First Week of Hawaii

While in my hammock, which I still have not been in yet because I have had a comfy bed and it is actually quite chilly up here at 4000 feet, I look back at my adventures of the week with Kiva...

One of the first days we went to a series of waterfalls (a spot where water is falling in mid-air). Each waterfall was just off the trail that went through a bamboo forest except for the last one. We had to swim in this little pool and climb up the little waterfall to make it around the corner to the biggest and the best. Sorry, no picture of that one, it was just for me.

Possibly my favorite or at least one of the most unique places I have been this week is the middle of enormous bamboo forests. It is so dense and dark and completely invasive not allowing anything else to live there, which is part of the reason it is so cool. It would be more cool if there were pandas though.

Every evening has been a nice and relaxing time 4000 feet in the upcountry at Kiva's beautiful bamboo house. Evenings mostly consist of making dinner by a wood stove, (say What? yes its winter here) watching the sunset over west Maui, and settling down watching Tv or reading or having guests over and chatting. 

 We went on a hike on the leeward side of the island after snorkeling and trying to swim with dolphins. A completely different environment then the rainforest on the other side. Only 20 inches of rain here compared to the 400 inches. Here is a picture of the lava flow from 300 hundred years ago. We hiked over sharp rocky rubble for miles along the coast.

  One of our last adventures was an overnight road trip on Hana Highway; one of the most beautiful roads in the world (look it up). Hours of driving along the steep northern side of the island with 70 some one-lane bridges that cross over countless beautiful waterfalls. Along the way we stopped at Red Sand Beach, a really cool hidden spot.

An amazing hike through the rainforest ending in a 150-200 foot waterfall where I re-discovered that rainbows are full circles. 

 The road trip ended with going around the upcountry of the leeward side which is mostly just cattle ranches. A beautiful juxtaposition to the jungle and a complete circle around the island to finish the day.

The week ended with a Beach Day where I got to swim with a couple of enormous sea turtles and listen underwater to the whales that were splashing in the distance.

The week at Kiva's has almost come to an end and on monday I head out to Lahaina on the west side to  start my next adventure... Farming.