Trip Introduction
In July of 2015 we spent a little over a week on the Hawaiian island of Maui. This trip had a special purpose for James' family. He and his sister had organized the whole thing to celebrate their parents’ 50th wedding anniversary (earlier in the year). His parents spent an extra week before and another after our time on the island with his mom's cousin. There ended up being seven of us staying together, James and Julie, James’s sister, her new husband, her youngest, James’s mom and dad. There were two rental cars (one sedan and one Jeep) which allowed for a wide range of activities.
Friday, 07/11/2015 – Arriving on Maui
Our flights from Des Moines to Kahului with a layover in Phoenix went smoothly and we were excited to get to the island. The approach to the airport took us over the narrow neck of the island. We arrived early afternoon and James’ parents picked us up after claiming our luggage. We headed upcountry (west side of Haleakala) to the Lilikoi Lani Farm vacation house we had rented for the week.
Looking west as we approach the island from the south
A line of wind turbines on one of the mountain ridges
Rocking chairs on the porch at Lilikoi Lani Farm
Saturday, 07/12/2015 – Water, Fire, and Ohana
After spending the morning relaxing and meeting the animals on the property, we loaded up the cars and headed west to the coast. Mom’s cousin joined us as we spent time walking around the shops and spent time relaxing at an establishment with tables overlooking the ocean. In the evening, we attended a luau at one of the west coast resorts.
A cow watches us through the farm’s fence
The farm cat finds new friends
A goat checks out the interlopers
Fresh bananas were free for the taking
The breeze from the ocean kept us cool in the afternoon
One of the locals tried to crash our party
The pig is just about ready for the luau
The sun sets over the ocean as the meal is prepared
Dancers twirl flaming spheres as part of the show
Sunday, 07/13/2015 – Appreciating the Sealife
Early Sunday morning James drove his sister and her husband to the south side of the island, catching sight of several rainbows along the way, where they had rented a classic Porsche 356 Speedster and were spending the day together. After returning to the house, the rest of the group headed out for breakfast and then to the Maui Ocean Center on the south shore. As one might imagine, “The Aquarium of Hawaii” has access to an incredible array of species. We enjoyed some time along the coast before returning inland. A small group headed back out to a beach for sunset.
An early morning rainbow appears to spring from the sugarcane fields
The Porsche Speedster
A Moorish Idol or Pennant Coralfish
Sunlight streams into the large aquarium tank
A crab eyes James as he takes a picture
A squid moves up the side of a tank
Two sea turtles (honu) swim through sunlit waters
A hammerhead shark swims through darkened waters
Two sea turtles emerge from the water late in the evening
Monday, 07/14/2015 – Horses and Shopping
On Monday we split into two groups. James went with one group for horseback riding on the western side of the island while Julie and another group enjoyed the sites of historic Lahaina. We met up after lunch and picked a few things up in the shops before heading back to the house for fun and games together.
Two horses wait for riders
Looking over James’ shoulder as the riders head inland
Heading into the hills above Lahaina
The famous banyan tree in Lahaina
Tuesday, 07/15/2015 – Morning Glory
Very early Tuesday morning, Julie, James, his sister and husband, all left the house and headed to a nearby shopping center with a bike shop. The group had booked an outing that included a bus ride to the top of Haleakala to watch the sunrise. The air temperature was cool, upper 30’s, before the sun came up, but we all felt it was beautiful and well worth the early morning. Once some of the crowds headed back down the mountain, our tour stopped just outside the national park where James, Julie, and the brother-in-law got on mountain bikes. James’ sister chose to return to the shop on the bus where she was meeting our parents for breakfast. The three of us enjoyed wide open scenic vistas of the island as we coasted back down the mountainside.
We also ate a late breakfast at the café next to the bike shop before returning to the house. After freshening up, we headed to ‘Īao Valley State Monument for some light hiking and fun photography in the afternoon. This park is tucked between two steep green ridges of Pu’u Kukui, the mountain on the west side of Maui.
The early morning horizon starts to lighten
Enough light to see textures of the clouds
The sun starts to peak above the clouds
The clouds have many colors as the sun hits them at a low angle
The bicyclists prepare for their trip down the mountain
Looking west across the valley from the road down Haleakala
Formations in ‘Īao Valley State Monument
Water streams down the valley passing over and around the rocks
Wednesday, 07/16/2015 – Taking It Easy
We spent much of Wednesday around the rental house. A few of us did take a trip to the peak of Haleakala in the afternoon to see the area in full daylight. It was rather breezy, and the sun was very bright at the10,023-foot elevation ranger station. We could see the “Big Island” of Hawaii and the clouds that formed because of its mountainous terrain. We also saw the endangered Silversword Bloom (Ahinahina) which only grows in the rocky volcanic soils near the peak of the mountain. We stopped by a grocery store on the way back and had a bit of a picnic that evening.
The caldera of Haleakala
The lookout building at the peak
Elevation sign at the nearby Ranger’s station
Clouds forming over the Big Island
A Silversword Bloom
Thursday, 07/17/2015 – A Rambling Road
Thursday morning, everyone except mom and dad piled in the Jeep for a trip on the “Road to Hana” Hana is a small town on the east side of the island, but the road to get there is extremely windy as it passes in and out of valleys formed on the NE side of Haleakala which is considered a rainforest. There are plenty of beautiful places to stop along the way to see island gardens, beaches, or cliff side overlooks. There was a point, as you wrap around the east side of the island, where rental car companies don’t want you to pass. The road became gravel where you needed 4-wheel drive and was often washed out. We turned around at the Pools of ‘Ohe’o (Seven Sacred Pools) where water cascades from several waterfalls into the ocean. It was raining by the time we got there so we elected not to go out on the rocks or into the pools.
A fresh fruit stand on the side of the road was a great place for a catnap
A Cordia Boissieri blossom
An Etingera Elatior blossom
A view of the NE coast of Maui
Waves crash against black volcanic rocks
Rainbow Eucalyptus trees
Looking up the east side of Haleakala
The lower waterfalls at the Pools of ‘Ohe’o
Friday, 07/18/2015 – Canopy Capers
Friday was the last day we were all together on the island. We spent the morning taking some photos on the veranda. After the photos, we visited mom’s cousin at her home. She grows many varieties of orchids, including one that smelled like chocolate. After lunch, the gentlemen drove to an adventure park where they spent some time crossing rope bridges and ziplining through the canopy. James’s sister, husband, and child had a flight out that evening, so we said our good-byes and they headed to the airport.
Julie and James on the veranda porch swing
A Phalaenopsis orchid
An Oncidium Sharry Baby orchid
A Papilionanda Ruby orchid
One of the rope bridges at the adventure park
Flying through the treetops
Saturday, 07/19/2015 – Departure
After getting up and around on Saturday, we made sure we followed the check-out procedures for our rental. Julie, James, and his parents spent the day at a lavender farm and garden admiring the many species of flowers that thrive in the Hawaiian climate. We also saw some native, and not native, wildlife. Afte a relaxing day, mom and dad dropped us off at the airport for our overnight flight back to the mainland.
Looking over the SW valley from the gardens
Pink Hibiscus blooming
A chameleon watches James closely
A Nene (Hawaii state bird) walks along the edge of a pond
An Anthurium Scherzerianum
A Leucadendron (Safari Sunset) blooms
The farm cat lays in the grass
Pink Begonias blooming
Julie and James stand on a garden path near a pond
Sunday, 07/20/2015 – Home
Our flight into Phoenix was uneventful and we had a couple hours in the airport before our connection to Des Moines. We arrived home early in the afternoon and spent the rest of the day preparing ourselves to go back to work.
We enjoyed our time with family in Hawaii. It was a wonderful way to celebrate James’ parents while seeing some truly beautiful sites.