Capturing the Moment

Even with a second dose of the Covid vaccine yesterday, and feeling down and out all morning, it didn't stop us from heading upcountry for our first "staycation" as a family of four. We had a fun airbnb way up in Kula (non refundable), so even under the weather we were still going. Luck was on our side though with the vaccine hangover mostly disappearing after a midday nap, and the weather giving us two of the best upcountry days you could ask for.  We woke the kids up and immediately piled in the Kia to drive 3,500 feet up Haleakala volcano to our airbnb. The air was nice and cool when we arrived, which usually would have meant pants and sweaters but instead we changed into our bathing suits....for a dip in our hot tub. There were a couple of views through the trees of the rest of the island below. We could see Kihei on one side and Kahului on the other, with waves crashing on the North shore way down below. A crab cake panini from Kula Bistro, another dip in the hot tub...

No visit from mom is complete without a trip to some gardens. Keeping with our theme of exploring new places we ventured upcountry to the small town of Kula, nestled 4000ft up the side of Haleakala volcano.   Here we found the lavender farms where you can find over forty kinds of lavender as well as many other flowers. The views from here are amazing. You overlook the entire valley below from Ma'alaea bay across to Kahului harbor. After walking through the gardens we stopped at the gift shop to try some of their famous lavender tea and lavender scones. I could eat about a million and a half of those scones. But at $3.50 apiece I settled on splitting one with mom. Jackson's chameleon strolling  Our next spot was the botanical gardens. I was hoping to spot a wild Jackson's chameleon and was lucky enough to find one ambling across the top of this wooden fence. This one had three big horns identifying it as a male. These chameleons were introduced here in Maui by a...

 Redwood trees on Maui?! This island really does have it all. 6000' up the slopes of Haleakala lies the hidden nature paradise of Poli Poli. Hiking trails, hunting, camping, rare bird sightings, and giant redwoods await those adventurous enough to tackle the windy offroad driving that leads up from the town of Kula.  Usually this elevation is shrouded in clouds. We were very lucky on this day because it was clear and sunny and at least twenty degrees colder than what we left behind at the shoreline. We hit the Redwood Trail after taking our non 4X4 Nissan Versa along the "4X4 only road" to the final parking lot. If it hasn't rained in a few days the road is totally passable for any car.   As we hiked through the changing landscape we kept wondering if we had hit the redwood grove yet. Once you see it though, you know. The huge, although still young, redwoods emerge out of the mist. It was then that we noticed the fog rolling in. It gave the forest a myst...