Our final day in Maui—definitely the saddest one. We had a flight out of Kahului Airport at 1 PM, which meant we had to leave around 10:30 AM. Even though time was tight, we were determined to squeeze in one last snorkel. So, bright and early at 8 AM, we headed over to Black Rock, which was conveniently right by our hotel.

We only had about 30 minutes in the water, but it was worth it to catch a last glimpse of Maui’s beautiful marine life. After that, it was straight back to packing and getting ready to head home. As our stay at Ka’anapali Beach Hotel came to an end, we were treated to a beautiful farewell ceremony that left us feeling like part of something special. In true Hawaiian tradition, we were gifted kukui nut leis, a gesture symbolizing a warm “welcome to the family.”

What made the experience even more meaningful is that guests are encouraged to bring their leis back on future visits, where they’ll receive a special kukui nut to add to the strand. It’s such a lovely way to stay connected with the island and the hotel, reminding us that this isn’t a goodbye but a “see you soon.”

Even though our flight left at 1 PM Maui time, we didn’t land in Tampa until 7 AM Sunday. The time difference and long journey made for a brutal adjustment. Once we drove back to Tallahassee, we couldn’t stay awake past 8 PM and slept in until 8 AM the next day. Jet lag hit us hard!

And that wraps up our amazing trip to Maui—complete with some fun history facts and birding adventures! We hope to return one day and continue exploring the beauty of this island paradise. Until then, aloha! 🌺