617 Curves, 56 Bridges, 52 Miles, and 3 Hours

No trip to Maui would be complete without a journey to the Seven Sacred Pools just past Hana on the other side of the island. Be warned, this is not a road trip for the faint of heart or weak of stomach. As my souvenir T-shirt states, the road is only 52 miles, but takes more than 3 hours to drive (one way!), and is filled with treacherous curves and ancient one-lane stone bridges. Alright, that's a little dramatic, but it certainly was an adventure. Everyone except Mom, Dad, and Grandma-ma met in the parking garage at 7:30 am for the trek, planning to make a day of it. I've been to Hana as both a passenger and a driver, and I'm not sure which I enjoy more. Being able to sit and take in the breathtaking scenery is a singular experience. Neither words nor photos can adequately capture the beauty of this place. On the other hand, driving the Road to Hana has it's own rewards -- it's like being at the helm on a trip through time to simpler days, and paradise lost. The ever winding road running through overgrown tropical passages; the one-lane bridges made from ancient stone; and the constant surprise at the vistas awaiting just beyond the next curve. Couple that with negotiating carefully around corners, patiently taking turns through narrow passages, and balancing a good pace with not making your passengers motion-sick is quite exhilarating.



We made pretty good time on the drive in, stopping here and there for pictures, bathroom breaks, or simply to regroup. Once at the Pools, the kids were a little hesitant about going in the water, but they really enjoyed hiking along the rocks with Dad. After a little while I convinced them that the water wasn't so bad. In fact, by the time we were ready to head back up the trail, we had a hard time getting them out! Joshua stayed with Jennifer to take pictures while Nathan, Benjamin, and I hiked all the way in to the waterfall at the head of one of the large pools. Of course after we got there, they were very nervous about getting too close, but I again prevailed -- at least long enough to get some photographic evidence.



For lunch we congregated at the Hana Ranch Restaurant for burgers, fries, and pineapple spears, easily overwhelming the poor staff there. We also commandeered the entire covered picnic area just outside the pick-up window. It was quite a production to figure out the order, place the order, pick up the order, and then distribute the order. We managed it with only one mix-up and one child in tears, whose hamburger ended up with no cheese. All in all a highly successul outing.



Chris and Cassi were in charge of dinner, and when lunch was done they raced on ahead of everyone trying to get back in time to cook. However, it was quickly apparent that none of use were going to make it back quite on time, let alone with enough time to prepare a meal, so Mom, Dad, and Grandma-ma bailed us out and took over dinner duty. Since we were working hard to get back quickly, the collective drivers weren't quite as sensitive to our passenger's stomachs, but we made it back to the main highway without incident. One of these trips I would like to take a real, full day just on the Road itself, stopping as often as I please, filling my entire camera with pictures of my family and this amazing place.



After dinner, Brett and Stephanie put on a great Family Home Evening about families and happy homes, and came up with some really fun, simple games for the kids to play and learn. I am so grateful for my family -- all of us. We all have our ups and downs, all the little things that make us "different" and "special," but I love my family dearly, and am so thankful to be together with them, sharing the wonderful time on this beautiful island.