Molokai, Lanai and Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 1 – our helicopter’s approach to the island of Molokai was from the southeast (from the west end of Maui)
We continued our flight with the Maverick Helicopter Chief Pilot, Jake, flying four of us for several hours on a three-island tour – Maui, Molokai and Lanai. As noted previously, Maui is the second most populated Hawaiian Island and is affectionately known as the “Valley Isle” due to the great valley that lies between its two major volcanoes, Haleakala and Mauna Kahalawai.
Molokai – the “Friendly Island” and known as the most Hawaiian island — to the northwest of Maui, is “Hawaii’s fifth largest island — only 38 miles long and 10 miles across at its widest point. [It] is home to the highest sea cliffs in the world and the longest continuous fringing reef. Molokaʻi remains true to its island roots, with a high percentage of its population (of about 7,000) being of Native Hawaiian ancestry who continue to preserve their rural lifestyle thanks to their love of the land.” – www.gohawaii.com On the island’s northern Kalaupapa Peninsula is a steep path leading to Kalaupapa National Historical Park, an isolated former leper colony below towering cliffs.
Lainai, historically known as the pineapple island (because Dole owned the island and had a huge pineapple plantation – fields — there), is 98% privately owned today by the American technology leader (and the world’s 4th richest person), Larry Ellison. Today it is mainly known for its hilltop and seaside Four Seasons Hotels, with 2,000 of the island’s 3,000 population working for Ellison. Lanai is the sixth largest of the Hawaiian Islands and the smallest publicly accessible inhabited island in the archipelago.
Molokai, Lanai and Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 2 – a meadow (it almost looks like it could be part of a golf course) and hills on a parcel near the Molokai Forest Reserve that is privately owned (we saw the owners’ home nearby)Molokai, Lanai and Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 3 – sheer cliffs, about 3,500 feet [1,067 meters] vertical, on the north shore of Molokai were formed when, millions of years ago, a large portion of the northern part of the island broke off and fell into the ocean; these are the highest sea cliffs in the world
Molokai, Lanai and Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 4 – a lush valley in the Molokai Forest Reserve
Molokai, Lanai and Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 5 – ridges and valleys on Molokai, looking to the eastern shore (with Maui in the distance [not pictured])
Molokai, Lanai and Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 6 – centuries ago, the native Hawaiians built the visible barriers to create fishponds so that strong waves would wash over the top of the walls to deposit fish in the ponds, where the native Hawaiians could easily catch the trapped fish (Molokai Island)Molokai, Lanai and Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 7 – shallow reefs fringe the eastern shore of Molokai; this is the longest continuous fringing reef in the world
Molokai, Lanai and Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 8 – a dry section of the northern shore of Lanai; the sea-level Four Seasons Hotel is on the opposite shore of the island
Molokai, Lanai and Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 9 – the southern shoreline of Maui, on the western side of the island; Lahaina (buildings and red-brown dirt exposed after the 2023 devastating fire burned hundreds of homes and all of the historic wooden buildings in the main shopping district, along the shoreline) is in the left foreground of the photograph
Molokai, Lanai and Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 10 – the foreground (red-brown dirt) shows the devastation of the 2023 fire that leveled a large portion of the historic whaling town of Lahaina; this was a really sad moment for us (having visited Lahaina over 20 times), but an important image to shareMolokai, Lanai and Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 11 – flying from the south of the island, this valley leads over the mountain (volcano) top with the Ĩao Valley on the other sideMolokai, Lanai and Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 12 – looking down the Īao Vally towards Kahului where our ship was docked, and the island’s International Airport is located
Ĩao Valley is a lush, stream-cut valley in West Maui, Hawaii, located 3.1 miles [5 kilometers] west of Wailuku. Because of its natural environment and history, it has become a tourist location. It was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1972. “Towering emerald peaks guard the lush valley floor of ʻĪao Valley State Park. This peaceful 4,000-acre, 10-mile [16 kilometers] long park is home to one of Maui’s most recognizable landmarks, the 1,200-foot [366 meters] ʻĪao Needle.
“Aside from its natural tropical beauty, sacred ʻĪao Valley has great historical significance. It was here in 1790 at the Battle of Kepaniwai that King Kamehameha I clashed with Maui’s army in his quest to unite the islands. Even with ʻĪao Needle serving as a lookout point, Kamehameha defeated Maui’s forces in a ferocious battle that ultimately changed the course of Hawaiian history.” — www.gohawaii.com
Molokai, Lanai and Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 13 – flying east from the Īao Valley towards Haleakalā, crossing the “valley” of Maui that lies between the island’s two dominating volcanoesMolokai, Lanai and Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 14 – growing citrus has replaced the historic sugar cane plants and refinement into sugar on Maui – shown here are lime tree fields (they also grow lemons) that are the new cash crop for the island
Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 1 – the Intrepid Explorer by the Maverick Helicopter that Chief Pilot Jake flew four of us in for our several hours, three-island tour; here, we stopped in the Hana Rainforest (just beyond Jurassic Rock – see photograph 5) for Champagne and snacks before resuming our tour
Our previous ship’s call on Maui, Hawaii, United States of America, was in January 2022 (during the COVID-19 pandemic) when we anchored off Lahaina on the southern shore of Maui and used tender boats to reach a pier in town. It was a wonderful visit, made more vivid a little more than a year later when hurricane strength winds blew down a number of live electric power lines into 6 foot [2 meters] high dry grass and started a fire that blew down the hill to the old historic whaling town of Lahaina, completely destroying the homes in the fire’s path and burning down all the historic wooden buildings in town that housed retail shops, cafés, and restaurants. As you will see in a photograph in our next blog post, the area is now sadly just dirt. Locals estimate that it could take up to 15 years to rebuild the area, as the first order of business is to remove the topsoil in the whole area that is now contaminated with all kinds of dangerous substances as a result of everything burning to the ground.
The good news (not very well communicated by the Maui Chamber of Commerce over the past 18 months) is that the rest of the island is fine and more than ready to greet tourists with warm hospitality. Having visited Maui as a couple and with our two sons probably more that 20 times over the past 52 years, we decided that the best way to see something “new” was to take a multi-hour helicopter ride over the island. On the helicopter ride we also visited neighboring Molokai and Lanai Islands, both with very small resident populations (several thousand people, each), compared with around 180,000 on Maui.
Maui is the second most populated Hawaiian Island (after Oahu, with over 1 million residents), located east of Oahu and west of the “Big Island” (Hawai’i). Maui is affectionately known as the “Valley Isle” due to the great valley that lies between its two major volcanoes, Haleakala and Mauna Kahalawai. It is the second largest of the Hawaiian Islands. Maui is well known for its stunning beaches, the sacred Ĩao Valley, the crater of the extinct volcano Haleakala, the Road to Hana, as well as great golfing, swimming, SCUBA diving and snorkeling, dining (at cafes, restaurants and luaus) and local entertainment. In the winter, there is whale-watching for humpback whales from Alaska swimming by the islands as they head north back to Alaska for the summer. There are also opportunities to support the local community (in the Lahaina region) through volunteer work and financial support.
Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 2 – the Maverick Helicopter heliport is adjacent to the Kahului International Airport, shown here just after “takeoff” in our helicopterMaui, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 3 – a suburb of Kahului on the northern shore of Maui, to the east of the cityMaui, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 4 – the Road to Hana (“Hana Highway”) is a two-lane and one-lane paved road, along the north and east coasts of Maui, to the scenic small town of Hana on the east coast of Maui; the drive is tortuous, with 629 hair-pin curves and 54 one-lane bridges (out of the total of 59 bridges) on the 51 mile drive from Kahului (allow several hours!)Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 5 — Jurassic Rock – actually, Keōpuka Rock – was featured in the opening sequence of the original Jurassic Park movie, as the helicopter flew in from the Pacific Ocean on the north shore of Maui to the Garden of Eden (Arboretum), a real, lush botanical garden set on 26 acres, off the Road to Hana, just south (inland) of Jurassic Rock
“The Road to Hana: There’s a sense of suspense you just can’t shake while driving the Road to Hana, a serpentine road lined with tumbling waterfalls, lush slopes, and rugged coasts – and serious hairpin turns. Spanning the northeast shore of Maui, the legendary Hana Hwy ribbons tightly between jungle valleys and towering cliffs. Along the way, 54 one-lane bridges mark nearly as many waterfalls, some tranquil and inviting, others so sheer they kiss you with spray as you drive past. The drive is ravishingly gorgeous, but certainly not easy.” – www.lonelyplanet.com
Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 6 – a waterfall in the Hana Rainforest
Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 7 – three waterfalls in the Hana Rainforest
Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 8 — our midday Champagne and snack lunch break was in the Hana Rainforest; these taro fields (our landing “pad”) were planted and harvested for centuries by the native Hawaiians before Europeans came to Hawaii (discovered by Captain James Cook in 1778)Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 9 – a large, stunning monkeypod tree on the edge of the ancient taro fields in the Hana Rainforest where we landed for lunch
Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 10 – foliage at another edge of the ancient taro fields in the Hana Rainforest where we landed for lunchMaui, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 11 – the flower of a red ginger plant (note that this is not the edible ginger plant that we use in cooking and candies) at the landing spot in the Hana Rainforest
Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 12 – after lunch we flew through the Hana Rainforest where we saw innumerable waterfalls flowing with water that had come down the sides of the Haleakalā extinct volcanic mountain
Haleakalā, or the East Maui Volcano, is a massive, active shield volcano that forms more than 75% of the Hawaiian Island of Maui. The western 25% of the island is formed by another volcano, Mauna Kahalawai, also referred to as the West Maui Mountains. The tallest peak of Haleakalā, at 10,023 feet [3,055 meters], is Puʻu ʻUlaʻula.
Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 13 – a view of “Jurassic Rock” and the shoreline of north Maui as we flew back toward Kahului on the way to west Maui and then on to the islands of Molokai and Lanai
Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 14 – the red soil in the open fields is from the volcanic iron residue in the soil, shown here as we flew west towards Maui’s western extinct volcano’s mountain, Mauna Kahalawai, with the summit, Pu’u Kukui, at 5,788-feet [1,764 meters], towering over a lush nature preserveMaui, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 15 – the northwest corner of the island of Maui, with Molokai Island in the distanceMaui, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 16 – lush, forested slopes in the west Maui ridges under Mauna Kahalawai
PHOTO Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 17 – a stream flows through one of many lush green valleys under Mauna Kahalawai
PHOTO Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 18 – this was the largest collection of waterfalls that we saw in one valley on Maui – under Mauna Kahalawai; note that the lava rock is so porous here, that many of the waterfalls are natural “springs” opening on the mountainside, rather than water runoff from uphill
Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 18 – this was the largest collection of waterfalls that we saw in one valley on Maui – under Mauna Kahalawai; note that the lava rock is so porous here, that many of the waterfalls are natural “springs” opening on the mountainside, rather than water runoff from uphill
Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 19 – approaching the southern shore of Maui on the western side of the island (where Kaanapali and Kapalua developments are located), with the island of Molokai in the background
Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 20 – flying over Kaanapali, MauiMaui, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 21 – developments on the southern shore of Maui, west of Kaanapali
Our next blog post will continue our helicopter tour of three Hawaiian islands with photographs and descriptions of Molokai and Lanai Islands
Lahaina is a historic town that has been transformed into a Maui hotspot; it was once the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom in the early nineteenth century and also a historic whaling village; Maui, Hawai’i, USA
“Once known as Lele, which means “relentless sun” in Hawaiian, Lahaina is a historic town that has been transformed into a Maui hotspot with dozens of art galleries and a variety of unique shops and restaurants. Once the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom in the early nineteenth century [1820 – 1845], Lahaina was also a historic whaling village during the whaling boom of the mid-1800s. Up to 1,500 sailors from as many as 400 ships took leave in Lahaina, including Herman Melville, who immortalized the era in his classic novel Moby Dick. Today, Lahaina is on the National Register of Historic Places. You can still get a feel for old Lahaina as you stroll down lively Front Street, ranked one of the “Top Ten Greatest Streets” by the American Planning Association. Visit historic stops like the U.S. Seamen’s Hospital, Hale Paahao (Lahaina Prison), the Pioneer Inn, Maui’s oldest living banyan tree and other sites on the Lahaina Historic Trail. Approximately 55 acres of old Lahaina have been set aside as historic districts.” — www.gohawaii.com/islands/maui/regions/west-maui/Lahaina
While Lahaina itself has a population of only 12,000, it hosts about 2 million visitors a year; Maui, Hawai’i, USA
Lahaina has over a thousand years of rich history. While Lahaina itself has a population of only 12,000 (and Maui has a population of 111,000), it hosts about 2 million visitors a year (80% of the tourists who come to Maui). Lahaina’s popularity as a tropical getaway has made its real estate some of the most expensive in Hawaii; many houses and condominiums sell for more than US$5 million, according to Wikipedia.
The old Pioneer Inn sits in the center of town, adjacent to the Lahaina Pier (where out tender boats dropped us off) and adjacent to Lahaina’s famous giant banyan tree, Lahaina, Maui, Hawai’i, USALahaina’s banyan tree, planted in 1873, is not only the largest in the state but also in the United States; Maui, Hawai’i, USA
“The banyan tree in Lahaina, in Maui, Hawaii, United States, was planted on April 24, 1873, in Lahaina to mark the 50th anniversary of the arrival of first American Protestant mission. The banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis) (known in Hawaiian as paniana, located in the Courthouse Square, which was renamed Banyan Tree Park covering 1.94 acres, is not only the largest in the state but also in the United States. The tree was a gift from missionaries in India. A mere 8 feet (2.4 meters) when planted, it has grown to a height of about 60 feet (18 meters) and has rooted into 16 major trunks, apart from the main trunk, with the canopy spread over an area of about 0.66 acres (0.27 ha).” — Wikipedia
Lahaina’s banyan tree has grown to a height of about 60 feet (18 meters) and has rooted into 16 major trunks, apart from the main trunk; Maui, Hawai’i, USAAir roots of the Lahaina banyan tree; Maui, Hawai’i, USAThe reconstructed ruins of Lahaina Fort are on the southeast corner of Banyan Tree Park with the old Lahaina Court House in the background; the fort was originally built in 1832; Lahaina, Maui, Hawai’i, USAThe old Lahaina Court House now is home to the local artists’ gallery and the tourist visitors’ center, Lahaina, Maui, Hawai’i, USAHoly Innocents Episcopal Church, Lahaina, Maui, Hawai’i, USA
King Kamehameha conquered all the Hawaiian islands and established his kingdom of Hawai’i in 1810. He located the capital of his kingdom in Lahaina, a central location to oversee the activities of the islands. In 1819 – the year of his death – the first whaling ships began arriving in Lahaina; and in 1845 the capital of Hawaii was relocated to Honolulu.
Lively Front Street, ranked one of the “Top Ten Greatest Streets” by the American Planning Association, Lahaina, Maui, Hawai’i, USAVisible from Lahaina is the beautiful island of Lanai – known for decades, after the first pineapple was planted there in 1921, as the “pineapple” island, due to the large pineapple plantations that exported tons of fruit annually; Hawai’i, USA
“In 1921, Charles Gay planted the first pineapple plant on Lanai. The population had decreased again — to 150 — most of whom were the descendants of the traditional families of the island. A year later, James Dole, the president of Hawaiian Pineapple Company (later renamed Dole Food Company), bought the island and developed a large portion of it into the world’s largest pineapple plantation. Upon Hawaii statehood in 1959, Lanai became part of the Maui County. In 1985, Lanai passed into the control of David H. Murdock as a result of his purchase of Castle & Cook, which was then the owner of Dole. High labor- and land costs led to a decline in Hawaii pineapple production in the 1980s, and Dole phased out its pineapple operations on Lanai in 1992. In June 2012, Larry Ellison, then CEO of Oracle Corporation, purchased Castle & Cooke’s 98 percent share of the island for $300 million. The state and individual homeowners own the remaining 2 percent, which includes the harbor and the private homes where the 3,000 inhabitants live.” — Wikipedia
Where in the world is Riccardo? 