Fun Times in Maui!

Each year I get a week long escape from the kids and a relaxing and fun trip with my husband.  He has to go to some classes for CME but we mostly have lots of fun.  This year we went to Maui and got to join up with some friends for a few of the days.  This was our second trip to Maui and it was nice to relax a bit more and not feel like we had a huge list of things we had to do and see.  Thank You to Oma who came to Oregon to watch my kids.  And thank you to Ben and Becky Platt for scheduling some time to come hang out with us...it was a blast!

December 3:

We went for a bit of a hike and then found a nude beach (Little Beach) we could swim in which was perfect since we didn't have our swim suits with us.  Luckily, from then on I always had my swim suit on under my clothes:)

Someone was getting into the Christmas spirit!

We enjoyed some yummy food and live Celtic music at Mulligans On The Blue

After dinner we decided to take the long drive up Haleakala to see the "super moon."  It was freezing cold and we didn't stay outside long, and it was a crazy drive to make up and back in the dark...but it was beautiful none the less.

December 4:

Got to spend a relaxing morning at Baldwin beach.  I loved that we could just sit and read or take a dip in the water if we wanted.  Traveling without kids is really the only way to travel!

Hyrum read about a fun hike, Na'Ili'ili Haele to some waterfalls so we decided to explore.  I love the tall bamboo forests around Maui

First waterfall

Second waterfall

We were all alone in our own little pool.  It was pretty cool

Walking through the cool rainbow eucalyptus trees

So many pretty colors!

My favorite gelato stop in Paia!

December 5:

Hiked around some pretty cool black volcanic rock near the start of the Hoapili trail in South Maui.

You could see the remnants of old walls from when people lived here.  It was crazy to think who would live on this stuff.  It was super sharp and hard to walk on and I can't imagine anything would be able to grow.

Found a fun place to snorkel for the first time on this trip in Ahihi Bay.  It was pretty windy so it wasn't the best snorkeling but we still had a fun time.

December 6:

Ben and Becky joined us for a few days!  I love the Platts and miss our time hanging out in Germany.  They live in Oahu right now so it was pretty easy for them to jump over to Maui for a few days.  It was so much fun playing with them!  We picked them up from the airport and made a short hike to Twin Falls.

Went for a short little hike to some waterfalls...

...Ben actually made it out there and back without falling in the water!  And he was wearing flip flops!

Ben being silly

We all went zip lining with North Shores Zip Line Company.  It was my first time and I'm terrified of heights but it was fun to try something new!

We all look pretty awesome in our zip gear:)

Drove up to Haleakala...again...this time to watch the sun set.  It was windy and very cold but also very beautiful but I think Becky may have gotten hypothermia!

It was so cold we were using towels we got for our trunk as blankets:)

It's amazing how high up you can drive

Even though we froze, it was a gorgeous sunset!

December 7:

We took a boat out to Molokini Crater for a morning of snorkeling.

It was a beautiful day to be out on the ocean!

Hyrum diving down to inspect the fish

Ben and Becky...love the underwater snorkel photos...so fun:)

We saw lots of fish and a sea turtle and Hyrum saw a Manta Ray!

Went for an amazing hike: Waihe'e Ridge Trail.  Very steep but very beautiful scenery!

It was such a great day for the hike

Y.M.C.A.  with the help from a crazy looking tree

We made it to the top!  It was a great view from up high

Becky's got us in "good hands"

We survived and made it back to the car in one piece.  Not an easy hike but definitely a beautiful hike!

We had to take a quick dip in water after such a crazy hike.  Luckily the Iao Needle wasn't too far away.  Freezing cold water but very refreshing for a dip.

The Platt's are the best...so much fun!

I guess Hawaii only has one Krispy Kreme and it's on Maui so the Platt's (who live on Oahu) were stoked to find Krispy Kreme!

December 8:

Road to Hana day.  We did the drive going backward again this time.  I think next time we are in Maui we should go the regular way around.  We always run out of sun light before we reach the end! Still a fun drive and so much to see and do!

Cool old church.  It's only open for service about 4 times a year but at one point there were many more people living on this side of Hana and it was a center piece in their lives.

This was a cool rock beach.  When the waves hit the rocks and then receding back into the ocean it sounded like a million pieces of rocks clattering together.  It made the most unique sound.

Hiking up to the waterfall on the Pipiwai trail at the end of the road to Hana.  We had to do "tree pose" in front of this awesome old banyan tree

Beautiful waterfall

We did some fun rock jumping in Waioka Pond.  Becky was so brave!  I jumped from about 5 feet up off the water and even that terrified me!

I have this same photo from a few years ago...Made Hyrum take it again even though he thinks it's silly

Black sand beach!

More yummy gelato.  Becky and Ben were making fun of us because they got a pint of ice cream for about the same cost as the tiny ice cream Hyrum and I got...but at least we didn't have to share:)

December 9:

We all went in search of the elusive Nakalele blow hole.  We tried to follow instructions in the guide book but ended up wandering along the coast line for a while until we actually found it!

It is a pretty impressive blow hole!

We found a rock with a heart shaped hole:)

More snorkeling fun at Kapalua Bay.

Shave Ice!!!

Walked around the cute town of Lahaina and saw the famous banyan tree.

It was sad to say goodbye to our dear friends and even sadder to say goodbye to Hawaii and come back home to the real world.  I love traveling and can't wait for my next trip!