From July 4th - 13th I was in Maui with my girlfriend Anke.
We were visiting my dad, Albert, who lives in the beachside town of Kihei.
My youngest sister Shalisha was there for the first few days as well.
Making the most of our time, we had a busy 8 days! =)



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Our first morning on Maui.
Anke and Sha enjoy the view.
Surfer Sha shows off her longboard form.
Relaxing between waves...
After having our fill of surfing, our arms felt like jelly. So we put on our snorkels and fins and headed out into the warm clear water for some snorkeling. The highlight of our snorkeling outings was frequently the appearance of one or more sea turtles, calmly cruising by...
They kept a respectful distance, but otherwise reacted to our presence quite casually.
(Al)Bert and Sha(lisha).
Another day was spent hiking around 
and swimming in the "Birthing Pools" 
on Maui's northern shore. 
Local tradition has it that at one time 
this is where native Hawaiin women 
came to give birth.
These calm and colorful pools are just feet away from some very rough lava coastline, with great views of jagged rocks and 
crashing waves!
Anke getting some sun.
There was more evidence of 
early Hawaiians near the pools: caves and shelters carved 
into the cliff side.
(photo by Anke)
I thought they made for good photos... =)
One of the highlights of an incredible 
week was my first real SCUBA diving experience. I couldn't afford the time 
and expense of getting certified, but 
also I couldn't leave Maui without first going on at least ONE dive! 

Anke, on the other hand, is an old pro. 
She got certified several years ago in Venezuela, but this was her 
first dive in 3 years.

By the way, all that gear is heavy when you're out of the water! 
Our diving spot - lots of cool coral reef formations in 
30 - 45 feet of water; off Ulua Beach in Kihei.
It's not uncommon for some people to panic during their first SCUBA dive. 
Not me! 
I loved it and I felt right at home. 
Actually the instructor had to remind 
me a few times to stay with the group. 
Listen up Kids: always stay 
with your diving partner! 
(photo by Anke)
There were things to see everywhere! Here's a rare Snowflake Eel - one of four eels we saw.
Reef fish come in all shapes and sizes. This one was less skittish than most.
And, of course, more turtles!
Sometimes these guys just sit there on the reef, motionless, between trips to the surface 
to breath.
Mermaids do exist!
After our SCUBA adventure, we headed to the far eastern side of Maui. Here, ocean winds bring moisture directly in off the sea, creating some of Maui's wettest climate. This old church is on the border between the wet and dry regions.
This old wall is all that's left of a house 
that used to be near to the church. 

It had a strangely shaped hole in it, 
and we couldn't quite figure out 
what made it... =)
We camped near there that night, 
at one of Maui's most popular tourist 
destinations, the "Seven Pools" at 
Oheo Gulch. 
Most tourists simply drive in for the day, and few bother to camp. 
They should - it's a gorgeous spot, 
if you don't mind a little bit of rain occasionally. =) 
The Sunset that night was incredible...
...and the next morning we woke up to pristine views of the rough rocky shore outside our tent.
The "Seven Pools" themselves are quite scenic too. A series of waterfalls carved out the pools, which make for a great swimming spot...
...especially for those who are adventurous enough to do a little bit of climbing...
...or Jumping! Go Bert! =)
There are literally hundreds of falls on the "wet" side of the island; not all of them 
are jumpable!
But many of them have nice swimming pools beneath them. Unfortunately, we missed the sun back in this little gorge, and it was a bit too cool for a dip.
(photo by Anke)
The rest of the day was pretty wet, with several rain showers. 
(Those waterfalls are there for a reason!) 

But that didn't stop us from enjoying 
some of the most interesting sections of the coast. Near Hana, the only real town on the eastern side of the island, Lava tubes meet the sea forming spectacular arches, caves, blowholes, and crashing waves.
 
I wish I could add sound effects
to this photo...

BOOM!
You could spend your entire time on Maui at the beach, of course, but you'd be missing out on some of the most spectacular vocanic scenery in the U.S.
Haleakala Crater, at the top of the island, is over 10,000 ft high.


(photo by Albert)

The volcanic highlands of Maui is only place in the world where the famed "Silversword" grows. It grows for 5-15 years in this harsh barren climate, briefly blooms once with a flower several feet high, and then dies.
This route down into the crater is aptly named the "Shifting Sands Trail". In the background, over the ridge, and partially covered by clouds, you can see Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, the twin peaks of Hawai'i, the "big island".
Maui is shaped like a figure 8 from 
east to west. So, from one part of the "8", you can look out over the water to the other half of the island. 
From the beach across the street from 
my dad's place in Kihei, we watched the sun set over the western half of the island on our last night in Hawaii... 

All beautiful things are fleeting and 
must come to an end... 
Enjoy them while you can!


 

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