Day 08 Maui - Turtles at Ho'okipa Beach & swimming in the waterfall

After breakfast, we're heading back to Ho`okipa Beach. It's great that we planned an extra day to catch up on missed activities or revisit some amazing places. Last time we were at Ho`okipa Beach, we didn't have snorkeling gear. Since we don't want to miss the chance to snorkel with turtles, we're going there. We find a parking spot right across from the "entrance" of the beach park and happily realize that the beach is filled with turtles again. So, into the water we go! Unfortunately, most tourists don't follow the barrier rope meant to protect the turtles from selfie-obsessed people. The lifeguard has to make constant announcements because some stupid tourists think they have to walk among the turtles and pose next to them. Unbelievable...

We even tell off a few idiots who think it's okay to "touch" a passing turtle.

At this moment, I almost feel guilty going "turtle hunting" with snorkeling gear and a camera. You don't even have to look for them, just stand in the water where it's allowed. The turtles swim by constantly, sometimes just a few centimeters away. It's absolutely incredible!

We snorkel a bit further out and observe colorful fish. When I turn around, a huge turtle is swimming directly towards me. Another one is coming from the other side. It's a traffic jam here! Insane!!! Today, I have my 360-degree camera with a stick, which allows me to take a close-up video even though I'm keeping a safe distance from the turtle. I'm absolutely thrilled! 🤩🤩

After a lunch break, we jump back into the water and wait for more turtles. I don't think I've ever seen so many turtles in such a short time. It's indescribably amazing!!!

After the second snorkeling session, we leave Ho`okipa Beach and drive the first 10 miles of the Road to Hana again, this time to our favorite waterfall with the rope swing. Today, there are already 5-6 cars parked along the road here (parking is, of course, not allowed). We find a parking space between 2 cars and just hope that (if the tow truck comes), the other cars will be targeted first.

When we arrive at the waterfall armed with our swimming gear, a local extended family is already splashing around in the waterfall. From the grandma to the grandchild, they are sitting in the shallower water, holding cups of lemonade or beer cans, while Hawaiian music plays from a music box.

Hmm, it's not quite what we had hoped for... 🙈

Nevertheless, we unpack our swimming gear, find a big rock to put everything on, and also venture into the cool water. While we have a lot of fun with the Tarzan swing rope, the family packs up their things and says goodbye.

A few more tourists come to take pictures, and then we're alone and enjoy having this beautiful waterfall all to ourselves.

At around 3:30 PM, we leave the waterfall and head back. As we pass by the Twin Falls parking lot, we see that there's no one there anymore and the $10 parking fee is being collected. Spontaneously, we stop and decide to check out the Twin Falls. Through the bamboo forest, we reach a bathing pool with a small waterfall. Are these the Twin Falls!? And they charge $10 for this???

In hindsight, I see that we only visited the "lower" falls. The actual Twin Falls are apparently a few meters further up. But well, we've seen enough waterfalls. It's fine.

As we reach the town of Paia just before Baldwin Beach Park, we get stuck in traffic. We notice a pungent smell from outside. Is someone grilling? It's pretty hazy and smoky, and at the intersection, we see police cars and a police officer directing us to turn left onto the inland highway. Thick smoke rises into the sky just a few meters ahead of us, and helicopters are circling above, fighting the fire. Oh, there's a massive fire very close to us!

We drive through the inland area back and from a distance, we see huge plumes of smoke and at least 5 firefighting helicopters circling between the airport, the sea, and the fire site.

Hopefully, everything will be extinguished by tomorrow when we have to go to the airport 🙈

Now it's time to pack our suitcases! Sniff - the first week is already over 😰

We enjoy our last sunset on Maui with a sundowner. Oh yeah, it's been so beautiful here!