Maui - 2019
Maui, Hawaii
Day 5 - December 29
Haleakala National Park. We are here at 5:30 to catch the sunrise. It's amazing that such a small island can have such a high peak. But that's what volcanos do
We found a parking spot in the upper lot.
A nighttime view of Kahului and Wailuku
The show begins
With wind chill it was probably below 30 degrees
Nene
The road back down
In Makawao, the roosters rule...
...and so he won't...stop
Our lunch stop - Thai from a food truck in Kula
This food truck doesn't move -
in fact, it sits in front of a farm owned by Nui
Another delicious Maui dish
Kathy & I hosted dinner for the wedding party at
The Mill House, near the Hanzawa's house
Hillary at The Mill House
Debbie, Peter, Ryan, Heidi, Jordan, Ric, Kathy, Hillary, Howard, Alma, Lois, Sharon, Luka, Gino, Liane
Day 5 - December 29
Haleakala National Park, Makewao, Kula and Wailuku, Maui
Another beautiful, sunny, cold, and hot day!
Yesterday, I got up early to play golf. That was not early - today, we all got up at 3 am. Why? To drive to the summit of Haleakala for sunrise! It's about a 90-minute winding drive to the top. Jordan had to get reservations - they only let a certain number of vehicles in, as parking is limited. We arrived at the summit about 5:30 and found a parking spot in the upper lot. The Macaluso also came, but we didn't see them until afterward. Sunrise was about 7, and it was cold and windy outside - I'm sure the temperture was below 30 degrees with the wind chill - so we waited in the truck.
Time to see the sunrise. It's still dark, but we wrapped Hillary up in a sleeping bag. I pushed her up a steep walkway to the viewpoint. Unfortunatley, we twice hit a crack in the pavement and Hillary spilled over in her chair. She scraped her arm and was prttey upset. I can't blame her - she has no ability to buffer herself when she falls. I felt terrible.
The sunrise itself was beautiful - a big cloud bank blocked our ability to see to the ocean, but when the sun emerged from the clouds, the view was glorious!
From Haleakala, we all drove to the quaint little town of Makewao for a quick coffee and pastry, and walked about town to window shop. The Macaluso went back to the hotel to rest, and Jordan took us to Nui's Garden Kitchen in Kula for Thai food. We were to have a big dinner meal, and this was about 1 pm, but I'm so glad we stopped here - the food was fabulous.
For dinner, Kathy & I hosted a final dinner for the wedding party at The Mill House in Wailuku, very near the Hanzawa home. The restaurant is located on the Maui Tropical Plantation, a working farm and former milling operation. Peter & Debbie told us that they had been married here! The food was indescribable! It was so good to meet again with everyone!