Maui Vibes
Looking back on the trip, Maui may very well have captured my heart the most out of all the islands of Hawaii. It was this vast prairie of wheat, lava rock, view of the Pacific on one side and Haleakala on the other that stopped me in my tracks. Based on the sheer variety of activities, landscapes and overall grandeur, it is the most well-rounded of all the islands in my eyes, and the only sight that we returned to for a second look. There is something about this prairie of wheat and its special color at sunset that held me in its grasp. I think the reason why I love this topography so much is because of how it surprised me, I was not expecting it, and in that way it felt magical.
Piilani Highway, also known as 'the back road to Hana,' although not nearly as celebrated as the road to Hana, was definitely one of the highlights of our trip to Hawaii. It is a dream to drive this road. The kind of road where you don’t even notice that you have been in the car since 7am, only when the sun goes down do you begin to get restless and hungry. You must drive the back road to Hana at sunset, must! It is as glorious as the road to Hana itself. Its beauty had me saying, “Are you kidding me?”
Rent a Jeep or convertible to get the full experience and be sure to bring lots of food and water (Best snack: Maui Style Maui Onion Potato Chips.) And always remember to fill up the gas tank. Pick up a lei along the road to keep the 'Spirit of Aloha' with you on your journey, as during your travels to Hawaii you will learn that 'Aloha' is more than a word of greeting or farewell, it is a way of life, a code of ethics, to treat yourself and each other with love and respect.
"Akahai, meaning kindness, to be expressed with tenderness;
Lokahi, meaning unity,to be expressed with harmony;
Oluolu, meaning agreeable,to be expressed with pleasantness;
Haahaa, meaning humility, to be expressed with modesty;
Ahonui, meaning patience, to be expressed with perseverance."
" Aloha means to hear what is not said, to see what cannot be seen and to know the unknowable."
Photos by PTO, Edited by Sam.
Back road to Hana attire: Essence embroidered silk-gauze dress by Zimmermann
MacAlister Hiking Boot by J.Crew
Lei/Purchased along the road.
The above quotes can be found here.
