I learned more than a few things on this trip. The local people of Maui are happy, laid back people who seem to really enjoy their lives - and who can blame them? The food is absolutely delicious and absolutely expensive. If you miss a sunset, you've missed witnessing some of the best natural beauty this planet has to offer. The ocean is beyond powerful. Surfers are supremely brave. I suck at snorkeling. (Or at least I did on my first try.) Some of the little villages back in the hills appear to provide a simple life filled with peace and surrounded by unparalleled beauty. Helicopter rides are scary, but totally fun and the BEST way to view a volcanic island. VOLCANOES ARE COOL. Tropical areas have gorgeous, lush, GREENEST of green foliage. Maui has a very big rainforest called Hana. And some VERY bumpy roads. We saw an intense rainbow from one end of the rainbow to the other end of the rainbow ~ something neither of us had ever seen before and it was such a sight! There aren't any critters on the island with the exception of mongoose. (The plural form of which is mongooses ~ but geez that sounds weird!) The local people treasure their island and the earth and it made me wish that everyone did. There is a surfing area named Jaws (yikes!) where surfers are pulled in and out on jetskis because of the reef and where the gigantic waves break. Hammocks on the beach are simply amazing. Listening to the waves as you fall asleep is a natural lullaby. The stars look different there. They seem bigger, and closer and are so incredibly clear that the truly TWINKLE. (I was so amazed by the stars that I had tears in my eyes. They were that pretty. And no, the tears weren't what was making them twinkle so much. ;) There is a Maui Space Surveillance Site at the summit of Haleakala - and it SNOWS! If your Jeep breaks down, every other person who passes you by will stop and ask you if you need help. There are black and red sand beaches on the island. When you're walking through creeks that come from the waterfalls in flip flops, scrunch up your toes so that the person you're with doesn't have to rescue said flip flops as they quickly float away! Little tiny roads are often one lane roads with completely blind curves next to cliffs that drop off into the deep blue ocean. Apparently they're called Divorce Roads in Maui because couples end up arguing incessantly while navigating the dangers! (I have no doubt that the women are gripping their men for dear life ... and yelling.) Sea urchin spines are not only painful, but poisonous. And there is quite a story behind my gaining that knowledge. I have never seen water with more shades of blue and that crystal clear. Maui is VERY FAR AWAY and a four hour time difference DOES make a difference. ;) And last but not least: I have so much to be grateful for, I experienced a level of happiness I can say I have never experienced before, and I made memories that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
I'll begin with my favorite. This was the first sunset of our time on Maui and I just about flipped out with excitement after I took this. Straight out of the camera. :) I've submitted this to National Geographic.
Thanks to the telephoto lens Drew rented for me, I was able to capture these POWERFUL waves just before sunset. They really were huge ... you have to respect that kind of power.
Silver seas ...
We RACED to catch this one ... and my God am I glad we caught it. Straight out of the camera. The colors were that intense!
I mean really. Have you ever seen such beautiful beaches?
This was our ride. She managed to take us around the entire perimeter of the island.
We had to pull over to capture this one. It was too pretty to pass up.
Our first day there. The weather wasn't fantastic but it sure made for a good photo.
The grave of a surfer on the coast ...
Ummm, yeah. They weren't joking!
We finally determined that while we knew the black rock was lava, the white was washed up and bleached out coral. Pretty cool!
Deep in the middle of a bamboo forest - hiking at Seven Pools. It really did feel like another world.
The palette of colors on Maui was just stunning. I kept telling Drew that I want my house in these colors someday. The earth is such a beautiful thing.
Maui is 4 hours earlier than Nashville. So I managed to be WIDE awake at about 4 every morning. With the window open to listen to the waves, I thankfully noticed the early morning full moon and went outside to capture this. Moonlight reflecting on the Pacific. Wow.
Drew was SO good about letting me stop to take pictures and change my settings on my camera.
One of the waterfalls we saw on our 4 mile hike at Seven Pools. So incredibly beautiful!
We had to hike to this spot. You can't really tell (because I was zoomed in) but this is a massive cliff. It fascinated me with it's little pool of beautiful blue-green water! I wanted to climb down there and sit in it but it would've been a tad dangerous for little old me. (Although Drew would have done it in a heartbeat!)
The crater of the volcano Haleakala ... I am so fortunate to have experienced a helicopter tour of the island!
Speaking of the helicopter tour ... :)
A little fun with texture ...
A hui hou Maui. Mahalo nui loa.
Until we meet again Maui. Thanks so much.
