Maui is our last stop before heading back to Los Angeles for a quick trip to Disneyland before flying home. Since our year of travel kind of started with a trip with good friends to Disneyland in March of 2022, it is appropriate that we finish there. I am mulling over what the future of the blog is. We are good for the rest of 2023 so I have time to decide. Two things kept Maui from being my favorite Hawaiian destination. Our awesome friends live on the big island, and the big island also has lava you can see pretty easily. That’s a sight that’s hard to beat. Maui is the perfect blend of rural beauty (like the big island) and touristy stuff (like Oahu).
This is the Maui coast line near Lahaina. Lahaina is a great little tourist town. I like it even more because of the Eagles song “The Last Resort”. I think Maui is crazy beautifulMaui has great whale watching, especially for humpback whales that come here from Alaska to give birth and breed. It’s pretty hard to catch them jumping (breeching) but we did capture a nice tail displayNot a true crater but still We visited our final National Park of this trip in Maui. Haleakala was also our 50th National Park and our second in Hawaii. As you can see, it’s not lush nor tropicalYou can see the now extinct cinder cones that were active during the formation of MauiI do not remember the name of this beautyMiss Karen and Park Ranger Karen (the smaller one is PRK)One of the smaller falls at Twin FallsWe had to drive the most famous road in Maui, The Road to Hana. We did the entire route and it wasn’t scary at all. Lots of cool waterfalls (too cool for a swim for us in January)The Ke’anae Peninsula was such pretty detour. Totally worth itThe Back Road to Hana was my favorite part of the road trip. Just the right amount of cliffyThere was a lot of beautiful coast around Maui and on the road to Hana. I think Maui was the most beautiful island we visitedKaren’s favorite was the Coconut Brittle (from a random roadside stand)I liked the warm Banana Bread from Aunty Sandy’s (Aunty is a term of respect in Hawaii)Of course we had to stop for more Kalua Pig, Vegan coconut ice cream, and other yummy snacks along the way or it wouldn’t be a road tripMy nerdy side really liked that the main airport, Kahului Airport, has the code OGG. It is a tribute to beloved Hawaiian Airlines pilot Jim Hogg. He chose OGG instead of HOG. How cool is that!
And with that we have completed our 26 country (and 1 US Territory), almost 10 month, taste of the world. Thank you to my true love Miss Karen! Nobody is dead, divorced, jailed, or bankrupt, so I’m calling that a win! I’m happy and satisfied to have fulfilled a big dream, and I thank those of you who came along for the ride.
