Yesterday marked the end of the first week of our family’s two-week vacation on Maui, Hawai’i. We’ve been anticipating this holiday for more than a year, and so far it’s met our every expectation. My daughter and her cousin helped in the preliminary planning, researching activities and sites we should visit while here and booking a few special tours. While I’m looking forward to those (including viewing the sunset and then stargazing from the summit of Haleakala, the island’s highest point), I’ve simply been basking in the sunny days and warm, azure waters. Our accommodations, a Wyndham condo unit in Kihei, place us just a block from the surf and in the center of shops; restaurants; and businesses providing tourist services such as water sports rentals, tours and spa treatments. While not as luxurious and beautifully landscaped as the resorts just south of us in Wailea, It places us within walking distance of nearly everything one could need in a friendly, lively atmosphere. We have ventured up and down the south and west coasts of the island, however, searching for good snorkeling beaches (rough surf resulting from a strong northerly weather system and energy from Hurricane Oho made that challenging earlier in the week), local farmers markets and unique gifts for friends and family back home. I’m impressed with the friendly greetings we’ve received everywhere, with the locals happy to share tips and information to ensure a great experience for us. I’ll be sharing details of our adventures over the next few weeks, but right now the road to Hana calls, and it’s time to explore another corner of this tropical paradise. — Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor