08/18/2022
The Road to Hana….
One of the best days I’ve had in … well… ever!
Started off this am at 5:30, loaded up the car and hit the road from West Maui to Paia to start my journey. I downloaded this awesome app called Shaka (yeah you know she Shaka) 🤙🏼.
It began to navigate me and tell stories about locations, all picked and chosen by the locals. Rule of thumb, if cars are parked and there’s nowhere to park, just keep driving. There’s more to see than a day trip will allow anyways!
Among the many places I stopped, highlights were:
- The Arboretum to see the Rainbow Eucalyptus trees
- Ke’Anae Penninsula
- Waiuela State Wayside (met a guy dressed like some guru who taught me how to crack a coconut. Yum!
- stopped to eat my picnic lunch at Hanwai falls
- explored a lava tube..saw one of the only lava stalactites in the world
- Hamoa Beach where I met some fellow seattle folks!
- Then I reached Hana where I finally found something for my mom 😉 handmade by Aunty!
- ‘Ālau Island Seabird Sanctuary where I saw the wildest bird formations with thousands of them swarming a lone palm tree
- Even stopped by to see where Charles Lindbergh is buried! (The pilot within had to pay homage)
- Laulima farm and snacked on some papaya, starfruit, lychee, and some fresh coconut in the middle of a bamboo grove. Even pet Panda the farm cat. She was sweet and let me bother her during her “nap time”
From there the road got super dicey, but the car handled great! (Well, AND my driving is pretty solid if I do say so myself…)
Wrapped up the loop at Maui Winery where I had Pineapple (yes you heard me) wine! From there I headed back across the island to finish off my day with a dole whip (when in Hawaii!) and here I sit reflecting.
It’s been a while since I’ve experienced somewhere so magical. I think I need one more day here. Hoping to scuba again tomorrow with my new friend Matt!
Here’s some grabs from today. It’s a lot, but I couldn’t pick just one.
🏝🌋Mahalo & Aloha! 🌊🤙🏼
