Beating the heat in Maui
The Senior Girl Scouts surface while snorkeling at Molokini.
Kimmi Dicus, Laura Francisco and Rachel Bentley, all 2006 Henry County High School graduates, were the remaining three of the original 36 first-grade Brownies who had set the trip as a troop goal more than 12 years ago.
The girls were accompanied by troop leader Gay Francisco and troop committee member Ann O’Connor.
After flying from Nashville to Atlanta, they then flew nine hours non-stop from Atlanta to Kahului, Maui. Upon arrival, they each were presented fresh flower leis. The troop stayed in south Kihea.
The girls’ first island venture, which proved a favorite, was a morning of surfing off Waipuilani Beach in Kihea with a certified instructor. Later that evening, the group enjoyed the “Drums of the Pacific” luau in Lahaina where they were offered a variety of Hawaiian culinary fare along with shell leis and hula lessons.
The Pacific Whale Foundation Marine Resource Center in Maalaea provided a snorkeling excursion off the shores of Lanai and Molokini, an extinct volcanic crater. A myriad of colorful fish and a sea turtle or two were spotted amid the coral reefs. A barbecue lunch was served onboard between snorkeling jaunts.
A vast array of sea life at the Maui Ocean Center included stingrays, jellyfish, sharks and more.
That night the troop walked down to the beach and watched the sun set into the ocean while having some fun in the surf.
Mendez Ranch in Wailuku guided them on a paniola (cowboy) horseback ride through rolling pastures and lush rainforest with views into Eki Crater and many waterfalls (including the falls featured on “Jurassic Park”), and along oceanside cliffs with views of the Pacific. Grilled steak and chicken were served for lunch.
Later they attended “Maui Ulalena,” a theatrical performance on ancient Hawaii, at the Maui Myth and Magic Theater, Lahaina.
The troop took a van tour along the world-famous Hana Highway to upcountry Maui. The narrow, snaking road carved along the Hana coastline curves into valleys of waterfalls and dense rainforest and deep into Haleakala National Park where Haleakala Crater’s past lava flows are exposed.
Girls explored a black sand beach, swam in ice cold fresh-water mountain pools, walked through bamboo forests and tropical flora at an arboretum, and visited Charles Lindbergh’s gravesite and the historic town of Hana.
Prior to surfing, (from left) Senior Girl Scouts Laura Francisco, Kimmi Dicus and Rachel Bentley
practice their surfing stances with instructor Halby Gorman of Action Sports Maui.
