Hawaii -

Haleakala, Hawaii – the house of the rising sun

Gosia — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 17:33:21 +0000

Haleakala is one of the best places which I visited in Hawaii. This was the most sublime spectacle I’ve ever seen…- that’s how Mark Twain describes Haleakala in his book Roughing it. I think that it doesn’t need a better recommendation. This is an exceptional place, which must be visited especially at sunrise and sunset while in Hawaii. Dormant vocano The Haleakala National Park includes two volcanoes that form the Hawaiian island of Maui. The beginnings of Haleakala volcano are about a million years back. At that time the volcano began to raise above the Pacific Ocean creating Maui island. Actually, Haleakala isn’t a crater, what you can see from the top is nothing more than two separate parts of a volcano that collapsed on each other creating a valley. Haleakala is 7,5 mile wide, 2,5 mile long and 3000 ft deep. It’s now considered a dormant volcano. Haleakala – one of the highest mountains in the world Haleakala is one of the highest mountains in the world. Although Mount Everest is assumed to be the highest, two Hawaiian mountains are actually higher, as long as we measure them from the sea bottom to the top. One of them is Mauna Kea, which I wrote about here, while the other is Haleakala on Maui Island. Halekala reaches 10,023 ft from sea level, while counting from the bottom of the ocean it reaches 30,000 ft tall, Mont Everest height is 8 848 m. Closer to the stars The first astronomical observatory in Hawaii was located at the top of Haleakala. Lack of light pollution and transparent air provide excellent conditions for space observation. In fact, Haleakala is one of the best places to observe space from the surface of the Earth. There’s Solar Mees Observatory that explores solar flares and their impact on energy flow and radiation. On the other hand, the second observatory – Maui Space Surveillance Site identifies and tracks all human-made objects in space, including space waste. Sensitive plants There are many endangered plants and animal species living in Haleakala. With some luck, you can see there famous Nene known also as Hawaiian goose. There’re also Silverswords – endemic plants, typical only for Haleakala Park. They can be recognised by characteristic silver hair. Although they can survive extreme weather conditions and live up to 90 years, they are extremely sensitive to the touch of people. Touching Silversword destroys small hair, protecting them from light and radiation damage – which result in immediate death. Altitude sickness The good news is that Haleakal’s summit is very easy to reach. You can walk here on the Halemau Trail or go by car. The road to the top is very winding and narrow in some places, and the whole route from Kahului’s town takes between one and a half to two hours. This road offers spectacular views, while at the very top of Haleakala the panorama spreads over 160 km. Moreover, it’s important to remember that Maui island has around 17 different climate zones and most of them are located in Haleakala park. At the top, the weather can change unexpectedly any time. Furthermore, it’s important to know that reaching the summit in such a short time may involve the risk of an altitude sickness. I had this on Mauna Kea and I don’t recommend it. Pain and dizziness, nausea, dehydration and breathing problems are a signal to evacuate from the top immediately. Being at a lower height relieves most of these symptoms, but drinking a lot of water is necessary to hydrate the body. The House of the (raising) Sun The first Polynesian settlers treated this place as sacred. In Hawaiian, Haleakala means House of the Sun. This name is inspired by the legend of the semi-god Maui who trapped the sun to extend the day. People have been coming to Haleakala since the earliest days to see the sunrise. I managed to see this place twice, during the day and just before the sunset. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t good during the day, because there was thick fog over Haleakala. On the other hand, what I saw just before sunset was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. As we were going to the top, the landscape was becoming increasingly barren. Green meadows were giving up place to mountain views. The setting sun and clouds made an amazing impression. When we got there I felt as if I were on the highest peak in the world. I literally had clouds under my feet, and a spectacular sunset ahead of me. Mark Twain describing his feelings from this place wrote: I felt like the last man, neglected of the judgment, and left pinnacled in mid-heaven, a forgotten relic of a vanished world. It was the sublimest spectacle I ever witnessed, and I think the memory of it will remain with me always. Like this post, check out more here 🙂

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Na Pali from the air – a story of two flights

Gosia — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 14:54:41 +0000

How did it happen that I landed on board of a helicopter to watch the wonderful Na Pali cliffs, actually on board of two helicopters? The larger part of the Hawaiian island of Kaua’i is not available from land due to inaccessible mountains. That’s why a helicopter trip is the best option to see the whole island. When you look at photos from Hawaii, you can get the impression that there’s always a great sunny weather. However, the location of the archipelago in the middle of the ocean and the mountainous terrain make a specific climate that is characterised by high rainfall and moderate temperatures. A large amount of precipitation results in lush Hawaiian vegetation, but it certainly interferes with the helicopter flights, what I was about to find out. Kaua’i island was the last stop during our Hawaiian trip. When I was preparing a travel plan, I read hundreds of stories about Hawaii, not to mention the amount of photos seen. Of all the islands in Hawaii, Kaua’i made the biggest impression on me. The main reason was picture perfect Na Pali cliffs, Waimea Canyon, huge waterfalls and lush tropical vegetation. For this reason, I left visiting Kaua’i specially as the last stop, as the cheery on the cake in this lifetime journey. What’s more, I went one step further! I figured out that since I was nearly bankrupt after a month’s stay on the Hawaiian islands, and actually I had only a return ticket and a credit card, it wouldn’t make any difference to increase the debt buying a helicopter flight. The weather on the day of the flight could be described shortly: it was raining cats and dogs. Before going the airport in Lihue, I had had mixed feelings, so I had asked our Hawaiian host what she had thought about the idea of taking a flight in such weather . The answer was short: “when it rains, you will see beautiful waterfalls, but if it doesn’t there’ll be better visibility” and unfortunately, in no way did it resolve my doubts. I took comfort in thinking the weather in Hawaii is variable and that rain would be passing. On the spot, I was completely reassured by the organizer that the atmospheric conditions would not interfere with the flight, I sat next to the pilot, happy to have the best place to observe the beautiful cliffs. The pilot, presented himself as a Vietnam War veteran. His age didn’t make any impression on me, as opposed to the deteriorating weather conditions. At some point, instead of wonderful views, I saw a wall of rain. Helicopter wipers weren’t prepared for this conditions and neither was I! I looked at the pilot, and I felt a fast surge of adrenaline, similar to how one could feel when duck diving into a pool without water. The idea of duck diving into one big pool of water – Pacific Ocean, didn’t make the situation any better. I didn’t even try to underestimate the pilot’s flying skills, but I was wondering if his sight and reflex were sufficient in those difficult conditions. Suddenly, through the wall of the rain, I saw the first blurry view. Right in front of us were high Na Pali cliffs. You probably know that feeling when you feel the tingling wave coming from the top of your head to the feet? That’s exactly how I felt when rocks suddenly ′′ raised′′ right in front of us. The possibility of landing on the emergency landing helipad, which I had seen two days earlier on the Kalalau Trail didn’t make me optimistic because it looked like that… Sitting on the edge of my seat, I was waiting for the turn of events, nervously pressing the shutter 😀 I thought to myself: ′′ An interesting viewing flight, it’s a pity that without prospects for the future”. In the corner of my eye I looked at the virtuoso of sky acrobatics, it was clear that he felt like a fish in the water. What could I do in this situation, I closed my eyes and decided to contemplate the last moments in the sounds of thumping rain. After a while I gently opened one eyelid, I saw nothing at all just the rain wall. On the other hand, it thought that the situation was stable at least. A helicopter trip over the Na Pali cliffs had been my dream for a long time, and when at the time of the landing, I realised that this dream would no longer be able to come true I burst out crying. My journey companion decided to take matters into his own hands and went to the company with complain, arguing that the service was not realised because when flying through the wall of the rain is hard to talk about sightseeing flight. To my surprise, it turned out that the company agreed to this and returned the money! The next day, I was so excited having another helicopter flight! This time the weather didn’t let me down. Just after taking off from the airport in Lihue we flew over Manawaiopuna Falls – cascading waterfalls forming one big wall of water- famous view from the ” Jurassic Park” film. Another attraction was the spectacular Waimea Canyon, also known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. I had an opportunity to admire this place during the previous hiking trip, but from the bird’s eye view it looked amazing. The main attraction of the flight are Na Pali cliffs, which from the helicopter look like painted. The intensive colors contrasting with as white as flour sand and turquoise waters of the Pacific Ocean make an amazing impression. Then the helicopter went to the center of the Waialeale Crater – which is supposed to be the most humid place on earth, after an earlier flight I can confirm it. The flight is an amazing experience, the helicopter flies very close to the rocks which allows almost to touch the sharp peaks of the Na Pali coast. The last amazing view is Makua (Tunnels) Beach, with numerous underwater tunnels – the perfect place to dive and snorkeling. It looks really amazing from the air. Na Pali Coast State Park is considered as the one of the most beautiful places on the earth. I haven’t seen the whole earth yet, but I confirm that this is the most beautiful place I’ve ever visited. Helicopter flight will remain an unforgettable experience for me, the amazing wealth of nature and the incredible scale of the cliffs I remember to this day. I can’t even put this experience into words, I’m not even trying. I will leave these emotions to myself, while I will tell you that in the end I cried my eyes out with happiness… Just to clarify it was a strange feeling because I don’t like getting emotional 😉 It’s best to book helicopter flight in the morning when the air is transparent. Online booking can save a few bucks. There are many companies to choose from:– Island Helicopters, – Maunaloa Helicopters, – Jack Harter Helicopters, – Blue Hawaiian Helicopters, – Safari Helicopters, If you’re going to choose this option of sightseeing, wear dark clothes to minimize the reflections in the window. Do you like this post?Check out the first part:

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Na Pali part I – Hawaiian cliffs, doplhins and barking sands

Gosia — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 20:29:59 +0000

In the area of the green Hawaiian island of Kaua’i you can find a hidden treasure – Nā Pali Coast State Park. The name Nā Pali in Hawaiian means in cliffs, so you can figure out what is the main its attraction. The 17-mile cliff coast stretches from Ke’e Beach to Polihale Beach. Nā Pali cliffs are reportedly among the highest in the world and reach more than 1000 meters above the turquoise waters of the Pacific. They have been shaped over the centuries through erosion activities, like many caves along the coast. Nā Pali cliffs can be seen in three ways: from the air, land and water, and each of them guarantees completely new experiences and emotions. Nā Pali from the land Cliffs can be seen by taking a tour along the Kalalau Trail. This path starts at the end of the scenic route 56, called Kuhio Highway. The Kalalau Trail starts at the beautiful Ke’e Beach and ends at the spectacular Kalalau Valley. Camping in Nā Pali Coast State Park is allowed, but only after obtaining special permission. On the Kalalau Trail there’re two places to put up the tent – Kalalau and Hanakoa. During 11 miles of hiking trail, you’ll see beautiful valleys, verdant vegetation and amazing views of the coast. You can also take a shorter trip to Hanakapiai Beach and Hanakapi’ai Falls. The length of the route from the Ke’e Beach to Hanakapi’ai Beach reaches 4 miles. Unfortunately, swimming there is prohibited, and further tour along Kalalau Trail requires permission. When in 1960 National Geographic published an article titled “Kalalau Valley – the garden of Eden” cliffs began to be frequented by hippies wanting to settle in this beautiful place. In order to protect the unique nature of the park, it was necessary to limit the influx of visitors through the introduction the permission to entry. Currently camping is allowed up to 5 days and costs 20$ per person. However, the route can be continued without permission, turning left in the direction of Hanakapi’ai Waterfalls. Total length of the route is 2 miles one way, and the path is quite flat and leads through the dense bamboo forest. source: https://www.hawaii-guide.com/kauai/hiking_trails/kauai-hiking-maps There is one more possibility to admire Nā Pali cliffs from the land. It can be seen from the two viewpoints: Kalalau and Pu’u o Kila overlook, while exploring Waimea – the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, located on the other side of the cliffs in Kokee State Park. You’ll find the post here. Nā Pali from water An unforgettable experience guarantees a boat cruise. In the course of the cruise you can see the huge peaks of the coast, paradise beaches and coastal caves. Most tours stop at the Treasures Beach, where you can snorkel with turtles and colorful tropical fish. However, the greatest attraction are dolphins, playing in Pacific waters. The most popular for this area are spinner dolphins, well-known for their eagerness to play. Well, apparently, the best fun for them is to escape from the boats, heading Nā Pali coast. Dolphins like to draw attention to the fireworks jumping over the water mirror where they operate in the air, hence their name spinner. With some luck, besides dolphins and turtles, whales also can be seen. Boats pass by the so-called Barking Sands. This name came from the characteristic sound of the pacific waves striking the shore. The sound of the waves resembles a dog barking. It’s caused by a unique sand composition which due to the impact of waves makes a distinctive canine sound. The beach reaches 25 miles, and the water there has a brighter color. This is the most favorite doplhins’ playgound. On the other hand, the land close to Nā Pali coast is occupied by the United States Navy. Military base located here, is an important part of the Pacific Missile Range Facility. This is one of the world’s largest training grounds. In addition to numerous ships and fighters, there‘s also spaceport. It’s best to take a cruise in the morning when the Pacific is calm. Boats sail from Allen Port, where you can find many trip operators like: Kaua’i Sea Tours, Na Pali Explorer, Captain Andy’s, Liko Kaua`i Cruises. Another interesting option are canoe trips diuring which you can visit the interior of the coastal caves and see the cliffs and inaccessible beaches like Hanakapi’ai or Honopu from a very close perspective, not to mention turtles and dolphins. Trips start in Ha ‘ena and end in Polihale. How about just going to the beach… The best way to finish visiting the coast is a trip to Polihale Beach, famous for the most beautiful sunsets in Hawaii. During sunset, Nā Pali cliffs take different shades from red to orange. This is the longest beach on the island, and who knows maybe even the widest. Polihale in Hawaiian language means “home from the underworld” and according to old Hawaiian beliefs it’s the place where souls go to “Po” – the underworld. The biggest advantage of Polihale Beach is that it’s off the beaten track and there’re usually very few people here. You can get to the beach by going to the end of Highway 50, where, after passing previously mentioned the Pacific Missile Range Facility, you must turn left on a gravel road.

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Pearl Harbor – “AIR RAID PEARL HARBOR THIS IS NO DRILL.”

Gosia — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 21:41:43 +0000

When I booked a flight for a month’s stay in Hawaii I didn’t have even an American Visa, let alone a travel plan, but I had one pleace on my must-see list, it was Pearl Harbor. As I wrote before, Hawaii islands aren’t cheap, so also the tickets to this famous base are expensive. Passport to Pearl Harbor – a ticket to explore all places costs $72, but in my opinion, this place is really worth every given buck. Pearl Harbor is located on the Hawaiian Islands, in Pearl City which is close to the famous Honolulu. The name Pearl Harbor itself derives from the original Hawaiian name – Wai Momi, which means “Water Pearl”. The waters of the present Pearl Harbor, were once abundant in oysters producing pearls. Since 1912 this is one of the most important American naval and air bases. The construction of the base began in 1901, and after numerous investments consisting of deepening the port, in 1934 it was able to accommodate the entire American Pacific Fleet, apart from the biggest aircraft carriers. I won’t write in detail about the historical background and the attack, as this information is available, but I’ll just present the most important facts. – The strategic position of Hawaii, halfway between the USA and Japan had an impact on Japan’s decision to attack Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941. Japanese target was to stop the United States from military actions in the Southeast Asia. – Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor can basically be considered as a turning point in World War II, as the result of it, United States joined the war. – The attack started at 7.55 a.m. and lasted less than two hours. It was supposed to consist of 3 raids, but there were only two. The third phase of the attack was to destroy the entire port infrastructure and fuel tanks, the implementation of this plan, would certainly have excluded Pearl Harbor from service for a very long time. – The entire operation hadn’t been preceded by a declaration of war by Japan, and it was a huge surprise for soldiers stationed at the base who were completely unprepared for such attack. – As a concequence over than 2300 militaries and 68 civilians lost their life and about 1200 people were injured. On the Japanese side 65 militaries lost their life and the one was taken captive. – Despite massive losses in the base equipment, Japanese forces didn’t realised the main target of the attack – destruction of aircraft carriers that were not in the base that day. It was a huge mistake because, as it turned out during the Pacific War, it was mostly aviation that played a key role, not the navy. In addition, most of the destroyed battleships, with the exception of two: USS Arizona and the USS Oklahoma, have been repaired and returned to service. – The raid on Pearl Harbor started a war in the Pacific and turned the United States into World War II. More importantly, Pearl Harbor is one of the largest American naval bases today. The most important point of the base / museum is Arizona Memorial is a building located just above the sunken shipwreck of the USS Arizona. As a result of the attack, more than 1100 sailors were killed on this ship, so almost half of all the victims of Pearl Harbor. Admission to Arizona Memorial is free of charge, from the Visitor Center you can get there by boat. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to visit this important place in Pearl Harbor, because that day one of the boats hit the bridge at Arizona Memorial, preventing safe sightseeing. However, as it turned out later, I was able to see two other things which station temporary in Pearl Harbor. Another interesting point is the submarine USS Bowfin called also as Pearl Harbor Avenger, which can be seen inside. Next to it is the Pacific Submarine Museum, where you can see Ballistic Missile Poseidon C-3 cut in half. Outside the museum you can see a real Japanese kaiten – a type of live torpedo, used for suicidal attacks and also other kinds of torpedos. The other points are located on the Ford Island, where you can get by special bus service running every 15 minutes. A great impression made on me the battleship USS Missouri, also called Mighty Mo or Big Mo. The Battleship is a special object in the American Navy because here on 2nd September 1945 the surrender of Japan was signed. The exact place to sign surrender can be seen while exploring the battleship. After the end of the war, the USS Missouri took part in many war operations and after the war in Persian Gulf in 1991, it was decommissioned and directed to Pearl Harbor as a ship – museum. In my opinion, the most interesting place in Pearl Harbor is the Naval Air Station with a flight control tower and two hangars. High Naval Air Station can be seen as first. The first words from it on 7th December 1941 were: ” Air Raid Pearl Harbor this is no drill.” It’s worth adding that building a tower started in early 1941 and at the time of the Japanese attack, it wasn’t fully completed. In the first hangar no. 37 you can see aircrafts from World War II with a plane called bush Bush Stearman, which was steered by senior President George H. W. Bush. Second hangar no.79, presents Cobra – attack helicopter and numerous other helicopters and transport planes. Outside there is also something for the Top Gun fans, the famous F-14 Tomcat Fighter, but also you can see here Mcdonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle, Soviet Mig-15 or P-40 Warhawk. At the end of my visit in Pearl Harbor, there were two surprises which I mentioned before. Both objects don’t sation permanently in Pearl Harbor, which is why I was very lucky to see them. The first was a giant floating radar SBX, called Sea – Based X-Band Radar, one of the key elements of the American Antiballistic System. Radar is placed on a special modified oil rig capable of moving at 8 knots. Unfortunately, taking pictures of the radar was forbidden, but how it looks, can be seen in the image below: The second and the greatest surprise was the massive atomic aircraft carrier – USS Carl Vinson, which during my visit was enetering Pearl Harbor. The aircraft carrier can accommodate almost 6500 people, and its size in comparison to the Visitor Center is really impressive. In the process of entering Pearl Harbor, the entire crew in white uniforms was standing around the deck, while the crowd presented at Pearl Harbor was cheering, waving American flags. What it seems to us often pathetic regarding the United States, then for me was a really amazing experience. ” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]

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Hawaii – Big Island is getting bigger and bigger…

Gosia — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 07:02:47 +0000

When I landed at the Kailua Kona airport, located in Hawaiian Big Island, I felt like being a part of Apollo mission. I was surprised that after only 40-minute flight I saw totally different reality. Sandy beaches from O’ahu Island were replaced by rocks and black sand. Lushy, verdant Hawaiian vegetation gave place to the apocalyptic, volcanic landscape which seemed to have no end. The culprit of this is Kilauea – one of the most active volcanoes on earth. At first sight it looks inconspicuously because on the contrary to other volcanoes it has a flat, wide cone and its eruption isn’t vertical. Kilauea’s eruption goes through two rift valleys. From these fissures in the earth’s crust, magma flows. Kilauea’s eruption started in 1983 and the volcano is still active. It constantly extends the area of Big Island. In 2014 increased volcanic activity threatened small town – Pahoa, located on eastern side of the island. Driving the road no. 137 along the eastern coast of Big Island one can see interesting black sand beaches and typical, monotonous, post-volcanic scenery. Due to the volcanic activity, the road ends on makeshift car park. From this point you can go for a walk across the lava desert to the New Kaimu beach, known also as Coconut Beach. What’s more interesting, some people live here, in the middle of black, barren lava field. Estates on Hawaii are very expensive except Pahoa surroundings. So if you want to move to Hawaii and you are short of money, here’s the offer: detached house on the active volcanic area without electricity and running water but with full panorama of volcanic area. Just take a look… Houses are located very close to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park where above mentioned Kilauea volcano is situated. But it’s not the end… Kilauea is actually a volcano in volcano. Inside you can see Halema’uma’u crater which is its most active part. Kilauea isn’t the only one attraction in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Close to the crater you see steaming Sulphur banks. Nearby sulphur banks is viewing platform, which apart from being a good vantage point it’s a place where you can feel the heat coming from the ground. A little bit farther form the volcano on so called Crater Rim Drive you can visit Thurston Lava Tube – a cave which was formed by magma flow. The path to this place is very surprising because it’s the only place where you can see verdant vegetation for a change. Crater Rim Drive crosses with Chain of Craters Road, which leads across post-volcanic scenery to the coast. Practical info: Admission to the park costs 10$ per car (ticket is valid 7 days). Car is necessary to see everything as attractions are located in a quite long distance from one another. ” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]

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Hawaii – paradise lost?

Gosia — Sun, 02 Jul 2017 11:50:20 +0000

Everyone can agree that Hawaii is perfect direction for holiday. Crystal- clear water, beautiful beaches, waterfalls, cliffs, canyons, lush vegetation, outgoing people, all of these capture the imagination. The prospect of living in paradise Islands seems like a dream come true, but is it really a good idea? Cottage with the views of … What is the average cost of renting a studio, well… in O’ahu you must be prepared for average expenses reaching from 700 $ to $ 1200 $ a month or more depending on the location and standard. The cost of renting a two-bedroom apartment starts at $ 1000 and unfortunately, it’s not the end of the expenses. You must add electricity and water bills which amount to about 300 $ a month. A large part of these fees are electricity bills since the electricity in Hawaii is based mainly on the oil. It is estimated that the kilowatt of the electricity in Hawaii is three times more expensive than in other states. Skyrocketing housing prices are caused by the large demand, is there anybody who doesn’t want to live here? The situation is aggravated by a small amount of land for building because a large part of the island is covered with mountains or nature reserves. Not everyone has a possibility to buy a house or apartment in Hawaii. However, there are also some who want to live in Hawaii so much that they’re able to endure any inconveniences. So would you consider buying the house situated on the barren land, on the area endangered with volcanic lava, without water and electricity supplied? Cost of living Foods is about 30 % more expensive than in the rest of the USA. You would think that the main reason for high prices are transport costs of goods to the islands. But in reality this factor has minimal impact on the price of the goods. The main reason is the need for large quantities of food storage, any problems with the continuity of supply, and therefore the final price is due to the high cost of living magazines and cold Tents on the beach Life in Hawaii isn’t cheap. Some people can’t afford even to rent a flat. It’s true that the biggest social problem in so called Aloha State is homelessness. Did you know that Hawaii is the largest percentage of homeless compared to other states? On the beaches you can meet whole families living in tents or in their cars. It is estimated that in the year 2016 for every 100000 residents of Hawaii, there were 487 homeless people (according to the Los Angeles Times). In fact, it’s the biggest rate in whole USA. Traffic Congestion and a large amount of cars result in huge traffic, particularly in O’ahu. Despite all appearances, Hawaii doesn’t have so many roads. This is due to protecting the landscape and the topography, mountains are a large part of the islands. Believe me, travelling during peak hours can be really unpleasant experience. Looking for car parts, come to Hawaii.. What’s more on cars topic, I’m really confused by the Hawaiian policy regarding littering. Throwing paper on the street would cost even 500$ while on the other hand, a popular view on Hawaiian roads are abandoned cars. These cars are in fact the entire periodic table in one place! What’s more, they can be found in popular tourist places like: the roadsides, abandoned in the woods, somewhere on the cliffs, and even the famous, spectacular Road to Hana. Abandoned cars are marked with the letters AV (abandoned vehicle), what is the clue for police to scrap them. Unfortunately before a car goes to the scrap yard, it takes years…. According to Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe Bay, annual quantity of abandoned vehicles ranging from 350 to 450. Of course, in a large part, these are the cars abandoned by locals but tourists also are not blameless. Some tourist in order to save some money buy old cars, instead of rent ones, and abandon them before leaving. To sum it all up, I can say that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, but while looking out the window, I wouldn’t mind just for a moment to be there 😉 ” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]

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Hanauma Bay – the curved bay with a view of…

Gosia — Wed, 11 May 2016 18:24:00 +0000

Koko Head is a popular tourist spot on the O’ahu Island. The proper name of this crater in Hawaiian language is actually – Kohelele, which can be translated as… flying vagina. You must wonder who could have given this crater such a name. In a fact it’s connected with a very dramatic story, which for sure could be used as a scenario of the XXX movies. Acording to the Hawaiian legend, Kapo the goddess of fertility, used her magical flying vagina to distract the pig god Kamapuaa who, to put it mildly, imposed himself on her sister – Pele (the goddess of volcano). Finally, the flying organ landed on the Southeastern part of the O’ahu Island. Terrified Kamapuaa ran away straight into the Kapo’s “wings”. The fall must have been spectacular because as a result the Koko Head was created. His tragic death didn’t go by the board because the Americans used this crater during WWII as a bunker with a vantage point. During this time they built a railway line which is now used by tourists as a route to the top. The path is also called the Stairmaster from Hell in view of the fact that it’s very steep. Koko From there you can see the panorama of the one of the most beautiful bays in the world – Hanauma Bay, known also as the Curved Bay. What’s more interesting, the bay is the floor of the volcanic crater which is submerged by the ocean water. Hanauma Bay is the habitat of around 400 species of fish and a lot of Green sea turtles called here “honu”. Here you can also spot colorful parrotfish. The amazing biodiversity of this marine world is the result of the volcanic activity. Volcanic cinders are the perfect habitat for the coral reef. Hanauma Bay is currently a strict nature reserve and the only beach on Hawaiian Island where the admission fee is imposed. This picturesque beach can be seen in: Blue Hawaii, Tora! Tora! Tora!, Hawaii Five-O or Magnum.

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Road to Hana – road for the road’s sake, part II

Gosia — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 13:17:32 +0000

Road to Hana ends in a town of the same name. But it’s not the end of attractions of the east Maui island. Around 12 km farther, at the 45 mile maker, there’s an amazing waterfall called Wailua, which rises 80 feet above the ground. Although it doesn’t seem to be easy to reach you only have to cross the street to see it! Heading farther to the south, on the way 330, it’s worth to stop off at Haleakala National Park. Entrance is located at Kipahulu Visitor Center and admission fee costs 10$ per car (I recommend to keep this ticket because it’s valid in the whole park area for 3 days). Just behind the parking lot you can find interesting trail called Pipiwai Trail. All way takes around 2 hours (6 km) and it isn’t tough. Just after 1 km, you can admire a beautiful panorama of Makahiku Fall which is surrounded by lush rainforest. A little bit farther is amazing banyan tree which huge roots and branches radiate in all directions of the world. It’s no wonder that this tree is a religious object in Hinduism because it looks really phenomenally. Just behind the banyan tree is a stark bamboo forest. Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants. During one day it can reach even 1 meter. The highest bamboos can measure 40 meters. Bamboos growing on Pipiwai Trail are smaller but in some places this forest is so thick that it creates amazing dusky atmosphere. Road ends on a beautiful, 120 meter high, Waimoku Fall. It’s not the end of amazing landscapes. On the way back you can choose the route leading from Kipahulu to Kula. This road is totally different than green Hana Road. This road is intended for 4WD cars and it surprises by its steppe character. I guarantee that you will never forget this view at the sunset. Road to Hana despite its little distance impresses by fabulous landscapes. Here you can see the most beautiful Maui views: azure Pacific contrasting with black and red sand beaches, steep cliffs, huge waterfalls and rainforests. Eucalyptus trees, coconut palms, banyans, bamboos, banana, mango or guava trees are abundant. Little Hana town and roadside fruit stands create unique atmosphere.It’s no wonder that the Road to Hana is regarded as a one of the most beautiful roads in the world. Some tips: – start a trip as early as possible because during the day it’s very crowdy, – there aren’t any gas stations so tank your car before journey, – put your map and gps aside and look for mile makers. Sometimes this activity is even more tiring than driving as they are located in every nook and cranny, – buy something to eat and drink, – become acquainted with the car rental conditions. Some companies forbid to drive this way, – if you want to go from Kipahulu to Kula, you need 4WD car, – drive “aloha”, give way to other vehicles, – take raincoat, mosquito repellent, swimming suit, study shoes and suntan lotion, – take your time and admire beautiful landscapes, – if you see something interesting, stop your car if it’s possible later you won’t regret that you didn’t do this, – try banana bread or shave ice, swim in the waterfalls or in the Pacific or just go for a walk. ” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]

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Road to Hana – road for the road’s sake, part I

Gosia — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 07:38:06 +0000

Why am I writing about the road? You can think that it’s nothing special. But there’s one road, in the east part of Hawaiian island – Maui, which is not only a road but also a destination itself. It is called Hana Higway but in fact its name is a bit misleading because it has nothing to do with a highway. Travelling all this 100 km route can take even 1 or 2 days! Is sounds weird, especially for the USA road conditions. But this highway is not a simple road. It’s typical switchback with 600 turns and around 60 bridges. The most part of this road is too narrow for 2 cars. Using horn or high beam before hooks is a must. It’s also very hard to say what is shorter there: straight sections or cellular network range.Additionally during driving this road we can spot a lot of abandoned houses and cars. But I can guarantee one thing: during these 100 km you will see every possible dream landscape! Beautiful cliffs dipping steep to the turquoise ocean waters, amazing black sand beaches, lush rainforests with exotic vegetation and spectacular waterfalls are just for the asking or rather making a few steps from a car. So turn Hawaiian music on, fasten your seatbelts, open a sunroof, stick your elbow and go! Stop 1: Paia town It’s the last place on the 100 km Road to Hana where you can tank your car. Formerly this town was the important center of sugar industry. Now it’s a mecca for surfers and windsurfers. Here form the Hookipa Lookout, we can admire their amazing water stunts. Stop 2: Kaumahina State Wayside Park (just before 12 mile maker) After short walk to the hilltop we can see a beautiful coast landscape with black beach – Honomanu Bay. Stop 3: Kalaola Point (between 14 and 15 mile maker) Here you can see a beautiful coastal panorama. Stop 4: Ke’anae Beach Park and Ke’anae Landing Fruit Stand (on the turning, just before 17 mile maker) Here you can see a beautiful view of Ke’anae Peninsula with palms, bananas trees and black lava rocks in the background. In the Ke’anae Landing Fruit Stand (address: 210 Ke’anae Rd) you can taste the best banana bread in the island. It is sold straight from the oven. It’s an ideal refreshment on the way to Hana. Stop 5: Three Beard Falls (between 19 and 20 mile maker) This waterfall is one of the best on the road to Hana. The amount of the water depends on the rainfall and unfortunately during our visit it was a bit dry. As you can see all attractions are for asking. Stop 6: Pua’a ka’a State Wayside Park (between 22 and 23 mile makers) This is an ideal place for a picnic in the surrounding of a beautiful waterfall or swimming in a nearby pond. Stop 7: Hanawi and Makapipi Falls (they are located between 24 and 25 mile makers) You can see there beautiful waterfalls in the exotic Hawaiian scenery. Stop 8: Wai’anapanapa State Park (you need to turn left to Wai’anapanapa road at the 32 mile maker) In this 120 acre park, among lush vegetation you can find interesting cliffs, caves and black sand beach. „The highway” ends in Hana. It’s a small town with a population of 700 residents. It’s located in the surroundings of banyan and breadfruit trees. Little church, gas station and popular Hasegawa General Store create special Hawaiian atmosphere there. ” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]

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