My thoughts: Day 2 & 3: Maui

We started our day in Maui by driving on Hana Highway, a scenic drive that connects Kahului to Hana. As this is a 68-mile convoluted drive, I would not recommend taking this trip if you are short on time. Since we only had two days, we only drove part of the way. We stopped at various points, including Keanae Peninsula Lookout, Wailua Valley Lookout, and Waikani Falls.

After getting back to Kahului, we headed to the Haleakala National Park where we waited to watch the sunset. The summit is about ~10,000 feet high and it is absolutely freezing there. Last time we were there, it was in August so it wasn't as cold. But this time, it was almost unbearable because the wind was very strong. Keep in mind that we came prepared with winter coats and hats. After watching the sunset, we proceeded to drive very carefully down the volcano because there were no lights except the ones from our car. I would not leave Maui without visiting this park because the view is simply sublime. However, I would recommend coming in the summer to watch the sunrise, follow by a bike ride down the volcano.

The next day, we drove to Iao Valley State Park to see the famous Iao Needle. Afterward, we drove along the west coast of Maui toward Kapulua Beach where we plan to snorkel. Along the way, we stopped to do some whale watching. Each time we caught sight of a whale, we shouted in excitement. There were so many whales swimming that it was hard to pull away and continue on our drive. But pull away we did and thank goodness because snorkeling on Kapulua Beach was truly an unforgettable experience. We swam with countless variegated fishes, coral reefs, and even a huge Hawaiian turtle! Needless to say, it was one of the highlights of our trip.

View of Maui from our balcony