On January 2, 2003
(my parents wedding anniversary) the young'uns headed off to Hana ... accompanied by
Captain Aloha and friends (a couple of locals who narrated us through the windy turns)
on the Drive to Hana CD, purchased in Paia.
"Turn us off, and turn us back on ... when you pass mile marker 29"
The road to Hana is known for it's beautiful scenery. The trip includes exotic flowers, magestic waterfalls, refreshing fresh-water pools, caves, local hostpitality, and a road that makes the Alaska Highway look like the Autobahn.
The next stop was a nature reserve which included a lava-tube, a blow-hole, and freshwater pools in a cave. In the picture below, you'll also notice a black sand beach.
Black Sand Beach
The Lava Tube: A lava cave that opened to the ocean.
The Legend Of Waianapanapa Caves
Once upon a time a Hawaiian Princess named Popoalaea fled from her cruel husband, the Chief Kakae. She hid on a ledge just inside the underwater entrance to this cave. A faithful serving maid sat across from her fanning the princess with a feather Kahili, symbol of royalty. Noticing the reflection of the Kahili in the water the Chief Kakae discovered Popoalaea's hiding place and killed her. At certain times of the year, tiny red shrimp appear in the pool, turning the water red. Some say it is a reminder of the blood slain princess.
Jill, Mike, Kari in the Waianapanapa Cave
Rich, Jill, Mike, Kari
It was one of those places that you could spend all day exploring, but we had to keep moving in order to make it to the Seven Pools before dark.