Heather Heffner's Blog, page 14

April 2015 Book Review: Cruel Beauty

Cruel BeautyRosamund Hodge~Book Review~


ONE OF MY FAVORITE DISNEY MOVIES from childhood was Beauty and the Beast. Besides the slow and lovely development of Belle and the Beast’s romance, the house was a character in its own right, full of mysterious rooms, singing silverware, and an enchanted rose.
Cruel Beauty is Beauty and the Beast retold with Greek mythology, and it is also reminiscent of Diana Wynne Jones Howl’s Moving Castle and Meredith Ann Pierce’s Darkangel. Both smart choices. Although Nyx and Ignifex are not quite as iconic as Sophie and Howl, and the novel’s atmosphere does not achieve the brooding, haunted feel of Darkangel, it is still magically delightful and a breath of fresh air in YA fantasy these days. For one thing, Cruel Beauty doesn’t forget that it has a plot. The romance is very central to the mystery of how Nyx’s world, Arcadia, came to be cursed, and the urgency for Nyx to unravel the secrets behind the demon lord Ignifex is always present.  
Long ago, Nyx’s father made a deal to sell her to the demon lord Ignifex as the latest in his succession of wives. Nyx grows up bitter toward her family, who have raised her to be an assassin who is expected to end the life of the man Arcadia holds responsible for imprisoning their world within a purgatory of sorts.
However, Ignifex is not the demon lord Nyx expects, and his mysterious house may just hold the secrets to saving the world. I loved all the little chambers Nyx would stumble upon, where she would experience both wonder and horrors— “Demons are made of shadow. Don’t look at the shadows too long or a demon might look back” (p. 1). The romance between Nyx and Ignifex was very well-done, full of witty banter and deepening affection. I also appreciated that this is a YA fantasy book that attempts to go deeper and ask some philosophical questions; there is also the inclusion of Greek mythology, which is always welcome and gives this tale a timeless quality. While the civilization didn’t feel too reminiscent of Ancient Greece to me besides incorporating the myths and prayer rituals, common themes in Greek mythology like pride and self-righteousness were well-tied in.
I am pleased as punch that there is a second book in this series as well! Cruel Beauty is well-worth investing your time in, because it takes risks and develops its plot. Bring on Crimson Bound !
Recommend for fans of: Dianna Wynne Jones, Meredith Ann Pierce, Leigh BardugoUpcoming Book Review: An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

March 2015 Book Review: A Darker Shade of Magic

A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC
V. E. Schwab
~Book Review~


Warning! This review contains major spoilers! Read at your own risk!
THIS FANTASY NOVEL began full of whimsical phrases and magical delights! I was instantly captivated by the wondrous world V. E. Schwab created in A Darker Shade of Magic , its clever banter and vivid world-building reminding me Philip Pullman’s The Golden Compass, J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter, and perhaps most applicable, Roger Zelazney’s The Great Book of Amber. Long ago, people used to be able to travel between worlds using magic. Not in present day. Now the worlds have been sealed off, and only the magicians known as Antari can travel between them.
Kell is one of these Antari, identifiable because one of his eyes is entirely black. He inhabits a world known as Red London, where magic still thrives and everything smells of flowers. Kell is both royal messenger to the rulers of the two other Londons and a smuggler, selling artifacts to the highest bidder. There is Grey London, which is the equivalent of our world, “magic-less.” There is White London, which smells like blood because its cruel and pitiless rulers, the Dane twins, control all magic and brainwash their soldiers into serving them. Finally, there is Black London, a warning to the other worlds, because its inhabitants grew too greedy for magic and it consumed them all.
While the fantastical concept behind Schwab’s storytelling was superb, unfortunately I felt that the main characters failed to become more than stereotypical archetypes. Kell throws jabs at the royals, reminiscent of time traveler Corwin from The Great Book of Amber, but he doesn’t quite have Corwin’s instantaneous and endearing charm. I liked Kell, but he wasn’t a memorable stand-out. Kell as a smuggler seemed a shadow of Locke Lamora from Scott Lynch’s Gentlemen Bastard Series; while both play the stereotypical smuggler with a heart-of-gold character, Locke Lamora’s morals conflicted the reader as much as his charm enchanted, and he became progressively more complex throughout the series. Sadly, I did not feel this investment in Kell; he failed to stand on his own alongside these two  similar literary characters.
The same is true of the other lead, “Lila.” She was introduced much too late in my opinion, and plays the typical thief who forces Kell to accept her as a sidekick, and then also falls for him entirely too fast. The biggest disappointment for me was at the end of the novel, when Lila fails to kill Astrid and Kell steps up to kill both Dane twins. Although entirely believable, because Lila has never faced sorcerers of such power before, I do hope she develops her own powers and takes down a main baddie without Kell’s help. Prince Rhys was nice and jovial, but also didn’t stand out to me as a unique and complex character I would continue to read the series for.
There were also some random third-person viewpoints which seemed very unnecessary like Parrish, when more time could have been spent developing Kell. However, the villains were very strong. The Dane Twins Astrid and Athos were delightfully evil, like something out of Alice and Wonderland, and I also enjoyed reading about Holland as well. However, overall this book feltoriginal, and the idea of four different Londons is wonderfully enchanting to explore. I just wish the main characters felt as original as well.
Recommended for fans of: J.K. Rowling, Neil Gaiman, Philip Pullman
Upcoming Book Review: An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Hawaiian Islands Travel Series: Eastern Maui: the Hana Highway

Day 4: The Hana Highway




IT'S AN INFAMOUS 64.4 miles of winding, twisty road with one-lane bridge crossings. Drive fast at your peril: huge tour buses can swoop around the bend with no warning, and there are hairpin turns galore. The Hana Highway stretches from Kahalui to the small town of Hana on the far eastern rim of Maui, and then circles about the southeast end of Haleakalā National Park, where one large gravel section still remains. Once you exit Paia and head east toward Hana, it’s time to wake up and stay alert. You will want to have your eyes prepped for any oncoming vehicles, as well as enjoy the stunning jungle and the large number of waterfalls you’re apt to see.


 The Hana Highway is almost completely paved. However, when we visited, the foliage was intent on taking back the road. Many ferns and trees overhung in the way ahead, making it difficult to spot oncoming vehicles. The locals who live out this way will whip around the road so fast that it’ll make your head spin. Pull over to let them pass. Also, be mindful of bicyclists. We followed a cyclist for nearly a mile, unable to pass because the road was too narrow to pass safely, and we couldn’t see far enough ahead to see if anyone was coming. We had to wait for the cyclist to signal that it was okay for us to pass him.

 


The bamboo forests that surround you are utterly magical. I’d never seen so much bamboo in my life. Also, if you’re in the passenger seat, then prepare to be dazzled by the sheer number of waterfalls at every bridge and along pull-outs. It may be possible to get tired of waterfalls, you’ll see so many (unless it’s been dry lately). There are rest spots along the way where you can buy fresh fruit and pastries from local stands, as well as use the restroom. It usually takes around 2.5 hours to navigate the entire highway to Hana. 




We, in our wisdom, decided to spend the second half of our trip in Wai'anapanapa State Park,  a wondrous black sand beach and volcanic field a mere ten minutes from Hana. That meant that we got to drive the Hana Highway. A lot. While we gradually acclimated to craning our heads around turns to see who was coming, and endured the stops at the bridges to let oncoming traffic pass, it was very tiring. The scariest part was driving the Hana Highway at night. There weren’t many cars, but there was a man walking down the middle of the street who could have been easily hit, and around one blind turn, we slammed on the breaks to keep from hitting a dog. Because of the poor visibility along the Hana Highway, if at all possible, avoid driving it at night. During the day, drive slowly and courteously, but don’t be too hesitant. Let others know you’re present and embrace the beauty of the legendary Hana Highway.

Upcoming Day 5: Wai'anapanapa State Park

Read more in the Hawaiian Travel Series:
(0) Intro: Welcome to Maui
(1) Day 1: Northwest Maui: Lahaina
(2) Day 2: Kihei and Makena (3)Day 3: Central Maui: Paia and Makawao





Disclaimer: The above is presented as fiction, not fact.

Hawaiian Island Travel Series: Eastern Maui: the Hana Highway

Day 4: The Hana Highway

IT'S AN INFAMOUS 64.4 miles of winding, twisty road with one-lane bridge crossings. Drive fast at your peril: huge tour buses can swoop around the bend with no warning, and there are hairpin turns galore. The Hana Highway stretches from Kahalui to the small town of Hana on the far eastern rim of Maui, and then circles about the southeast end of Haleakalā National Park, where one large gravel section still remains. Once you exit Paia and head east toward Hana, it’s time to wake up and stay alert. You will want to have your eyes prepped for any oncoming vehicles, as well as enjoy the stunning jungle and the large number of waterfalls you’re apt to see.

 The Hana Highway is almost completely paved. However, when we visited, the foliage was intent on taking back the road. Many ferns and trees overhung in the way ahead, making it difficult to spot oncoming vehicles. The locals who live out this way will whip around the road so fast that it’ll make your head spin. Pull over to let them pass. Also, be mindful of bicyclists. We followed a cyclist for nearly a mile, unable to pass because the road was too narrow to pass safely, and we couldn’t see far enough ahead to see if anyone was coming. We had to wait for the cyclist to signal that it was okay for us to pass him.

 
The bamboo forests that surround you are utterly magical. I’d never seen so much bamboo in my life. Also, if you’re in the passenger seat, then prepare to be dazzled by the sheer number of waterfalls at every bridge and along pull-outs. It may be possible to get tired of waterfalls, you’ll see so many (unless it’s been dry lately). There are rest spots along the way where you can buy fresh fruit and pastries from local stands, as well as use the restroom. It usually takes around 2.5 hours to navigate the entire highway to Hana. 


We, in our wisdom, decided to spend the second half of our trip in Wai'anapanapa State Park,  a wondrous black sand beach and volcanic field a mere ten minutes from Hana. That meant that we got to drive the Hana Highway. A lot. While we gradually acclimated to craning our heads around turns to see who was coming, and endured the stops at the bridges to let oncoming traffic pass, it was very tiring. The scariest part was driving the Hana Highway at night. There weren’t many cars, but there was a man walking down the middle of the street who could have been easily hit, and around one blind turn, we slammed on the breaks to keep from hitting a dog. Because of the poor visibility along the Hana Highway, if at all possible, avoid driving it at night. During the day, drive slowly and courteously, but don’t be too hesitant. Let others know you’re present and embrace the beauty of the legendary Hana Highway.

Upcoming Day 5: Wai'anapanapa State Park

Read more in the Hawaiian Travel Series:
(0) Intro: Welcome to Maui
(1) Day 1: Northwest Maui: Lahaina
(2) Day 2: Kihei and Makena (3)Day 3: Central Maui: Paia and Makawao



Disclaimer: The above is presented as fiction, not fact.

February 2015 Book Review: Silvern

I am so far behind in book reviews...yikes! Here to make up for it: 


SILVERNBy Christina Farley~Book Review~


~Warning! Contains spoilers!~


SILVERN is the second book in new author Christina Farley’s Gilded series about young teenager Jae Hwa, who moves to South Korea to live with her father and gets embroiled in a battle between the Korean gods of light and darkness. I saw that this book has been recommended for Common Core educators on Amazon.com, and I agree: it is a safe, culturally interesting tale that will hopefully spark middle schoolers’ curiosity about South Korea. Jae Hwa is quite a memorable heroine and the plot is engaging. Unfortunately, the supporting cast doesn’t shine as brightly as Jae Hwa does, and the mythological explanation for Korea’s split into North and South Korea is questionable.

Jae Hwa’s world has turned upside down since she defeated Haemosu, the devious sun god who tried to make her his bride. Her aunt is gone, and now Haemosu’s master, Kud, the god of darkness, is trying to bring Jae Hwa to his cause…or kill her and those she loves. Kud is trying to find a mythical artifact, the White Tiger Orb, and Jae Hwa must stop him along with her lackluster friends: Marc, her boyfriend; Michelle, her chatty school friend; and Kang-dae, one of the guardians of Shinshi.
It sounds action-packed, and the plot definitely flies along. I loved Jae Hwa’s blossoming relationship with her estranged grandfather, and her lost aunt still had a distinct influence in her life. However, I continue to remain disinterested in Jae Hwa and Marc’s relationship. Marc feels incredibly out of place in the otherwise lavish world Farley has created, and I have a hard time buying that he is so effortlessly assimilated into Korean culture; likewise, he has a rather bland personality. Kang-dae could have made things interesting, but it was always clear that he was never a real contender for Jae Hwa’s heart. Michelle is probably the most endearing of Jae Hwa’s companions, but she needs to be able to contribute more directly to the action. As I’ve mentioned in previous reviews, it’s always difficult to include non-magical human characters into a paranormal world without them becoming boring.

One of the biggest faults is the handling of North Korea’s existence. Jae Hwa and her friends must infiltrate North Korea to find the White Tiger Orb, and are able to do so by bringing medicine to a village on an approved school field trip. The idea that a high school would approve such a high stakes trip on short notice is laughable, but the more pressing issue is how the Korean state split is described as being due to Kud, the god of darkness. American and Soviet forces are not mentioned at all, despite their considerable agendas for the region. North and South Korea have since developed their own ideologies and ways of life. The idea of reconciliation is still highly controversial, and too complicated a topic to attribute to “Korea will reunite once Kud is defeated.” This speaks to how this book keeps things safe for a middle school audience, but if the book is going to recognize the split, then more care should have been paid to addressing why it did so and not explain it away as an ancient battle between gods.

Despite some shortcomings, overall Silvern is a truly enjoyable read, and I loved the appearance of the mythical white tiger and anything to do with Korean lore! This is too rare of a featured culture in YA fiction, and it’s incredibly fresh and exciting to read about in a genre overrun by angsty vampires and horny werewolves. The ending was incredibly well-done, and I look forward to how Jae Hwa’s choice plays out in the third and final (?) book of the series, Brazen. 

Recommended for fans of: Julie Kagawa, Rick Riordan, Colleen Houck
Upcoming Book Review: Of Metal and Wishes, by Sarah Fine 

Hawaiian Islands Travel Series: Central Maui: Paia and Makawao

Day 3: Central Maui: Paia and Makawao
YOU’LL KNOWyou’re almost to the Hana Highway when you drive through Paia, a chic and lively town that is definitely worth a stroll. There is a free parking lot on the west side of town. From there, walk down the main street and try not to find a place to eat here. Wonderful eating experiences abound, such as the Flatbread Company. A fun place for family—or for hungry hikers who have just come down from Haleakalā National Park. The kitchen is in the back of the dining area, so you can watch the action as hot, woodfire-baked pizzas are whisked from the oven and brought straight to your table.

   



Paia is also known for being kinda, semi-close to legendary surf spot Jaws. However, Jaws is in a pretty remote location; be prepared for a hike. If you’re really itching to look at the waves, then you will want to look for this street: ‘O‘ili Road. Walk down until you see the Cattle Guard. This is as far as we went, but Jaws is beyond here down a cliff.



Quite a ways above Paia nestled in the foothills of Haleakalā is Makawao. It has the reputation for being a "cowboy town." This is in reference to the paniolo, who trace their heritage back to Mexican vaqueros/cowboys hired by John Palmer Parker in the 1800s to help herd cattle. I'm not sure how much of this tradition remains; we mainly traveled through Makawao on our way up to Haleakalā Summit. I suppose the town square looks kind of like that old saloon style. There were many art studios, sculptures, and carvings on display. 




We were staying at Waianapanapa State Park by Hana, so we had quite the drive to Haleakalā Summit. Start early so you can stay off the Hana Highway at night if at all possible. Cut up Highway 365 if heading to Haleakalā from the east side. This will lead you up a few windy back roads before you'll come to Makawao. Make sure you fill up on gas here, because there will be little to no options once you head up Highway 377-378.



 Upcoming: Day 4: The Hana Highway
  

*Disclaimer: This article is presented as fiction, not fact. Names have been changed for the sake of privacy.



Read more in the Hawaiian Travel Series:
(0) Intro: Welcome to Maui
(1) Day 1: Northwest Maui: Lahaina
(2) Day 2: Kihei and Makena

Hawaiian Island Travel Series: Central Maui: Paia and Makawao

Day 3: Central Maui: Paia and Makawao
YOU’LL KNOWyou’re almost to the Hana Highway when you drive through Paia, a chic and lively town that is definitely worth a stroll. There is a free parking lot on the west side of town. From there, walk down the main street and try not to find a place to eat here. Wonderful eating experiences abound, such as the Flatbread Company. A fun place for family—or for hungry hikers who have just come down from Haleakalā National Park. The kitchen is in the back of the dining area, so you can watch the action as hot, woodfire-baked pizzas are whisked from the oven and brought straight to your table.

   



Paia is also known for being kinda, semi-close to legendary surf spot Jaws. However, Jaws is in a pretty remote location; be prepared for a hike. If you’re really itching to look at the waves, then you will want to look for this street: ‘O‘ili Road. Walk down until you see the Cattle Guard. This is as far as we went, but Jaws is beyond here down a cliff.



Quite a ways above Paia nestled in the foothills of Haleakalā is Makawao. It has the reputation for being a "cowboy town." This is in reference to the paniolo, who trace their heritage back to Mexican vaqueros/cowboys hired by John Palmer Parker in the 1800s to help herd cattle. I'm not sure how much of this tradition remains; we mainly traveled through Makawao on our way up to Haleakalā Summit. I suppose the town square looks kind of like that old saloon style. There were many art studios, sculptures, and carvings on display. 



We were staying at Waianapanapa State Park by Hana, so we had quite the drive to Haleakalā Summit. Start early so you can stay off the Hana Highway at night if at all possible. Cut up Highway 365 if heading to Haleakalā from the east side. This will lead you up a few windy back roads before you'll come to Makawao. Make sure you fill up on gas here, because there will be little to no options once you head up Highway 377-378.


 
 Upcoming: Day 4: The Hana Highway
  

*Disclaimer: This article is presented as fiction, not fact. Names have been changed for the sake of privacy.



Read more in the Hawaiian Travel Series:
(0) Intro: Welcome to Maui
(1) Day 1: Northwest Maui: Lahaina
(2) Day 2: Kihei and Makena

January 2015 Book Review: The Young Elites

THE YOUNG ELITESMarie Lu~Book Review~

 Warning! Spoilers!   I WENT INTO THIS HAVING NO IDEA it was a story starring a villain. I assumed The Young Elites was about your standard secret society with powers that rises up against the tyrannical government. And originally, it would have been. Lu talks in the afterward about how the story followed a generic heroic rebel guy in the first drafts. However, that story wasn’t working. Her agent remarked upon a dark and aloof secondary character named Adelina, who seemed to have more of a story to tell. And just like that, Lu made the smart decision to throw fantasy conventionality out of the window. This book was going to be about a tragic and abused heroine’s descent into infamy, it was going to be full of twists, it was going to be dark.
There have been too many times where I’ve read about a character who has an awesome superpower, but they are too noble or too nice to use it. Adelina uses her power, the ability to create illusions, and it is devilishly fun to read about. I also enjoyed how Lu created the sense of isolation Adelina feels within the superpower secret society: the Young Elites. She feels held at a distance or treated mistrustfully because of her powers and the results of her test, which foretell she is prone to violence.
Another plus was the romance, which Lu does another twist with. Again, I was bracing myself for angst and sappiness that would destroy the plot, but Lu avoids this with a horrific choice made in the climax. Loved it, and I personally hope what happened can’t be undone (such is the way of life muahahaha).
Okay to stop being so dramatic: loved the atmosphere, enjoyed Adelina’s descent and her relationship with her sister, but I really take issue with the name of their rebel group: The Young Elites. Does that convey people of all classes and social backgrounds who developed special abilities because of a plague to you? Does it enhance the book’s dark atmosphere? No. In fact, the title was the reason I was hesitant to read in the first place, because it seemed light and generic. This rebel group who works against the monarchy is often referred to as “Daggers,” which is better, but still pretty bland. The world-building suffered for me because I was pretty confused about what “The Young Elites,” the principal name of the starring secret society, was supposed to mean. A more unique group name would have made this series really stand out from others going forward.
My overall recommendation? Ignore the lack of creative names and pick up the book. The storyline is interesting, it puts twists on traditional fantasy conventions, and it has a diverse range of characters in social standing, race, and sexual orientation. The number one reason I want to continue this series is because Lu gave her characters awesome, dangerous powers and then had them use them. This makes me believe that in future installments, she won’t shy away from the tough moral choices. She’ll go there.
Recommended for fans of: Julie Kagawa, Susan Ee, Zoraida Córdova Upcoming Book Review: Silvern by Christina Farley

December 2014 Book Review: The Vicious Deep

The Vicious DeepBy Zoraida Córdova~Book Review~



THE MERMAID CRAZE in YA fantasy inevitably began after our love affair with contemporary, everyday vampires who “just want to fit in.” Well, mermaids want to hang out in high school forever, too. I’ve had some hits and misses with mermaid books. Lost Voices by Sarah Porter was cool because it was a haunting story about sisterhood, where innocent drowned girls turned savage after “death.” Of Poseidon by Anna Banks was less my thing because I found the characters stereotypical and the plot contrived. I worried the same thing would happen with The Vicious Deep but I was pleasantly surprised. This is a fun story, and I want to see how the trilogy turns out.
Tristan Hart gets sucked out to sea by a tidal wave. He survives, but now he is haunted by dreams of a vicious silver mermaid. The sea holds the answers, and Tristan will need them—especially after he grows a fish tail in the bathtub. With the help of his best friend and long-time crush, Layla, Tristan dives deep into an underwater kingdom full of wonder and peril.
You don’t usually read stories about a teenage guy turning into a mermaid—excuse me, merman. That caught my interest. Also, Tristan was funny and endearing. His awkward conversation with his stoic mentor, Kurt, about where their junk goes and how they get it on as mermen was pretty entertaining. He’s very determined and protective of his family and friends. Overall, he’s a nice change in the genre from the typical outcast, woe-is-me type hero. He reminds me of a more grown-up version of Percy Jackson.
Layla, his love interest, was kind of a let-down. It’s very difficult for fantasy authors to introduce a “normal human” as a main character and keep them that way without them becoming useless. Oftentimes they end up as helpless objects that the hero must save. Although the author attempted to empower Layla by having her face down other merfolk with her attitude and “athletic” skills, I wasn’t buying it. Luckily Gwen and Thalia were awesome.
The world-building felt a bit jumbled and underdeveloped. The author had just introduced this cool underwater kingdom of the merfolk to us—but suddenly there were witches and vampires and werewolves and what-have-you running around, too. It felt unnecessary and took attention away from developing the merfolk world.
The villainous silver mermaid doesn’t do much besides stalk Tristan in this book, but she’s intriguing enough to make me want to continue the series. Overall, this book is adventurous underwater quest fun.
Recommended for Fans of: Julie Kagawa, Richelle Mead, Rick Riordan
Upcoming Book Review: Silvern by Christina Farley

Hawaiian Islands Travel Series: Kihei and Makena, Maui

Day 2: Southern Maui: Kihei and Makena

*Disclaimer: This article is presented as fiction, not fact. Names have been changed for the sake of privacy.



Read Day 1: Lahaina, Maui here.



SOUTHERN MAUI is pretty famous for luxury resorts, terrific snorkeling, and nudist beaches, if you’re into that. One of its most highly anticipated snorkeling spots is Molokini Crater, a crescent-shaped islet a couple miles from Maalaea Harbor in Kihei. Other boat departure points are Lahaina Harbor on the west side, Kai Kanani in Makena, and Kihei Boat Ramp. Once in the deep waters of the crater, snorkelers can explore a colorful reef and see hundreds of feet down. They might even have the chance to see a whale shark or two.
Molokini Crater. Photo courtesy of I Travel Hawaii . My boyfriend and I debated heavily about doing Molokini. People we talked to, including Maui locals, advised doing it at least once. Ultimately, our tight budget ruled it out, but I would recommend it. There are a variety of boat options to choose from, if you’d like to choose a leisurely all-day catamaran adventure like Aloha Blue Charters offers, or a zippy adventure aboard Blue Water Rafting.

A neat little church near our snorkel spot.We drove to the southern end of Maui from Lahaina. Kihei looked like a smaller version of Kahalui: densely-populated with more brand name stores. The roads are eventually flanked by hotels and resorts on all sides as you drive closer to Makena in the far south. I remember my boyfriend and I were astounded at the lack of visible Starbucks on Maui, but the friendly server at Peggy Sue’s told us Kihei had one.
Speaking of Peggy Sue’s…let’s talk food. There is a strip mall off of South Kihei Road, which is pretty easy to spot. There will be an Amigo’s Mexican Restaurant on the street corner. We ate at three places there: the aforementioned Amigo’s; Peggy Sue’s, a 50s-style milkshake and burger joint; and Coconut's Fish Café, which we’d heard offered mouth-wateringly delicious fresh fish at decent prices. My recommendation? Eat your meal at Coconut's Fish Café: I had this wasabi ahi burger that was gone in about two seconds, and my boyfriend had the famous fish tacos. Hop over to Peggy Sue’s for milkshakes. The service there was extremely friendly and accomodating; when the lady heard I was a fan of salted caramel mochas, she whipped me up a milkshake version not on the current menu. Last, maybe have a drink or two at Amigo’s. The service was good, but the food was sub-par chain restaurant fare.
Ulua Beach


Of course I talk about dining options first, but we did do some exercise before enjoying our well-earned meal! We ended up snorkeling in Makena…where, we’re not exactly certain. Originally we were trying to find Five Graves. We found this neat shady secluded spot where a lot of divers were getting ready…but it looked a bit too treacherous without aqua socks. So we ended up at what I believe might have been Ulua Beach, or as we like to call it: “Sleeping Turtle Point.”





It was easy snorkeling; the current got a little rougher when snorkeling around the outcrops. We snorkeled a fair ways along the coast before meandering back and finding our sea turtle fast asleep again.






I would have liked an extra day to explore Makena. It has some fantastic white sand beaches. However, we’d booked our next accommodation on the northeast shore of Maui. It was time to brave the Hana Highway.


Read more in the Hawaiian Travel Series:
(0) Intro: Welcome to Maui
(1) Day 1: Northwest Maui: Lahaina

Upcoming: Day 3: Central Maui: Paia and Makawao