The Friedman Family: A Fresh Look at Hawaii

The Friedmans (front to back): Joshua, Laurence, Samantha and Jacob. // © 2009 The Friedman Family

This summer, my family traveled to Hawaii. Although we have visited Maui many times, this was our first trip to Lanai. We spent four days in Maui, where we enjoyed snorkeling and boogie boarding at the beautiful beach in Wailea. Then, we took the 45-minute ferry trip to Lanai. We had no idea what to expect and what we found was a completely different Hawaiian experience than we have ever had before.

We enjoyed the pool and gardens at the beachfront Manele Bay Resort and visited the mountainside Lodge at Koele, where we had archery lessons and played at an 18-hole miniature golf course. It was truly like traveling to two distinct destinations, yet all in one amazing place.

After three days on Lanai, we returned to Maui, where we were joined by my mother for the last week of the trip. With her, we paddled on an outrigger canoe in search of sea turtles, visited volcanic La Perouse Bay and hiked more than 130 steps to overlook the breathtaking Io Valley. It was definitely a multifaceted — and multigenerational — trip to Hawaii … and one that we will always remember.

— Samantha Davis-Friedman