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Remembering Maui, the old Kahului airport

By
Real Estate Agent with Maui Earth Realty LLC

I remember when I was a little girl, we would come to Maui each winter.  We would arrive at the (old) Kahului Airport, the first thing I always noticed, as soon as they would open the plane door was how moist the air was and the sweet smell of plumeria.  Back then, the stairs would drop down from the plane to the runway and we would walk across the runway to the terminal, with our hair and clothing and whatever else we had blowing in the strong Kahului winds. The Kahului airport was so quaint and sweet back then, the most unique part of it was the  huge banyan tree growing out of the center of the terminal, it was so beautiful, and there was a little sitting area around the tree for wary travelers to sit and rest.  I remember watching all the birds flying in and out of this magnificient tree and thinking, this is the best, I love it here on Maui!  The two other things I remember about the old Kahului airport was the upstairs bar up that semi spiral staircase, that my dad would go up to to have a quick drink after a long day of flying with mom and all five of us kids.  (Mom would send me up to the bar to go get him.)  And the blind man that ran the newspaper/snack stand, I would go there to buy a candy and he would take my money and give me the proper change.  I would watch him with my eagle eye wondering how he was so smart.  Sweet thing, he was there for many years. 

I only wish I was wise enough to have taken pictures of our precious Maui back then, I would love to share with you the essence of island life.  If anyone has any pictures, I'd love if you'd share them.

Aloha

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Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

Hi Karen,

I also remember the old airport... and I do have a picture somewhere in a box!  What a difference a few decades makes.  I'll see if I can find some other oldies but goodies to post.

I hope things are going well for you.

 Aloha - The Hunter

Oct 02, 2007 09:54 PM
Karen Willliamson
Maui Earth Realty LLC - Kihei, HI
Wailea Hawaii real estate

Hey Georgie, nice to hear from you.  Don't you miss some of the sweet places we used to have, things have changed so much.  I hope you are doing well.

aloha, Karen

Oct 02, 2007 10:21 PM
Billnulls Blog Florida Realty Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
AHWD
We see those changes everywhere - I remember when the Gulf Coast beaches in Florida had quaint beach shacks on them - now all you see is enormous condos -
Oct 03, 2007 05:37 AM
Karen Willliamson
Maui Earth Realty LLC - Kihei, HI
Wailea Hawaii real estate

That's what everyone tells me, I've never spent much time on the mainland, so I don't have much to compare to.  I think getting pictures is the key for me.  I just drove by a parcel I used to play on when I was a kid and it has been leveled in the last week.  (excavating for a condo complex.)  I should have taken the time to take one last picture of the sweet spot.  But once again, didn't quite get to it.

 

Oct 03, 2007 07:24 AM
Mary McGraw
GLREA - Rockford, MI
2015: Solar Energy Is Still A Simple Machine!
Karen - you have very sweet memories! I don't have pictures of Maui but I believe I have some pictures of getting off the plane at the Honolulu airport in Aug 74. I have fond memories of that trip with my parents and six kids! I respect my parents more and more everyday for being able to keep their sanity with 6 of us!
Oct 03, 2007 08:09 AM