An active paradise
Despite an active volcano only miles away, the Hawaiian island of Maui is a place that should be on everyone’s bucket list. The island is surrounded by magnificent beaches, full of colour and life. But after 1pm the wind starts to pick up, putting off beach goers from baking in the sun, as well as golfers from partaking in an evening 18-hole course. So you can understand that the island is most awake in the early hours of the morning and leading into midday, as people wake up before the sun rises in order to go fishing, or to get ready for their morning explorations in the ocean. Walking along the golden beaches, the smells are quite unique. The rocks along the shores have been moulded and shaped after centuries of waves crashing against them. Some of them being so smooth that the sun reflects off of them. The sound of these salty waves crashing against the rocks brings such peace and calmness to oneself as you walk along the water. No matter how populated one beach is, it only takes a few minutes’ drive to discover a section of the island that is yet to be filled by others, and is the ideal spot for you and your company. Seeing the sunset while on these beaches is something that must be experienced. The light beaming from the sun collides onto the clouds, creating so many different shades of red, yellow and orange. Keep watching! As the colours and cloud formations are never the same for more than 5 minutes. Towns such as Wailea, Kihei and Lahaina are located along the shore line and are worth exploring. To book a place to stay in these towns is rather expensive, and full of commercial resorts that seem to be going 24/7 all the time. Some people would rather the unique and more cultural side of Hawaii, while others prefer to be pampered and are willing to throw away money without regret. To me, a secluded wooden hut on the beach would be the ideal way to spend the time on such a beautiful island.
There is another town called Hana which isn’t too entertaining. But it is the road to Hana which has received all the hype. The road is full of risky bends and narrow bridges. But all the views are definitely worth it. Part of the drive is risen up a few hundred feet from sea level, and around a bend or two, you’re able to look out onto the horizon where all you see if the unique blue colour of the ocean. Its approximately 36 miles to get from one end of the road to the other, so make sure you fill up your car with fuel, and pack a snack or two. There are natural waterfalls and different beaches here and there along this twisty road, so that you can stop and enjoy the scenery with the rest of your company.
Haleakala National Park……is a must! Between the hours of 3am and 7am you need to book a spot in order to see the sunrise and to get a parking spot. But between 7am and 3am, there is no need. So personally, going up to see the sunset instead of the sunrise is much better, plus an equally as amazing opportunity. It takes about 2ish hours to get to the peak of the mountain, which is 10000ft above sea level. Once you drive through the grey clouds, you are greeted with nothing but clear blue skype. There are fields full of shrubs that cover the rock face of the once active volcano, while you look over your shoulder to see the tops of the fluffy clouds. The floor below your feet is now a white sheet that covers all the way to the horizon. Something truly majestic. The crater itself is something out of this world. The volcano erupted some 200 years ago and created what it now a tourist attraction. You can see where the lava flowed down the mountain face and has now hardened into many different patterns. The area looks like a section of mars or something of a different planet as you see in films. The land and dirt was dark red as if undisturbed, unexplored, untouched and unknown to any human. At the peak the temperature drops close to freezing, so a jacket is very much encouraged. Now as the sun sets, imagine the colours and cloud formations mentioned previously, but on such a larger scale, and now your viewpoint is above the clouds. The floor below glows red and orange, as the world you know remains underneath it. As the sun hits the clouds, there is a clear separation between the blue sky, the warm colours on the white clouds, and a yellow mist in-between. The blue in the sky darkens are you raise you head, which makes it seem like you are so very close to exiting the earth’s atmosphere and are able to reach out to the stars.
Maui is an island for beach lovers and outdoor go getters. So grab a surf board or your snorkels and explore the oceans that surround the island. This paradise is also a place to sit back, enjoy a sunset or two, while drinking some of its uniquely brewed island beverages. Make sure you try a Mai Tai or two. You may regret the tiki bars the morning after, but they are unique to the Hawaiian lifestyle, full music and beach vibes.
On a more serious note, the people of the island that neighbours Maui, Kīlauea, are undergoing great struggles, as flowing lava has destroyed over 600 homes. It is hard to enjoy the pleasures upon the different islands of Hawaii while this natural disaster carries out. But the visitors and locals of Maui do not forget, and do not stand by with the thumbs in their mouths not knowing what to do. Support in both finances and physical action comes from every corner of the island. The islands are only separated by water, but the people are one, and act as one. As visitors, we must respect the people, and while we enjoy our time upon the islands beaches and spoil ourselves among its pleasures, we must give our support when needed to its people. Doing things like donating some money instead of eating out a restaurant. Spending the day at the beach saves money from booking a snorkelling tour, and can be given instead to support groups for Kilauea and its people. It’s hard to comprehend that there can be such suffering in a place of such serenity.
