Hawaii April-May 2019

Tropical Garden Flowers

 We arrived April 26 for a four week say in Hawaii. We landed in Kona on the Big Island with Linda Erby. Linda stayed with us on the Big Island and we met up with her frequently on the other islands. We had a timeshare at Paniolo Greens, where we own, for the first week. We spent the week hiking, snorkeling, shopping, and sitting on the beach. We thought we knew all the trails on the island, but found a few new ones. 

Pololu Valley 

 We drove the Saddle Road over to Hilo for the first time - it was previously off limits for rental cars. Here we got an Airbnb for 4 nights (Amazing Paradise Encounter - Hilo). What an experience! Our host provided everything you could possibly want and the large house was fully equipped and ventilated by its unique design.  

New Lava Flows, minor and major

In addition to visiting tropical gardens and waterfalls, we visited the area devastated by the recent eruptions. Some roads were still blocked, a harbor was blocked off by a new beach that Pele deposited. A boat ramp now leads to a pool where you can launch your pool float. Only the locals know what was buried under these massive lava flows. After 11 days on the Big Island, we flew to Maui. 

 New Black Sand Beach

Harbour becomes a Pond

Part of Seven Sacred Pools

We spent the first three night at the Maui Seaside Hotel. From here it was easy to do the Hana Highway. At the Seven Sacred Pools, we did our favorite hike on the island, the Pipiwai trail which goes through a bamboo forest. We first did this hike in 1982, and it was quite an adventure back then, a narrow path through dense and dark bamboo forest and ankle-deep mud. When you got to the end, you had a spectacular Waimoko Falls all to yourself. 

New and Improved Pipiwai Trail

 The NPS has recently “improved” the trail. Now the trail is a plastic boardwalk and the bamboo has been cut back to let plenty of light in. The trail ends before the waterfall and the area near the waterfall is officially closed and posted. The crowds on the trail have certainly changed the experience. I guess we will have to find a new favorite trail!

Waimoku Falls

Jacaranda Tree

After we left the hotel, we relocated to the Kaanapali Beach Club timeshare on the other side of the island. This got us closer to the best snorkeling beaches on the island. The hardest part about going snorkeling is finding parking. The big hotels sit on some of the best beaches, and although all the beaches are open to the public, the hotels control the public parking, which can be very limited. We did manage to get in some great snorkeling. After ten day on Maui, we flew to Kauai and checked into a timeshare in Poipu. 

Double Rainbow

On Kauai we relaxed more and even spent time at the resort's pool. We had a great trail right along the shoreline, not far from our resort. It had an historic cave to tour and an enclosure with giant tortoises. (I should note here that my Hawaii pictures somehow got lost in a cyber wasteland, so all the Hawaii pictures are by Pat, therefore there are no pictures of Pat. We don’t take selfies).  

 Green Sea Turtle

We joined Linda for a trip to Waimea Canyon and did the Alakai Swamp Trail. We drove to the north side of the Island, but the road to the Napali Coast was closed due to mud slides from the heavy rains they had. 

Don and Linda at Waimea Canyon

Hawaiian Flowers

After our month in Hawaii, we flew back to our RV in Albuquerque and start our trip to Canada.