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TREES AND SEA: (this page) it’s hard to believe this strangely beautiful but desolate lanscape sits just behind hana’s verdant coastline, haleakala Crater, hana. The road to hana, switchbacks, waterfalls and a dramatic coastline to keep you occupied. A more lush environment is hard to imagine, Twin falls is one of many examples of a picture perfect scene that seem to appear around every corner on Maui. The Waihi Ridge trail is a perfect example of why Maui is considered unspoilt and a last link to old hawaii.
Beautiful boardwalk on Maui.
ESCAPE To hAnA
The most scenic way to get to Hana, on Maui’s northeast coast, is via the aptly named Hana Highway, one of the island’s most iconic landmarks. The narrow byway has switchbacks punctuated by waterfalls, long curves that hug Pacific cliffs and scenic water overlooks. During the whale migration (October through May), keep
an eye out for humpbacks jumping and flapping their tails. If you blink, you just may miss Hana itself, a town where the concept of old Hawaii— nature winning
the battle against over development—is still treasured. Many locals, whose families have lived here for generations, have never resided elsewhere on Maui, let alone in the mainland United States, and they’re fiercely protective of the region’s slow-paced way of life. Bartering for fruit and eggs is common among neighbours, and there’s a paniolo, or cowboy culture.
Maui’s Pipiwai Trail (Hana Hwy., mile marker 41, Haleakala National Park; 808-572-4400; nps.gov/hale; $6:50), 16km south of Hana, is one of the island’s most scenic trails. Hikers can cross bridges over rushing rivers and trek through dense bamboo forests. Then there’s Waimoku Falls, a 120-metre waterfall that cascades down a moss-covered cliff, shrouding visitors in a cool mist. On your return hike, follow the falls to the Ohe’o Gulch, also known as the Seven Sacred Pools, where water plunges from one bright blue pond to the next before spilling into the Pacific.
Save an afternoon for kaihalulu Red Sand Beach (trail begins at Uakea Rd.) that is within walking distance from Travaasa. The trail leading to the coast is wilder than Pipiwai, making the empty cove of dramatic red sands even more rewarding.
ExPLoRE ThE UPCoUnTRy
Maui’s interior makes up some of its
most beautiful and diverse terrain. This
is primarily ranch country, though there are also state and national parks that lure travellers up winding mountain roads. One of the most striking sights is the crater at Haleakala National Park (State Hwy. 378; 808-572-4400; nps.gov/hale; tickets, $6.50), the remains of a dormant volcano and the island’s highest peak. Early birds may be rewarded not only with a blazing sunrise but also with a before-dawn star show. You can spend the morning hiking around the stark landscape, where steep hills of black and red rock and sand are peppered with silver sword succulents and orange-berried pilo, a plant in the coffee family.
EnDLESS vACATion 7