Road to Hana – Day 2

Yep, I liked it so much, I did it again! Actually, since I had spent so much 
time on "the journey" the prior day, I didn't have time to do it all. Today I 
wanted to hike in the morning and swim in the afternoon and it was a blast. And 
heck today, I was a pro flying down that highway... taking those hairpin turns 
on 2 wheels since I was used to them... NOT! It was just as crazy driving it 
today. The section past the town of Hana seems even more narrow and windy but 
maybe I was dizzy by then since I had to travel the whole road again to get to 
the part I wanted to do today which was the other side of the Haleakala National 
Park. This is where some good hiking and waterfalls are as well as the "7 sacred 
pools" (more on that later). 
 
So when I get to the park, right about when I pull up there's a ranger ready to 
lead a guided tour up to Wailua Falls. It was so informative since he explained 
all of the history of the land, pointed out all the mango and other trees, took 
us to some of the hidden spots and pretty much answered every question everyone 
had. That was a 3 hour hike in the morning thru a bamboo forest and up to the 
400 foot Wailua Falls. It was really beautiful and it was free! Gotta love the 
National Park system! 
 
Then after hiking all morning, I went to grab some lunch and came back to do 
some swimming for the afternoon. At the park there are these various pools (they 
call them the 7 sacred pools but there's really more than 7). It's cool because 
they each feed into each other as they cascade down the mountain and eventually 
end up down at the ocean. So I dove in a couple of them and the water was cool 
but very refreshing! Of course, after swimming all afternoon and no bathroom 
facilities close by, those pools weren't sacred after awhile if you know what I 
mean! LOL. 
 
On my way back home I decided to stop back in Hana at a beach I didn't get a 
chance to go to which was a red sand beach. It's sort of hidden away since it's 
a nude beach and pretty hard to get to having to climb down a bunch of slippery 
rocks and stuff but with the goal of just seeing a really secluded beach 
(seriously, just for the beach!) I decided to trek on. It really was cool. So 
for a few of you crazies (like BC, Scott, Steve, Merc, Paul and of course you 
too Leanne), I'll send you a private email of just the nudie shots! Just 
kidding!! What was funny though, and I've never been to a nudist beach before, 
but right when I got there and got into my birthday suit and jumped in, all the 
nudist got up and left all at the same time! Go figure! OK, now I really am 
kidding! 
 
Then when I got home about 6 PM or so (I left this morning at 6:30 AM since I 
had to drive even further), they were having a "First Friday" street festival 
right outside my hostel with a band, music and vendors selling stuff. All the 
hippies and surfers that are staying at the hostel all headed over! It was 
actually pretty fun. 
 
Oh well, hope everyone has a great weekend! 
 
Jeff