On an island in the sun.: June 2012

Wai'anapanapa Park- Just past mile marker 32

This park is home to both a fresh water cave suitable for swimming, as well as a black sand beach! Unfortunately, there were TONS of people in the freshwater cave, most of them locals, and I just felt kind of in the way....lol. The cave was awesome, though not very big, so the 7 people that were already in there were pretty close together. So no swimming for us.

The black sand beach on the other hand was awesome! Interesting fact: black sand beaches tell you that the beach itself is actually quite new (in terms of thousands of years, that is). The beach was probably created in less than a week or two from lava flowing into the ocean and shattering on contact with the water. Older islands like Oahu and Kauai do not have black sand beaches because its been too long since lava flow has occurred there. According to the guidebook, the Big Island is still creating black sand beaches to this day. How cool!

Waves rushing out over the black sand

Digging my toes in! :)

Justin at the entrance to the cave

Right next to the black sand beach, there was a cave that you could climb into. The water rushed in on one side! :) There were two adorable little kids who would run to the edge, and then run back when the water came rushing into the cave. The tide was pretty low, so it was safe to be in there. :)

Standing in the light! :)

Where the ocean came rushing in

Red Sand Beach- Park on Uakea & Havoli, walk past the second lamppost on the lawn
We were able to see the red sand beach, but there seemed to be a giant cliff between us and the actual beach. So we stood there and looked at it for a second, and then headed back to the car. lol.

We were also in Hana at this point. It was small, cute, and very hippy-ish. We stopped at the General Store and bought a coffee since I was starting to fall asleep in the car, and my favorite things were still to come! Other than that, there wasn't a lot in Hana. There were a couple of places to eat, but we had had lunch just a few hours before.

~~Venus Pool- Just past mile 48~~
We skipped the Venus Pool stop, because we were afraid we were going to run out of time, and Justin still had a long way to drive. :)

The last pool spilling into the ocean

The Seven Sacred Pools- Parking lot past mile marker 42
These pools/waterfalls are actually called 'Ohe'o Gulch. But back when no one came to Hana or knew it was there, an owner of one of the hotels there needed to ramp up hype about this side of the island. So he renamed these beautiful spot "The Seven Sacred Pools," even though there is nothing sacred about them, nor are there actually 7 of them...lol.

Unfortunately, because of the rain, the pools were closed to swimming because of high, fast water. :(

One of the smallest falls

The biggest pool, great for swimming!

Makahiku Falls

Infinity Pool + Pipiwai Trail- Above 7 Sacred Pools
The infinity pool is something I've wanted to see and swim in since I bought the guidebook. I remember sitting in Les Schawb in Burien thinking, "That's where I'm going!" From the 7 Sacred Pools, you hike up the Pipiwai Trail and veer off. The Infinity Pool is at the top of a 200 foot water. So off we went up the trail. The first waterfall you can see from the trail is Makahiku Falls, which is an 800 foot waterfall. Along the trail, there are various look-outs. All with warning signs--and all signs that Justin liked to walk past....lol.

Next, we got to the spot where we were supposed to be able to veer off the trail and see the Infinity Pool. And we ran into this:

NOOOOOOO! There was a giant wire fence put up. I was so bummed. I guess last year, a couple of people got in the pool when the falls were RUSHING (ahh..duh!), and ended up going over the edge of the falls. SO BUMMED. But then my husband, well, he decided to climb over the fence! lol. He walked down to check it out, and then came back to get me, because he said I had to see it. Even though I'm terrified of climbing fences (I don't know why!), I managed to fall over the fence and see the infinity pool. Though yes, it wasn't much of a pool and more the top of a rushing water fall. :) But it was still beautiful nonetheless. And no, we didn't swim in it, because we're smart people!
We just have to figure out when the water isn't so high, and go back again! Maybe when my sissy visits? :)

The Infinity Pool

The rushing water

Man-made path through the bamboo forest

After the (slightly disappointing) Infinity Pool, we continued on up the Pipiwai Trail, as there was supposed to be a bamboo forest that you can hike through towards the end. There was also a pretty large banyon tree that we got to take pictures in front of! :)

Giant Banyon Tree! :)

At the end of the path, we turned around and headed back. From here, it was time to head home! Most people turn back and take the road back through Hana. We decided to keep on going!

The road back was unpaved for a portion, as well as one-way for other portions. Sometimes, the unpaved parts were better than the paved portions...lol. The views were beautiful though!