Maui Vacation with all my in-laws? Sign me up!

I've had my share of luck over the years.  The biggest would be in the in-law department.  I married into a pretty great family.  Since the first grandkids were born 16 years ago, there have been regular get togethers, or clan bakes as we call them.  We used to do them every month, but it's been starting to move to the bi-monthly category.  Last year the idea was floated of a giant family vacation to Maui.

The idea of going on vacation with 26 other people, 26 other personalities, might seem like the worst idea ever.  I think what made the whole thing possible is acceptance of our differences (and there are many), a lot of love, and the general idea that everyone had positive intentions.  My mother and father in law deserve the most credit for this vacation since they paid for it.  Gail and Laurence celebrated 50 years of marriage and Gail also just retired after 30 years of being the church lady at a Catholic Church.  I am still in awe of their generosity.

As a show of gratitude, I shared my gift of organization.  Planning this large a vacation is no small task.  It's a lot of cars, hotel rooms, and air travel from both the Seattle area and New Zealand.  Planning started 12-15 months in advance, with reservations happening 7 months in advance.  Different siblings helped along the way from the offer to pay for breakfast for all grandkids at the hotel everyday, to compiling a memory book, booking a snorkel trip, to organizing a special show.   It took many hands.

Getting to Maui was something out of the Brady Brunch, almost.  We were all on the same flight over except for the 4 flying from New Zealand.  Luckily, they landed the same time as us.  The worst part of the entire trip was dealing with the rental car agency. If you value your time, money, sanity, then do not, I repeat DO NOT use Budget Rental Car on Maui.  There are no words to describe what a terrible, horrible, sweaty, time-consuming experience trying to rent cars was with them.  The good news is that it bonded all of us.

Life was good once we made it to the hotel.  I cannot recommend Kanaapali Beach Hotel enough.  It was perfect for our large group.  We were able to have the bottom floor of one of the buildings (necessary due to some special needs).  Some rooms were adjoining.  We were all able to easily gather just outside our rooms on the grass. I could see kids walk to and from the room when I was at the pool.  It was awesome.  We totally utilized the grassy area right outside our room.  The pool is no frills but big enough to have a good time.  It's warm (even warm enough for me to be willing to go in) and has a decent shallow end that Robin loved.

Robin looks good Hawaiian style.

With so many adults and ages to contend with (kids ages 6 weeks to 16 years), we regularly split up.  It was nice to know that there was someone always available to watch a kid if you needed to be elsewhere.  I'm still in awe how smoothly everything went.

Everyone was excited to meet Baby Wesley, age 6 weeks

Meetings of adults were necessary after breakfast to figure out logistics.

Laurence looking regal.

We dragged the kids to mass on Sunday in Lahaina.  It was sooooo sweaty.  Instead of coffee and donuts after mass, or even lunch, we opted for shave ice.

Over half our group went on a snorkel trip to Molokini Crater.  I know myself and know that boats just make me vomit.  I was so miserable on the last snorkel trip I took, I opted out of this one.  Instead I stayed back with Robin and my niece, Lucy. We had lots of fun at the beach.  And it meant that her mommy actually got to go on the snorkel trip with all her big kids.

Eileen on the boat to Molokini Crater.

Did I mention that my nephew, Wesley, has a naturally occurring mohawk?

Linus begged me to buy him a coconut.  Cracking open the coconut was an afternoon family activity.

Dave and I decided to invest in actual snorkel gear for the kids.  Bonus?  Linus and I are the same snorkel and fin size.  Eileen is a natural.

We all really wanted to celebrate Gail and Laurence, and their awesomeness.  We sent them to a nice dinner at the Mala Ocean Tavern (very cool place that is also a sea turtle sanctuary). Additionally, we dedicated an afternoon/evening to them.  After doing a session with a family photographer, we wanted to put on a little show of appreciation before we all headed to a luau at the Royal Lahaina.  Every family planned something special to do and then everyone sang "Buy you a rainbow" for them.  While Gail and Laurence were at their special dinner, we all practiced for the big show set for the following day.  We got applause from people on their lanais above us.

This video makes me so happy.

I don't think Gail and Laurence knew we were planning anything.  One of my favorite things on the entire trip was watching a re-enactment of the fight between the man in black and Fezzik from Princess Bride starring my three year old kiwi niece, April, as the man in black.  She was amazing--costumes, dedication to the role, the lines!  For our family's part, we did the bear camping skit by the request of the kids.

During our celebration we presented Gail and Laurence with the memory book, compiled by my sister-in-law.   It's full of pictures, memories, original compositions inspired by childhood stories.

 Linus and I both could not get enough of this sweet baby.

My father-in-law, classic dad.

The luau was great.  I've now been to three different luaus and the one at the Royal Lahaina was my favorite.  It definitely had the best menu and I appreciated that you got a print out of the menu, highlighting what was gluten free or vegetarian.  It also had a kids buffet table.  The whole thing was just really well run and many people's favorite part of the trip.

We got Maori tribal tattoos at the luau.

Beautiful girl.

I was a little surprised by just how much Linus enjoyed the luau.

We enjoyed some great snorkeling walking distance to our hotel, just on the other side of the black rock.  Linus, Eileen, and Dave even saw a spotted eagle ray!  Robin was more into the sand/beach aspect.

Daddy/daughter snorkel

So many cousins!

Eileen and Linus loved spending time with their cousins.  Eileen and Abigail are best buds. 

Another favorite moment from the trip was when I was snorkeling with Eileen.  Abigail swam over to us.  I watched the two of them meet under water and grasp each other with both hands.  It was beautiful.

Dave and Linus joined a crew that went to the Haleakala Volcano.

Meanwhile, I stayed behind with the younger girls and Robin.  We ate shave ice and visited the Banyan Tree.

We had to hurry back to the hotel for hula lessons.

Linus at Snorkel Bob's.

Linus discovered a new passion for lizard hunting.  Meet Magnus.

We all spent a lot of time at the pool.  By a lot, I mean at least 4 hours a day.  Robin misses it.

We've been home a few days now.  Adjusting to time zones is never fun.  It's even worse with kids.  We had a great time.  It was not the same experience as my kid-free Hawaiian vacation.  Dave and I did get a lovely evening out courtesy of my awesome principal.  Otherwise, we barely saw each other. 

This was definitely a once in a lifetime experience.  I am so grateful for my entire family on Dave's side.  It takes a special group of people to pull off something like this.  Thank you Gail and Laurence for growing this family and providing this amazing vacation.

Aloha!