Ulua Beach

A beach day today, this time only a short distance away; Ulua is a beautiful little beach with a rocky point to snorkel around. Unfortunately a hotel was being renovated 500 yards away - the sound of jackhammers and excavators tends to shatter the serenity.

We were there by 8:00 a.m. and got the second to last parking space in the tiny lot. As the mornings have the sun and calm water it's the best time to swim and snorkel.  Brad went out quite far, and not only saw a green sea turtle but also a manta ray!
Photo by bnboly via Flickr

Haleakala: from sea level to 10,000+ feet and back in a day

We left the dry side of the island in the early morning, and soon the road started climbing; the landscape changed from sugar cane fields to green pasture land, with sheep, cattle and horses. Once in Haleakala National Park, the road was one set of switchbacks after another. Our first stop was at a lookout and short trail with interpretive signs; before it became a park, cattle roamed, as well as sheep, goats and deer. Park workers spent 10 years putting up over 50 miles of fencing to keep out wandering animals and allow the vegetation to grow back.
The road continued to climb, with more hairpin turns, and the higher we went there were fewer plants and shrubs, and more and more rocks. I saw a ring necked pheasant beside the road; they were introduced as game birds.
By the time we got to the top we had on many layers of clothing; despite the sunshine, the wind made it cold. We went on a ranger walk on the Sliding Sands trail and learned many things: only insects live up that high - a flightless moth and wolf spiders that have lost the ability to spin webs -  they eat bugs that are blown in by the wind. A petrol bird nests in the lava rocks - it comes back to the same burrow every year to lay one egg - that's the only time it comes onto land.
We walked a ways further down the trail into the crater - it really did look like a lunar landscape - the walk back up was slower due to the altitude, which you really feel - rangers told us you get 30% less oxygen at that elevation. The guidebook says "the 37 mile drive from sea level to the 10,023' summit of Haleakala is the highest elevation gain in the shortest distance anywhere in the world."

The views from the top were amazing: the 7 mile wide crater, or eroding valley as it's called, the clouds, the light and colours on the rocks - it was all just stunning.
Photo by Nevin75 via flickr

A day at the beach

We went south to Malu'aka beach; as we arrived, a large group of serious swimmers in Speedos were getting ready, pulling on swim caps and adjusting goggles - several told us that they meet every Sunday morning to swim a mile down the coast and back - some only swim one way - there were at least 30 of them, with three kayakers.

Later we drove a few miles further; the road changed from a narrow twisty 2 lane one, to a bumpy narrow road over a lava field, where if you met another car, one of you had to find a place to pull over, as far as possible, to let the other pass. The road ends at La Perouse Bay, where you can either hike on a trail over lava rock, or explore the tidal pools.

On our way back we stopped at a food truck for fish tacos, and watched multi-coloured birds nearby; I saw a mongoose - they were introduced here to control rats, but now eat the eggs of ground nesting birds...

Photo by la favelafave via Flickr

On Maui time

Waking up to sunshine and birdsong is a real treat after the snow and ice at home. We're on the dry side of the island, the leeward side, and have spent some time getting our bearings, stocking up on groceries and beverages, walking on the beach and relaxing and reading by the pool. Last night there was an Art Walk in Lahaina, so after dinner at Bubba Gump Shrimp Company we checked out some of the shops and galleries.  In one there were paintings and prints by Anthony Hopkins - who knew he's an artist as well as an actor?

The flowers here are delightful of course, like this hibiscus. 
(photo by rustytanton via Flickr cc)