Blown away by Maui

Literally!

I was in a recent conversation with some friends about those little known things that people don’t tell you about or those un-advertised experiences during travel.  Here’s a prime example.  I had always wanted to go see Yosemite Falls since I was young.  It looked so long and delicate compared to any waterfall that I had seen before and who doesn’t want to go to Yosemite?  Well, no one told me that the waterfall doesn’t run year round!  I went the first week in September and there wasn’t anything – not even a wet rock at the top.  Eeeck!  To my credit this was before the days of Google. I’m sure you’ve had similar experiences.

As I look back at my recent trip to Maui there were some amazing things I saw, some advertised…and some not so much.  Let’s focus on the unadvertised adventures (some caused inconveniences and others were fun surprises)!

The Pools of Ohe’o and Road to Hana

The road to Hana is a long one, as advertised, but well worth the drive.  My friend Mark and I started at 6am to beat the majority of the crowds and I’m glad we did.  First, while there are amazing waterfalls and vistas along the drive, there tends to be only one or two parking spots at each stop.  If you don’t happen to get there when there is a spot then you are tough out of luck.  We were able to avoid this by starting so early.  Second, if you do stop at several of the lookouts and spend some time hiking around the various areas then it will take you the whole day.  Mark and I didn’t get back to Kihei until almost 8pm.  Third, while the rental car companies complain about the south end of the road it actually is easier to drive and better than the northern route they want you to return on (unadvertised).  There was only about 10 miles of ‘miss the potholes’ narrow one lane roads and then it was nicely paved and little traffic the duration of the trip.  It was great to see the change in climate as we drove all the way around Haleakala.  

One of the many waterfalls

Wai'anapanapa State Park - you'll want to spend time here!

One major planned stop on our trip was the Pools of Ohe’o.  There are so many pictures of people in the pools with waterfalls behind them that it’s one of those “must do” advertised items.  Well, this is the not so much, unadvertised, version.  I had never head of them being closed and didn’t think to ask.  Alas, the pools were closed and you could only see them from high up on the cliff.  I was really glad that we had spent so much time on other lookouts and hiking because that drive would not have been worth it otherwise.  If the pools are your only reason for driving to Hana either call beforehand or be aware of the possibility of closure.

This is as close as I could get to the Ohe'o pools

The positive unadvertised visit at Ohe’o was the hike to the 400ft Waimoku Falls.  It’s an easy hike, although a bit mucky depending on the rainfall, which takes you past  two waterfalls, a huge banyan tree and this amazing bamboo forest.  The trail is about 4 miles long, took us about 2 hours to hike and was really a great hike with so much diversity.  Waimoku waterfall at the trail's end has been closed so you can’t get super close but it is still a really beautiful waterfall.

Isn't this the coolest trail you've seen?

Food Trucks

The satisfaction rating of vacations is many times highly dependent upon the food you eat.  While everything is very expensive, Maui has unadvertised great food.  One local explained the expense this way, “The most expensive islands to live on are 1) Monte Carlo, 2) Manhattan, and 3) Maui”.  While that isn’t totally correct, food is very expensive.  That being said, the food trucks have some amazing food that’s relatively cheap.  One that I would recommend is the 808 Street Grindz in Kihei.  Their pork slider and chicken taco were out of this world, especially at only 4$ each.  The Paia fish market also has amazing fresh seafood with large portions which can be shared, turning it into an inexpensive meal.  #1 BBQ (which I thought was just a descriptive sign but is really the name) in Lahiana and The Flatbread Company in Paia are also good choices.

Haleakala

The weather wasn't the greatest with lots of clouds and rain throughout the week. I really wanted to go up to the top of Haleakala so I could say I had been to the top of a volcano and to see the view.  We took a chance one cloudy afternoon and headed up the mountain.  When we got there the view was basically clouds (see below).  That wasn't exciting and certainly not blog worthy (although here it is).  Next is one of the coolest things I've ever seen, and definitely wasn't advertised. As we were waiting for the sun to set the clouds started clearing and what should happen but a rainbow appears around me!  (okay, actually, everyone could see it around themselves but this blog is about me so hey!).  I just can't stop thinking about what a cool phenomenon to have the mist of the cloud and the sunlight at just the right angles to create such an intense and large rainbow effect.  I'm just wishing I could have grabbed that pot of gold!

The view (or lack there of) into the crater of Haleakala

That's my shadow with a serious rainbow all around.  I wonder what my "aura" is telling me?

Snorkeling and the Beaches

Here is the title reference. People talk about trade winds and that in the afternoon there is ‘some’ wind.  What they don’t tell you is that you will come back from your trip to Maui with incredibly exfoliated skin because you have been sandblasted from trying to stay out on the beach areas just a little too long!  During the week, the winds would pick up by as early as 10:30am and quickly ramp up to 35mph which would kick up the sand and waves.  To give perspective, the Beaufort scale terms this “moderate gale where the sea heaps up, whole trees in motion, and effort is needed to walk against the wind.”  Luckily, Mark and I were early risers so we could take advantage of calmer seas and sand but it did reduce the amount of beach time.

Speaking of beaches, there were some great snorkeling areas on the west side of Maui which are all well-advertised.  The Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve on the south west side of Maui provided for some spectacular snorkeling in a protected cove but it became crowded by 9am and there was no beach.  Honolua beach on the northwest corner was a nice cove as well but the water was really murky and cold while we were there.  One interesting unadvertised phenomenon at Honolua is that a fresh water stream flows in so the top few inches are a mixture of fresh and salt water so the visibility is blurred.  You just have to dip below that to get a clear view. And, that fresh water is really cold so you can’t stay out very long before you need to warm up!

Ahihi-Kinau Reserve

Honolua Bay

Two of my favorite beaches, which aren’t really advertised that well, were beaches which allowed you to have an actual beach area, possibly play with some waves and also snorkel.  Kahekili up by the Westin is a preserve with some beautiful coral and a large snorkel area.  Ulua near Wailea has decent snorkeling (not at low tide however) and some great boogie boarding waves.

Yes, Maui had some unadvertised specials, just as every vacation does.  Some made us modify our plans, some were hidden gems, and all of them created fun memories.  Enjoy looking at additional pictures including the sunset at Haleakala,  more waterfalls and a few others on my gallery tab:  Photo Gallery: By Type - New