Maui, Hawaii, United States of America

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 helicopter

Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 3 – a suburb of Kahului on the northern shore of Maui, to the east of the city

Maui, 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 lunch

Maui, 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 preserve

Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 15 – the northwest corner of the island of Maui, with Molokai Island in the distance

Maui, 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, Maui

Maui, 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

Legal Notices: All photographs copyright © 2024 by Richard C. Edwards.  All Rights Reserved Worldwide.  Permission to link to this blog post is granted for educational and non-commercial purposes only.

Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, United States of America

Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 1 – sailing into Honolulu, the capital of the state, we just caught the sunrise behind Diamond Head Peak

Honolulu, on the island of Oahu’s south shore, is the capital of Hawaii and the gateway to the United States of America island chain in the Pacific Ocean.  The Waikiki neighborhood is the city’s center for dining, nightlife and shopping –famed for its iconic crescent beach backed by palms and high-rise hotels, with the volcanic Diamond Head crater looming in the distance.  Sites relating to the World War II Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, include the USS Arizona Memorial.  The city’s population is close to 350,000, with an urban area population of just over 1,000,000, making it one of the largest cities in Oceania (Sydney, Australia is the largest).  The population of Honolulu, the state’s largest city, is a fusion of Asian, Western and Pacific cultures rooted in the values and traditions of the Native Hawaiian people.

“Honolulu has been the capital of the Hawaiian Islands since 1845, firstly of the independent Hawaiian Kingdom, and since 1898, of the U.S. territory and state of Hawaii  The city gained worldwide recognition following the Empire of Japan’s attack on nearby Pearl Harbor which prompted the entry of the United States into World War II; the harbor remains a major U.S. Navy base, hosting the United States Pacific Fleet, the world’s largest naval command.” – Wikipedia

Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 2 – central “downtown” in Honolulu at sunrise

Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 3 – we docked at Pier 2 Cruise Terminal (on the right), facing the modern skyscrapers of the Central Business District of the city; the mountains in the background (even without any palm trees in the photograph) help pinpoint the location as the Hawaiian Islands

“Honolulu is the remotest major U.S. city and one of the remotest cities in the world.  The closest major city is San Francisco, California, on the U.S. mainland, at 2,397 miles [3,858 kilometers].” — Wikipedia

Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 4 – our last glimpse of Diamond Head before it was obscured by the numerous high-rises in the city

Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 5 – a close-up of the modern skyscrapers of the Central Business District of the city

Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 6 – the Aloha Tower downtown, near the harbor; note the world “ALOHA” is etched in the stone at the top, above the clock face

The Aloha Tower is a retired lighthouse that is considered one of the landmarks of the state of Hawaii in the United States.  Opened on September 11, 1926, at a cost (then) of $160,000, the Aloha Tower is located at Pier 9 of Honolulu Harbor.  This was the tallest building in the islands for four decades and its clock was one of the largest in the United States. The tower stood as a welcoming beacon for visitors since travel to Oahu was done entirely by sea.

Mid-day we joined a few other Residents of the ship for a fitness outing for a snorkel trip to explore the shallow- and deep-water reefs of Maunalua Bay.  Unfortunately, although we snorkeled in two different areas of Maunalua Bay, the visibility was very poor, making it hard to see the tropical fish that were only a foot or two [less than 1 meter] above the ocean floor and the few flattish coral reefs that we saw.  All in all, a disappointing outing.  So, after a swim on board and a shower, we took the Intrepid Explorer to the Ala Moana [Shopping] Center for some retail therapy late in the afternoon, followed by a very good sushi dinner outdoors at Ginza Sushi, about a 10-minute walk down Ala Moana Boulevard from the Ala Moana Center.  It was an easy Uber ride back to the pier before we set sail for our next port of call, Nawiliwili (the port for Līhu’e) on the northwesternmost of the 4 major Hawaiian islands, Kaua’i. 

Honolulu’s two best known neighborhoods for tourists are Ala Moana and Waikiki.  “Ala Moana is a district between Kaka’ako and Waikiki and the home of the Ala Moana, the “world’s largest open-air shopping center” and Hawaii’s largest shopping mall.  Ala Moana Center has over 300 tenants and is very popular with tourists.  Also in Ala Moana is the Honolulu Design Center and Ala Moana Beach Park, Honolulu’s second-largest park.  Waikiki is Honolulu’s tourist district, between the Ala Wai Canal and the Pacific Ocean next to Diamond Head.  Numerous hotels, shops, and nightlife opportunities are along Kalākaua and Kūhiō Avenues.  It is a popular location for visitors and locals alike and attracts millions of visitors every year.  Most of Oahu’s hotel rooms are in Waikiki.” — Wikipedia

Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 7 — Ala Moana Center is the “world’s largest open-air shopping center” and Hawaii’s largest shopping mall

Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 8 – we were certainly surprised to find this Tesla dealership on the second story level of shops at the Ala Moana Center; it is just one of the over 300 tenants in the shopping mall

Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 9 – the Intrepid Traveler bought several outfits at Johnny Was, getting her fix on retail therapy for the day

Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 10 – it’s always peculiar to find Christmas decorations in the tropical islands, but being December, it’s that time of year!

Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, U.S.A, photograph # 11 – many of the condominium buildings and shopping malls and stores in the general Ala Moana neighborhood were displaying red and green lights wherever they could – on palm trees (weird!), the building’s exterior (shown here), etc.

The correct spelling of the State (Hawaii) and the island (Hawai’i):

The name of the state, Hawaii, is not written with an ‘okina between the two “i”s, because the United States of America’s Statehood Act in 1959 used the spelling “Hawaii.”  An Act of the United States Congress is required to “correct” the name of the state to Hawai’i.  Thus, the name of the state is Hawaii, while the name of the island of the same name is Hawai’i.  Yes, your blogger wondered about this, too, to get the correct spelling here.  We will be visiting the island of Hawai’i and you will then see an ‘okina between the two “i”s.

Legal Notices: All photographs copyright © 2024 by Richard C. Edwards.  All Rights Reserved Worldwide.  Permission to link to this blog post is granted for educational and non-commercial purposes only.

Transiting the Panama Canal (part three), Balboa and the Pacific Ocean, Panama

After crossing under the Centennial Bridge we approached the first of three Pacific locks that will lower us 84 feet (25.6 meters) to the Pacific Ocean; Panama Canal, Panama

Our first blog post on “Transiting the Panama Canal” took us from the Caribbean Sea entrance to the Panama Canal at Colon, Panama, and through the Gatun locks; the second followed our journey across Gatun Lake in very inclement weather.  This third blog post takes us down through the three Pacific Ocean-side-of-the-canal locks (84 feet, or 25.6 meters) to the Pacific Ocean. 

In the photograph, above, on the far right hand side, the new channel for the new locks (about 50% longer and wider than the 1914 locks) is visible.  Built by the Panamanians, the new locks will accommodate the newer, massive freighters for the first time — scheduled for opening in April 2016.

Approaching the single Pedro Miguel lock that will begin our descent to the Pacific Ocean; Panama Canal, Panama

After the water level in the Pedro Miguel lock was lowered and the gates opened, the “mules” pull us into Miraflores Lake; Panama Canal, Panama

One of the four “Panama Canal mules” (electric locomotives) that pulled us into, through, and out of the Pedro Miguel lock; Panama Canal, Panama

Beautiful geometric patterns of the adjacent lock gates holding water; Panama Canal, Panama

Being positioned, by the “mules”, in the first of two Miraflores locks (along with one of the Canal’s tugboats); Panama Canal, Panama

Looking aft from the stern of our ship towards the Centennial Bridge and the Caribbean Sea, from the first Miraflores lock, as the water is drained; Panama Canal, Panama

Looking forward from the bow of our ship as we get snuggled into the second Miraflores lock; Panama Canal, Panama

Watching the water drain from the lock by gravity — no pumps — lowering us down to the level of the Pacific Ocean; Panama Canal, Panama

After the water levels were equalized, the gates are electrically opened and we prepare for the final “pull” from the “mules”; Panama Canal, Panama

The tugboat that shared these locks with us steams out towards the Pacific Ocean under its own power; Panama Canal, Panama

Disconnected from the “mules”, we proceed under our own power towards the Bridge of the Americas and the Pacific Ocean; Panama Canal, Panama

The Panama Canal has been called the “Greatest Shortcut” in history.  Prior to its completion, the added distance for ships sailing from New York to San Francisco around Cape Horn at the lower tip of South America versus through the Panama Canal was 8,000 miles (12,874 kilometers).

Sailing at dusk towards the Bridge of the Americas and the Pacific Ocean; Panama Canal, Panama

A telescopic, twilight view of some of Panama City’s new high rises overlooking the Pacific Ocean; Panama Canal, Panama

The Panama Canal has been described as the “Eighth Wonder of the World” and the greatest engineering achievement since the Great Pyramids of Egypt.

As dusk turned to night, we sailed under the Bridge of the Americas and into the Pacific Ocean; Panama Canal, Panama

This was a truly remarkable day.  Breakfast in the Caribbean Sea, riding up through the locks to witness nature’s fury with the thunderstorms on Gatun Lake after lunch on the lake, and then descending the southern locks to cross under the Bridge of the Americas and dine on the Pacific after sunset.  The journey generated a toast that evening to the foresight, leadership, perseverance. engineering brilliance and hard work of countless French and American leaders over decades (1880 to the canal opening in 1914), and a memorial toast to the thousands who died in the jungle while helping build this amazing transcontinental canal.