Traveling the Road to Hana and the Other Side of Haleakala National Park

Last week for Travel Tuesday, I showed you the Sunsets of Haleakala National Park on top of the old volcano craters.  Which you can see HERE if you didn't catch it.

This week I'd like to show you the other side, which is a bit more of what you could say is the tropical lush side.  However, to get to the other side of the Haleakala National Park you need to take the Beautiful Road To Hana:) - Additionally, I am also offering a small other day excursion to Iao Valley Monument State Park.

When you first start down this road, your first (if like me) will be, I'll wait and do most of these pullout views at the end of the day on my way back.  Wrong, take the time to do most of them on the way.  I found I never had time on the way back because it was getting dark to stop and see any of the ones I thought I'd grab on my way back down the road.

The pictures above are some of Maui's Black Sand Beaches.  They are beautiful, but not really great for the bear feet.  This particular beach was in the Wai'anapanapa State Park.  I highly recommend this being one of your stops, for a little hiking and exploring.  They have Black Sand Beaches, Sea Caves, Hiking Trails, Beautiful Vista's, Blow Holes and more!
Just a note on this particular beach, the undertow is pretty strong.  If you venture out into it be prepared for it!  Additionally, keep the flip flops on for the most part when walking on these beaches, they aren't the soft sand you think:)

This is one of those sea caves.  You can walk down into.  You won't want to actually get too close to the waves as there is a strong undertow, but its fun to go down in.  It's easy to miss if you don't see people coming out of it.  But its right on the side of the black sand beach in Wai'anapanapa State Park.

Like I said the state park is full of hiking, this is one of the beautiful views from one of the trails I went on.

Another view, from walking around on the walking trails.  This one is the view from up near the blow hole.  I just love the Pacific Blue on the Black Volcano Rock with the Lush Greens!

Some of the views from the trails are like this one.  They have such strong currents, they don't recommend swimming.  I believe I also remember seeing a sign that the waters below these rocks are always filled with a few different types of sharks.

One thing I love about Hawaii, is the tree's.  This one was one of my favorites out on the trail.  If I hadn't of just ran a marathon the day prior to this hike, I probably would have climbed this tree for a picture!!!

Another beautiful view from one of the hikes.  This was actually taken up inside Haleakala National Park.  There are several trail heads and options for day hikes.  If you have time you can do a good majority of them, they are all worth it and beautiful!!!

This is Waimoku Falls, its a beautiful 400 foot waterfall at the end of a hike in the Kipahulu area of Haleakala National Park.

One of my favorite parts of hiking Kipahulu on the Pipiwai trail, was the Bamboo Forests and walking around the trails in them.  Some of you know I do travel alone at times, and this was one of them.  Just so you know it's safe to hike in a National Park alone, because frankly you're never alone there are always plenty of other visitors.  However, this was one of those spots I stopped so I could have a few minutes alone on the trail to listen to the bamboo hit and knock around above and take a few beautiful pictures like the one above.

Now technically for tourists, the Kipahulu is pretty much the end of the road.  Because well the rental car companies make you agree you won't travel off road with their cars.  Well, I am not always one to listen to this.  So yes I will admit I drove much further and about half way down the dirt road.  (I may or may not have been the only non-local on the road.  Fortunately for me, the locals didn't seem to notice or care.  I didn't exactly flaunt I was a tourist, and thanks to my ability to quickly deeply tan, I may have looked the part.  Or possibly I was just delusional, and they just decided to be nice and let me pass.)
I will mention the other side, is beautiful lots of cliffs and on a clear day you can look over to the main island.
However, I am NOT going to recommend you take your rental car.  They are steep windy roads, and little to no turnaround points.  Technically they don't allow tourists unless you sign up for one of the jeep adventures or such, as I swear I saw a group that looked like tourists on a jeep tour when I was on the road.  I did it because well I have this incredible and yet stupid at times need for adventure and I always like to know what is around the next bend:)  Plus, I am from Utah and well 4-wheeling is in my blood, even if I was just in a little sports car:)  No worries, I didn't even put a scratch or pop a tire:)

After your long day of taking the beautiful road to Hana, if your hotel is on the beach on the other side of the Island of Maui, then take a moment to put your feet in the sand and watch one of Maui's beautiful sunsets!  If you are like me, and took way too much time exploring, you'll likely get back well after dark:)  So there is always the next day to sit and enjoy a beautiful sunset too!

Additionally, I'd like to give you a few pictures of Iao Valley, because if you are on Maui, you should go over and take a couple of hours to visit this area.

In Iao Valley, you'll find for the most part easy walking trails to different vista points.  One of the locals told me that back in these mountains, non-available by foot (for the most part) is the beautiful lush green valleys that some of the Jurassic Park Movies were filmed in.  But you'll need a helicopter to see those sites and waterfalls.

Yes, when I went I took hundred's of pictures and I am only showing a few above.  But you'll just have to plan your own trip one day, and take your camera to see everything else yourself!

MY TIPS FOR THIS TRIP

It WILL take all day, so don't plan anything else, and plan to leave early in the morning.

Fill your tank up with gas before you venture onto the scenic road to Hana

Bring lots of drinking water, hiking boots, swimsuit and a beach towel as well as snacks and lunch:)

If you are going to Maui, I recommend a week or more vacation.  There is just so much to do and see.

The roads distance may not seem like much, but you'll not be able to go much more than 10 miles an hour during the drive on this road.  For a lot of reasons, it is small and curvy, but additionally a lot of places are one lane roads, so cars from different directions have to take turns.  But that's okay, there is so much to do and see, you won't mind driving slow so you can take it all in!!!

Adding one more beautiful sunset view to end this post:)

Visit Haleakala National Park

For Travel Tuesday I'd like to take you to Haleakala.

Haleakala National Park is located in Maui, Hawaii.  This is one of those places that even though being on the small Island of Maui, those who visit the Hawaiian destination often overlook Haleakala.

First, if you are going to go if you really want to get a chance to see the best views of the park, you are going to have to get up early.  I got up to leave around 4 a.m. but many will get up to make the drive around 3:30 a.m.  (My trip was in January, different times of year the time you will need to get up will vary.)

Second, even though you are in Maui, you'll want a good warm jacket, or blanket and even gloves and a hat to keep you warm.  The temperatures at the top before sunrise or after sunset can be below freezing.

You'll take a bit of a drive, up a very dark and very curvy road as you basically climb in elevation from sea level up to around 10,000 feet.
Park in the parking lot and walk over to the viewing area, and wait in the icy cold wind in the dark at the overlook with the other park visitors.  Get your camera's ready, because what you are about to see is spectacular.

First you'll start to see the yellow glow of the sun as it rises and lights the puffy clouds below you.  While the old volcano's will start to take shape in the area below you.

Each second during those minutes of the morning you will watch as the sun starts to move up and catches the clouds and each cloud will start to look as if the edges are lighting on fire.

It's literally a spectacle that is fit exactly for the word BREATHTAKING!

I bet if you have a extremely fancy camera you're pictures will turn out better than mine.  But even if you just have a digital camera that cost a bit less than $200, you'll still be able to capture pictures like these.

Once the sun is up over the clouds, the scene changes quickly.  As the clouds begin to slowly fade away until they are non-existent.  In return the temperature starts to warm, and you won't feel like your nose is about to fall off.
Once the sunrise is over, you can take a drive further up the road, and hike around to stand on top of Haleakala's tallest peak.  At which you'll have fabulous views of the island and even all the way to the big island of Hawaii.

After, I suggest taking the day to hike around and explore Haleakala.  There are plenty of hiking trails, and yes it does warm up:)  You can even arrange to take a bike trip down the steep curvy road to Haleakala National Park.

You can also stop at the different look outs, and view the old volcano's and hike around the old cinder desert.  It's beautiful, and so full of different colors.  You'll love it!

You're park pass is good for 3 days, so after you can go the next day up the Road to Hana (I'll have to do a separate travel post on this area next week.) There you will be able to visit the other side of Haleakala National Park, which is a total transformation from the desert area, to lush tropical forests.

MY TIPS IF YOU GO

Get up early, don't try to sleep in until the last possible minute.  Once the parking lot at the top fills up it is closed off, and you may have driven all that way and miss the spectacle of the sunrise.

Bring a warm jacket and gloves as well as a stocking hat.  Just small items to fit into your suitcase that will otherwise be filled with beach gear.  But honestly, if I didn't have gloves with that cold wind, I wouldn't have been able to stand taking any pictures.

Check the weather first before you go.  Although my pictures and my morning ended up being ideal, it isn't always that.  It could be freezing rain or yes even snow.  You can't control the clouds or lack of, it's probably a different experience for everyone.

Bring lots of water if you plan on hiking and definitely bring your camera!!!

Plan to spend the day, or at least half the day.  Don't think you can do both this and the road to Hana in one day.  I'm sure you could, but you won't have any time to stop and see anything, as you'd barely have enough time to drive the two roads.

As for driving, if your rental car has a lower gear when coming down off the mountain put it in the lowest gear so you can avoid using the break.  If you don't have this option, try to keep your pace slow and avoid pushing on that break as much as possible.  For me, I popped it into a lower gear and didn't have to use the break except for the couple of times I caught up to other vehicles.

Aren't the pictures amazing!  Can you believe that so many people go to Maui, Hawaii and stick with the beaches and never get to see these amazing Maui sights!  Pure crazy, huh!