On the Road to Hana, Maui, Hawaii
I convinced my wife, 2 daughters and one of my daughters friends from school to go to Hana with me. However, my oldest daughter was tired from snorkeling down to 40 feet the previous day off the snorkel boat to Lanai with me. I had lived there with my oldest daughter ( in Hana) when she was a baby and some of the locals had given my daughter the nickname "Aloha" because of her happy spirit. So, sometimes when we go to Hawaii together I will call my older daughter now 23 "Aloha". However, this day she said she was tired and stayed at the hotel on the beach and the rest of us got into our rented SUV and headed out to Hana. What was amazing about this journey is that since the Road to Hana is one of the rainiest places on Maui being mostly in a tropical Rainforest overgrown with waterfalls and one way bridges to get to Hana. As we neared Hana I was looking for Wai'anapanapa State Park which is an amazing black sand beach and lava caves park where snorkeling can be really nice. The last time we all went there and really snorkeled my older daughter was only 16 and my youngest was only 9. We had snorkeled and were in our bathing suits and it had been cloudy and about 78 degrees Fahrenheit when the skies let lose that time and totally drenched us as we got out of the water to sort of make a dash for the rental window van we were traveling in that day. I can remember us all laughing because it was so unusual for us all being from California and Oregon to experience this hard of a tropical rain where the drops feel like small cups of water hitting you being thrown from above in succession like you are literally taking a shower or standing under a warm waterfall. So, it finally got so funny we all after scurrying to the van just had to all laugh gleefully standing there in the warm tropical rain in our bathing suits while holding our towels and snorkels and masks which now were soaked.
So, this time it was the opposite with full sun which is fairly unusual because of being one of the rainiest places on the island. The sun followed us to Hana Harbor where there is a beach that many locals were hanging out at. My wife and younger daughter got shave ices and my daughter's tongue turned completely blue like a smurf and we all laughed. I went to Hana Ranch and got a Vegeburger so I felt sort of filled up enough to continue the drive on to Haleakala state park further around where the Seven Sacred Pools are. When I lived in Hana in 1989 you could swim in the Seven Sacred Pools but now you only can go there to swim below the bridge where the cars drive across. You get there on the loop trail from the ranger station where you park. Many people were gathering there I think in preparation for the sunset which was going to be a really nice one because of the clear skies. I walked down the trail and over the rocks to where the river from the seven sacred pools meets the ocean and stood there in the water as the fresh water and ocean water mingled. I have found places like this are often power spots and are very helpful in increasing and maintaining your health and the health of your family and friends as well as helping the health of all life on earth if you are in the right state or states of consciousness while you are there.
I also stood in one of the pools coming from a nearby waterfall before I reached Haleakala state park and got a healing by doing that. I spoke with the nature spirits all over the island and felt their healing presence both before and after Hana. Before I left the mainland I had requested to my wife to make this drive to Hana and Haleakala State Park. But if you do this just remember if you are starting at Paia or Lahaina it likely is going to take you all day to do this if you are going to drive 45 minutes to an hour from Lahaina or further north to Paia and then the 3 hours from Paia to Hana (conservative estimate or more) depending upon how you drive and how many times you stop to take pictures of beautiful things. So, round trip just to Hana from Lahaina and further north and back likely will be about 8 hours or more of driving. For this reason many people take tour buses to Hana and some even fly back in a Helicopter after taking a tour bus to Hana. The advantage of this is you don't have to get scared driving the road with about 57 one lane bridges and other one way points and of facing off with tour buses and large trucks sometimes. But, if you are okay with all of this and want to drive and experience it for yourselves in your own perfect time and schedule then I believe it is all worth it because you get to see and stop wherever and whenever the spirit moves you. But you have to be able to deal with people coming the other way. For whatever the reason this particular day we were very lucky because there weren't as many people on the road as other days I've done this. Some days it can be so busy that you might be muttering to yourself under your breath. But the day we went it was sunny, beautiful and perfect in every way and I was grateful for my sake and the three ladies traveling with me.
Also, I had the advantage of having lived in Hana and knowing the road fairly well because I used to drive it at least once a week to go food shopping (which is cheaper) in Kahului than trying to shop in Hana for a weeks worth of food. (Though I saw signs that there are now companies that deliver food to you at a price if you live or visit there).
Maui is an amazing place and I fell in love with Maui after I moved there in 1989. Though I wasn't able to stay there because it was just too expensive for me then trying to raise 4 kids, now I likely can visit at least once a year which is great to go back and feel the full spirit of "Aloha" once again. So though I carry "Aloha" in my heart it is always great to go back there for a recharge!
So, this time it was the opposite with full sun which is fairly unusual because of being one of the rainiest places on the island. The sun followed us to Hana Harbor where there is a beach that many locals were hanging out at. My wife and younger daughter got shave ices and my daughter's tongue turned completely blue like a smurf and we all laughed. I went to Hana Ranch and got a Vegeburger so I felt sort of filled up enough to continue the drive on to Haleakala state park further around where the Seven Sacred Pools are. When I lived in Hana in 1989 you could swim in the Seven Sacred Pools but now you only can go there to swim below the bridge where the cars drive across. You get there on the loop trail from the ranger station where you park. Many people were gathering there I think in preparation for the sunset which was going to be a really nice one because of the clear skies. I walked down the trail and over the rocks to where the river from the seven sacred pools meets the ocean and stood there in the water as the fresh water and ocean water mingled. I have found places like this are often power spots and are very helpful in increasing and maintaining your health and the health of your family and friends as well as helping the health of all life on earth if you are in the right state or states of consciousness while you are there.
I also stood in one of the pools coming from a nearby waterfall before I reached Haleakala state park and got a healing by doing that. I spoke with the nature spirits all over the island and felt their healing presence both before and after Hana. Before I left the mainland I had requested to my wife to make this drive to Hana and Haleakala State Park. But if you do this just remember if you are starting at Paia or Lahaina it likely is going to take you all day to do this if you are going to drive 45 minutes to an hour from Lahaina or further north to Paia and then the 3 hours from Paia to Hana (conservative estimate or more) depending upon how you drive and how many times you stop to take pictures of beautiful things. So, round trip just to Hana from Lahaina and further north and back likely will be about 8 hours or more of driving. For this reason many people take tour buses to Hana and some even fly back in a Helicopter after taking a tour bus to Hana. The advantage of this is you don't have to get scared driving the road with about 57 one lane bridges and other one way points and of facing off with tour buses and large trucks sometimes. But, if you are okay with all of this and want to drive and experience it for yourselves in your own perfect time and schedule then I believe it is all worth it because you get to see and stop wherever and whenever the spirit moves you. But you have to be able to deal with people coming the other way. For whatever the reason this particular day we were very lucky because there weren't as many people on the road as other days I've done this. Some days it can be so busy that you might be muttering to yourself under your breath. But the day we went it was sunny, beautiful and perfect in every way and I was grateful for my sake and the three ladies traveling with me.
Also, I had the advantage of having lived in Hana and knowing the road fairly well because I used to drive it at least once a week to go food shopping (which is cheaper) in Kahului than trying to shop in Hana for a weeks worth of food. (Though I saw signs that there are now companies that deliver food to you at a price if you live or visit there).
Maui is an amazing place and I fell in love with Maui after I moved there in 1989. Though I wasn't able to stay there because it was just too expensive for me then trying to raise 4 kids, now I likely can visit at least once a year which is great to go back and feel the full spirit of "Aloha" once again. So though I carry "Aloha" in my heart it is always great to go back there for a recharge!
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2017
A convertible Muscle car on the drive to Hana on Maui
There is a saying:"I survived the road to Hana!"
There is even a T-shirt you can buy with this statement on it on Maui.
But, if you are a confident and skilled driver with good reflexes then a muscle car covertible like I rented is a good choice especially now they have repaired the roads and so it is quite pleasant to drive to Hana.
However, if it starts raining really hard then this might change the situation because in 1989 I almost died with my family almost being washed off the roads there off a cliff and into the ocean. So, if monsoon rains are coming down I advise you from personal experience "Don't drive the road to Hana because it might be the last thing you ever do because in ongoing monsoon rains 1 to 2 feet of water and rocks come off those jungle landscapes and onto the road and into the sea. So, if you see this stop and go back or figure something out real quick so you can survive this. for me, then I was in a Ford window van and high enough off the road but even then I had water running across the front floor and my wife and kids jumping up and down over the rear wheels so they would stay on the road and not float before I was barely able to drive out of this situation.
But, if it's not raining there it can be just fine on the road to Hana. The roads are pretty nice right now and a low slung MUSTANG GT with Great pipes that sounded like a Bently was a reallyl great choice last Monday which was the most beautiful day to go to Hana I had ever seen. Not only that it cornered nice and you sink so deep into a Mustang GT's seats that you don't have to fight the corners at all. So, you are not exhausted from trying not to be thrown around by the hairpin turns. Because a Mustang GT is built for cornering first and then speed 2nd.
However, with the highest speed limit on Maui 55 mph between Kahului and Kihei speed is not something you are going to see on Maui because most speed limits are between 15 and 45 mph which you have to watch closely because local police do enforce those speed limits. But, on the road to Hana the beautiful cornering abilities of something like a Mustang covertible or a Camaro Convertible really come into play.
Also this last trip I saw about 20 varieties of fish (you have to swim out a little to see this) at Waianapanapa Black sand STate Beach near Hana as well. So, for driving to Hana or driving up to Haleakala Crater a convertible often is the best choice because of visual amazingness and cornering abilities.
However, both on the Road to Hana and the road Up Haleakala you need to be a very skilled driver for many reasons. If you don't have confidence as a driver I recommend taking a tour bus or a helicopter ride instead. However, if you get carsick the tour bus might not be a good idea because of hairpin turns on both roads.
But, if you want to drive all over Maui and not just to Haleakala or Hana and that's all then maybe a jeep rental might be the best because all the roads might not be as good as the ones to hana and to Haleakala.
So, even if it is 80 to 90 degrees (92 degrees as I drove for Airport from Lahaina on Thursday) you can always turn on the air conditoner even with the top down as long as you realize you are much closer to the equator than in most Mainland U.S. towns so the sun is very bright and hot.
There is even a T-shirt you can buy with this statement on it on Maui.
But, if you are a confident and skilled driver with good reflexes then a muscle car covertible like I rented is a good choice especially now they have repaired the roads and so it is quite pleasant to drive to Hana.
However, if it starts raining really hard then this might change the situation because in 1989 I almost died with my family almost being washed off the roads there off a cliff and into the ocean. So, if monsoon rains are coming down I advise you from personal experience "Don't drive the road to Hana because it might be the last thing you ever do because in ongoing monsoon rains 1 to 2 feet of water and rocks come off those jungle landscapes and onto the road and into the sea. So, if you see this stop and go back or figure something out real quick so you can survive this. for me, then I was in a Ford window van and high enough off the road but even then I had water running across the front floor and my wife and kids jumping up and down over the rear wheels so they would stay on the road and not float before I was barely able to drive out of this situation.
But, if it's not raining there it can be just fine on the road to Hana. The roads are pretty nice right now and a low slung MUSTANG GT with Great pipes that sounded like a Bently was a reallyl great choice last Monday which was the most beautiful day to go to Hana I had ever seen. Not only that it cornered nice and you sink so deep into a Mustang GT's seats that you don't have to fight the corners at all. So, you are not exhausted from trying not to be thrown around by the hairpin turns. Because a Mustang GT is built for cornering first and then speed 2nd.
However, with the highest speed limit on Maui 55 mph between Kahului and Kihei speed is not something you are going to see on Maui because most speed limits are between 15 and 45 mph which you have to watch closely because local police do enforce those speed limits. But, on the road to Hana the beautiful cornering abilities of something like a Mustang covertible or a Camaro Convertible really come into play.
Also this last trip I saw about 20 varieties of fish (you have to swim out a little to see this) at Waianapanapa Black sand STate Beach near Hana as well. So, for driving to Hana or driving up to Haleakala Crater a convertible often is the best choice because of visual amazingness and cornering abilities.
However, both on the Road to Hana and the road Up Haleakala you need to be a very skilled driver for many reasons. If you don't have confidence as a driver I recommend taking a tour bus or a helicopter ride instead. However, if you get carsick the tour bus might not be a good idea because of hairpin turns on both roads.
But, if you want to drive all over Maui and not just to Haleakala or Hana and that's all then maybe a jeep rental might be the best because all the roads might not be as good as the ones to hana and to Haleakala.
So, even if it is 80 to 90 degrees (92 degrees as I drove for Airport from Lahaina on Thursday) you can always turn on the air conditoner even with the top down as long as you realize you are much closer to the equator than in most Mainland U.S. towns so the sun is very bright and hot.
SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014
The Road to Hana
If you have ever been to Maui, Hawaii and have rented a car there, likely you might have decided to be adventurous enough to drive the road to Hana. It's best of you are a good driver, however, because there are many many one lane bridges and places where you cannot see ahead of you with parts of it a one lane bridge or road. So, it is literally an adventure unless you become used to driving this road all the time as a local. Then the only hazard is tourists who because of their inexperience on this road might do anything in perceived emergencies.
Once 25 years ago when I lived and worked in Hana, Maui for awhile I went shopping in Kahului near the Airport (because for bulk food shopping it is much cheaper than buying food in Hana). Someone had said to me, "Be careful it is supposed to rain really hard today. You don't want to be caught in parts of the road to Hana in too big a rain." Not having experienced this before I thought, "What does that mean?" Later then in 1989 I found out the hard way. We were driving our Ford Windowvan home from Kahului when it started to rain and then it really rained tropical style with drops bigger than raisins or grapes. This sort of creates floods quickly especially on an island where I was driving the rainfall is about 400 to 500 inches a year almost back to Hana. I was pretty scared because rocks were washing off the small cliffs next to the road and they kept getting bigger and banging against the tires of the Windowvan. Sometimes I was hitting the rocks because I could no longer see the road. The bridges were actually okay even though the waterfalls water almost reached the level of the bridge I was driving on. The scariest parts was when I had the ocean on one side to my left and 2 feet of water coming off the small cliffs next to the road trying to wash my Ford Windowvan into the ocean a 1000 or more feet below. Finally, at its very worst the water got so high going by us on the road that water was coming in the floorboards in the front and the back of the van was floating and I was having a hard time getting traction. The water by then was flowing from right to left across the floorboards but it wasn't quite high enough to kill the spark plugs or spark plug wires yet so the engine could still run. I finally told everyone to climb into the far back so I could get enough traction to drive forward because my rear tires were spinning in the water because they were not touching the pavement. Finally, with everyone in the far back I could move forwards enough to get out of that really bad flooding area without getting washed into the ocean. I finally had experienced what people were trying to warn me of. Anytime after that when it was supposed to rain really hard I never drove that road again when it was doing that because that's a good way to die with your family or friends and never be heard from again.
Yesterday though, my older daughter, younger daughter and my older daughter's boyfriend all drove to Hana. Luckily, the rain was light so I got these great pictures of waterfalls. If it isn't raining a little bit somewhere above us towards Haleakala the volcano then there won't be water in the waterfalls, and that's a given. So, we were really lucky to be traveling because it wasn't as warm as it would have been without the light rain. We also stopped at
Once 25 years ago when I lived and worked in Hana, Maui for awhile I went shopping in Kahului near the Airport (because for bulk food shopping it is much cheaper than buying food in Hana). Someone had said to me, "Be careful it is supposed to rain really hard today. You don't want to be caught in parts of the road to Hana in too big a rain." Not having experienced this before I thought, "What does that mean?" Later then in 1989 I found out the hard way. We were driving our Ford Windowvan home from Kahului when it started to rain and then it really rained tropical style with drops bigger than raisins or grapes. This sort of creates floods quickly especially on an island where I was driving the rainfall is about 400 to 500 inches a year almost back to Hana. I was pretty scared because rocks were washing off the small cliffs next to the road and they kept getting bigger and banging against the tires of the Windowvan. Sometimes I was hitting the rocks because I could no longer see the road. The bridges were actually okay even though the waterfalls water almost reached the level of the bridge I was driving on. The scariest parts was when I had the ocean on one side to my left and 2 feet of water coming off the small cliffs next to the road trying to wash my Ford Windowvan into the ocean a 1000 or more feet below. Finally, at its very worst the water got so high going by us on the road that water was coming in the floorboards in the front and the back of the van was floating and I was having a hard time getting traction. The water by then was flowing from right to left across the floorboards but it wasn't quite high enough to kill the spark plugs or spark plug wires yet so the engine could still run. I finally told everyone to climb into the far back so I could get enough traction to drive forward because my rear tires were spinning in the water because they were not touching the pavement. Finally, with everyone in the far back I could move forwards enough to get out of that really bad flooding area without getting washed into the ocean. I finally had experienced what people were trying to warn me of. Anytime after that when it was supposed to rain really hard I never drove that road again when it was doing that because that's a good way to die with your family or friends and never be heard from again.
Yesterday though, my older daughter, younger daughter and my older daughter's boyfriend all drove to Hana. Luckily, the rain was light so I got these great pictures of waterfalls. If it isn't raining a little bit somewhere above us towards Haleakala the volcano then there won't be water in the waterfalls, and that's a given. So, we were really lucky to be traveling because it wasn't as warm as it would have been without the light rain. We also stopped at
Wai'anapanapa State Park - Hana, HI | Yelp
Rating: 4.5 - 65 reviews
65 Reviews of Wai'anapanapa State Park "Absolutely fantastic! This may be the most beautiful spot I have ever seen on this Earth. Just breathtaking. The park ...
This is a black sand beach because it is completely made up of volcanic formations and black sand (however, it is mostly little round rocks this time of year). We had thought we might snorkel but the water was too rough for this because of the rain storm but we all went wading and had a great time here. I didn't get pictures of Waianapanapa (pronouced Waya napa napa with short a's on the napa napa". Unless you are a native Hawaiian then every letter is sort of pronounced as an individual element.
Later we went to Hana and ate at the Hana Ranch Restaurant. We were going to go to the Seven Sacred Pools too but by then we had spent so much times stopping at waterfalls and Waianapanapa that we realized we needed to head back because it was already 6mp.
It was about 10 pm when we returned to our Condo. So, if you do this it is a long drive both ways but very breathtaking scenery and rainforests that you drive through to get there.
Because it was lightly raining both where we were and above us at higher altitudes it caused these waterfalls to be filled with water. However, in heavy rains you don't want to be most places on the Road to Hana for your own safety because after all you are in a rainforest where it rains 400 to 500 inches a year.
The Bottom photo is a Hawaiian version of the Mynah bird which I have found all over Maui and other Islands. They have unmistakable sounds which along with the doves make being in Hawaii pretty amazing along with the winds, softly crashing waves and other sounds which make Hawaii a peaceful idyllic experience especially for visitors.
There is also a T-Shirt you can buy and wear that says, "I Survived the Road to Hana!"
Note: As you might see in photo 93 if you go to the Yelp site button for Wai'anapanapa there are also Mongooses in the Hana and Wai'anapanapa area. You can feed them if you want but remember they are wild and can bite. Also, these things can easily kill a Cobra because they are so very fast. So, don't underestimate this little creature. It is cute but deadly for it's size. If you think "It's a little feral cat" that might be the best way to think about them. They are wild and are good at defending themselves. They are NOT domesticated out here.
The Bottom photo is a Hawaiian version of the Mynah bird which I have found all over Maui and other Islands. They have unmistakable sounds which along with the doves make being in Hawaii pretty amazing along with the winds, softly crashing waves and other sounds which make Hawaii a peaceful idyllic experience especially for visitors.
There is also a T-Shirt you can buy and wear that says, "I Survived the Road to Hana!"
Note: As you might see in photo 93 if you go to the Yelp site button for Wai'anapanapa there are also Mongooses in the Hana and Wai'anapanapa area. You can feed them if you want but remember they are wild and can bite. Also, these things can easily kill a Cobra because they are so very fast. So, don't underestimate this little creature. It is cute but deadly for it's size. If you think "It's a little feral cat" that might be the best way to think about them. They are wild and are good at defending themselves. They are NOT domesticated out here.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 2018
Some of the places you might not want to be during Hurricane Lane on Maui
I lived on Maui in 1989 and 1990 and I also had an experience on a section of the Road to Hana where my family and I were almost washed into the sea off a cliff during a bad rainstorm there by water coming over the road and rocks coming over the road.
When it is raining at all it isn't a good idea to be traveling the road to Hana from Paia because water comes over the road in many places. They have built the road so likely it can withstand this most places but it doesn't mean your vehicle won't be washed off the roads in places into the ocean. The other place I wouldn't go to would be the "Seven Sacred Pools". But remember, in Hana there is the Hana Airport where smaller planes and helicopters can land to evacuate you if things get real bad as long as the weather allows this. So, if you are stuck somewhere between Hana and the Seven Sacred pools it is possible to be rescued even if the Road to Hana is fatal in the hurricane. The Seven Sacred Pools would be a problem because of water coming down at great speed over the road from Haleakala Crater down 10,000 feet to the ocean there during a hurricane.
This was my experience and it wasn't even during a hurricane. We had a Ford Window van which had a lot of ground clearance so I wrongly thought we would be okay. So, when rocks and small boulders along with streams of water 2 feet deep across the road to Hana came across the road I started to worry because my family (wife and two of my children) were in the Van with us. And I didn't want us all to die that night driving back from Kahului after shopping near the airport then likely in 1989 or early 1990. So, finally when the rear of the van left the ground and was floating and I didn't have the rear wheels on the ground anymore I asked everyone climb into the back of the van to weight it so I could get traction from the rear wheels so we didn't die then. Water by this time was already coming across the floorboards of the Van so my feet were wet with the river of water coming across from right to left from the water and rocks were hitting our wheels and tires in the water too. Eventually we barely made it in one piece back to Hana where we were living and working and going to school then.
And this wasn't even in a hurricane this was just in a rain storm. So, don't drive the Road to Hana in a Rainstorm if you can help it and especially don't drive it in a hurricane because it isn't safe to do this.
When it is raining at all it isn't a good idea to be traveling the road to Hana from Paia because water comes over the road in many places. They have built the road so likely it can withstand this most places but it doesn't mean your vehicle won't be washed off the roads in places into the ocean. The other place I wouldn't go to would be the "Seven Sacred Pools". But remember, in Hana there is the Hana Airport where smaller planes and helicopters can land to evacuate you if things get real bad as long as the weather allows this. So, if you are stuck somewhere between Hana and the Seven Sacred pools it is possible to be rescued even if the Road to Hana is fatal in the hurricane. The Seven Sacred Pools would be a problem because of water coming down at great speed over the road from Haleakala Crater down 10,000 feet to the ocean there during a hurricane.
This was my experience and it wasn't even during a hurricane. We had a Ford Window van which had a lot of ground clearance so I wrongly thought we would be okay. So, when rocks and small boulders along with streams of water 2 feet deep across the road to Hana came across the road I started to worry because my family (wife and two of my children) were in the Van with us. And I didn't want us all to die that night driving back from Kahului after shopping near the airport then likely in 1989 or early 1990. So, finally when the rear of the van left the ground and was floating and I didn't have the rear wheels on the ground anymore I asked everyone climb into the back of the van to weight it so I could get traction from the rear wheels so we didn't die then. Water by this time was already coming across the floorboards of the Van so my feet were wet with the river of water coming across from right to left from the water and rocks were hitting our wheels and tires in the water too. Eventually we barely made it in one piece back to Hana where we were living and working and going to school then.
And this wasn't even in a hurricane this was just in a rain storm. So, don't drive the Road to Hana in a Rainstorm if you can help it and especially don't drive it in a hurricane because it isn't safe to do this.
MONDAY, AUGUST 14, 2017
Monsoon Rains
Soldiers and rescue workers search for bodies of landslide victims even as they try to pull out two buses that were covered in mud after a landslide triggered by heavy monsoon rain in …
Monsoon Rains throughout Asia are in the summers. They are torrential tropical rains. I think there are rains like this in the south of the U.S. where you get huge raindrops where even being hit by one of them might ruin your shirt for the day because they are so big the raindrops. But, when they come down by the thousands it is sort of like being under a waterfall just walking outside. When this much water comes out of the sky all at once it often is fatal if there are not rivers and streams capable of holding this much water at one time. this also happens where I live in California where a lot of rain hits mountains here. It is not uncommon to get 15 or 16 inches of rain in California in 3 days. Southern States in the South East often are like this too.
The scariest experience of monsoon type rains I experience on the Road to Hana in Maui when I lived in Hana Maui. So, when they speak of buses being washed off roads I know this kind of experience from my Ford Van that I owned in 1989 where it started to float on the road to Hana so I couldn't get traction on my rear tires to not be washed off a cliff into the ocean there which would have been fatal to me and likely all my family then. I told the family (everyone but me) to run to the back of the van so the rear wheels would touch the ground again so we might survive. The kids were pretty scared and so was I. Also, rocks up to 1 foot across were hitting my van wheels and heading off into the ocean. Then water was going across my feet across the floor of the van at that point. But, finally when I had the family jump up and down over the rear wheels I got enough traction when the wheels periodically hit the road and I was able to maneuver the van to not be washed off the cliff into the ocean below. However, I realized you cannot drive from Hana to Kahului where the airport is during a major rainstorm. Everyone who lives in Hana told me this but I didn't believe them until this experience. So, when we went into kahului to buy less expensive food and goods once a week if it was raining hard we spent the night in Kahului at a hotel.
So, wherever you are in Monsoon rains it is important to realize just how bad it can get. It's why there are not roads at all through most of the Himalayas because of the raging rivers during Monsoon season every summer. Instead there are trails and suspension bridges because roads tend to get washed out during monsoon season where buses and cars and trucks regularly get washed off of roads into rivers etc. in Asia. The Himalayas because they are the highest mountains in the world tend to create the worst monsoon effects and travel unless by plane above the storms often becomes impossible. Also, the humidity is deadly too in summers just being out in it at all combined with the heat.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 2018
amazing photo of the Hana Highway during the Hurricane
#Maui #Lane our crew sent us this picture from Hana Highway at the bridge at mile marker 17. #turnarounddontdrown
This is the Hana Highway. I told the story how in 1990 I almost lost my whole family during a storm on the Hana Highway. There isn't anyway really to judge from this photo just how deep this water is. however, where I was in 1990 it was only a miracle that saved us from being swept over the edge of a cliff and into the sea by over 2 feet of water going across the floorboards of our window van with my family on board and rocks hitting the sides of the tires and our rear wheels floating so I couldn't get traction. We survived by my having every member of my family jump up and down over the rear wheels in unison so we could survive this somehow. And this worked! Because before then my rear wheels were NOT touching the ground at all. The whole back end of the vehicle was starting to float over the cliff and into the sea.
The above photo is a partial quote from:
https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/reports-hurricane-lane-batters-hawaii-with-life-threatening-flooding-dozens-of-landslides/70005881MONDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2017
Lydgate park
Lydgate park has a place that is connected to the ocean but keeps sharks out even though I did see one barracuda there all by himself or herself. It doesn't get more than about 7 to 10 feet deep there and most of it is about chest level. The waves crash against rocks installed there that encloses this part of the beach so children are safe from sharks there and people of any age can snorkel which they do safely without worrying about waves knocking them down while standing if they aren't watching carefully the ocean. So, many tropical fish make it into the enclosure for you to see. So, if you are on Kauai it is a nice place to take children and older adults who might want to snorkel safely and not be worried about currents taking them out to sea. Remember you are on an island so being careful not to get swept out to sea by currents while swimming, surfing or snorkeling is very important around islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
Also, currents change as winds change on the ocean so you have to be aware of what is going on or else you are gone sometimes. Just because one day you were safe if you notice the wind is coming from a different direction everything could have changed so be careful swimming or snorkeling in the ocean. Some places even with a surfboard you cannot paddle fast enough to beat the currents. So be aware of where you are and the time of year and the direction of the winds anywhere on Hawaii.
However, local dive shops or surf shops might be able to tell you where you are going to be safest.
If you are heading north towards Hanalei Bay or Princeville it is on the way to there from Lihue which is the main city where the airport is you fly into on Kauai, "The Garden Isle".
My wife's back was out but she could still walk into the surf if I held her hand so she could see all the tropical fish like almost in an aquarium you are swimming into today. North of us it was raining, Where we were it had stopped raining but the air was about 83 to 85 degrees and very humid. To the south of us the sun was out along the beach today. But, it is always amazing for me a Californian to get out of the surf and be wet and not feel cold ever while in Hawaii. So, you even this time of year can be standing in the rain and not get cold as long as you are dressed appropriately so you don't ruin your cell phone or other valuables.
Waiʻanapanapa State Park, located at the end of Waiʻanapanapa Road off Hana Highway, features some of the most unique sights you'll ever see. As home to ...
Waiʻanapanapa State Park, located at the end of Waiʻanapanapa Road off Hana Highway, features some of the most unique sights you'll ever see. As home to ...
Also, currents change as winds change on the ocean so you have to be aware of what is going on or else you are gone sometimes. Just because one day you were safe if you notice the wind is coming from a different direction everything could have changed so be careful swimming or snorkeling in the ocean. Some places even with a surfboard you cannot paddle fast enough to beat the currents. So be aware of where you are and the time of year and the direction of the winds anywhere on Hawaii.
However, local dive shops or surf shops might be able to tell you where you are going to be safest.
If you are heading north towards Hanalei Bay or Princeville it is on the way to there from Lihue which is the main city where the airport is you fly into on Kauai, "The Garden Isle".
My wife's back was out but she could still walk into the surf if I held her hand so she could see all the tropical fish like almost in an aquarium you are swimming into today. North of us it was raining, Where we were it had stopped raining but the air was about 83 to 85 degrees and very humid. To the south of us the sun was out along the beach today. But, it is always amazing for me a Californian to get out of the surf and be wet and not feel cold ever while in Hawaii. So, you even this time of year can be standing in the rain and not get cold as long as you are dressed appropriately so you don't ruin your cell phone or other valuables.
I REMEMBER BEING WITH MY KIDS A FEW YEARS AGO ON MAUI AT WAIANAPANAPA (A BLACK SAND BEACH) NEAR HANA, MAUI. THE RAIN CLOUDS LET LOOSE AND I STARTED TO GET ANGRY UNTIL I REALIZED WE ALL HAD BEEN SNORKELING AND WERE ALREADY WET SO WE ALL BEGAN TO LAUGH BECAUSE IT WAS JUST LIKE BEING IN A SHOWER AS THE TEMPERATURE OF THE RAIN WAS ABOUT 80 TO 85 DEGREES. SO, WE ALL JUST LAUGHED TOGETHER REALIZING WE ALREADY HAD JUST SNORKELED AND WERE WET ANYWAY AND NOW IT WAS LIKE TAKING A WARM SHOWER TOGETHER OUTDOORS. AS LONG AS THE KEYS STILL WORKED ON OUR RENTAL CAR WE WERE JUST FINE. ONLY US AND OUR TOWELS AND SNORKELS AND US AND OUR BATHING SUITS WERE GETTING DRENCHED IN THE WARM WARM RAIN COMING DOWN REALLY HARD MONSOON STYLE. THE ROAD TO HANA FLOODED BUT WE WERE ABLE TO DRIVE THROUGH IT BACK TO LAHAINA ON THE OTHER SIDE OF MAUI.
Division of State Parks | Waiʻānapanapa State Park
dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/maui/waianapanapa-state-park/
Waiʻānapanapa State Park. IMPROVEMENTS TO THE WALKWAYS AT WAI'
Waiʻanapanapa State Park - Hawaii State Parks
https://hawaiistateparks.org/parks/maui/waiʻanapanapa-state-park/
Division of State Parks | Waiʻānapanapa State Park
dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/maui/waianapanapa-state-park/
Waiʻānapanapa State Park. IMPROVEMENTS TO THE WALKWAYS AT WAI'
Waiʻanapanapa State Park - Hawaii State Parks
https://hawaiistateparks.org/parks/maui/waiʻanapanapa-state-park/
MONDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2017
Finding the lost Needle?
One of my several pairs of Bermuda shorts I brought here to Hawaii (because it is just too hot to wear anything else right now with the lowest temperature so far on Kauai or Maui being 74 degrees with averages from 81 to 89 or even 90 with humidity. For me, this is a little much after the relative dryness (of the air) of most of California even on the coasts relative to Hawaii in the tropics.
So, anyway, I lost a needle while watching TV sewing up by hand a seam in one of my several pairs of Bermuda shorts thinking I might need this pair in an emergency. The next thing I knew I finished stitching and got engrossed in the TV show and sort of realized with some horror I didn't know where the needle was anymore. (That was 2 days ago now). Just now Monday at 8:36 on Maui after just driving back from Hana I reached into my Bermuda shorts I had been wearing and thought I had been bit by a "Walking stick" which is the only kind of insect I thought it might be.
But, with laughter my wife discovered what it really was: "It was the needle I lost at least 2 days ago in Kauai at the last place we stayed which means "It stayed inside a pair of Bermuda shorts got into a plane with me, walked through the airport, got a bus to pick up a rental car, drove to where we are staying, went to Hana and back and here we are. Or it could have been thrown in the wash and I just picked it up this morning and put it on clean this morning and then it went to Hana with me. Because this pair looks exactly like two other khaki pairs of Bermuda shorts I have.
Anyway, I thought you would laugh or be intrigued by something this strange and funny happening. I couldn't find the needle then and decided it would either show up or it wouldn't some day somehow. Because at home I have a huge magnet that could find it no matter where it was but here I don't.The magnet I have weighs about 10 pounds and was a gift from a friends parent who worked where they made commercial ones for large businesses likely around 1958 when I was 10 or so in southern California.
So, anyway, I lost a needle while watching TV sewing up by hand a seam in one of my several pairs of Bermuda shorts thinking I might need this pair in an emergency. The next thing I knew I finished stitching and got engrossed in the TV show and sort of realized with some horror I didn't know where the needle was anymore. (That was 2 days ago now). Just now Monday at 8:36 on Maui after just driving back from Hana I reached into my Bermuda shorts I had been wearing and thought I had been bit by a "Walking stick" which is the only kind of insect I thought it might be.
But, with laughter my wife discovered what it really was: "It was the needle I lost at least 2 days ago in Kauai at the last place we stayed which means "It stayed inside a pair of Bermuda shorts got into a plane with me, walked through the airport, got a bus to pick up a rental car, drove to where we are staying, went to Hana and back and here we are. Or it could have been thrown in the wash and I just picked it up this morning and put it on clean this morning and then it went to Hana with me. Because this pair looks exactly like two other khaki pairs of Bermuda shorts I have.
Anyway, I thought you would laugh or be intrigued by something this strange and funny happening. I couldn't find the needle then and decided it would either show up or it wouldn't some day somehow. Because at home I have a huge magnet that could find it no matter where it was but here I don't.The magnet I have weighs about 10 pounds and was a gift from a friends parent who worked where they made commercial ones for large businesses likely around 1958 when I was 10 or so in southern California.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2016
We are finally experiencing the full brunt of El Nino and likely will at least the rest of this month
Unfortunately, California isn't alone in this because whatever hits here likely is going to move east also. There are regions where many roads are underwater right now. There are many places where people are saying you can drive these roads but please don't because your car might die out. And this isn't just on the northern California coast, this is throughout the state from San Diego to north of San Francisco. So, it is a good idea to contact Caltrans before you set out to find out if the road or roads you are going to travel on is closed or flooded.
For example, I know sections of Interstate 5 through Los Angeles are about 3 feet underwater which is going to drown anything and likely including a Hummer or Diesel Semi truck. So, unless your vehicle is especially built for driving through deep rivers with a snorkel for an air intake (and even then you might have problems once your drive wheels leave the pavement. I had this problem on the drive to Hana when I lived there and water started coming across the floorboards in the front of the window Ford Van I Owned on Maui then. When my back wheels started losing any pavement to turn on I was worried we were going to be washed into the ocean off a cliff on the road which we nearly were then. I finally asked the whole family except me to go stand over the rear wheels so we wouldn't die that night. This worked enough so we weren't washed off the road to Hana and into the ocean even though it was a near thing with 2 feet of water throwing rocks at our van side and under our van to our right and sweeping from right to left under the van over the cliff and into the ocean. I listened to the locals after that. Don't drive the road to Hana in a big rainstorm because you will be washed into the ocean. This is something to think about if you visit Maui. Because that end of the Island IS a tropical Rain forest that gets 400 to 600 inches of rain in a year.
We likely haven't seen anything as bad as we are going to now since 1997 or 1995 when a bridge over Highway 1 made of cement was lifted up on the Carmel River and thrown 1 mile out into the sea. If you had asked me whether this was possible before it happened I would have said, "Absolutely not!"
However, it happened then along with no one able to drive from Monterey or anywhere on that peninsula off the peninsula. Because Hiway one was closed between Monterey on Highway 1 between Marina and Castroville. Highway 1 was closed because the bridge was thrown 1 mile into the sea by the flood. Many of the homes in that area were completely flooded or destroyed, the mall was under about a foot of water and mud, Mercedes cars were floating in underground garages at banks, Highway 68 was closed at River Road. So, for a couple of days the only way off of the peninsula was flying or by helicopter unless you wanted to swim.
This is what it was like then for many areas from Big Sur north to the Oregon Border in 1997 and in 1995.
And Big Sur people had it the worst and were completely cut off at the Carmel River by the bridge on Highway 1 washed into the sea a mile away and by the road being washed away on a cliff south of Big Sur then for about a month or more. So, helicopters were the only way out of Big Sur, Monterey peninsula and this happened many places along the coast north to Oregon then the last time an El Nino was as severe as this one is now. And this is predicted by weathermen and women to be much worse than those ones. 4 feet of snow in one night in the Sierras is evidence that they might be right. Hopefully, hikers and backpackers and mountain climbers knew this much snow was coming so they survive it.
For example, I know sections of Interstate 5 through Los Angeles are about 3 feet underwater which is going to drown anything and likely including a Hummer or Diesel Semi truck. So, unless your vehicle is especially built for driving through deep rivers with a snorkel for an air intake (and even then you might have problems once your drive wheels leave the pavement. I had this problem on the drive to Hana when I lived there and water started coming across the floorboards in the front of the window Ford Van I Owned on Maui then. When my back wheels started losing any pavement to turn on I was worried we were going to be washed into the ocean off a cliff on the road which we nearly were then. I finally asked the whole family except me to go stand over the rear wheels so we wouldn't die that night. This worked enough so we weren't washed off the road to Hana and into the ocean even though it was a near thing with 2 feet of water throwing rocks at our van side and under our van to our right and sweeping from right to left under the van over the cliff and into the ocean. I listened to the locals after that. Don't drive the road to Hana in a big rainstorm because you will be washed into the ocean. This is something to think about if you visit Maui. Because that end of the Island IS a tropical Rain forest that gets 400 to 600 inches of rain in a year.
We likely haven't seen anything as bad as we are going to now since 1997 or 1995 when a bridge over Highway 1 made of cement was lifted up on the Carmel River and thrown 1 mile out into the sea. If you had asked me whether this was possible before it happened I would have said, "Absolutely not!"
However, it happened then along with no one able to drive from Monterey or anywhere on that peninsula off the peninsula. Because Hiway one was closed between Monterey on Highway 1 between Marina and Castroville. Highway 1 was closed because the bridge was thrown 1 mile into the sea by the flood. Many of the homes in that area were completely flooded or destroyed, the mall was under about a foot of water and mud, Mercedes cars were floating in underground garages at banks, Highway 68 was closed at River Road. So, for a couple of days the only way off of the peninsula was flying or by helicopter unless you wanted to swim.
This is what it was like then for many areas from Big Sur north to the Oregon Border in 1997 and in 1995.
And Big Sur people had it the worst and were completely cut off at the Carmel River by the bridge on Highway 1 washed into the sea a mile away and by the road being washed away on a cliff south of Big Sur then for about a month or more. So, helicopters were the only way out of Big Sur, Monterey peninsula and this happened many places along the coast north to Oregon then the last time an El Nino was as severe as this one is now. And this is predicted by weathermen and women to be much worse than those ones. 4 feet of snow in one night in the Sierras is evidence that they might be right. Hopefully, hikers and backpackers and mountain climbers knew this much snow was coming so they survive it.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2017
Most places in Hawaii and California are about 10 degrees above normal for October
For example, there shouldn't be temperatures of 87 degrees on the coast of California near San Francisco like I experienced today. The temperature should be between about 60 to 71 or 72 at most. The night time temperature was pretty high for this time of year at around 56 as well.
When I was in Kauai it was incredibly humid but at least most people including us had air conditioning so I was okay in 80 to 90 degree temperatures with full humidity because on Kauai it is the rainiest place on earth in some sections with over 600 inches of rain per year.
But, Maui especially on Lahaina side is dry which is why kings lived there on this island because you don't get foot rot on bare feet on dry sides of the islands in the old days and it isn't raining monsoon rains all the time and washing you into the sea like can happen on the road to Hana. I have experienced the "almost being pushed into the sea in my Ford Window van with my whole family" so I can tell you this happens if you aren't very careful when it rains there on the Road to Hana from Kahului where the airport is.
So, one reason the fires have been so bad is we are having temperatures in the 90s in places like Gilroy or Carmel Valley with a fire on High way 68 near York School yesterday of 30 acres as well.
So, the high dry temperatures with no real rain so far this season is why fires are taking off along with high winds all over the state.
So, the temperatures I should have seen (in a normal year when I have traveled there about every year or 2 since around 2005 with my family shouldn't have been over 84 degrees anywhere and the lows should have been at least down to 70 to 71 degrees around 6 am
Instead I never saw a temperature on either island below 74 degrees even at 6 am in the morning which tells me that not only California but Hawaii is also in trouble from global warming as well.
Then when waves were crashing over onto the road I was driving back to kahului for my flight home I also realized that road is going to have to be lifted 5 to 10 feet over the years because of rising seas and global warming (and this is on the lee side of the island that gets the least winds!
However, there is hope of some rains or drizzle at least by Thursday here in California.
Whereas everywhere on Hawaii and it's islands it usually rains a little every single day which is why there are so many rainbows in the Hawaiian islands which helps make it the magical place it is.
If you are above 70 to 75 degrees out in the rain (if you are dressed for it) it isn't a problem in Hawaii almost ever. So, this is why so many walk around in bathing suits and T-shirts and thongs (beach walkers) on their feet. This way if it rains you are dressed for it.(which it tends to a little every day everywhere) or more.
NOTE: The coldest time of year here on the northern California coast tends to be around Thanksgiving. After that cloud cover often keeps the temperatures higher until around February when it starts warming up again. But, traditionally the end of October and all of November things are cooling down here on the coast of Northern California
However, outside here on the ocean it was 84 to 87 degrees and into the 90s and beyond inland. So, as you can see this is not a normal anything but completely about Global warming.
But, the coldest time of year often is June or July therefore with December and January often being the 2nd or the first coldest depending upon the year. But, we feel the cold the most around Thanksgiving because this is usually the biggest temperature adjustment of the year and the 2nd biggest adjustment to cold is when the fog comes in in June and stays here on the coast pretty much until August lately (even though it used to be ONLY the June Glooms) before Global Warming.
Then sometime between NOvember and February we often get 100 mile per hour winds off the ocean and lose power for 3 days to a week or more from that where I live. So, this last year I bought a 5 horsepower generator on wheels so i can roll it around to wherever I need it. It will give enough power for everything in my house, even though I usually mostly use it for the refrigerator a couple of lights, the WIFI and TV. Because hooking up our heating system to it seemed a little iffy. But I do have a fireplace to keep warm with also.
A generator isn't the best thing to hook electric heaters too because they draw too much power for most generators to keep up with. So, you need a gas stove in power outages if you get very many of them over the years. Also natural gas cooks more evenly than electric anyway. Just make sure you have one you can light with a match if you need to without a built in electric sparker. It needs to be able to light when no electricity is present.
When I was in Kauai it was incredibly humid but at least most people including us had air conditioning so I was okay in 80 to 90 degree temperatures with full humidity because on Kauai it is the rainiest place on earth in some sections with over 600 inches of rain per year.
But, Maui especially on Lahaina side is dry which is why kings lived there on this island because you don't get foot rot on bare feet on dry sides of the islands in the old days and it isn't raining monsoon rains all the time and washing you into the sea like can happen on the road to Hana. I have experienced the "almost being pushed into the sea in my Ford Window van with my whole family" so I can tell you this happens if you aren't very careful when it rains there on the Road to Hana from Kahului where the airport is.
So, one reason the fires have been so bad is we are having temperatures in the 90s in places like Gilroy or Carmel Valley with a fire on High way 68 near York School yesterday of 30 acres as well.
So, the high dry temperatures with no real rain so far this season is why fires are taking off along with high winds all over the state.
So, the temperatures I should have seen (in a normal year when I have traveled there about every year or 2 since around 2005 with my family shouldn't have been over 84 degrees anywhere and the lows should have been at least down to 70 to 71 degrees around 6 am
Instead I never saw a temperature on either island below 74 degrees even at 6 am in the morning which tells me that not only California but Hawaii is also in trouble from global warming as well.
Then when waves were crashing over onto the road I was driving back to kahului for my flight home I also realized that road is going to have to be lifted 5 to 10 feet over the years because of rising seas and global warming (and this is on the lee side of the island that gets the least winds!
However, there is hope of some rains or drizzle at least by Thursday here in California.
Whereas everywhere on Hawaii and it's islands it usually rains a little every single day which is why there are so many rainbows in the Hawaiian islands which helps make it the magical place it is.
If you are above 70 to 75 degrees out in the rain (if you are dressed for it) it isn't a problem in Hawaii almost ever. So, this is why so many walk around in bathing suits and T-shirts and thongs (beach walkers) on their feet. This way if it rains you are dressed for it.(which it tends to a little every day everywhere) or more.
NOTE: The coldest time of year here on the northern California coast tends to be around Thanksgiving. After that cloud cover often keeps the temperatures higher until around February when it starts warming up again. But, traditionally the end of October and all of November things are cooling down here on the coast of Northern California
However, outside here on the ocean it was 84 to 87 degrees and into the 90s and beyond inland. So, as you can see this is not a normal anything but completely about Global warming.
But, the coldest time of year often is June or July therefore with December and January often being the 2nd or the first coldest depending upon the year. But, we feel the cold the most around Thanksgiving because this is usually the biggest temperature adjustment of the year and the 2nd biggest adjustment to cold is when the fog comes in in June and stays here on the coast pretty much until August lately (even though it used to be ONLY the June Glooms) before Global Warming.
Then sometime between NOvember and February we often get 100 mile per hour winds off the ocean and lose power for 3 days to a week or more from that where I live. So, this last year I bought a 5 horsepower generator on wheels so i can roll it around to wherever I need it. It will give enough power for everything in my house, even though I usually mostly use it for the refrigerator a couple of lights, the WIFI and TV. Because hooking up our heating system to it seemed a little iffy. But I do have a fireplace to keep warm with also.
A generator isn't the best thing to hook electric heaters too because they draw too much power for most generators to keep up with. So, you need a gas stove in power outages if you get very many of them over the years. Also natural gas cooks more evenly than electric anyway. Just make sure you have one you can light with a match if you need to without a built in electric sparker. It needs to be able to light when no electricity is present.
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