2/11/99: More slides arrived from Hong Kong today. I had accidentally left them behind and the Beach’s home, and they were kind enough to mail them on…
2/11/24: *During our 1999 stay with Dad & Mom at the end of our round-the-world trip, we did not take many photos. So, I am posting photos and stories from some of our other trips to Maui over the years.
Not many tourists, and very few Maui locals, bother to get familiar with the south-facing leeward side (i.e., the dry side) of Haleaka. And understandably, since there is not much there. No towns. No resorts. No hula shows or touristy sites. Mostly lots of rocky-shore line, desert-like landscape, and dry heat. Besides little interest, the area is not very accessible, since the only road westward from Hana and Kipahulu is dangerous at best, and often washed and completely impassable. The road eastward has no direct path from any of the resort areas or major towns on the island, but would require a long, round-about path upcountry on the north side of the valley, then cutting back all the way to the upcountry south side of the valley. The leeward side does have its beauty though. We have had the good fortune to experience it first-hand, thanks to the generosity of Todd and Kathy, Ruth’s childhood friends, who have loaned us their 4-wheel drive Toyota Tacoma. One of the most interesting things to see on this side of the island, is the Kaupo Gap, a large gouge in the edge of the volcano crater at the top of Haleakala. This gap was formed during some past eruption when the lava would have broken through the crater edge and spilled down the slope to the ocean.
NOTE: The photo above shows Ruth and I sitting on the steps of the Kaupo General Store, during a drive along with leeward side of Haleakala during our 2010 trip to Maui.
