Hawaii 2014
Day 3 - August 25
49 Black Sand Beach
Kathy at 49 Black Sand Beach
Kathy snorkeling at 49 Black Sand Beach
Manini'owali Beach
Hapuna Beach
Hapuna Beach. There are two people in this picture. Guess where Ric is?
Lava fields at Mauna Lani Resort.
The condo.
Sunset - Day 3.
Sunset - Day 3.
Day 3 - August 25
Day 3 was a day for beach hopping.
The day began with a short trip to 49 Black Sand Beach. It’s a 2 mile trip off a road within the Mauna Lani Resort. Very secluded. Great snorkeling. We will certainly return before the trip is done.
After lunch, we traveled south in search of another secluded beach, Malakawena Beach. We had visited it 8 years ago - it is only 4-wheel drive accessible (we have a Jeep Wrangler), but were not sure which road to take. Looking at the map that evening, we figured it out - so we will return later in the week.
We stopped by Manini'owali Beach. Very poplular - many people there, and the parking was horrendous, so we didn’t stop.
Next, we went north of Mauna Lani to Hapuna Beach - a beautiful white sand beach near the Mauna Kea Resort. The water was so clear and warm. It was windy, so the surf was too choppy to body surf.
Day 4 - August 26
Tex Drive In, in the town of Honoka'a. They are famous for their Malasadas, a Portuguese fruit-filled pastry.
Strawberry and raspberry.
Apricot - delish.
Waipi'o Valley from the lookout.
The Waipi'o Valley road is a 900-foot descent in less than a mile. There is a guy at the top who will stop you if you think you are going to drive a 2-wheel drive car down. Kathy took a video of our road trip. Good thing Ric had all that “Way Cool” 4-wheeling experience!
Going down the Waipi'o Valley road (video)
Once you get into the valley, you can drive a short distance inland before you get to private land. We crossed the Wailoa Stream here in the Wrangler. It’s about 2 ½ feet deep and very rocky. Fun!
Crossing the Wailoa Stream (video)
A part of the valley road. This is one of the gentler portions. Lots of road lakes to cross. You never know how deep they are.
Waipi'o Bay.
Waipi'o Bay.
Kathy crossing the mouth of the Wailoa Stream. This was not as easy as it might look in a still picture. Although it’s not that deep (Kathy will drop another foot), the ocean is pushing you one way, the river the complete opposite - at the same time! You never know which way to lean.
The mouth of the Wailoa Stream, entering into Waipi'o Bay. We parked here, and had intended to BBQ hot dogs. We brought the grill and the briquettes. But Ric brought matches instead of a butane lighter. It was WAY too windy to start the briquettes. So, scrap that. Well, we were still full of malasadas anyway.
The Mauna Lani Beach Club. Returning from Waipi'o Valley about 3 pm, we headed here for a short afternoon of snorkeling and a late lunch burger.
Loaded up on malasadas and burgers, we needed to walk it off. This is Fisherman’s Trail, which follows the coast through the Mauna Lani Resort area. Some of it is paved, some is maintained trail over lava.
Fisherman’s Trail takes you by Mauna Lani Golf Course’s signature hole, the 3-par 15th. This is a tee-to-green view from the blue tees, a 160-yard shot over the bay.
Ric on Fisherman's Trail. Part of the trail is cut right through the lava (video)
Mauna Lani Beach Club from Fisherman’s Trail.
Sunset - Day 4.
Sunset - Day 4.
Day 4 - August 26
We spent most of the day visiting Waipi'o Valley, along the north shore of the island. On the way, we stopped in Honoka'a at Tex Drive-In, which is famous for its Malasadas, a Portuguese fruit-filled pastry. Eight years ago we had visited Tex, and the taste of the malasadas was still in our mouths!
From there, it’s another 9 miles to the Waipi'o Valley Lookout. The valley is largely private, but the beach area and a couple of miles inland are accessible to the public.
The road down into the valley is for 4-wheel drive vehicles and pedestrians only. That’s because it’s a 900-foot descent over less than a mile. Some of the grade is over 25%. On the way back up, you get the sensation that your car may flip over backward!
It’s a beautiful valley - lush, forested. The beach is black sand and rocky. No swimming - too treacherous.
We returned to Mauna Lani Resort mid-afternoon for a late snorkel run, then a late lunch burger at the beach club. That’s enough for a day!