Hawaii 15 - day 1&2 Maui, Haleakala, Molokini, Lanai

The long journey at the end of my Japanese assignment started. 

First part is two weeks of Hawaii with my friend Susan. This trip started wit a little time travel, as you cross the date line from Japan to Hawaii. So you arrive earlier in the day on the same date. In my case I started on Wednesday evening and arrived on Wednesday morning. Funny feeling. Not only my Jawbone is confused about this.

After both of us had made it to Maui, we got the car and reached our Hotel on the west coast.

On the next morning bright and early we got on our way to the top of the Volkano Haleakalaa (jet lag is not such a bad thing). Down at the coast it was drizzling as last remains of a Hurricane but we soon reached the area, where the clouds were almost gone or below us. Up at the visitor center we got a private tour with one of the rangers and learned a bit about the significance of this area. Not only did they find stones for tools here that made it up to Siam(?). This was also the place where the navigator apprentices where getting there lessons.

When we arrived, the crater area was almost clear.

A short distance into the crater already some clouds seeped  in

to shortly after fill the area.

Some interesting layers of lava, cinder and ashes along the way show the different stages

On the top of the mountain

we saw some flowers, that only exist here. They grow only here. It takes them 50 years to grow. They bloom once for two month before the die

On our way down we stopped at a lookout that was completely in the clouds but after our lunch break it had opened up again

On the lowest lookout we were not patient enough and only took pictures of a nice Halo

On our way back the toughie App mentioned a restaurant wher we stopped by, that had really delicious food. Good, that we listened to the guide 

On the second day we took a snorkeling tour to Molokini, a crater rim close to  Maui, where the water is very clear but the reef is a bit damaged unfortunately. 

Next stop was Lanai, where the water was not so clear but the corals where in much better shape and also more fish were seen (one school of 100-150) and even a turtle. On the way back we finally saw a lot of spinner dolphins and we could see, where they got their name from. The crew on the boat counted more than 100 dolphins in this group. Another great but exhausting day. No more picture so, as this is a bit difficult on the water.