Hawaii 2014 (Day 12 of 19): Maui - Southern Coast, Haleakala

Whaler's Village

Album for these photos

All photo albums

The boys decided they weren't up for an all day trip to the other side of the island, so we gave them some money and bid them adieu. Helen had an underlying sadness all day without them. I was just glad we didn't have to deal with their negativity and complaining. We were both sad that we weren't all together to share the experiences like when they were younger. As they get older our agenda's and their agenda's are diverging more and more.

I don't blame the boys. Weeks at a time of being constantly on the move can be a lot to handle. At their age they just don't have the same perspective we do. I certainly don't want anyone pushing their agenda on me so I really try not to push my agenda on them. I try to come up with a plan that will work for all of us, but it's becoming harder and harder. To the point that I just don't know if it's worth traveling with them anymore. I just wouldn't spend the money to lay around on vacation. I can do that at home.

Helen says I have to push through their negativity. That's hard for me. At my core, I'm for people going their own way instead of exerting a lot of effort to make things work. Things that work out naturally without much effort seem to last. I would rather go my way and wish them well as they go their way, but that puts Helen in the middle so she can't be fully in the moment with me, which makes me even more irritated with the situation.

Adam just cannot seem to wake up and get going before about noon. Then he usually won't eat anything and stays a little cranky until you can get some food in him. Derek is up early, but would rather lay around and play on his phone and take a mid-morning nap. Derek told us his ideal schedule would be to go out for a nice big gut busting lunch and maybe do a short activity and then go back to the condo. 

Hula Grill

Leilani's across the walk from Hula Grill

Sheraton Black Rock where we snorkeled the day before

Leoda's Kitchen and Pie Shop

The peanut butter pie was so good the night before that we just had to try some of the other pies 

Papawai Scenic Lookout

We talked to a lady who regularly sells crafts at the lookout and she said that it's not uncommon to see up to 10 whales at a time breaching in the bay during peak season. Unfortunately, she said the last of the whales had left the area a couple weeks earlier. We were really hoping for some stragglers.
 

Maui Ocean Center

Whale Sanctuary

Eskimo Candy for lunch

Poke bowl and fish tacos

Ulua\Mokapu Beach

Polo Beach

Wailea Coastal Walk connects a number of the hotels along the waterfront

Four Seasons Resort

Fairmont Kea Lani

Good time to eat our pies from Leoda's. So good.

More wild chickens

Makena Landing

There were a lot of turtles. They seemed to be feeding in this little inlet. We had a lot of fun watching them. We brought our snorkel gear and we talked about getting in, but decided it was too much hassle. In retrospect, we kind of wished we did.

Keawalai Church

Someone's nice house next to the road

Makena State Park (Big Beach)

As you drive south towards Ahihi Kinau (The Dumps) the road narrows and you're surrounded by volcanic rock from recent lava flows

Eventually the road ends and you can't drive any further south. The place is really beautiful in an eerie desolate sort of way.

It had been a long day but we were determined to try to get to the Haleakala summit before leaving Maui the next day

Beautiful rolling hills on the way up

Lots of switch backs

We ran into fog like the first time we tried to get to the summit earlier in the week

It's discouraging and tempting to turn back thinking the summit will be shrouded in clouds also, but we pushed on

The summit at sunset is a pretty popular destination, so it's annoying that the visitor center closes at 4

Silversword

Nene

The beach towel is also a handy blanket as it gets colder heading to the summit

Eventually, you get above the clouds and it's so clear

Chukar

Haleakala Observatory at the summit

One of those places and moments you keep repeating to each other "this is so cool" and you keep snapping pictures trying to somehow capture it

Even on the ride down, when you thought the show was over, you would see colors like this and have to stop and admire

It was about an hour back to our condo in Lahaina. Helen was happy to see the boys and they were eager to tell us about their day. They told us how they went snorkeling at Kahekili Beach across the street. They saw lots of fish, some turtles, and even some monk seals. They played in the pool at the condo, and then took the beach walk to some nearby shops for some ice cream. They seemed to thoroughly enjoy their parent free day and we were happy for them, but sad at the same time that they weren't there to share the day with us.