Paradise and Beyond - Day 4

The bugs were pretty intense on this side of the island and mommy forgot the bug spray. I don't know why but my kids always get big reactions on their faces. This picture is Will with a bite under his eye and between his eyes. Taylor got several bites on each leg and we ended up buying her her own bottle of calamine lotion so we didn't have to hear about them the rest of the trip.

Papa would open coconuts for the kids we would find lying around on the ground.

Taylor standing on the back porch of the little cabin we stayed in.

The one thing I really wanted to do while on Maui was hike the Pipiwai trail that leads to Waimoku Falls. It is about a 4 mile round trip hike. The rain just kept coming down and I was unsure how we would manage it with 4 kids on a muddy trail. My mom volunteered to stay back with Lyndsee and my dad came with us. The rain slowed down as we came to the trail head and didn't start again until we were done. I was so happy because we even did the whole hike which I wasn't sure we would do. It makes me so excited just to type about it as I remember the spectacular scenery and the beautiful trail that took us through an incredible bamboo forest. Its a must do if ever you are on Maui!

The first waterfall we came to a half mile up the trail.

These crazy Banyan trees can be seen around the island of Maui. This is one along our hike.

A bridge taking us over the river to the entrance of the bamboo forest.

This bamboo forest was awesome and was the main reason I wanted to do this hike. The clanking of the trunks of these trees against each other as a breeze blows through was musical. Its a similar experience to hiking in a narrow slot canyon. Kind of eerie too because you can't see through to "the other side" of the bamboo forest leaving you wondering how far it goes on and how lost you could become if you wandered too far into it. Taylor was such a good hiker and seemed to appreciate nature at its best just like her mommy. As we made our way down the trail, I started to worry about Nana and Lyndsee back at the Visitor Center. I didn't want to leave them for too long for fear they would get bored but this trail was drawing us farther in and none of us could find the will power to turn around and go back.

We ended up making it to the end of the trail where we were rewarded with this magnificent waterfall. And once again, because of the rain, it was at its very finest with other small water falls coming down around it.

We didn't dare get any closer than this because we were feeling its spray from here and would have to cross a second more fierce water way. I loved this hike and it was one of the highlights for me of this trip. Thanks to my mom for hanging back with Lyndsee, to my dad who can still pack a child on his shoulders (Reagan), and to Eric who hauled Will (not quite the hiker we would like him to be YET) through most of the hike.

When we got back, we couldn't find my mom so we waited around taking cover from the rain that started falling. A little while later, Nana came off a trail having been on a hike with Lyndsee. They went to see Ohe'o Gulch. Way to go Mom! Especially without a backpack!

Wet after her hike with Nana. She could have cared less though.

Ohe'o Gulch

More of Ohe'o Gulch. People swim in these pools usually but not today because of the fast running water.

After our hike, we continued around the back side of the "Road to Hana" taking in all the beautiful scenery, waterfalls, and ocean scenes as we went.

The scenery was very diverse and we ended up in areas that looked more like home (desert like) at times and mountainess (pinetrees) at other times. Loved, loved, loved the Road to Hana and everything beyond it!