Road to Hana -

The Road to Hana is something most people visiting Maui want to experience.. The road is treacherous and that's how the people of Hana and the Eastern side of the island want it. They want to keep their part of Hawaii close to how it has always been.  There are even laws in place that do not allow for road changes.

We could have driven, but I decided to pay the price for the tour so John could relax and really see something. We had a great tour driver, tour van with huge, clear and special for photography windows and a fun. small travel group. We even made two new friends, Maureen and Charlie.

The legendary Road to Hana is only 52 miles from Kahului, however the drive can take anywhere from two to four hours to complete since it's fraught with narrow one-lane bridges, hairpin turns and incredible island views. I personally cannot imagine anyone making the drive in two hours. There are places in the road where you can't see if a car is coming. Lots of tourists stopped along the road in precarious areas, people walking across the road, and not much room on the side of the road in most sections.

Here is a great view of part of the road from above. Since I didn't have a helicopter at my disposal, I had to borrow this picture It gives you a little idea, but not the full picture.

(photo:  gohawaii.com)

Along the road you go through rainforests, see waterfalls (the number depends upon recent rain), rivers running to the sea and dramatic ocean views. Many opportunities to stop and enjoy the views

Enough said about the road, here are our photos from our fun-filled 14- hour day. Without further ado........

Burning a portion of the sugar cane field

These leaves are about 3 feet wide.

We were lucky to just have had rain.  Our guide said 

the falls had been dry a lot of the year.

Thick bamboo

Painted Bark Eucalyptus

Cook Pines - they were brought to Hawaii to 
be used as ship's masts.  Hawaii's trees were not
 as tall, dense or straight.

Volcanic rock, the waves created two arches here.

Black sand beach.
We'd never seen this before.

Truly black sand.  Textures changed from almost powder right 

at the water to large pebbles higher up on the shore.

Good view of different textures of black sand.
Very fine, courser and then quite large pebbles.

 Road side stands selling shave ice, fruits, coffee, drinks, 
fruit, banana bread are everywhere in Hawaii.  

Yes, these are real.

Waterfall running into the sea.

Palapala Ho'omau Church 

http://roadtohana.com/palapala-hoomau-church.php

Burial site of Charles Lindberg

Silvery shimmer

Landscape changed from tropical forest to grassland.

Unusually green from all the recent rain  This view makes me

think of Africa and I wouldn't have been surprised if a giraffe 

walked out of those trees in the distance.

Charlie and Maureen who we met on our trip.

Storm coming in

This was quite a sight

Crescent shape is Molokini Island

Little girl at one of our stops showing us her pet

This is a royal palm

  Perfect end to our day on the "Road to Hana"