, Hawaii. The last eruption of Haleakala was recorded in the year 1790. Haleakala Crater is 7 miles (11.25 kilometers) in length and 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) in width, and its depth is 2625 feet (800 m). Haleakala Volcano is considered the active one but dormant until the time comes.
This place can be reached along the paved road known as route 378. This is one of the most difficult but the most beautiful roads of the island of Maui! The road goes up gradually, with sharp turns. You slowly drive into the clouds, and then you find yourself above the clouds at 10,000 feet (3,000 meters) - above the ground.
According to Polynesian, the name Haleakala means "House of the Sun", and it is associated with the legend which says that the demigod Maui once caught the sun.
Here is a caldera of the volcano.
This is a view of the lowest observation deck from the highest one. Now we are at the height of 10,022 feet (3,055 meters).
This is the Haleakala Observatory. Entrance to it is closed.
Here is a very interesting plant called Silversword. It's a rare and endangered flower of the Earth. Silversword grows only at the foot of the most famous volcanoes of Mauna Loa, Haleakala, and Mauna Kea. This endemic lives for 40-50 years, then it blooms and dies.
Many people come here for an overnight stay to see the dawn.
And here is a long-awaited sunset!
It will become dark in a moment...
From the volcano, we went to our ship - Pride of America. We arrived there at 8 pm. And we went to Hana in the morning! The violet line shows our way there, and the light green one - our way back (according to the map of our route). This is the road that runs along the ocean coast, through the jungle, and you'll have to make 600 sharp turns. The length of the road is 35 miles. The nature is very beautiful along the entire coast, everything is green, there are palm trees, flowers that I have never seen before.
Here are landscapes that we saw:
There is a botanical garden at the 11th mile but we didn't want to be late. Jurassic Park was filmed there.
On the way, we stopped at the waterfall called "3 Bears". When there is not enough rain, one waterfall divides into three streams.
This is Spathodea (Spathodea campanulata) - the African tulip tree.
This tree is in bloom all year round and it lives for 500 years! And its flowers are like tulips.
Along the way, almost near Hana, we stopped and bought banana bread. There is a regular one, without additives, or you can get one with nuts and different fruits. We took the one with nuts and mango. In fact, it is not really bread, but the usual sweet cake, very delicious!
We arrived in Hana.
Hana is a small secluded town. We re-energized there, visited a souvenir shop, and went back, overcoming the same 600 turns. The road to Hana and back took us 6 hours.
When we came back to the ship, we saw the rainbow:
And took a picture of an aircraft of Hawaiian Airlines.
Aloha Maui! Aloha!
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