Maui's Hana Highway

I think that visiting Maui is incomplete if you have not driven through and survived Hana Highway. Here, you'll experience one lane bridges, sharp and tight turns and nervous inducing rocky cliffs. Setting aside the gripping part of the adventure, you'll be amazed that every turn through this lustrous green forests and mountains leads you to spectacular views, hidden waterfalls, unexpected dead ends and sometimes you feel the thrill that you're going to drive off straight to the blue and beautiful Pacific.

Highway 36 is one of the most famous highways in the country, but most know it by a different name: the Road to Hana. The trip is 52 miles of winding roads with 1-lane bridges, hairpin turns and stunning landscapes of rocky cliffs, plunging waterfalls and rolling valleys. The ride takes about 3 hours, but you'll want the whole day to linger. (Source here.)

Put on your seat belts and let's take a drive to Hana Highway!

Colors Of Maui

If given the chance, I'd LOVE to visit Maui again. I'd like to drive through the winding, treacherous and breathtaking Hana Highway, breathe in the dewy mountain air and the seaweed scented ocean breeze. 

Also, I can't forget the spectacular display of flowers and their bursting colors. And talk about Rainbows, check this photo I took while ascending Haleakala Volcano.

 This was just the beginning of the journey of colors - Hana Highway.

  Driving through Hana Highway, our first visit was at the Garden of Eden. This is the Banana greeting that welcomes you at the entrance.

  Starfruit

L-R: Cup of Gold, Anthurium, Starfruit and Birds of Paradise

Tropical flowers offer a feast of colors.

Breathtaking views. Recognize one of them from the movie Jurassic Park?

Also, if you visit this place, you'll get to meet Pepper, the resident dog at the Garden of Eden.

Maui's Kuka'emoku

Let's take a break from my Finland travel posts and fly back to my home islands, Hawaii. Lately, the thoughts of home have been really making me homesick and going through a rough time in the health aspect makes me miss the warmth of home instead of the needles and cold, impersonal clinic visits that is my reality for now. Hopefully, after this post, I'll feel the warmth of Hawaii - even if it's just in my thoughts.

Visiting the Iao Needle was something I've been wanting to do for the longest time, but it was only last year that this dream came to fruition. I was home in O'ahu for the holidays, so Kepi and I decided to visit the island of Maui for two days. Of course, two days weren't enough, even a month is not even enough to explore or enjoy the beaches of Maui. Maui is so beautiful and has so many things to offer. From beautiful beaches, whale watching, picturesque volcano and breathtaking scenery. You name it, Maui's got it.

So here starts my adventure to see the Iao Needle...

It was a rainy start, but it soon cleared out as the day progressed.

A tunnel in Maui.

A morning glimpse of the Pacific after the rain.

The view as we descended to the Iao Valley - the morning mist hasn't departed yet or will it ever.

Kuka'emoku measures at 2,250 feet and is the phallic stone of Kanaloa, Hawaiian god of the ocean. During the warfare period between the islands, this was used as a lookout for warriors

According to the park brochure, "Kuka'emoku is an erosional remnant. It is at the end of a ridge comprised of a denser dike stone. The softer rock around the dike stone was eroded by streams and waterfalls."

Here's a rest place near Kuka'emoku. A great place to relax while the cold mist blankets your whole being and lands kisses on your face

As we were driving away from Kuka'emoku, I happen to see this park at the base of the mountain so we decided to check it out.

From the park, you can watch the mist hover and disappear over the mountains. It was a dramatic scene how nature rules out here.

The park featured Korean, Japanese, Filipino and Chinese gardens.

And yes, Jose Rizal, the Philippine National Hero.

The Filipino house complete with a Koi pond.

A bust of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen.

Japanese garden

Flower and raindrops.

LP: Ito (This)

Ito ang tanawin na kung tawagin ay "Wilderness Area" sa summit ng Haleakala Volcano sa Maui, Hawaii. Sa lahat ng aking paglalakbay, isa ito sa mga pinakamagandang tanawin na aking nasaksihan. Napakatahimik dito at magandang lugar para magmuni muni.

This view is designated as the Wilderness Area high up in the summit of Haleakala Volcano in Maui, Hawaii. In all my travels, this is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. A perfect place to meditate because up there, silence reigns supreme.