72 hours in Maui

A few years ago when I was doing manning assist at Tripler, I stayed in Temporary Lodging for a month. I first met my next door neighbors because I ran to their sweet dogs like a little kid ... doggie doggie doggie. Apparently Missy doesn't always like strangers, but she liked me ... good thing. Anyway, since that time, we have been asked a few times to petsit while they go on vacation. This year, we decided to take a few extra days and go to Maui before going to Oahu. We wanted to spend time with Marian and Paul before their trip also, so it was a quick trip to Maui ... but our first time on the Island.

We left home early on the Fourth of July and arrived in Maui around 2 PM. I had no idea how big the island was and how long it took to get places on the one small road driving 35 miles per hour. We finally arrived at the Sheraton at Kaanapali (The Black Rock) around 5 PM and looked through a stack of brochures to decide what we were going to do. Time was short. By the way, sunsets in Maui are as spectacular as the postcards. Even with a camera phone. This is how I know God exists.

 

We decided to go into Lahaina to see fireworks and they were spectacular. Even saw Elvis. Apparently a new attraction but one of the top tourist attractions on the island these days. I was a little sad missing my Dad because he idolized Elvis. 

Top of the list of things to do was an early morning drive to Haleakala to see the sunrise. That meant waking up at 3 AM to start the hour drive to the top of the Volcano. I was packed for warm weather, but it gets cold at 10,000 feet. We were not disappointed. This is a "must do" for any visitor to the island. I think we will see a sunrise every time we go to Maui. Can't wait to go back. From one second to the next, the scene changed. There really are no words to describe the beauty. This beauty is how I know God exists. 

The 'Ahinahina (Silversword) plant grows only at the top of Haleakala and Moana Kea and nowhere else in the world. It has one bloom cycle and then it's done. It is very beautiful.

 The views from the peak are absolutely spectacular. One direction, lush and green. Another direction and you're on the moon.

Tired and sleepy and jet-lagged, we went back to the hotel for a nap before spending the afternoon at the Black Rock beach. The water was as clear as a swimming pool. I have never been in such clear water in nature before. We saw folks jumping off the Rock, but I didn't have the nerve. Another beautiful sunset. The beauty never ends. Again, I'll say it ... this is how I know God is real. 

 Next morning was the Road to Hana. We stopped and picked up the GPS tour en route and back across the Island. We elected the GPS instead of the CD because we thought the interactive features would be good. I think next time, for $20 less, I would recommend the CD. The CD comes with a map and apparently has lots of description of the road. Of course, you may not get the description at the exact site where you are. On the other hand, the GPS provides about 2 minute description approximately once a mile marker. I didn't find it descriptive enough and you can't take it with you like the CD ... no souvenir. And, with just one road around the island, it's not like you can get lost.  Anyway, the 52-mile drive on a narrow 2-lane road with 620 hairpin curves and 59 bridges is expected to take at least 2 1/2 hours. There are a few fruit stands, but no restaurants along the way so we 

packed snacks. We stopped for waterfalls and hikes and overlooks and beaches.

 It was a really beautiful drive and the Musician had fun navigating the turns. A nice little treat was a stop at Coconut Glen's for Hand madeVegan Ice Cream. I had Spicy Chocolate and it was amazing ... this was hot hot hot, but cold at the same time. Worth the drive.             Our only regret is that instead of 2.5 hours, with all of our stops and hikes, it took us about 9 hours. By the time we got to Haleakala National Park, it was near dusk and we didn't get to explore 'Ohe'o Gulch (7 Sacred Pools) or make the 4-mile round trip hike up to the Waimoku waterfall. Next trip we will probably stay a day or two on the Hana side also. One thing about the Road to Hana ... if you don't go off-road around the island, you have to backtrack the 620 hairpin turns. It was getting dark and we preferred maintained roads, so up the road we went. We were hungry and by the time we got back to Paia we were hungry. The vegan restaurant with great reviews had closed permanently 2 days earlier. We didn't know that. We got hungrier and found a nice little bar for pizza... no cheese please. 

Our last morning on Maui we were scheduled for a helicoptor tour of the island. We chose the helicopter instead of the Molokini snorkel to get the best overall view. Sadly, our helicopter was down for maintenance. I suppose that's better than down with us in it. But it was too late to schedule the snorkel, so we slept late and relaxed. The Musician was able to make a stop at the VA to drop off some ukeleles and coordinate volunteers. A quick lunch at a grocery with vegan deli options and to the Airport. 72-hours is not enough time. Next stop, Oahu ... can't wait to see our friends. 

Na’ili’ili-haele Four Waterfalls

I wasn't thinking about writing a blog post about hikes when this hike started. A few days later, I realized that I had a lot to say about some lovely hikes. This is just the first. I will have more pictures next time 

About 6 ½ miles into the Road to Hana, we came across a bunch of cars on the side of the road. Nothing was marked on our guide, but there must be something there, right?  Like sheep, if everyone else is doing it, we must follow. We asked someone getting out of a car what was there. “Good Waterfall. You don’t want to miss it.” OK, we’re game. We had just left Twin Falls where we had a nice dip in the pool. We climbed over the fence and didn’t know that it was into a restricted area. Apparently, this is private property of East Maui Irrigation. Seems we aren't supposed to be there, but it is not a well-kept secret. We wandered through a bamboo forest and didn’t see many people. There are lots of paths that all seem to lead back to the road. Eventually, the forest opened into a stream with large river rocks, we finally heard voices. Turns out they were some people we chatted with in Twin Falls. So, we asked for directions. Head up the riverbed and you can’t miss it. We were told there were actually four falls, but there was a rope and ladder to get to some of them. Apparently we were fortunate that it was a relatively dry day, but still muddy. Apparently, the area is prone to flash flooding. Almost at the top, we heard about someone needing to be helicopter evacuated out the day before.  

Falls #1: We came across a falls with a bunch of folks swimming in the pool. We had already done a swim, so we crossed to the other side and decided to press on. I thought it was supposed to be easy, but it’s all river rocks, sometimes slippery. Along the river-bed, we came upon the second falls and saw people jumping from tall rocks into the pool. Nope, not me. I don’t know what’s under there. 

Falls #2: Walk over some more big river boulders and another nice fall to view. And folks swimming from one side of the pool to the other and picnicking. Looks like a great place to hang out for the day. I also got a great whiff of some smoked herbs. Keep going. 

About 20 feet up: But, in order to go further, we had to climb a rope and a ladder . . . if you can call it that. The Musician pointed out how we were trusting our limbs and lives to a knotted rope and a few random boards attached to a rock by some random stranger some unknown time. UMMM  . . . too late, we have to get back down eventually.  We had to scale along a rock wall above the pool to the top of the falls. We were in hiking water shoes, and getting a little muddy, it was a bit slippery. I don’t know how the kids (ok twenty-something billy goats in human bodies) were leaping and running along in flip flops. Climbing 20 feet up means you also have to get down on the way back. 

Pool crossing to Falls #3: We came across pool and couldn’t see around the corner. We had to swim to the next falls, so we did. We couldn’t come this far and not make it to the fourth fall. It got deep fast. After about 150 meter swim, we climbed a 20-foot rock face with a small trickle of water, tender footed across more river boulders, and were granted a nice view of 100-foot falls. 

Falls #4: They cascade down rocks, so not a straight fall.  Several people were swimming in the pool, but we had already spent more time on this hike than anticipated and still had miles to go on the Road to Hana. We took a few pictures and turned around. 

Falls #3: Remember that waterfall we had to climb to get this view? Well, not really very safe to climb back down with the water. Too slick and a fall would be a big problem. Only way down was to jump. The Musician went first. No rocks underneath, so no injuries. I paced and wrung my hands and almost cried. You would think there was a murderer on the loose if you had heard the blood curdling scream as I finally took the leap. 

Swim back to the other end and start the trek back. We met a nice family with some college students who were doing a summer internship on the island. They said the hike was easier, and less muddy, the week before.  Yikes, going down the rope and ladder was maybe scarier than climbing up. At least we weren’t the cause for the bottleneck. All in all, it was a 3-hour detour and nice hike. Unfortunately, because we spent so much time here, we didn’t make it to the Seven Sacred Pools and the 400-foot Waimoku Falls before dark. We definitely need a longer stay in Maui. 

MidSummer Night Dream Women's 5K 2014

I heard about this race on Thursday afternoon. Sounded fun so I asked around to a few friends to see who might be willing to run it with me. My head was on crooked, so I thought it was Saturday night. Shannon had a Thursday night commitment and her head was on crooked too, so she declined. Aimee was planning another 5K on Saturday morning and wasn't sure how she felt about doing 2 5Ks back-to-back. I bullied her into it. She told me it was Friday night. Yikes.

So, I got a text from Aimee on Friday afternoon. She signed up. Now I have to do it!! So, I signed up too.

Had to pick up my bib at the race site. So, I drove down and skipped the parking lot to park a few blocks away down a muddy dirt and gravel road. Aimee tried out the parking lot and got a primo spot. Turns out everyone thought the parking lot would be full, so they just bypassed it. Lots of open spots. I walked through the mud, picked up my packet, walked back through the mud to my car to drop off my packet, and back through the mud to the race site. The shirts are kind of cool with wings on the back.

The finisher medal was in the bag. I can go home now, right?
Crap!! Water bottle is in the car. I didn't want to go through the mud again.

Guess what Aimee does for a living . . .

Pre-race selfie

Had a pre-race margarita, but didn't find the martinis. 










Ran into a few other friends doing the race. Jennifer is a fitness BEAST, but she won't admit to that. Loralei is 12 (I think, maybe 10?) and has already done a half-marathon and 12 5Ks. She is going to be a formidable woman!!! 

The run was fun. Lots of women, easy course . . .flat and winding on nicely paved golf trails. Cute guys in short shorts handing out water at multiple water stops. Turns out I didn't need my bottle afterall. Seeing a path of women lighting the way ahead of us was really quite beautiful. So many women dressed up. It was a real party atmosphere. Wings, and glitter, and tutus, and masks. . . .I wore my peacock kit, but it doesn't show up like wings. I'm not so much for dressing up for races, so this was as close as I get.

Aimee and I are exactly the same pace, so it was great. We talked the whole way and I am always more impressed by her the more I learn about her. I am still learning my new Garmin and what all the vibrations mean. I also have old lady eyes and can't read the fine print after a vibration to know if I'm in a walk interval or run interval. So, except for water, we ran the first 2 miles and then were spent. We walked a few times during the third mile and had a sprint to the finish . . .we couldn't let the walker in front of us finish ahead of us.

Had some water. Aimee ate some meat on a stick. Found cookies. Relaxed a while and headed home for an early work day on Saturday. (Post script . . . Aimee did do the 5K on Saturday morning, she ROCKS!!!)

Post-race selfie

A few days later, I saw a FB post on a group I joined that is running Beat the Blerch in Seattle in September. She posted her first 5K picture and I thought I recognized the shirt. Here is some small world stuff . . .she lives in San Antonio, she grew up in the town I was born in and lived for the first 8 years of my life (just 2 years younger than me), she graduated from the same university as several of my family members, her birthday is a few days after mine, her wedding anniversary is a few days before mine. I have a new FB friend, and as soon as our schedules allow it, hopefully a new real-life friend. Now, isn't that a cool way to finish a race?