Aloha Maui

Absolutely a dream trip for Brian and I.  I am so grateful that I got this time to spend with Brian (just him and I).  It definitely gets harder to spend time with your spouse once babies enter the picture. 

Congratulations again to Barry & Christy!

Aloha!!!!!

Luau

Old Lahaina Luau

 I did a lot of research and this Luau was definitely the most recommended!  However cheesy or cliche it might seem I feel like if you are going to trek across the world to go to Maui you 100% have to go to a Luau!  I loved it....Brian hated it!  I don't blame the Luau...he is not exactly Mr. Arts!

 As far as my review goes:  Beautiful scenery, great atmosphere, lots to do and see before the show got started.  Also all the servers were HOT guys that all look a lot like Taylor Laugtner from Twlight!  They too had no shirt on!  I mean whats not to like!  There was a ton of food....but honestly I didn't love the food....it was okay but definitely not worth the price.  I think it was very authentic including the Poi....I guess I like my processed food too much! 

 

The best thing was the Show.  Awesome dancers and storytellers.  I will say it was a tad long...even I started to get a little restless towards the end.

 Wendy and her boyfriend Mike

 Brett & Savannah

Us!

Blow Hole at the Black Sand Beach

Black Sand Beach

Waianapanapa Black Sand Beach Maui

Waianapanapa State Park - Maui

Honokalani Black Sand Beach is located in the Waianapanapa State Park. This large beach is set among lava cliffs and the sand is actually small, smooth, lava pebbles. A small sea arch, sea caves, and seaside lava tubes are located in the beach area.

 

This was the most beautiful place that I have ever seen....it is probably the closest thing I can imagine to heaven!

Honokalani Beach with the naturally curving sea arch.

Mini-hike away from the beach....follow stone steps down through a cut-out in an otherwise impenetrable thicket of hau and come to an open cave area.

Anchialine Pool Caves

The water here is crystal-clear...it is also freezing cold.  Like pulling off a band-aid....the best way is to just jump on in.  There was a great ledge for jumping off and I took the plunge.  It was FREEZING!  Their were hidden caves just under what appear to be the main caves walls.....we went back pretty far but without a flashlight it go super dark, super fast and we had to turn around. 

 

The legand of the caves

"Once upon a time, a Hawaiian princess named Popoalaea fled from her cruel husband, the chief Kakae. She hid on the ledge just inside the underwater entrance to this cave. A faithful serving maid sat across from her fanning the princess with a feather kahili, a symbol of royalty. Noticing the reflection of the kahili in the water, the chief Kakae discovered Popoalaea’s hiding place and killed her. At certain times of the year, tiny red shrimp appear in the pool, turning the water red. Some say it is a reminder of the blood of the slain princess.”

The water is pretty cold and we did not venture in...the current was really strong and the waves made me nervous crashing into lava cliffs

 

The black sand beach is composed of small, water-rounded pebbles

Hearing/Seeing the waves crash was stunning!  These photos have not been edited...this is truly what it looks like there.

This blowhole is not a regular, and only delivers sound and small sprays most of the time. But when the surf and tide is right this blowhole can become impressive.  We didn't see any massive sprays but the sound coming from the Blow Hole was really cool.  Kind of like Thunder!

Back in the car to finish the Road to Hana and head back to Wailea!

Windsurfers on the north-eastern coast

 

O'heo Gulch Pools (a.k.a. Seven Sacred Pools) Maui

On our second day in Hana we got up and started the hiking again.  We drove about 10-12 miles past hana to the O'Heo Gulch Pools.  It is a 4-mile (round trip) Pīpīwai trail following the stream which courses through the 'Ohe'o Gulch and ends at the 400-ft Waimoku Falls.

This was an awesome hike...and a little less treacherous than the day before.  The path was clearly marked.  I loved the fact that we were basically alone.  Again...I highly recommend breaking your trip to Hana into two days.  Most people end up doing this hike at the end of the afternoon and so it is really crowded.  We had the whole place to ourselves.  The first half of the hike you are hiking up...plus it is very damp/wet so wear clothes/shoes that are okay to get wet!

This sign is not exhagerating.....very steep....no guard rails.

All along the high there were stunning views of cliffs and waterfalls!

An Indian Banyan Tree

Upper Bamboo Forest.  When the wind blows, the sounds of the bamboo stalks bumping into one another is almost musical.

Almost at the top

You end your hike at the 400-ft Waimoku Falls.  You hear it before you see it!  It was awesome!  We did not swim at this falls as there are enough caution signs up about flash-floods that we decided against it!  Totally worth the 2 mile hike up!