(Seventh of a Series)
Day 4 - December 18, 2013
We've driven the long Road to Hana before and we still remember how much fun we had. One of the most scenic highways in the US, it's a 68-mile drive that makes for a whole day's trip. The zig-zag roads, narrow one-lane bridges, and compelling sights along the way make you willingly slow down and enjoy it.
Last time, we traveled all the way to the end where you'd find the Seven Sacred Pools. Since we headed out a little late in the day, we didn't quite make it that far this time around.
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| Scenic lookouts with breathtaking views command you to stop and take a photo. |
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| You'll pass about 59 small one lane bridges while on the Road to Hana. |
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| This popular landmark is where we stopped to buy some banana bread. |
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| And here at Coconut Glen's is where we stopped to buy fresh coconut. |
I was craving for fresh coconut and hoped I could buy some at Halfway to Hana snack shop. Instead, I was directed to the next shack called Coconut Glen's. I prefer to call it the "Happy Hippie Shack" because of the characters tending that store. They were very entertaining to watch.
In the left corner of the store stood a forty-something Caucasian woman wearing rain boots. The branches and ornaments at her feet convinced me that she was about to set up a Christmas tree. There was a Muppet Christmas Carol playing and she happily sang along off-key. Meanwhile, a younger woman, sitting on a stool close to her, could not be bothered as she tried to sort her tangled seashell garland.
The lad, who was behind the counter, walked out to the front to get me a coconut. It was rather painful to watch him crack it open. Typically, an islander successfully does so with only a few whacks. No one was in a hurry but soon it started to rain. So once I got my coco-delight, I jumped back in the car to continue our journey.
We've been to the usual stops before like Garden of Eden Arboretum. But during this trip, we found our way to the Honokalani Black Sand Beach of Wai'anapanapa. It was like entering a completely different world.
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| A bird's eye view of the striking Honokalani Beach in Wai'anapanapa. |
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| Alan and I having fun on the black sand beach. |
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| Trevor treads slowly on the rocky pebbles on this black sand beach. |
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| These pebbles of volcanic origin are smooth with no sharp edges. |
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| You'd never guess that I shrieked and sprinted about a half mile away when they pointed to a spider in there. |
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| Trevor goofing off with Alan here. The contrasting colors of lava rocks, lush vegetation, and deep blue ocean provide a magnificent backdrop for the photo. |
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| Trevor takes another snapshot of this beautiful shangri-la. |
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| We were among a handful of tourists exploring the breathtaking area. |
Here's a panoramic view of the Honokalani Black Sand Beach in Wai'anapanapa. You'll even see a rainbow.
The rain poured again while we were there. Some Japanese tourists joined us in taking cover under a big rock. Eventually, we all ran back to our cars.
I didn't mind getting wet. In fact, I love the rain because sometimes it brings rainbows.
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| I found this while on the famous Road to Hana. It's a little faint, but there's a second rainbow outlining the first. |
This was my second sighting of a double rainbow this year. And I did find my double pots of gold in Hana. Discovering the incredible Wai'anapanapa Black Sand Beach was one. The other is having another priceless family bonding time in Hawaii.
Learn more about the History of Road to Hana and Wai'anapanapa State Park.
This story was continued from Heavenly Pampering. Next is our ATV off-road adventure called Clouds of Red.
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