Archive for February, 2008
The Road to Hana
The spectacular and infamous Road to Hana is more than a just a highway or the route to the other side of Maui, the road is its own tourist destination. The 68-mile roundtrip, all-day journey from the population center of Kahului in western Maui to the central/upcountry town of Hana has more than 600 sharp turns and 59 bridges, 46 of which are one-lane. While the trip takes as much as 10 hours, the sights along the way are well worth the treacherous and time consuming journey. The road shows off true wild Maui beauty, winding through lush tropical forests, past scenic steep ravines and by tumbling waterfalls. The road also passes ocean cliffs and jagged lava coastlines and overlooks beautiful black and white sand beaches. In August 2000, President Bill Clinton designated the Road to Hana the “Hana Millennium Legacy Trail” and the road is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The road follows an ancient Hawaiian foot trail and all but one of the 59 bridges date back to 1910.
There are several ways to enjoy the Road to Hana. Van and coach tours are a popular way to experience the amazing views. By taking a guided tour, tourists can forget the stress of driving the difficult road and enjoy the sights and scenery. These van and coach tours also provide passengers with guide information about the sights along the way and stop at the most popular rest areas. Many other tourists prefer taking their own car, though all tourists should check with their rental car company to make sure their contracts do not prohibit driving on this stretch of Maui highway. Also remember never to leave valuables in your car at any time, as tourists are easy targets for theft.
Date: February 7th, 2008 |
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Kalaupapa National Historical Park
Okay, so when you’re planning a tropical getaway, visiting a leper colony probably isn’t high on your list of things to do. But if you haven’t stopped reading by now, allow me to tell you why you should consider a trip to the Kalaupapa National Historical Park on Molokai.
For just over 100 years during the 19th and 20th centuries, people in Hawaii who had leprosy were forced to live in isolation in a small and remote part of Molokai. This was, of course, largely done out of fear - non-afflicted residents didn’t want to get the disease, so they sent the sick away. Not long after the first lepers were sent to the Kalaupapa peninsula on Molokai, Father Damien began ministering to the sick, both in terms of religion and medicine.
Date: February 4th, 2008 |
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Visiting Old Koloa Town on Kauai
When you’re looking for a break from the big cities and crowded beaches in Hawaii, head to Kauai and visit a genuine old town for a taste of what Hawaii was like when sugar plantations were just beginning to be formed. A visit to Old Koloa Town won’t take long, but it’ll be a refreshing and slow-paced alternative to much of the rest of the islands.
The town of Koloa, which is sometimes called Old Koloa Town and sometimes even Homestead, is a small town on the island of Kauai which dates from the mid-1800s …
Date: February 6th, 2008 |
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Haleakala National Park
Mt. Haleakala is the largest mountain in the Pacific. It’s magnificent beauty and inspiring enormity has inspired both Hawaiians and tourists for centuries. Located on the island of Maui, Haleakala National Park is also one of the most diversely beautiful national parks in the United States. In a 2-hour drive to the summit of Mount Haleakala, a visitor passes through as many ecological zones as on a journey from Canada to Mexico. In fact, the original 17,000 acres of the park were protected in 1916, within one week of the inception of the national park system. The now 24,719 acre park is open year round, 7 days a week for the public to enjoy the varied terrain, which ranges from the tropical coastal region to the peak of Mount Haleakala at over ten thousand feet.
Mt. Haleakala unique ecological diversity and size have long inspired a sense of wonderment and curiosity. The name Haleakala actually means “house of the sun” in Hawaiian. According to legend, the grandmother of demigod Maui (for whom the island was named) helped her grandson capture the sun behind the mountain in order to slow its journey across the sky and lengthen the day. Today, the summit of the mountain is a spectacular place to watch the sunrise and/or sunset over the Pacific Ocean.
Date: February 1st, 2008 |
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