It was finally here - our last day on Maui. We had a long day ahead of us with a 10:00 p.m. departure time, but that meant we could cram a lot into our final day in paradise. We toured the north part of the island and went to see the Nakalele Blowhole and did a short hike into a tropical rainforest at Honolua Bay. We made a final stop at Coconuts and then did the drive up to the top of the volcano in Haleakalā National Park. We wrapped it all up with one last amazing sunset on the beach. What a trip.
Our day, like many on this trip started off with a rianbow.
It was our last day. But the good news was we had a lot of time to spend in wrapping up what had been a fabulous trip. We had to be out of the condo by 10:00 sharp and we had a bit of organizing and cleaning up to do. It all went pretty well and after a bit of tetris, we managed to get all the luggage into the car without crowding mom too badly in the back seat. And then we were off.
Mom and Justine in front of the Nakalele Blowhole
With our last day we had big plans and lots to show mom. We decided to head north, with our first stop being the Nakalele Blowhole. The Nakalele Blowhole is a natural wonder located on the northwestern coast of the island. It is a unique geological formation where water from the ocean is forced through a hole in the rocky coastline and creates a powerful geyser-like explosion that shoots water high into the air.
Case in point… some people for scale.
The blowhole was formed by years of erosion caused by waves crashing against the rocks, which eventually created a hole in the shoreline. As waves come in, water is forced into the hole and up through a vertical channel, causing a powerful burst of water and mist to shoot up into the air. The height and force of the spray can vary depending on the size and strength of the waves. And today, there were some waves. And wind. We had planned to hike down to the blowhole, but the wind was so strong we were almost getting blown off the cliff face. So we decided to watch from about halfway to the water’s edge.
The crowd was getting bigger as we enjoyed the views.
We watched for a while before heading back to continue our drive. This was our furthest point north and we were blessed with some spectacular views out over the ocean. The wind was a bit crazy, but it was a beautiful sunny day.
We started our drive back south,making a couple of stops at pullouts to enjoy the amazing views. Did I mention the wind? It was hard to escape, but added some drama to the views as the ocean was riled up.
Our next stop along the way was Honolua Bay. Honolua Bay is a stunningly beautiful bay located on the northwest coast. The bay is known for its crystal-clear waters, vibrant marine life, and lush green surroundings. It is a popular destination for snorkeling, surfing, and hiking.
And chickens - or red jungle fowl as they are officially known…
Snorkeling is one of the most popular activities at Honolua Bay, and for good reason. The bay is home to a diverse array of marine life, including colorful fish, sea turtles, and even the occasional octopus. Snorkelers can explore the coral reef that lines the bay's shallow waters and get up close and personal with the marine inhabitants.
We had wanted to go snorkeling here, as we had heard how good it was, but when we picked up our gear we were told that a yacht that had been moored overnight had broken free and had been stranded on the rocky shore. As a result, some fuel had spilled into the bay, making it less then suitable for snorkeling.
The boat crashed up on the rocks. It’s not a small ship.
We hiked in along the trail to the beach to enjoy the view. On the way in originally, we had seen some amazing tropical rainforest with some absolutely huge trees, so we wanted to explore a bit and see what was available. It was a nice little stop, but I would have loved to have been able to get in the water.
After enjoying the park, we continued south and made a short stop at D.T. Fleming Beach Park. We’ve been here a couple of times to watch the surfers. This long, sandy beach backed by ironwood trees has always been too rough and windy to swim any of the times we’ve been here. In this case they had red-flagged the beach, so swimming was not advisable. But there were good waves and a couple of surfers having a good time.
We didn’t stick around long, as we had lots still to do with our day. M<om needed to make a stop in Lahaina to pick up a few gifts. Justine went with her and I parked the car up at the far end of town. It gave me a chance to sit and relax and enjoy the view.
Mom and Justine did not take nearly enough time, so I had to be satisfied with just one.
With our shopping completed, we hit the road and headed back to Kihei. We had started the trip with a fabulous meal at Coconuts and one of Justine’s wish list items for the trip was to have a second meal. This time the original location was open and we had round 2 of their amazing fish tacos. Sadly, it will be awhile before we get them again.
Lunch was amazing, but we had a plan for the afternoon and it was time to get moving. We had a mountain to climb.
The plan was to drive up in the afternoon to try and time it such that we could spend a bit of time hiking around at the top, then wait for the sunset and watch that from the top. It was supposed to be amazing. It’s a long drive, so it was going to make it a bit tight getting to the airport, but we thought it was worth it. Well, that was the plan anyway.
The drive to the summit of the volcano at Haleakalā National Park is a truly unique and unforgettable experience. The road leading up to the summit is called the Haleakalā Highway, and it winds through a diverse range of landscapes, from lush tropical rainforests to barren, rocky terrain.
We were also hoping that the drive might give us a chance to find some nene for mom. Sadly, the signs were the closest we came.
As you ascend the mountain, the vegetation becomes thinner and the climate cools. The road becomes steeper and narrower, with hairpin turns and steep drop-offs. There were some ominous clouds that seemed to be hanging over the summit.
The summit of Haleakalā is located at an elevation of over 10,000 feet, and the air becomes noticeably thinner as you approach the top. The views from the summit are supposed to be breathtaking, offering panoramic vistas of the surrounding landscapes and the ocean below. That wasn’t what we got.
Yes, that’s Justine braving the elements. It was winter at the top.
It is important to note that the weather at the summit can be unpredictable and can change rapidly. Temperatures can drop significantly at higher elevations, and snow and ice are not uncommon. While visitors are advised to dress in layers and bring warm clothing, these visitors were really not that well prepared.
It was almost freezing at the top. At one point the temperature dropped to 1C.
We got out at the summit visitor center and spent a few minutes trying to look around. You couldn’t see 5’ in front of you, the wind was brutal and it was pretty much snowing. Or ice pellets. Or something - just nothing I wanted anything to do with. We got our selfie and decided on a change of plans.
We were torn. It didn’t look like the weather was going to lift, but it was still 2 hours to sunset. We didn’t really want to just sit in the car and hope for the best, so we made the decision to abandon the sunset pursuit - on the mountain anyway.
We made the long drive back down and tried to find a beach near Kihei to watch the sunset. We cut it really close, but we were able to spend our last sunset on a beach, with a drink in hand and watched the sun sink below the waves to wrap up an amazing trip.
