Day 8: Road to Hana

According to everything you read, "The Road to Hana" is a must; despite some incredible experiences, it was by far the kids' most minor favorite thing to do. The road is about thirty-eight miles long but takes about two hours to drive without stopping. It consists of 600 curves and over 40 one-way bridges.  Some of the incredible experiences consisted of beautiful waterfalls, rainbow eucalyptus trees, banana bread, a lava cave, and black sand.

Day 7: Snorkeling

We adventured out by boat today for a day of snorkeling.  We used Sail Maui, and they were great; they were so hospitable and knowledgeable about snorkeling.  They fed us both breakfast and lunch.  We went to some less populated areas to snorkel.  We were able to see some turtles and lots of fish; nothing extraordinary, though.  The highlight of the boat ride, besides a few sunburns by us all, was the dolphins.  On the trip to the site, about twelve dolphins were swimming and jumping right next to the boat.  Even though we have swam with them in person and seen dolphins many times, I still can't get enough of that beautiful animal.  

When we returned, we decided to spend the rest of the day at the beach to burn even more. 

Day 6: Ho'okipa Beach, Paia, and Iao Valley

Today was a packed day of new sights.  We started by going to Ho'okipa Beach, where we were encouraged not to swim but instead watch professional surfers and wind sailors hit the waves.  The kids got bored fast, so we only stayed for a short time.

Next, we shopped in a little town called Paia.  Super cute town with fun boutiques and souvenirs.  

Lastly, we hiked Iao Valley.  This valley was the site of the battle of Kepaniwai, where the forces of Kamehameha conquered the Maui army in 1790.  The highest peak was the specific spot of the fight.  The hike was very minimal and nothing too exciting for the kids, but the history and culture made it worth it.