necessities” and “hakuna matata.” Now let’s go (virtually) to Maui! Full Maui itinerary here.
To Eat & Drink

Maui gold pineapples & MauiWine pineapple wine

Banana bread on the Road to Hana

Shave ice at Ululani’s

Poke from Tamura’s

Birthday meal at Mama’s Fish House

Polynesian Black Pearl ft. lilikoi chocolate mousse at Mama’s

Mai Tai’s, buffet dinner, & dessert at Old Lahaina Luau
To See

Iao Valley

Pools at ‘Ohe’o

Wailua Falls

Kaihalulu red sand beach

Burrito family ready for sunrise at Haleakala

Alllllmosttttt

Sunrise at Haleakala, “house of the sun”

Clear views from Kalahaku Overlook at Haleakala

‘I’iwi at Hosmer Grove, Haleakala

Banyan Tree Court at Front Street, Lahaina

Humpback whale watching ft. synchronized pec-slaps by mom and calf, fluke dive, and more pec-slapping action

This mom and calf came right up to our boat!!

Makaluapuna Point aka Dragon’s Tooth trail

Nakelele Blowhole

Is it just me, or do some parts of the Nakelele Blowhole hike give off Martian vibes?

View of Lanai from West Maui. We saw a group of at least six whales in the waters here!

Our last night in Hawaii
Such beautiful photos! ❤️❤️