2018-2-4  Half of the Road to Hana and glasses in the ocean:

The surf was really kicking today!  No snorkeling again!  We thought about going to the Aquarium, but decided to do something more unique to Maui.  So we headed to the Road to Hana and check out some of it.
Plus we got to see another historic little Maui town---Paia.

 Love these historic little towns.

 lots of unique artworks in them---although you can't always tell what's just art and what's functional.

impressive churches, too.

 We stopped at Ho'okipa Beach park to watch some surfers. 

 and check out more wild flowers.

 Then we continued on to the Road to Hana.
 One of the rivers as we drove over one of the many historic bridges.

 We stopped a few times to get a closer look at things.

 We didn't have a guide book with us, so really didn't know what was coming up.  But we enjoyed being surprised.

From previous trips along here I remembered there was a stand of rainbow eucalyptus.  Caught a couple pictures of them as we went by.

 Love the lushness of the foliage along the Road to Hana.

 especially the stands of bamboo that look like a fur coat on the mountain.

 also love seeing all the wild flowers.

 as well as the historic old bridges.

 and of course, the waterfalls!

 Don getting a higher view.

Wonder what these little pink puffs are!  I have seen similar puffs of white before, but this is the first time I've seen them in pink.

 another creek.

 some of the hundreds of curves.

 lots of jungle like foliage

 and tropical flora.

 A little past the half way mark we decided to have a picnic, then turn back. 

 While we were eating, we overheard someone talking about another waterfall about a mile down the road.  So we decided to check it out before heading back.  Glad we did.

 another of the cool historic bridges.

 it was a little concerning when we came upon parts of the road that had fallen away.

 back to looking for streams and waterfalls.

We made if back in time to watch the last quarter of the Super Bowl.  We were all happy to see the Eagles beat the Patriots.  Especially after what the Patriots did to my Falcons last year!

After the game was over, we walked over to Kamaole 1 to see if there would be a sunset.  It was still totally cloudy and the surf was still pounding.  We played in the water anyway.  Since I wasn't snorkeling, I was wearing my glasses---high index, progressives  (about $550 worth of glasses).  Got hit by a rogue wave and was pummeled in the surf.  Wasn't hurt, but the ocean claimed my glasses.  With eyesight of  -10, that was rather inconvenient!  I did discover, though, that if I had my underwater camera turned on, I could hold the screen to my face and see everything really well.  I usually carry a spare pair of glasses on vacation with me, but for some strange reason, I couldn't find them (until I was packing to head back home)!  Good thing I brought contacts---which I don't wear all the time because I have to wear reading glasses over them for anything close. 

For dinner,  we decided to go to Round Table pizza.  Even had a game day coupon for $5 off. Wish we had Round Table Pizza in the Midwest.

Another round of  Mexican Train Dominoes, then off to bed.

 Another great day, except for stupidly going into the surf with my glasses on!!!!  Lesson learned---the hard way!

2006 Magical Maui

Oct. 30-Nov. 6, 2006:

Another wonderful father/daughter trip.   He had just been diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer, but was feeling pretty good at this time---so he wanted to get as much traveling in as he still could.  It was a bitter sweet trip---knowing there wouldn't be many more father/daughter trips.  He was a great travel companion! 


Oct. 30:  travel day:

Oct. 31---Haleakala:

Nov. 1---a ride to the West side:

Nov. 2---RTH (Road to Hana):

Nov. 3---the South side lava beds, Iao Valley, Kepaniwai Heritage Gardens, and the NE side of Maui:

Nov. 4---Haleakala, again:

Nov. 5---Maui Ocean Center:

Nov. 6---Ahihi snorkeling:


Our week was over way too quickly!   I'm sure Dad was in pain a good part of the time---thus his hanging back on some of the walks.  He was always such an adventurer.  But he would never complain!  I just hope he enjoyed the trip as much as I did. This was both of our's first trip to Maui.    I really didn't expect to like Maui as much as I did. I'm always reading that people who love Kauai as much as i do are disappointed with Maui. But I loved it. Maybe not as much as Kauai, but there was certainly enough here to keep me interested. I'd love to go back and do more snorkeling. If I can ever get myself to give up one of my yearly 2 weeks on Kauai, I will be back!

2006-Nov. 2---RTH (Road to Hana):

With approximately 600 curve and 54 bridges it is an interesting and long ride.  Especially when you stop at a bunch of viewpoints along the way.

Near the beginning of the RTH is Ho'okipa Park.  Ho’okipa is Mecca to the windsurfing world (and no slouch for board surfing, either.) There are professional windsurfing competitions held here, and on just about any day with wind (which is most days) you can watch pros doing their thing.

 Note the little bit of water coming out of the drain here.  Big difference on our back down!

 another cloudy day---but the views along the road were amazing.

 some of the curves.

 The road pretty well hugs the coastline for some spectacular views.

 Love the flowering trees that are everywhere on Maui.

 Looking back at the RTH.

 In Hana, we visited with the residents----

 A view of the top.

 We found a restaurant to grab lunch at, then decided what to do next. 

The map showed a botanical garden not for away.  So we decided to try and find it.  By now it was raining and the road to the garden wasn't the greatest.

 From a lookout we looked down at the black sand beach of Wai'anapanapa. 

 Dad impersonating an alien. 

 We finally found the garden, but it was closed.  IT didn't look too impressive anyway.   But we also saw this sign to a cave nearby, so we decided to check it out---a lava tube.

 Not many people here!

 aahhaa---a little bit of a garden here!

 We were the only visitors, but they let us tour the cave----probably not the greatest idea with how hard is was raining now!

 heading into the lava tube.

 it was rather wet in there.  The rain was sifting through the rock walls.

 Dad in the lava tube.

 Heading back out.

 With as hard as it was still raining, we figured we better get back on the road and get down the mountain.  The waterfalls along the way were really flowing now!

 The almost dry drain that we saw earlier was really flowing now!  In fact, there was so much rain that the water actually flooded in several areas.  We were in a minivan and made it through the flooded roadway, but might not have it we waited much longer to get back down the mountain!

(the drain on the way up)

Not the best day to do the RTH, but we can say we did it.  It even rained quite a bit in Kihei today.  We hit the pool and hot tub when we got back to the resort.  All in all, a rather different, but fun, day.