Capturing the Moment

The waters were high after some recent flooding in Halawa Valley on Molokai, but our guests were still up for some fun river crossings as we hiked up through the valley.      What a week! We kayaked along lava rock coastlines, snorkeled over pristine reefs, found some early season humpback whales, and hiked on three different Hawaiian Islands. We spent seven days exploring the islands of Molokai, Lana'i, Maui, and the Big Island from our mobile adventure platform of the Safari Explorer. The Explorer is a 150ft expedition vessel that houses about 30 guests. My job is expedition leader, which means I get to create the itinerary and be the guide for the guests out in the field.      Take a look at the photos and captions, and see if you can tell if I have a fun time doing my job.

  The road winds down the edge of the cliff as you get closer to Halawa Valley. A waterfall can be seen at the far back of the valley, and rainforest jungle covers the rest. Today I explored the East End of Molokai Island, here in Hawaii. This part of the island offers a more serene and authentic Hawaiian experience, making it an ideal destination for travelers seeking a peaceful retreat away from the hustle and bustle of more tourist-heavy spots. The landscape is stunning, with lush rainforests, pristine beaches, and dramatic cliffs. We ventured into Halawa Valley, known for its cascading waterfalls and rich cultural history, and spent time learning about the true Hawaii from a family still living the traditional Hawaiian way. We hiked past ancient walls, toppled by tsunamis and reclaimed by the rainforest. We stopped to learn about a huge, seven tiered temple, dedicated to the agricultural god, Lono. And we swam under a sacred waterfall, enjoying having it all to ourselves. What ...

Ancient fish pond Looking down at Halawa Valley    Molokai is known as the Friendly Isle, and for its large population of native Hawaiians. It is a place of no chain restaurants, high rises, or stop lights. Ancient fish ponds dot the coastline, tucked in behind the largest barrier reef in Hawaii. If one follows the state highway until it dead ends at the Northeast corner of the island you will find a hidden world of ancient Hawaii hiding away from the hustle of the rest of the state. This hidden gem is called Halawa Valley. Uncle Polipo Greg blowing the Pu    Halawa Valley is blessed with copious rain, a protected bay, an idyllic stream, and up to nine waterfalls cascading down the back of the valley. The valley was once a bustling farming community, but this all changed when a tsunami washed 1.7 miles up the valley on April 1st, 1946. It is moving hearing the story of that fateful day from someone who was there, watching and listening to the destru...

  It is pretty amazing what you can do with just one week, a boat, and an adventurous spirit here in the Hawaiian Islands. This past week onboard the Safari Explorer I had the benefit of a smaller charter group who had a focus on photography. I tried to go all out in their itinerary giving them ample opportunities for amazing photos and after looking through all of my photos I think the rest of the crew and I delivered big time.   Some of the stops this week were the normal places we usually go with the Safari Explorer, however we added a few extraordinary ones with the focus on photography. One of these was a morning dedicated to snorkeling with spinner dolphins. This was a bit tricky for me to organize because on some islands this just isn't done (Maui County), and even on the Big Island it is only accepted in one area.   Right in Kailua-Kona bay a circus of snorkelers and boats happens every morning, dropping people in with a small pod of resting spinner dolphin...