| East
Maui is the more undeveloped portion of Maui. There are large tracts of
jungle, much of it inaccessable to the common traveller. The greater
portion of East Maui is composed of the Koolau Forest Reserve, Haleakala
National Forest, and the Kahikinui Forest Reserve.
There are many points of interest in East Maui,
the chief one being the "Road to Hana". The "Road to
Hana" is actually the Hana highway (unless you're going the back way,
then it's the Pi'ilani Highway). The Hana highway begins in Kahului, heads
east through Paia, then gradually makes it's way to Hana.
Between Paia and Hana is the Keanae Peninsula
with the Keanae Arboretum nearby. Keanae is a major taro growing area on
Maui, it is also a very picturesque location wit the peninsula jutting out
into a beautiful deep blue ocean. The arboretum has a well paved path that
takes you through both native and imported plant displays. Remember this
can be a wet area, bring your mosquito repellent, there is a stream with
pools running alongside the paved path.
Past Keanae, about a mile is the Wailua Lookout.
This is a wonderful location for photography. The only really good
interrior view of the Wailua Valley is accessable from this point, it's
right off the side of the road, if you blink you might miss it.
Just before you get to Hana you'll encounter the
Waianapanapa State Park, probably one of the most beautiful streches of
coastline in Hawaii. The centerpiece of the park is the beautiful black
sand beach with its surrounding half submerged lavatubes and caves.
There's even a fresh water cave a little further inland. Exploring the
coastline with all the caves and rock formations can take a few hours. Hana
town is a splendid example of what Hawaii was like around the turn of the
century. There are many historical buildings and sites within this lovely
town. Near the edge of town, behind the Hana Community Center is a
cindercone that hides a really nice little beach, Red Sand Beach, named
for the red cinder-sand that makes up the beach. The path to the beach is
somewhat difficult, so be careful.
A few miles outside of Hana, on the way to
Kipahulu, is Hamoa Beach, probably one of the most picturesque beached in
Hawaii. The beach is small, but surrounded by native vegetation which
makes is seem right out of Old Hawaii.
A few more miles down the road and you reach Oheo
Gulch, an extension of Haleakala National Park. This is a wonderful place
to camp, picnic, or hike. When there's ample water in Oheo stream,
swimming is possible, but be careful of the slippery rocks. The area
around Oheo Gulch is the site of an old Hawaiian village, in walking
around the site you can get a feel for what it was like to live in Old
Hawaii. There is plenty of hiking at Oheo Gulch, there are several large
waterfalls, a bamboo forest, rolling hilles with guava trees, and of
course, jungle.
A mile or so from the Oheo Gulch ranger station
is Kipahulu, a small community tucked away among the rolling hills of the
Kipahulu valley. It's at the Kipahulu Hawaiian Church where you'll find
the grave of Charles Lindberg, please do not disturbe the gravesite should
you visit it. The next palce to stop will be the Kaupo General store. |
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