Hawaiian Island Cruise

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Sunday, 1 January 2023 - Overnight sailed to Maui and took an excursion along the famous Road to Hana, stopping at Keanae Lookout to watch waves crash on lava rock, enjoyed banana bread at a roadside bakery, visited Pua'a Ka'a Falls with its pretty pool, had lunch in Hana, then explored Wai'anapanapa State Park with black lava cliffs and unique coastal scenery before returning to the ship.

Today we were on an excursion along the coast to the town of Hana - along the infamous Road to Hana. It is a road of many curves and several one-way bridges.

hawaii2023 — Our first stop was at Keanae Lookout on a small peninsula into the ocean.

hawaii2023 — Lava rock is the ground for all the Hawaiian Islands, and here at the water's edge the lava is being pounded by the waves.

hawaii2023 — The big waves were so fun to watch as they crashed into the rocks.

hawaii2023 — We were transfixed by the depth of the colors in the ocean waves.

hawaii2023 — An interesting palm tree we had not seen before - the Fox Tail Palm.

hawaii2023 — We were halfway to Hana - there is a small bakery here serving small loaves of banana bread which was delicious. We did not buy any but another participant in our van cut us a piece.

hawaii2023 — Next we all piled out at Pua'a Ka'a Falls, which were two small falls, this is the upper falls and a pretty pool.

Cal had an opportunity to use his tripod and take a slow waterfall picture. Unfortunately the stop was not long enough, and the guide had to fetch Cal and get him in the van.

hawaii2023 — Liz Brooks at Pua'a Ka'a Falls enjoying her trip to Hawaii!!

hawaii2023 — We stopped in Hana for lunch at the Hana Bay Beach Park.

From an old dock this is Pu'Uku Islet Seabird Sanctuary and Pu'Uku Island.

hawaii2023 — Looking over the town of Hana into the hills and mountains of the Hana Forest Reserve.

Hana was decimated in the 1946 tsunami - originally surrounding the bay the town was moved to higher ground when rebuilt. Most of what you see up into the mountains was (or is) owned by a rancher. That rancher provided the funds for the city renovation.

hawaii2023 — Driftwood (driftlog?) on the Hana Bay Beach.

hawaii2023 — After lunch we began the trip back to the ship. On the way back our first stop was Wai'anapanapa State Park.

Huge cliffs of black lava rocks covered in green jungle and jutting out into the crystal-blue water. So popular you now need a reservation to get past the gate.

hawaii2023 — The lava rock has been crushed to sand by the waves - the sand is very coarse.

hawaii2023 — The water washing over the black sand.

hawaii2023 — Unique landscape with the black rock covered in green jungle.

hawaii2023 — And the waves slamming into the rock cliffs were very loud.

hawaii2023 — Like Black Sand Beach - another inlet but even smaller. The waves made a unique sound like popping corn as the water reseeded back into the ocean.

hawaii2023 — Virginia Ann looking up at her favorite photographer.

hawaii2023 — Patterns made by the waves on the black sand.

hawaii2023 — Just off the beach is a lava tube large enough for you to stand in - after getting pretty low to enter. The tube is very short ending in the water.

hawaii2023 — Unique rock formation looking into the ocean.

hawaii2023 — Sky, water, lava, and jungle.

hawaii2023 — Rainbow Eucalyptus trees, like everything on the islands, were brought to Hawaii from somewhere. These trees come from the Philippines.

We learned Hawaii has relatively few native flora and fauna due to their location as islands.

hawaii2023 — We emptied from the van at the Wailua Valley State Wayside. We climbed a small hill for a great view into the Ko'olau Forest Reserve where the sun was only partially peeking through the clouds.

hawaii2023 — From the same vantage point we simply turned around and looked over the town of Wailua.

The small white church is Coral Miracle Church (Saint Gabriel's Mission). The miracle was a storm washing in loose coral to build the church and once built a second storm took the coral back into the ocean.

hawaii2023 — Our last stop was a roadside pullover looking over the small city of Keanae known for farms growing taro - a root used by Hawaiians in traditional dishes.

hawaii2023 — From the ship looking over the city of Kahului into the ʻĪ ao Valley State Monument.

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