The privately owned Kula Botanical Garden, Maui, Hawaii is up in the Highlands. We spent a delightful leisurely half day there.
Kula Botanical Garden
Maui Hawaii
Molokini Crater
I booked us an early mourning snorkel dive at Molokini Crater led by Maui Adventure Sunrise Snorkel | Hawaii Holidays in Wailea, HI (kaikanani.com). We used my new Olympus Tough underwater. I missed taking pictures the crater because I couldn’t get the camera out of the holster underwater. The numbers of colorful fish were amazing. The water was delightfully warm. I swam in my shorts because of the lost bathing suit.
On the next dive at Turtle Town I let Marc take the camera. I didn’t go in the water for that swim because the first one tired me out. Marc dropped the camera because the strap was loose. Subsequently, I purchased a floating wrist strap at B&H. Fortunately, the camera landed right next to the boat on sand and a staff member was able to retrieve it for us. All the pictures of the turtles are by Marc.
They kept stuffing us full of drinks and food and the staff was very entertaining and knowledgeable. I thoroughly enjoyed the trip. Marc was surprised at how easy snorkeling was.
After the dive we went to the parking lot and while putting things in the trunk I said, “Are you ready?” and Marc said “yes” so I shut the trunk. Unfortunately, the car key was inside the trunk. 4 hours later Hertz sent someone to unlock the car.
I also took some pictures while at Maluaka Beach where the boat leaves from and in the parking lot.
Paia
After a fruitless hunt for a new bathing suite for me (the resort lost it). We went to Paia to look at some shops. This stupa interested us: Maui Dharma Center – Paia, Hawaii.
Kihei and Wailea
After a cold trip to Haleakala we hung out at the beach by Maui Schooner Resort to warm up. Then we went out for a fancy dinner at Ka’ana Kitchen, Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort (Wailea Restaurants | Beachfront Dining | Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort – a concept by Hyatt). The food was good. I saw their fake Hawiian fire dance at a distance. The sunset and ambience was lovley. It felt special to have valet parking.
Hosmer Grove
On our first trip to Hosmer Grove in Haleakala NP to look for endemic birds. It was rainy, foggy and freezing cold. I did see one bird – the Iʻiwi or scarlet honeycreeper (Drepanis coccinea). See ʻIʻiwi – Wikipedia and also see ʻIʻiwi – American Bird Conservancy (abcbirds.org). It feeds on the endangered Metrosideros polymorpha – Wikipedia. These photographs aren’t clear because of the weather.
Kahanu Garden
Here, at Kahanu – National Tropical Botanical Garden (ntbg.org), more that any other place in Maui, you will find yourself alone and able to feel what Maui used to be like. Few people go there. Perhaps because it is too educational and not glitzy enough. We loved it. I learned a lot about the native plants. The history of the place is interesting too History – National Tropical Botanical Garden (ntbg.org)
After a full day at the Garden of Eden and Kahanu Garden we drove to Paia – Maui’s Hippie And Surfer Town – Maui Hawaii and dined at the excellent Paia Fish Market.
Garden, Maui 11/19/2022
Garden of Eden
We made hundreds of photographs at the Maui Garden of Eden | A beautiful garden and arboretum on the road to Hana, Maui on the Northshore of Maui. These are a few of the ones that I like or that are of interest. The view of a Keopuka Rock is also known as Jurassic Rock because of its appearance in the opening sequence of “Jurassic Park.” This garden took us several hours to see. It is well maintained and lovely.
Tropical Express Waikapu
I do not recommend the Tropical Express at Waikapu. The tour was not worth the money. We could easily have seen it without the ride with little information given. They do have a nice gift store Maui Tropical Plantation.
Sherry Felix - port4u 