Yesterday, we ventured across the island to the West Maui Mountains for a 5 mile day hike. The hike begins at 1,000 ft. above sea level and ends at 2,563 ft. The Iao Valley rivals anything we have hiked in the Western U.S., and could easily be a national park. At one point, we were hiking along a ridge line less than 5 feet wide with extremely steep drop offs on both sides. There are waterfalls dropping into the valley in every direction.
This hike will definitely be a repeat in the future.
This morning's rainbow from in front of the house.
This afternoon's rainbow from the back of the house.
Star and I took a drive to the wild side of the island this morning for a hike. We never found the trail, but we found the Pacific, and later, some really good barbeque :-)
It's 8:30am on a beautiful early Sunday morning on the island with sunny skies and the temperature still below 70. Star is working at her computer on her Clemson classes, and I'm listening to Pandora and sitting on our deck taking in the view.
We pretty much keep the windows and sliding doors open all day like all our neighbors. It makes for a nice social environment. Since many homes have no heat or air, there's not much closing yourself indoors around these parts.
Yesterday, we took a road trip down to the coast. Starting at the house, stopped at Star's favorite local joint, the Nuis Family Farm (below), where fresh grown fruits and vegetables are always on tap. Next, we headed about 15 miles north to the little hippie village of Paia and walked out onto the white sands of Baldwin Beach. From there, we navigated the Hana Highway to Ho'okipa Beach and watched the incredible surfing scene. From the roadside stands selling smoothies and coconut drinks, to the young families hanging out, it is quite the sight to behold. See the video below.
YUM!
We continued heading down the Hana Highway in search of the elusive Jaws, legendary among surfers. Although we never located the correct unmarked side road, we did venture onto this special little spot at a dead end on the Pacific.
Places like this one are not marked with signage.
You need to search them out, and find the writing on the guardrail.
Continuing on the Hana Highway, we stopped at Twin Falls and took a short hike up the creek to Twin Falls, where numerous people were swimming in the pool.
Finally, we headed back up the Hana Highway to the funky village of Haiku, home of interpretive readers, transcendentalists, and whatever floats your boat.
We ended our day by stopping at the famous Mama's Kitchen located on the beach and had a tropical drink at one of their bars. In 30 minutes, we were back at our house, where Star made us burgers. Not long after dark, we were completely exhausted and in bed. Obviously, we are still trying to get our internal clocks on Maui time.
Once work starts, I will not be typing such long narratives, but for now it seems the appropriate thing to do. One day, we will be able to look back and reminisce on our beginnings here on the island.
Yesterday, Star and I travelled up to my new workplace to meet some of my future co-workers. I received a superb orientation, and met some super friendly and knowledgeable people.
After the orientation, Star and I headed to the top of Haleakala to see the crater. In my wildest dreams, I never thought this would one day be my workplace.
Yes, I took this photo. No, it has not been enhanced.
I'm typing this post while Star has gone on her first excursion alone in the car to Foodland (about 5 miles away). We tried Walmart a couple of days ago in Kahului, but shopping there is a contact sport. The place is packed with people frantically trying to buy the cheapest items on the shelves. Many of the shelves are empty, and many items are not marked. The closest analogy would be the real estate market, which on Maui makes Walmart a strong sellers market. I'm surprised they don't auction items to the highest bidder. Two hours later, we came home exhausted and took a nap.
When Star returns from Foodland, we are going to check out some of the local beaches. The closest ones are about 15 miles from the house. I'm interested in seeing Jaws, which is Maui's famous surfing spot with waves on occasion going 40 to 45 feet!
Aloha!
Enjoying watching our hibiscus plant bloom with different colored flowers
Standing on the beach in Kahului before an eventful trip to Walmart.
Tell you more about that later.
Our new home away from home sits at 3,100 ft. on one of the flanks of the Haleakala volcano. Sorry the video isn't the best, but you can see both the North and South Shores from our little house as well as most everything in between.
I start work on Monday at the Park, and will continue to post as time allows.
When Star and I started taking trips out West, we did not have this forum to save and share our trips with family and friends, which is ultimately how Ben and Star's Excellent Adventures came to be.
I have hiked the mountains of the Southern U.S. for over 35 years, and feel as though I know them better than I know myself. That said, I had always heard stories of the incredible hiking out West, and dreamed of places with names like The Tetons, Glacier, Yosemite, Sierra, and Wind River. Of all the places my Aunt Marilee had travelled around the globe, I found it fascinating she proclaimed the Tetons and Wind River as the most beautiful places on the planet. Anyway, my now deceased Aunt had planted a seed inside my head that would grow like kudzu throughout my adult years.
I never gave up on that dream, but the years slipped by quickly from my childhood into middle age. I remember thinking that maybe those places were meant to be kept in my dreams, where they would forever loom, larger than life. Better off, I convinced myself.
When Star and I met in December 2006, walking and hiking immediately became central in our relationship. In fact, our second date was a walk. Soon after, we were hiking together weekly and I was sharing my passion for the wilderness and my lifelong dreams of heading West. In her typical manner, Star looked at me and immediately said "What are we waiting on? Let's go now!"
So, we boarded a plane headed to Jackson Hole, Wyoming with our backpacking gear in tow. From the airplane window, we caught our first view of the Teton Range rising nearly 7,000 ft. vertically behind the high grasslands of Jackson Hole, and I suddenly was overcome with emotion and exclaimed, "I made it Aunt Marilee. I'm here."
So, as I sit here watching the snow pile up in our backyard, I'm taking a trip back in the time machine to our first backpacking trip west of the Mississippi.
Backpacking up Cascade and South Fork Canyons
Cruising up Cascade Canyon toward the Grand Teton
Hiking with Julie Andrews :-)
Mr. Moose getting a drink
Paintbrush
Climbing steeply up the South Canyon and passing Grand Teton's spire
Nearing campsite at 10,000 ft. just below Hurricane Pass
One last snowfield
View from camp looking back
Dayhiking Uncle Tom's Trail and the Grand Canyon of The Yellowstone
The next morning, we took a hike to the head of the canyon, and found another beautiful trail with absolutely no people. A tough find in Yellowstone.
The highlight of this trip is what Star refers to as "The Show." Our last night on Standing Indian Mountain at 5,247 ft. in the Southern Nantahala Forest, we were treated to a two hour sunset extravaganza the likes of which neither of us has ever seen. It was made more memorable by the several campers visiting our site from down below who stayed with us until sunset. A special congratulations to "Righteous", who spent the evening at our campsite until bedtime. He was on his 138th day of the AT with a just few days to go until completion, and spent the evening sharing tales of his adventures with us.
Believe it or not, here go the untouched photos of "The Show."
