Marathon & volcano hike – top 2 (only 2) items on my Hawaiian adventure list.  Being a cold-weather mountain enthusiastic, ran the risk of missing out on everything Hawaiian – island activities just don’t cross my mind (I’m in the 2% world minority 🙂 ).  Luckily, many of my friends have been to Hawaii & filled my post-race itinerary with excellent recommendations.  Thanks!

Woke early Monday still feeling a little banged up from the previous day’s marathon, so opted for a sit-down road trippin’ day.  With no east-west highway available across Maui’s south shore, headed north toward Kahului before driving east on Maui’s infamous Hāna Highway.  Today’s road-trippin’ destination: the Road to Hāna

Stats: 52 miles, 617 curves, 56 bridges, 3 hours

Sandy beaches & the arid landscape of Wailea soon gave way to lush green forest & dark lava-fed soil – exactly what I remember folks talkin’ about on their Hawaii vacations.  What folks didn’t talk about was the windy road to Hāna.  Scenic – heck yeah – but curvy…worse than California Highway 1.  One-lane bridges, the new norm.  No visibility; initially you inch around these blind turns hoping a car won’t clip you on the other side.  An hour in, you realize that’s why you buy insurance.  LOL>

2 hours in, pulled over & hiked Ke’anae Arboretum – short hiking trail thru the tropical forest.  Highly recommended.

Back on the road, stopped for lunch in Hāna Bay.  Fresh fish, outdoor seating with an ocean view – FAAANNNTASTIC!  Stopped in a gift shop to verify I wasn’t missing something historic – nope, nothing else in Hāna…beach & food.  Check, got it covered 🙂

Autobahn’ng the return, stopped to watch the mighty waves of Pāʻia.

Worked my way down the rocks at Ho’okipa & stared ahead into the aqua blue.  Rough surf made for AMAZING 20-foot waves.  Ocean smashed over the large volcanic boulders.  Sound.  Smell.  It’s the mighty waves of Pāʻia I’ll remember years from now.

Watched surfers ocean-paddle, incoming wave approach, surfers seemingly disappear, moments later heads break the surface in unison – pop, pop, pop – and the game repeats.  Mesmerized, stayed ’til nightfall.

Hawaiian Day 3 over – tomorrow morning, snorkeling Molokini Crater.

mighty waves of Pāʻia