Oh Maui, Part 2

     Another “must” activity is the road to Hana. We did this twice, once each visit. The road is incredibly twisty, with narrow one lane bridges. Yet the beauty of the drive stuns you. Tropical trees, flowers, and greenery are everywhere. Waterfalls glimmer from the heights, so many they are uncountable. At one point we hiked up through the jungle and a huge bamboo forest to get to Waimoku falls, the coolest of them all. Here are some photos:

Waterfall along Road to Hana

Another waterfall along Road to Hana

Rick climbing to a falls

View eastward along north shore

Looking north. Alaska is a couple thousand miles up

Waves crashing on north shore along Road to Hana

Along the Road to Hana, one of many

7 Sacred Pools a.k.a. Oheo Gulch

Along trail to Waimoku

7 Sacred Pools a.k.a. Oheo Gulch

Bamboo forest

The payoff after a 2-mile hike up - Waimoku, 400 foot drop

   Charles Lindberg, the quintissential American hero, is buried at Kapahulu, very near Waimoku.

     We added a week in West Maui. This too is a big resort area centered on wonderful Kaanapali beach and the old whaling port of Lahaina. More snorkeling and beach lounging, but also the north shore for sights and hiking. The weird shapes in lava as result of wind and wave activity are astounding; we could wander these areas for days if we wished! We'll start with a couple videos, then the photos:

Blowhole along north shore, west Maui

 

Path to a beach, West Maui

Banyan tree in center square, Lahaina. A full city block in size

Banyan tree has 18 trunks. Nox, eat your heart out!

      Golf is big here, if you care for that particular vice. Rick played twice, once down south at Wailea Gold then again in West Maui at Kapalua Plantation. The latter is where the pros play the Tournament of Champions each January. Views every hole overlooking Molokai, with whales breaching in the channel:

#18 at Kapalua Plantation

When they say out of bounds, they really mean it!

I'oe Needle

     Then there is the I’oe (Eey-yow!) Valley, site of ancient taro fields ponds and a major battle between Hawaiian kings many generations ago.  Kamehameha, king of the big island, massacred
Mauian warriors and many others in this beautiful valley to take control of the island. Hard to believe given the peaceful beauty it has now:

Japanese Garden in the valley

   Someone a century ago planted a Redwood forest halfway up the west slope of Haleakala. You can get there if you like to drive very narrow, rutted dirt roads. We don't, but did anyway:

  Everywhere are flowers in bloom, trees and views:

    For the bird watchers among us, you can see the ubiquitous Jungle Fowl, a.k.a. chicken

These hung around our chairs at Mouka beach. We called her "Suzy"

Where's the nearest road???

Hawaiians have a sense of humor. It is expressed often by subtle alterations to signs; this kind of thing can be seen often:
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 One day during a storm we saw this waterspout:

    What more could you ask? Sun, sand, fishes, turtles, whales and exotic scenery. This could become a habit! We've been here twice now, and hope to return often.