During our stay on Maui, we enjoyed the beautiful beaches and also a popular tourist attraction, the Road to Hana, a very winding and narrow coastal mountain road that rambles through tropical rainforest and features over 600 curves and 46 one-lane bridges. Along the way are stops at waterfalls, scenic views, and fruit stands as well as several quaint towns. Gary was having a great time pretending our Rent-a-Wreck was actually a Maserati sports car.
However, the crowning experience was hiking the extinct volcano in Haleakala National Park, where watching the sunrise on the top of this 12,000 foot high volcano is the quintessential Maui experience. But since it required a very early start in order to get a parking spot at the summit by 5 am, we instead opted to sleep in a little later and experience the volcano on a more personal level by hiking down into the crater itself. It’s a 12 mile hike that took us through a landscape of vast lava fields and lava domes colored in a range of reds, purples, and blues that looked as if they were airbrushed on the cliffs and ridges. Considering this otherworldly landscape, it’s not surprising that we met a professor from the University of Hawaii on the trail who is working with NASA, researching the geology of the moon. Hiking down into the crater was pretty easy. It was the climb out that was tough: the last four miles had steep switchbacks on rocky, uneven trail that seemed to go on forever. But the sore muscles were worth the experience. This hike ranks up there with some of the best I’ve done.
On May 18, we flew from Maui to Kauai, which is called the “Garden Island.” It indeed is beautiful. Not as developed as Maui, with more mountains and over 50 miles of beaches, more than any other Hawaiian Island. This has to do with the Maui’s approach to development. All development must include a buffer zone to the beaches and no structure can be taller than a palm tree.
The island of Kauai is about 5million years old, the oldest in the island chain, which is why it has more deeply carved canyons and sheer cliffs that majestically jut out into the ocean. These cliffs are located on the north shore, which is called the Na Pali Coast. We had wonderful views of this part of the island, thanks to a one hour tour in a helicopter (with no doors), a half-day catamaran tour along the coast, and a 8 mile hike on the Nu‘alolo trail.
I also discovered how much fun it is to snorkel, and see the amazing array of colorful fishes. On the catamaran tour, we docked at a spot and snorkeled off the boat. Besides marveling at the fish, I was thrilled to hover over a sea turtle swimming below. It was so graceful, and attracted several fish who served as vacuum cleaners for his shell. Also, snorkeled at Tunnels Beach, which has a large reef that attracts an amazing array of tropical fish.
We also enjoyed watching the surfers. And I especially enjoyed watching Jim, who took a surfing lesson. Did really well and enjoyed it immensely. Are we talking about a babyboomer surfer dude in the making here?
Gary and Ella flew out May 31, so Jim and I had two days to kill before our flight out. We spent it camping (at last) at Koke’e State Park, which lies at 4,000 feet and includes the Waimea Canyon that Mark Twain dubbed “the Grand Canyon of the Pacific.” An apt description. Enjoyed the quiet of the campground, and the cooler weather. At the campground we met a friendly and interesting German couple who were spending a year, traveling around the world. Both school teachers, they took advantage of a job perk in which they agreed to work for five years at 80 percent of their pay, saving every penny they could. They then were able to spend an entire year off, still at 80 percent of their pay. Those Europeans really know how to do things.
On our last morning, we opted for a short hike out to a view point, and on the way out we were greeted with an unexpected view on the trail: a young Anglo guy hiking completely nude! Not even shoes. Only had a small knapsack. What could you do but say “hi” and try to avert the eyes? Thank goodness he was going the opposite way.
That’s one of the things I like about camping. It seems there are more opportunities to meet a variety of interesting people (clothed and unclothed in Hawaii!).
Well, we are now wrapping up a week at Hannah’s. After Jim’s doctor’s appointment on Monday, we’re heading off to Utah, including Canyonlands and Coyote Buttes in the Escalante region. After that, who knows?
Will try to keep this blog updated as possible. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers, especially the Honey (our old RV) We may need them.
Black Sand Beach: A Stop on the Road to Hana
Hiking the Haleakala Crater
View of Tunnels Beach and Reef from helicopter
View of Na Pali Coast from helicopter
Waimea Canyon
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