There are two 'off the beaten...
by runnelspl
There are two 'off the beaten path' excursions I tried for the first time this February: One was a commercial venture and the other was relatively self directed. We signed up for a snorkel cruise to Molokini on a boat (Maui Magic out of Maalea Harbor, slip 55, www.mauimagicsnorkel.com) that advertised itself as 'Beyond Molokini''. They delivered on their promise! The cruise starts at 7:00 a.m. and ends at about Noon. The boat is fast, but stable and covers good distance in open water. The weather was not good ('A bad day in Maui is better than a good day at work!') for either boating or snorkeling, but the crew was prepared and provided parkas to ward off the spray and breeze. The captain took us along the southwest coastline past Wailea and La Perousse bay to the South side of Maui in the channel between the Big Island and Maui. This area of Maui is not accessible by normal vehicle or tourist. We were able to get quite close to the most recent lava flows that split La Perousse Bay about 200 years ago. It is very rugged and unusual terrain - far different from the usual image of Maui. We also made it to Molokini and other snorkel sites, but it was the 'beyond Molokini' part that made the trip worth every penny (this is also a good way to see whales and other marine life without going on a cruise that only does whale watching. (The whale watching takes less time, so there is a tradeoff there). The second 'off road' excursion was to do some hiking away from the shoreline. I bought a book to get some ideas, then picked out a few intriguing hikes. (A good place to start, which we had done previously, is to look in the paper for guided hikes in the rainforests of Haleakala, esp. in the Waikamoi preserve area. The Nature Conservancy and some affiliated groups offer some moderate to easy hikes through the area and are quite informative about the threats of non-native animals and plants to the island's well-being. These are not all through public areas, so call ahead for guided tours and respect the signs requesting 'No Trespass' - they are there for good reasons.) The two places we decided to see were the petroglyphs that are carved into a lava outcrop about a half mile behind the Olowalu General Store, on [formerly?] Pioneer Mill sugarcane property. This is an easy hike and worth the hour or so it takes to get there and back. The second place was the 'L' (for Lahainaluna High School) that you can see in the hill behind Lahaina (and to David Malo's grave which is at the peak of the hill above the 'L'. This is a difficult hike (goes up over 2,000 feet [around 700 meters?] from sea level) which will take about 3 -4 hours of vigorous hiking, much longer if you're not fit. On a good day, it would afford incredible panoramic views of the Northwest side of Maui, but the day we were there it was cloudy and raining at the top. I would not do it again, but David Malo and the 'L' are significant features of Lahaina's culture and history and it was worth one trip. On a clear day, it is likely to be hot and dry, so take plenty of water and some food. If you are interested in either of these hikes, there are hiking guides that can be purchased in the stores - the ones I looked at all had descriptions of both of these hikes among others that were more or less strenuous - including some that I wouldn't even call 'hikes'. The books all have the phone numbers you need to call to get permission to cross private land. One such book is 'Hiking Maui' by Robert Smith. However, Smith describes the 'L' as limestone. I didn't make a very close examination, but I doubt there is much limestone on that hill. It appeared to me to be 'limed' red dirt. He describes a slightly different route than we used (we had to start at the Lahainalune High School). The sugarcane fields are no longer used, and I can't imagine driving anything but a HumVee to the 'cattle pen' (which is more prominently marked by an old 'sham' cabin that was used as part of a movie set.)
Haleakala mountain is a most...
by enigma58
Haleakala mountain is a most in the island the bike down hill is a very excelerating rush you will ever have...a most. there is a lot of companys that sale the tour...arround 50$ with a sun rise and breakfast.
The Heart of West Maui
by SteveOSF
"Once a Historic Whaling Village"
Lahaina is the principal town on the west shore of Maui. Lahaina is historic whaling town. In the 1800s, this town was the center for the Pacific's whaling industry. However, whaling has long been replaced with tourism as the town's main livelihood. Located just south of most of the major resorts on Maui, this is a great spot to visit. Its marina offers many adventures like whale watching and snorkeling. The picturesque streets of downtown offer shops, nightlife, and dining. Lahaina is the largest, and by far, most interesting town on the western shore of the island and has become the heart of West Maui.
Halloween 2002 - Patty's Pilot Pals & New Buddies!
by Hexepatty
"just random madness ensuing...."
I think what is more frightening than the photos, is the fact that the WEIRDEST looking folks here, are pilots and firemen. Folks entrusted to safeguard our lives. Very Spooky, indeed! : ) You guys, I had SUCH a a blast --- One Big Mahalo Shout Out!
Got Chesthair???
Jen and Kristy bring sanity to the crowd!
Now TELL me I'm not a good poker face: you know what had happened just seconds before this photo was shot. And here I am smiling. Can I TELL you I almost wet my pants/screamed?!?!? (For those that Don't know: A restaurant patron who agreed to take this photo dropped my camera. It rolled before stopping, too. Batteries tumbled out; disk door popped open. I practically had tears in my eyes. But the sucker still works. Took a MEAN lickin' I tell you. BUY OLYMPUS!!!)
I've seen a photo like this taken in Africa where the LIONS are under the wing. Well, here we have humans picking up on the SAME concept. Get in the SHADE! Luckily, humans don't bite pilots!
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Turtle off North Ka'anapali Beach
Roof dinning
Outside Dining
