Friday, June 27, 2014

Friday Five - Hawaiian style

Today we have to leave paradise...as always, our trip went way to fast and I can't believe after all the waiting we did for it to "get here" it is almost over.

I'm linking up again with the DC trifecta, Courtney @ Eat, Pray, Run DC, Mar @ Mar on the Run, and Cynthia @ at You Signed Up For What?!, for the Friday Five.  So here are 5 of the best parts of our trip (of course there were hundreds of awesome parts, but that would be one long post) to Maui.

#1

Of course my top pick would have to be our second stop on the road to Hana (a more detailed post will follow next week).

We hiked through the rain forest and came upon a gorgeous, very secluded waterfall.


When I was looking around & taking pictures, Ryan pulled a little black box out of this back pack, got on his knee, and asked me to marry him! I was taken completely by surprise, but it explained why he kept carrying his back pack with him, when everything we needed was in my bag!


This guy has *great* taste in rings!

Of course I said yes and now I have a sparkly souvenir to show for it!

#2

The sunsets.

The sunset here takes your breath away, it is so beautiful.  Every night is has been so different. Different colors and cloud patterns.



#3

The dolphins.



We went on a snorkeling excursion early in the week specifically to see the dolphins.  The company we went through boasted a 95% sighting rate.  The ride out to the snorkel site - no dolphins.  The rough ride back which included 5 ft high waves - no dolphins.  Then out of nowhere, where we came into calmer waters, there they were....a pod of 200+ spinners, putting on a show for us, despite the fact that they were "sleeping" (they are nocturnal).  I didn't catch a photo of the spinning, but believe me, it was pretty spectacular to see them in their own environment and to see so many.  Again, breathtaking.

#4

Nakalele Blowhole and Heart Rock

We drove up to the north west coast of Maui on Wednesday because I wanted to see these two sights.  I think we were both pretty blown away by what we saw.  The blowhole was in magnificent form; spouting 20-30 feet (a guesstimate) at a time as we had hit high tide.


It was a windy and precarious hike down to see it close up and there were many warning signs that this was no waterpark.


Indeed.

In the interesting lava formations lie multiple tide pools that housed some fish. barnacles and lots of crabs.

Heart Rock was just as impressive.


#5

Our adventure on the road back from Hana.

We took the "back" way so we wouldn't have to backtrack on the 600+ turns in the road.  The south side of the island is much, much different than any other part.  The roads were pretty treacherous in places.  We asked several locals about the safety of going this way, and were assured we'd be fine.  Luckily, we were.  It was over and hour before we saw another car!  The road was bumpy, gravel in some spots, and one lane around a lot of the turns which was really nerve racking.  Yet, we got to see a side of the island that few see.  It was pretty barren in spots as it was basically the back of the dormant volcano, but there were stunning cliffs and the cloud pattern over the crater was pretty amazing.  One the way back, the sunset was even a lot different.  It was definitely an adventure we won't soon forget.



Have you ever been to Hawaii??  What was your favorite part?

32 comments:

  1. Congrats! I'm heading to Hawaii for the first time in December. I can not wait!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you!! You will have an amazing time! Which island are you going to?

      Delete
  2. Congrats!! What a memorable trip - the pics are fantastic.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jennifer!! It was as amazing as it looks!

      Delete
  3. Congrats on your trip souvenir. Despite several trips to Hawaii, I have never been on the road to Hana. We need to plan another trip!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Definitely!! It was just *so* beautiful!! That would definitely be a reason to go back.

      Delete
  4. We went to Hawaii for our honeymoon -19 years ago!! It was so gorgeous we are talking about going back for our 20th next year. Looks like you had an awesome trip Confessions of A Mother Runner

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would use any excuse/reason in the book to go back!

      Delete
  5. Congratulations on your engagement! What a wonderful location for a memorable moment. I've never been to Hawaii, but I'd love to go one day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think everyone should go at least once in their lifetime. It was definitely a bucket list trip for me! Now I can't wait to go back!

      Delete
  6. What great pictures! That sign is pretty scary! We are planning. Trip to HI for next year.

    ReplyDelete
  7. The dolphin look a bit like sharks don't they? I love the ring your husband got you!

    http://www.momshomerun.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you!! I love it too! He did really good!

      They do from just the fin view! lol. Contrary to what I always thought, there aren't a lot of sharks there.

      Delete
  8. I am SO happy for you and Ryan!! He's a keeper! ;) What a beautiful place to propose... it's great you didn't even suspect it! LOVE the sunsets!! It looks so beautiful there; have never visited. Vacations go so fast, don't they? Sounds like you both had a memorable time! When's the big date? ;)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Awww, so many congratulations!! That's awesome :) what a beautiful trip!

    ReplyDelete
  10. yay!!! congrats - how exciting -- i can't wait to read more about it next week. and i love your ring, it's beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  11. CONGRATS!! what an amazing memory to have for you guys in Hawaii! That ring is gorgeous! He is a keeper!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you!! It is beautiful!! More than I dreamed of. :)

      Delete
  12. Congrats. Looks like a great trip. I've never been there but it looks great.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love Maui it is a beautiful place and the road to Hana is one of my favorite roads to find some of the best hiking:) My favorite thing in Maui is what you showed the dormant volcano's, but its the sunrise. It's crazy you have to get up at 3am to make the drive to get there before the sunrise, and it's so cold you need a winter coat and gloves. But when the sun starts up in the sky you watch it light fire to each of the clouds as the fire works its way to you, so amazing that is my favorite thing to do in Maui even if it is freezing and sometimes snowing:) Of course 30 minutes after the sun is up it's too warm to keep the coats on:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We had thought about doing the sunrise up there, but then decided we didn't want to get up that early or be cold. Next time....we did get to see the crater from the back side which was interesting!

      Delete
  14. Matt has actually been to Hana! He commented on how crazy that road was. Did you see the seven pools of Hana?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We did! I would've liked to do more hiking, but it was the last stop of the day and we were told to start back before 5:30 so we had to get going...

      Delete
  15. Congratulations!!! What a beautiful trip and so amazing to have the proposal in such a memorable spot!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was so perfect....the entire trip seemed like a dream!

      Delete
  16. Congrats on the engagement! Hawaii looks beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you!! It really is as gorgeous as the pictures!

      Delete