Hawaii - Part 5 - Maui

Monday, 18 September 2017

Today we had a sunrise excursion to the Haleakala Crater. This involved getting up at 2:15 AM (!) to take a 2:45 bus up to the summit. When we arrived at the crater about 4:30 AM, the sky was clear and the Milky Way and stars were spectacular. The clouds/fog arrived about 5 AM. The wind was fierce and it was COLD! (We had brought fleece-lined parkas for this trip; we were not overdressed.) The mist covered everyone and everything with water -- dripping off jackets, hats, eyeglasses, and cameras. It also kept us from ever seeing the crater. You take your chances with Mother Nature!

As the fog was building and the sun getting closer to rising, Venus, the Moon, and Mars were prominent in the eastern sky. Mercury was there, too, but obscured in the clouds.

Several hundred tourists awaited the sunrise in the blustery wind and fog.

The clouds/fog parted briefly and we could see the observatories on the top of Haleakala.

We got back to the ship about 9:30 AM, and rather than spend another day on the ship, we decided to go ashore and see if we could get a rental car. We were successful, so we spent the afternoon driving around the northwestern end of Maui. (We wish we had known yesterday that it would have been fairly easy to rent a car less than half-a-mile from the ship.)

Our first stop was the Iao Valley State Park (visible from our ship) and a view of the “Needle” (pinnacle at left).

Another view in Iao Valley State Park.

We then went up to the northwest shore of Maui.

Honokohau Bay

We turned around at the Nakalele Blowhole -- the road was blocked by construction a few miles farther and not open to through traffic. We liked these signs along the path. Left: you can now "walk at our own risk” since the “y” has worn away. Right: Who knew this was not a water park?

The Nakalele Blowhole in action.

On the way back we got a glimpse of the Molokini Crater, where we were supposed to have snorkeled yesterday.

Google Maps provides a nice aerial view of the crater. Note the several small boats in the crater that are taking snorkelers and divers out to the crater.