No Fixed Abode: Wiggles and Waterfalls

Thu 12 Nov - SE Maui continued

A bit clear when we awoke so unzipped the window from our lofty perch to get a room with a view of the ocean still crashing on those black rocks. Our shower was al fresco as we were the only people camping here amongst the trees on the beach.

Mokulau was our first point of call. To get there we needed to watch out for 2 mailboxes and a chain across a dirt track. Uncoupled the chain, we made down the dirt track and came across a lovely Church and in the ocean the dozens of lava outcrops in the sea with large waves crashing down on them made for a great photo opportunity. We wanted to stay here longer but it was very windy the rain was threatening and we had a day waterfalls ahead.

At Alelele bridge, we took the trail from the road up through the forest. The guidebook had stated that although the stream had too be crossed but it should be possible to keep your feet dry. However, due to the volume of the rain we had to ford a knee deep torrent holding each other for support. As we trekked on we could hear the rumble of the waterfall and it did not disappoint. We both got drenched in the wind blown spray whilst admiring the spectacle.

From here the road became very narrow, very steep and very twisty, hanging on to the cliffs with the ocean raging below, but well protected by the rusty, broken barriers. A few tight squeezes past oncoming cars and we found a nice black rock beach to stop for lunch we had a wonderful view of a waterfall plummeting directly in to the sea.

With the road improving we entered the southern part of Haleakala National Park and set up our camp. This park has direct trails we want to complete: Ohe’o Gulch aka Seven Sacred Pools and the Pipiwai trail to Woimoku Falls. The first was only half a mile so we popped there before becoming distracted with the exhibits at the visitor centre which meant we didn’t have sufficient time to complete the other trail. We plan to do that in the morning when we are up early - before the tourists arrive.

After dinner we sat around a camp fire, reminiscing about the last week smelling of Deet and wood smoke. Bedtimes seem to be getting earlier…..