There is nothing more soothing than the sound of rain lightly falling on the rain fly of your tent. That brings us to the second lesson of my Hana camping experience. Don’t pitch your tent next to the aluminum picnic bench when it might rain. The gentle sound of rain on tent is drowned out by the thunder of heavy drops on aluminum. I woke up in the morning to grey clouds with my head in a slight fog from the one piece aluminum band that deprived me of much of my sleep. Regardless, I was in Hana with friends and we had a good day planned.
First on the agenda, was a trip up the Pipiwai Trail to Waimoku Falls. Located above the second sacred pools, this trail is one of the best hikes in Maui. As you begin your mellow ascent of the trail, you pass a number of scenic overlooks passing waterfalls big and small. The scenery is lush and the air fragrant. The smell of fresh guava and wild flowers lingers in the air. A massive banyan tree and thick Bamboo forests are other highlights of our march. After a couple of hours of casual hking, we came to the focal point of the hike, the towering Waimoku Falls. Water flow was low, but that does not detract from the grandeur of the four hundred foot falls. It is a struggle to capture as much of the falls as possible in a single picture. The falls mark the turnaround point in the trail. The hike down was quicker, but just as enjoyable with new angles and new perspectives around each corner. The grey clouds of earlier in the morning had dispersed and we were bathed in warm sunshine.
After a great hike, we decided to return to Hamoa Beach for more bodysurfing. We took turns riding waves and being slammed back on to the beach. We soaked in some rays and let the saltwater rejuvinate our bodies.
As it started to get later in the afternoon, we made our way back home. Rather than returning the way we came, we decided to circle Haleakala driving along the southern flank of the dormant volcano. Shortly after the Seven Sacred Pools, the scenery changes dramatically. Around the small outpost of Kaupo, the flora changes from lush and tropical to grasses and trees better adapted to arid climates. The winter rain left everything green, but the dramatic geology was more visible through the less dense vegetation. The lighting was spectacular in the late afternoon and small rain showers were drenching the ocean just offshore. The rugged road weaves along the coast before steadily climbing towards the upcountry. Before too long, we were in the beautiful upcountry area of Ulupalakua. In such a short period of time, we had been in and out of so many climate zones. This drive is an amazing example of Maui’s diversity. We pulled back into Haiku just as the sun was setting. We were tired from two fun filled days but all three of us wore ear to ear grins.
Hana and the rest of East Maui is a great place to visit and for many it is also a spectacular place to call home. The natural beauty, the slower pace of life and the seclusion offer a very peaceful existence. If this area sounds appealling, you can check out our Hana /East Maui Real Estate page or you can go straight to the Hana and East Maui listings.
