Koningsdam adventure, Kahului, Maui...

I was up very early for sail in this morning to Kahului, Maui... The sail in was lovely, the views spectacular, worth losing valuable sleep.  Ann, Cathy and I rented a car and headed for Haleakala National Park.  Rising dramatically to a summit of 10,023 feet, Haleakalā is the third largest volcano in Hawaii. Its mass makes up approximately three quarters of Maui, and its presence is dominating. It is amazing to think we journeyed from lush tropical island landscapes to stark moonlike craters and the summit cinder desert in less than two hours.  The climb to the summit was a long winding road but breathtaking.  The entrance gate to the park is at 7,000 feet above sea level. The summit is 3,023 feet higher. The drive provides wonderful views of the valley below, with plenty of places to pull off and take pictures. It also allows you to see the transition of the environment as you climb up in altitude. We had a great day in Maui and it is amazing we could experience two islands back-to-back with such a variety of beauty and great weather.  This was our first time stopping at Kahului a replacement port for Lahaina…  Lahaina suffered devastating fires in 2023 and is still recovering. Renting a car here is a cumbersome process… Maybe not worth the effort on our next trip…