Thanks for inquiring about my recent autumn sun break on Maui. It was terrific, with a couple of reservations.

The thermometer hovered about 84 degrees, the tradewinds ruffled the waves but didn't discourage the surfers or  snorkelers. Sea turtles provided a non-stop aqua-show.

There were a couple of negatives.  For starters my wife and I were held hostage by an airline.  And I was bitten by a Banyan tree.

Our Alaska Airlines flight to Maui was delayed for four hours because of a system breakdown.  And when it was time to return home, Alaska informed us that our flight back to Sea-Tac would be delayed by five hours.  By that time, of course, we had turned in our rental car and were a long walk away from Pacific paradise.

Oh yeah, the tree.  Located in Lahina, it is one of the largest banyans in the world.

Sitting to admire it from a park bench, my leg below the Bermuda shorts brushed against a rough spot and produced a few drops of blood.  No problem, except that I spent the next couple of mornings at a local clinic getting shots and copious antibiotics.  They believed me when I told them I'd been bitten by a Banyan.

We were in Hawaii to witness the wedding of our grand-daughter. It seems that in certain circles, a wedding consummated anywhere but Maui is considered suspicious if not outright invalid. Another grandfather of my acquaintance recalled a 24 hour flight from the east coast to Hawaii by one of his relatives with a similar mission. That did not surpass the record journey to the area by Dr. James Cook of the British Navy, who visited the area in 1778 and named it the Sandwich Islands.

The natives preferred to call their home islands "Hawaii", which in the ancient tongue translated into "Condominium with beach rights, rental car and complimentary Luau."

You don't have to book air travel to Maui to enjoy an authentic luau.  But there are certain problems involved in stuffing a wild boar into an outdoor barbecue.

The dratted tusk sometimes gets caught in the BBQ hinge.

For an alternative feast consider:

Luau Chicken

4 whole chicken breasts

8 chicken thighs

1/2 cup butter, melted

salt and pepper

1 cup orange juice

2 tablespoons cornstarch

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 fresh pineapple, sliced

1 tablespoon soy sauce

2 papayas, peeled and sliced

Melt the butter in a skillet and brown the chicken pieces on both sides.  Place in a single layer in a Pyrex oven dish.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper and brush with the remaining butter.

Bake 40 minutes in a 350 oven.  While that is happening combine the orange and lemon juices, the cornstarch, brown sugar and soy sauce in a pan and stir-cook until it thickens.

Add the pineapple and papaya and when mixed dump the whole mess over the chicken and return to the oven for another 15 minutes.

This will serve eight if you give each guest half a breast and a thigh.

The cocktail usually served at a luau is the Mai Tai, which I believe is made from the sap of a banyan tree. Watch out.  It bites!