We arrive after dark in Maui. Moist and humid...as if its been raining alot. The terminal is small and Dean picks up the Avis car while girls grab bags. We get a bling'd out Ford Escape w/ leather and purple neon accent lights...easily fitting our 7 bags.   The first impression immediately out of the airport is we're back in Chicago. There's a Sports Authority, Blockbuster, Office Depot, Safeway, and dozens off surf shops just 1 minute from the airport.   The drive to the Marriott Maui Ocean Club is 30 miles. Everyone's exhausted and we've all been fighting cold/coughs up to departure, so the ride along 320 highway is a little stressed...even before Dean's tailgating and looking around.    The Marriott check-in is quick and we lug bags to our single hotel room where we'll stay for a quick 3 nights.   King Bed, pull open sofa, and a rollaway....but who's sitting in the room in Maui?

The Marriot Ocean Club is mega -complex. Very well kept up for what appears to be older resort. Everyone's starving and the girls consider Pizza Hut since the resort store is closed at 8:30 pm and noone seems interested in sit down dinner.   KT and Dean go off to explore the grounds and find Longboards open on the beachside. With a local Hawaiian crooner on keyboards and upright surfboard chairs in the sand...we decide we HAVE to eat here. No dice for Lyn, Jen, Ash...they're in their pjs.   So we share some fish tacos, a Hawaiian tea, Kona Ale and Hawaiian-style Bananas Foster.    The Fish Tacos are incredible!! .   Soft shell..but slightly crispy....fresh grilled fish, crunchy cabbage w/ guacamole...condiments.    The restaurant closes surprisingly early (9 pm) and the resort is eerily quite. We return to the room to find everyone asleep.