We’re just getting back from a quick couple of days on Maui.

It wasn’t our usual Maui trip, where we check into the Maui Seaside on the shores of beautiful Kahului Harbor. This time, through a series of events, we stayed in the luxury Westin Kaaanapali Ocean Resort Villas courtesy of old friends from Vancouver who cashed out a whole bunch of frequent flyer miles.

It’s a different world over here on this side of the island. It’s like Waikiki spread out for miles across the whole coast. Everything screams tourism. When the illusion of the manicured and carefully manufactured mega-resort experience begins to seem more inviting than the surrounding ticky-tacky sprawl peddling snorkeling gear, whale watching tours, and tatoos ad infinitum, you know something’s out of whack.

But there’s no doubt about the island’s beauty. I love this image. We were starting the drive back after a tour that took us through such highlights as the Kihei Salvation Army Thrift Store (not many visitors there), Rainbow Attic Consignment Store, also in Kihei, then over to Costco and Savers in Kahului. Somehow while wandering around we ended up on a little winding road behind the airport just as the harsh afternoon light was softened by a veil of afternoon rain drifting down over the slopes and valleys of the West Maui Mountains, with the silhouette of the Puunene sugar mill on the left in the foreground.

Luckily, I had my little travel camera (a Canon S90) in my pocket. We pulled off the road and I was able to get the shot.

In any case, last night I quickly grabbed three photos to share. Click on this one to view the others. [Oops. Early viewers just saw a repeat of this photo. Now it should be fixed and get you to the others!]