2006-oct. 31---Haleakala:

One of the really unique places to go on Maui is the volcano which forms more than 75% of Maui. The crater is 7 miles across and 2 miles wide and almost 2,600 ft deep. At a summit altitude of over 10,000 ft, it can get pretty cool up there. There is a $10 per vehicle entrance fee to the park, but it is well worth it. Public transportation does not go through the park so the only way to get there is by tour bus or rental car. Haleakala is popular with tourists and locals, many whom like to go to its summit to watch the sunrise. There are also miles of walking trails within the park.

Today we headed up Haleakala. Not for sunrise, but it's even impressive in the middle of the day. Although today we hit quite a few clouds at the top of the mountain. Even so, it made for some neat views.
First stop---the visitors' center.   Art piece of the rare Silverswords, only found on the high elevations of Maui. 

 Silverswords live between 3 and 90 years or more. They flower once, sending up a spectacular flowering stalk, and then die soon afterward

A stop along the way up the mountain.

 Several of the stops had short trails to overlooks. 

 Didn't see much from the overlooks today!  It was pretty cloudy.

 but it was still impressive.

 the parking lot by the lower summit lookout.

 over 10,000 feet---it is noticeable.

views into the crater from the lower summit visitors' center.

 surprisingly it was clear looking towards the upper summit area.

Because of the clarity, dryness, stillness of the air, absence of lights of major cities, and it being above one-third of the atmosphere, the summit of Haleakala is a great locations for ground based telescopes. Experts come from all over the world to do research at "Science City".

We were just given glimpses of the terraine, but it was really neat. The crater walls are steep and the interior mostly barren.

Just past the viewing area of the crater area is another viewing area at the summit of the mountain. Due to all the clouds we didn't have much of a view from there, either.

Occassionally the clouds would move away long enough to see the expansive nothingness.

 After a pretty full day travelling up and down the mountain, we came back to our resort in Kihei and walked across the main road fronting the ocean to check out the ocean.

Don't often think of Hawaii and cold mountains in the same frame, but this was truly a "cool" experience!   Definitely a Halloween I'll never forget!

2006-oct. 30:  Arrival day!

This seemed like a short flight to Hawaii!  Usually I'm flying to Hawaii from St. Louis---with 2 or 3 connections.  This time I was flying from Portland, Oregon, non-stop with my Dad, after spending a few days there with him.  We did have a 1 1/2 hour drive to the airport from Dallas, Oregon, but the flight was only about 5 1/2 hours.  .  We flew from PDX to use his companion flight coupon on Hawaiian Airlines for getting a Hawaiian Airlines credit card. We were only there a week, which wasn't nearly enough time!

We're also co-owners of a Worldmark Resorts contract with enough points for 1 week every year in a 2 bedroom unit.  So we booked Worldmark Kihei and were excited to check it out for the first time.   As luck would have it, we even managed to pick up the week (a day or 2 at a time) on bonus time for $450, so we were able to get our points back to use at another time.  

We were very happy with the resort!  Great location, roomy, air conditioned!, and comfortable. 

 Our first views of the resort.

Heading to our unit---we were in building 6---2 bedroom unit with twins in the 2nd bedroom.  

inside our unit.  Not the fanciest place, but tidy and adequate.

 The kitchen is small, but big enough for us.  We're on vacation!  Don't plan to do much cooking!

 Dad checking out our lanai.

  Dad likes having 2 beds---one for his clothes and one to sleep on, so I sacrificed and took the master bedroom.

 the small but adequate master bath.

 Dad making friends already!

 Gotta check out the pool.  It's really nice.  And Dad was happy that it has a huge hot tub.  We spent a lot of time by the pool.

Even at night!

Didn't do much else today---hit the grocery store for a few necessities, hang out at the pool and hot tub.  Great start to a great vacation.