Road to Hana w/Hunter

Hidden waterfalls, black sand beaches, places where you could get lost for days off the beaten track...that is what the road to Hana means for me. It is a big adventure and alot of driving but the magnificent scenes are like something out of a movie.
 Every time I have a new visitor in town Hana is always high on the list of places to go. This time Hunter and I rented a car from Kihei Rent a Car, which prides itself on being one step up from Rent-A-Wreck so we really put the car through the ringer. A guide book or the Hana CD are essential for anyone taking this trip. The big tour buses make the stops at all the well signed places but its the hidden gems that are the real finds of the trip. It is easier than you think to be swimming under a waterfall that you have all to yourself. 

It is also essential that you stop to take in the views and smell the flowers. And as with everywhere out here it is even more important to respect the land. This is a place that sees so many visitors that the only way to remain pristine is the old motto 'take only pictures, leave only footprints.'

On this trip the rains would sneak up on us quickly and then leave just as quickly. That can be tough for a photographer but at least we had just enough changes of clothes to make it work. Having rain on your trip also means the the waterfalls are going to be going off. Add some big waves to the mix and you've got an incredible force of these rivers meeting the immovable objects of the sea.

The rains can also make certain treks a little more adventurous, like the cliff hugging trail leading to the hidden red sand beach near Hana. And other activities like swimming in the Seven Sacred Pools out of the question completely.

While the intense weather can dictate what you get to do on your Hana trip its affects can turn an ordinary view into a breathtaking landscape. This little church is where a friend of mine wants to be married some day...after stopping and really taking in the vista here I can see why.