Hawaii Diary

Haleakalā, Maui.

Today the lava is hot, beautiful, deadly. It’s black steamy fingers both scare and fascinate us. Later, it cools and forms mounds of land that become islands and mountains – the land we now call Hawaii.

Haleakalā, which bears more resemblance to the moon than a tropical paradise, shadows over the the beautiful island of Maui.  At 10,023 feet, this mountain, the remains of a massive shield volcano, is the highest in Hawaii. Hundreds of visitors a year drive the switchback road to the top to see the beauty of the rock and sand formations, and engage in dangerous activities like biking down the treacherous highway. At this elevation, the weather is chilly and can easily drop into the 30’s by late afternoon. You don’t want to be here unprepared.

Some of the texture of the mountaintop – black, red, brown and gray sand, loose stones and rocky slopes.

The only vegetation you’ll see is on the way up.

The area is so vast, it can’t all be explored in one day.

Near the top, you’re higher than the clouds.

© Huffygirl 2014