Sunsets and sand at Papakea Resort – 5

Beach front / Sunsets and sand at Papakea Resort in Maui. Beautiful beach and sunset photos via FunkyJunkInteriors.net

When on our Maui vacation, our wonderful place at Napili Point was coming to an end. But our holiday wasn’t over yet. We just needed to relocate to our next stop.

Our stay at the Papakea Resort is very different from the smaller condo we were at. I admit there was an adjustment period. But it was short lived.

The pool view / Sunsets and sand at Papakea Resort in Maui. Beautiful beach and sunset photos via FunkyJunkInteriors.net

This was the view from our 3rd floor condo. Honestly, I gasped when I walked into our studio and glanced at this. It truly was beautiful. But you’re only seeing a small portion. There was another ‘heated’ pool down the beach. 

I had an inkling this would be the place my son would love, and I was right. More people, more activity, more pools, two hot tubs, near the ocean which pleased me, we were set up pretty nice!

While it was ocean front, it was not beach front. I admit I was disappointed because the pictures showed otherwise. Apparently a storm cut away the beach front access a few years back.

The beach front / Sunsets and sand at Papakea Resort in Maui. Beautiful beach and sunset photos via FunkyJunkInteriors.net
But when I walked past the sea wall, I found the beach. At low tide. 🙂 

So!! Always ask if you are renting from an ocean front or beach front. There’s a difference.

But just a short walk away was a beach, so it was ok. Just not what I expected.

Maui plant life / A tropical stay at Papakea Resort in Maui. Beautiful beach and sunset photos via FunkyJunkInteriors.net

Maui plant life / A tropical stay at Papakea Resort in Maui. Beautiful beach and sunset photos via FunkyJunkInteriors.net

The above two shots are my fav pics to take. They capture Maui in a whole different way you don’t see. 

I was craving to jump in that little putt putt ground grinding car of ours and take off for the hills to capture weird stuff. I did once… I’ll show you soon. But I sure could have done more!

Palm tree on the beach / A tropical stay at Papakea Resort in Maui. Beautiful beach and sunset photos via FunkyJunkInteriors.net

I sat here one night alone staring up at the starlit sky. It was so peaceful, hearing the waves crash and nothing else.

Palm trees / A tropical stay at Papakea Resort in Maui. Beautiful beach and sunset photos via FunkyJunkInteriors.net

You will note all too soon that I adore palm trees. I think they are one of the most spectacular creations ever.

Palm trees / A tropical stay at Papakea Resort in Maui. Beautiful beach and sunset photos via FunkyJunkInteriors.net

Palm trees / A tropical stay at Papakea Resort in Maui. Beautiful beach and sunset photos via FunkyJunkInteriors.net

The resort treated us so well! One time we forgot our underwater camera somewhere, and it was found by security and brought to the office. We saved $500 that day. So grateful!

Trees / A tropical stay at Papakea Resort in Maui. Beautiful beach and sunset photos via FunkyJunkInteriors.net

A tropical stay at Papakea Resort in Maui. Beautiful beach and sunset photos via FunkyJunkInteriors.net

Maui kitty! Made me pine for my own Lake and Skye, but I forgave her as it was nice to get a cat fix.

A tropical stay at Papakea Resort in Maui. Beautiful beach and sunset photos via FunkyJunkInteriors.net

A tropical stay at Papakea Resort in Maui. Beautiful beach and sunset photos via FunkyJunkInteriors.net

Fan palm tree / A tropical stay at Papakea Resort in Maui. Beautiful beach and sunset photos via FunkyJunkInteriors.net

I couldn’t get enough of the vegetation nor the trees. Adored this fan shaped palm tree and all the coloured vegetation planted around it.

Bottle palm tree / A tropical stay at Papakea Resort in Maui. Beautiful beach and sunset photos via FunkyJunkInteriors.net

And a palm tree shaped like a bottle!

Vegetation / A tropical stay at Papakea Resort in Maui. Beautiful beach and sunset photos via FunkyJunkInteriors.net

Palm trees / A tropical stay at Papakea Resort in Maui. Beautiful beach and sunset photos via FunkyJunkInteriors.net

Palm trees / A tropical stay at Papakea Resort in Maui. Beautiful beach and sunset photos via FunkyJunkInteriors.net

Palm trees / A tropical stay at Papakea Resort in Maui. Beautiful beach and sunset photos via FunkyJunkInteriors.net

This is what we saw from the back of our hotel. I wish I could show you what I saw in real life. It was so much more than this. The palm trees took my breath away!

I kept a journal while we were away. I knew in time I’d forget the smallest, coolest details on all the things we loved at this place. It really was lovely. The only thing I missed was the separate bedroom. But we made it work, with me sneaking onto the lanai overlooking that amazing poolside view with my kona coffee and laptop while my boy got in his apparent needed teenage zzzz’s.

Ready for some sunset shots? Click the pics to enlarge… you’ll be glad you did.

Tropical sunset / Sunsets and sand at Papakea Resort in Maui. Beautiful beach and sunset photos via FunkyJunkInteriors.net

Tropical sunset / Sunsets and sand at Papakea Resort in Maui. Beautiful beach and sunset photos via FunkyJunkInteriors.net

Tropical sunset / Sunsets and sand at Papakea Resort in Maui. Beautiful beach and sunset photos via FunkyJunkInteriors.net

Tropical sunset / Sunsets and sand at Papakea Resort in Maui. Beautiful beach and sunset photos via FunkyJunkInteriors.net

Tropical sunset / Sunsets and sand at Papakea Resort in Maui. Beautiful beach and sunset photos via FunkyJunkInteriors.net

This one was actually taken while we were on the road. I knew we’d miss the sunset if I kept driving, so to my son’s immense joy (:)) I pulled over and snapped a few.

You know… being Maui’s newest sunset chaser and all.

Tropical sunset / Sunsets and sand at Papakea Resort in Maui. Beautiful beach and sunset photos via FunkyJunkInteriors.net

Tropical sunset / A tropical stay at Papakea Resort in Maui. Beautiful beach and sunset photos via FunkyJunkInteriors.net

So back at Papakea, this couple didn’t know I was snapping pics of them. Once I had a good one on my phone, I approached them, got their email and they had a copy emailed on the spot. That was fun!

Tropical sunset / A tropical stay at Papakea Resort in Maui. Beautiful beach and sunset photos via FunkyJunkInteriors.net

Tropical sunset / A tropical stay at Papakea Resort in Maui. Beautiful beach and sunset photos via FunkyJunkInteriors.net

I adore the family capture, caught in this Maui sunset.

Disclaimer… another photographer was taking pictures of them. I snuck in and stole a pose. 🙂

Tropical sunset / A tropical stay at Papakea Resort in Maui. Beautiful beach and sunset photos via FunkyJunkInteriors.net

The coolest memory we have staying at Papakea was the nightly walks we took to the heated pool. We’d walk around the curvy sidewalks, with many surprise visits from frogs of all things. Lots of geckos is a given, but frogs caught us off guard! They were so cute, freeze framing themselves, like little frog gnomes everywhere you looked.

Staying at two places while on vacation indeed creates more work. BUT… it was like having two vacations within one flight. I’d totally do that all over again! The two locations dramatically changed what we did as well, which was cool. We were much closer to Whalers Village and the famous Kaanapali Beach area.

And you know, I was feeling kinda sad we didn’t stay at Kaanapali, until we spent an afternoon there. The current was so strong, and people so many, we were more than happy to return to our quiet little Papakea hideaway. Always a silver lining.

Next up in the Maui series, (almost done!) I’m going to take you around the island and catch some cool stuff. Wait till you see the little hippy town…

See the entire Maui 2014 series to date HERE

 

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Categories: Junk Drawer, Travel
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14 thoughts on “Sunsets and sand at Papakea Resort – 5

  1. Beautiful pictures- Looks like you had a wonderful getaway in Hawaii. A little jealious, I think a vacation is in order for me too.

    THanks for sharing!
    Carole @ Garden Up green

  2. Your pictures are as perfect as postcards! What a wonderful vacation, you’re a lucky lady!

  3. I love seeing all of your photo’s. We stayed at a condo called Noelani. ..you can Google them. Your pictures brought back the peace I felt during our entire trip…am looking forward to going back in 2015…

  4. Wonderful pictures! Can’t wait to see it for myself someday but in the meantime I can enjoy your pix.
    Kathy

  5. Such a lovely kitty with blue eyes!!! Sunsets are grand over an ocean or lake. The reflections can be amazing. Glad to hear you are relaxing. Were those cocoanuts on the ground on that pathway?

  6. Papakea is where we stayed on our very first trip to Maui in 1986. At that time you could walk along the beach right from the hotel. When we returned there 5 years later the beachfront had been washed away. We were so sad as we would walk it every morning after breakfast. And the view of the pool from your room brought back so many memories as we would sit on our second floor balcony every evening with a cocktail and watch the activity. And nothing like Maui sunsets. Try out the Kaanapali Alii on your next trip. So worth it and has a quiet pool like Papakea but is right on the ocean and near all the fun things to do. Thanks again for bringing back so many fun memories.

  7. I never thought of keeping a journal while on a trip to remember the special little details. So much beauty all in one place, there had to be a lot to take note of for reflecting on later. Thank you for sharing your beautiful pics.

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