Epic Round The World Trip Adventures! Stunning Photos & Articles - A fascinating gap year travel journal covering every stop of their journey.

East Maui - Hawaii
Round The World Trip Journal

(22nd June - 10th August) Maui, Hawaii - East Coast
The east of the island is where most of the rain falls, as the cloud stacks up against the volcano (Haleakala), but this also makes it the most lushest and greenest part of the island. The town of Hana is 44 miles down the Hana Highway from Paia. This is one of the main tourist attractions on Maui and is called "the most famous and desired drive in all of Hawaii". It takes about 2 and a half hours to drive to Hana without stopping - the road is narrow and very twisty turny and crosses loads of single lane bridges. There are also hoards of other cars doing the same route so it can get quite busy in places but is well worth persisting. Rainforest grows up the mountain sides and waterfalls rush down the lava rock faces all along the road. Lovely views up and down the coast with the road ribboning along the lush coastline and also sweeping views up into a huge chasm in the side of the volcano itself where the valley has become overgrown in rainforest and bamboo. The highlight for us on this coast was past the town of Hana, down at the Seven Sacred Pools (well, actually, there aren't seven and they aren't sacred but, hey, sounds better in the tourist books than Ohe'o Gulch, doesn't it!). We did a 2 mile hike up the river, following the Pipiwai Trail to the Waimoku Falls. It took us 2 hours to reach the falls and it was the most beautiful walk - very hot and sweaty in 90 degree temperatures but lots of shade to rest and recover. The river tumbles down the hill over huge boulders and over lots of mini and medium sized waterfalls. The Makahiku Falls at 2/3 mile fell 200 feet from an infinity pool at the top. Mike walked out to the edge and looked down - scary! Farther up we came across a huge bamboo forest. Jo had never seen or heard anything like it. There is no birdsong here so it was weirdly quiet until the wind blew, then the bamboo knocks together and creates a clattering sound that is really eerie! The forest is so dense and tall and all we could see was the narrow path winding through up ahead and nothing else but bamboo - surreal! The final ascent to the pool below the Waimoku Falls had us clambering across the river using the boulders as stepping stones and then winding through the greenery before coming up to the base of the falls. They plunge 400ft down a three sided sheer wall of lava - a very impressive sight.

* PLAY OUR WAIMOKU FALLS VIDEO!