Maui, Hawaii (d)

Mon 23.09.19 After a 05:30h flight from San Francisco, we landed on Maui. When leaving the airport, the heat overwhelmed us. The temperature is only around 32 degrees, but due to the high humidity, it feels like at least 40 degrees! Nevertheless, we picked up our rental car and drove to our Airbnb. In the evening, we immediately went for a swim at the nearby beach and enjoyed the rest of the evening sun.

Tue 24.09.2019 The next day, we jumped out of bed at 05:00. We had booked a snorkeling tour to Molokini (a small Hawaiian island) and Turtle Beach. On the boat, we had a nice breakfast and were transported to the snorkeling spot in the meantime. Unfortunately, we had to find out that the corals were partially bleached. Also, the fish population was not very diverse. At the second snorkeling spot, the sea was so rough and the visibility so poor that we couldn't see anything, let alone any turtles. That's why we were disappointed.

Wed 25.09.2019 This morning, we drove to Haleakala (volcano) and hiked a small loop from there. It was surprisingly cool at the top and very windy. The view was somewhat limited due to a cloud cover. Nevertheless, we were able to enjoy the landscape and learn something about the island's meteorological characteristics. In the afternoon, we drove to Iao Valley State Park. There we visited the green rock needle. This monument has a spiritual meaning for the residents. We spent the rest of the day swimming in the pool.

Thu 26.09.2019 Today, we dedicated the day to the beautiful beaches on Maui. This way, we could recover a bit from the previous day. Because the next day, we had big plans.

Fri 27.09.2019 We started this day early at 06:00. We wanted to be on the Hana Highway before the big tourist rush. It is considered one of the most beautiful panoramic roads in the world. With its 620 curves and 59 bridges, it leads through the rainforest in the west of Maui. Along the way, you will pass waterfalls, diving pools, seascape, and beaches. So you could say that the journey is the reward in this case. We made stops at the following sights: Upper Waikani Falls, Hanawi Falls, Keanae Lookout, Honokalani Beach, Wailua Falls, the pools at Oheo. Finally, we hiked up the Pipiwai Stream for about 2 hours. What was special about this hike was that you walk through a bamboo forest and the rainforest smelled very sweet like mango. At the end of the trail, we were rewarded with a beautiful view of Waimoku Fall.