Another beautiful day in Kihei!
This may be a long post, but will be entertaining!!
Saturday, Day 5
Off to Lahaina for a day of adventure!
Rock'en the socks and shoes!!
And shirt!
Ocean bound...
The Way of the Whale!!
We also got to listen to submerged whale calls
Hello from Maui Mama Kate!
On to Banyan Tree!
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The banyan tree in Lahaina, in Maui, Hawaii, United States, was planted on April 24, 1873, in Lahaina to mark the 50th anniversary of the arrival of first American Protestant mission. The banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis) known in Hawaiian as paniana, located in the Courthouse Square, which was renamed Banyan Tree Park covering 1.94 acres, is not only the largest in the state but also in the United States. The tree was a gift from missionaries in India. A mere 8 feet (2.4 m) when planted, it has grown to a height of about 60 feet (18 m) and has rooted into 16 major trunks, apart from the main trunk, with the canopy spread over an area of about 0.66 acres (0.27 ha).
In 2023 Lahaina will have a birthday party to celebrate the Banyan Tree being planted 150 years ago
Banyan tree canopy viewed from in front of the rock wall by the harbor at Lahaina
Bummer that we'll miss the Birthday party...
Up to the north shore to...
...view the blow hole!!
Checking out a trail and a chicken
Beach sunset
Sunday, Day 6
Trying out the Ahi Tuna poke...(poki)
I think, "NO" ki
marinated raw fish
Off to check out Haleakala Crater and Sunset!
No 3AM to 7AM for us...
The sky turned totally cloudy and chilly...
We began a 1 mile hike on a moderate trail to go see the crater rim
After 1/4 mile in 45 minutes, Kate and I decided to wait while Steph and Jim continued on. They turned back after 1/2 mile.
While waiting we experienced all different weather patterns except snow!
Even a subdued rainbow
Our "moderate" trail
What we hoped to see...
What we saw, eventually
Summit on the horizon!
Observatory
View of Pacific Ocean and Maui coast from the summit, above the clouds!
Gram G at summit...10,000ft!
Ahinahina plant found only on Haleakala... A chukar or two need to drink at 9,000ft.
People waiting for the sunset;
rising moon in the east
Only way to view chilly, summit sunset
NASA encounter...
On the drive down from the summit we took a turn onto a side road. There we came upon a group of NASA folks setting up a telescope to study some features of the moon since it was to shine brightly that night.
Jim was all set to sign up...
We watched the last of the sunset with them
Observed the rising brilliant moon
And tried to view the moon from their telescope,
(without touching it). I was too short to see anything...
Monday, Day 7
Hawaiian, Mexican food?
Guess this is goodbye...
Rainy afternoon in Kihei...
Time to lounge and pack up!
Got my turtles...
One to eat...
One to take home...
REFLECTIONS
I love outdoor adventures---ones that are suited to my age and physical abilities. I find it good to try something one might be just a little unsure about and then find it was "doable" and enjoyable; such as the trek to Haleakala, the altitude and hairpin turns. That gives a sense of achievement and satisfaction along with new knowledge of our beautiful earth.
This has been a good 2 GeoGram weeks in the life of Gram G.
"Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,--you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds."
(Psalm 148: 7,9,10)
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