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Haleakala - The Number one Site in Maui - Part 1
For a New Year's Day drive, this one was pretty special. The trip to the top of the volcano known as Haleakala can only be described as awe inspiring.
The word "crescendo" comes to mind as I think back to this drive (blog was written June 17, 2008). From the moment that one enters the Haleakala Highway, about 5 miles beyond Pukalani, the scenery just keeps getting better and better as the elevation keeps increasing along many switch-back turns which lead to the visitor's center.
The "crescendo" finally bursts into a sensual overload as the first view of the shield volcano meets the eye. It can only be described as the most beautiful landscape painting created from a palette of subtle shades of browns and reds on the slopes of the volcano. There is a sense of perfection here, a perfection which only nature can produce
.
Haleakala rises 10,023 feet above sea level and when measured from the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, the peak would be higher than Mt. Everest.
Unlike Everest which is accessible only to a very few, Haleakala could not be more accessible due to an asphalt road that winds to the very top of the volcano and beyond to the so-called "Science City" which I will detail in the next blog.
Unlike Mauna Kea on Big Island, we did not have to rent a four-wheel drive vehicle to get to the top. If your car runs it will get to the top - no problem.
Mauna Kea by contrast (see Blog No. 99 - Mauna Kea - Life at 13,000 feet) was 13,796 feet in elevation. That is just high enough to bring the visitor into a cold, hostile, snow covered environment which can be dangerous not only due to the extreme elements but also due to the possibility of altitude sickness.
Undoubtedly Mauna Kea was more of an adventure but I would have to say that for sheer beauty my choice would be Haleakala
.
This was a subtle realization that crept into my consciousness as the full extent of the scenery sunk in during the hour it took to drive to the top of the volcano.
I have chosen to divide this blog into two parts simply based on the number of photos that were taken. The photos of Part 1 chronicle the drive to the volcano. Part 2 will show the full beauty of the volcano, Science City and the drive back.
I know I could cull my photos down to half, but the experience was too remarkable and I would like to keep every memory of this remarkable drive on New Year's Day 2008.
Coming Soon
Haleakala - The Number One Site in Maui - Part 2
Haleakala - Maui's Top Site - Part 1
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Pukalani, Hawaii, United States
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