Road to Hana

I can not wait to drive the road to hana!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvxdpNci3I0&feature=player_embedded

The video is great - here are the high lights of the trip!

Road to Hana Map - Best Stops

This section contains a description of each stop that is embedded in my Road to Hana map.

Watch for the green Mile Marker signs on the side of the road to identify your locations and stops.

Most references to help you identify your sighseeing stops will use these mile marker signs.

Keanae Park - between Mile Markers 16 & 17

Keanae Park is a peaceful stop with a ruggedly beautiful lava rock beach, banana bread stand, and restrooms.

Three Bears Falls - between 19 & 20 mile markers

Waikani Falls is also called Three Bears Falls (Papa, Mama, and Baby falls - like the bears!) because the three falls are different sizes (Note: like all the waterfalls on the Hana highway, there may be 'no falls' if water volume is low; or 'one fall' if the water volume is so high that one giant waterfall is created).

Nahiku Cove - Mile Marker 25

Nahiku Cove provides a cool green break at an isolated cove. This area is best known as home to famous people such as the late Beatle George Harrison. The high rainfall encourages a lot of greenery - the three mile drive to the cove is like driving through a jungle.

Read more about Keanae Park, Three Bears Falls and Nahiku Cove

Black Sand Beach - just past Mile Marker 32

Wai'anapanapa State Park has a black sand beach, a freshwater spring fed pool in a lava cave for swimming, and restrooms.
Read more about the Maui black sand beach and Wai'anapanapa State Park.

Hana Beach Park - Hana

Hana Bay is a good family beach on Maui with snorkeling and light wave action. Hana Bay Beach Park includes Tutu's Snack Shop, one of the few places in Hana to eat. We enjoy their simple burgers at the outdoor picnic tables near the beach.

Red Sand Beach - Hana

Just south of Hana Bay is Kaihalulu, a Maui red sand beach. This beach can only be reached via a primitive and slippery path.

Hamoa Beach - Hana

Hamoa Beach, rated as the 6th best beach in America in 2006, is just a few minutes drive south from Hana on Maui. The famous author James Michener described it as the most beautiful beach in the Pacific.

Read more about Hana Bay Beach, Red Sand Beach, and Hamoa Beach

Wailua Falls - Mile Marker 45

As you leave Hana and travel south on Hana Highway 31, you continue the lush tropical vegetation and waterfalls that you saw on the road to Hana. Wailua Falls is the perfect stop the car, jump out, stand by the side, and shoot a great 100 foot waterfall picture.

Seven Sacred Pools - Oheo Gulch - Mile Marker 42

The waterfalls and pools at Oheo Gulch (often referred to by a marketing term - 'Seven Sacred Pools') on the Hana highway are a popular destination for hiking, swimming, and viewing waterfalls. This area is part of Haleakala National Park.

Read more Seven Sacred Pools and Wailua Falls

Awesomeness!!

So we spent the evening last night with my sister working on what we wanted to do at the different ports on our cruise in Hawaii.

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This morning I checked the government site that shows where the lava flow is currently at & to my delight - the lava is still flowing into the ocean!!!

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The night we cruise between Hilo and Kona - we will go right past this area of the island! It should be spectacular!!

New Chapter in Tim's life

Tim moved into a group home this weekend.

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He has his own room & we were able to put decorations up on the walls.

And of course - he has made himself at home playing x-box!

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We're hoping that he spends more time interacting with others then playing the x-box!

The Kissing Bandit

This is not a picture of ours - it is off of the internet.....but it is kind of how I envisioned the situation with the email I received yesterday............

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Seems our little Amie - who took a long time to warm up to affection - has now evolved into a kissing kindergarten'r!!

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She doesn't get to take a show and tell to school today because her and a little boy were caught kissing during recess yesterday! When they were asked why they were doing that, they said because they love each other!

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I am so too old for this!!!

And I am so not ready for her to start the teenage years!!! And definitely not this young!!

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We had a talk with her tonight about who should should be kissing. And then she said, "Andrew want to marry me" - Ummmmm - Ok - but not until you are at least 25!!!

Snowman

On Saturday the girls played in the snow.....it was perfect snow packing weather for a snowman!

Kylee definitely did most of the work!!

And then Amie wanted to give the snowman a kiss!!

How precious is that?!! It almost looks like the snowman was leaning in to the kiss doesn't it?!!

Phone pics

At about 4pm on Tuesday - snow hadn't been falling for very long - but it was already starting to accumulate.

Wednesday morning - a look at how high the drifts are that the poor snow blower had to tackle!

Thursday at work

Driving down these narrow lanes - with snow so high you can't see who's coming at the intersections is not fun.

At Betty's..

Betty was drifted in even more!!

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This is her front door!!!

Looking out the front window.

Back door!

Back porch looking towards the back door!