Maui Days 2 and 3

Yesterday afternoon we headed in to Lahaina Town after getting back from our snorkeling trip. We drove the four miles down, parked, and then walked around the old port district for an hour and a half.

We went back to the hotel for a Pilates class for Erika, and a run for me. Then we went back into Lahaina for a great seaside dinner at Lahaina Fish Co.

This morning we got up early and drove two hours to Haleakala National Park. The last forty minutes was almost completely uphill. After we entered the park we continued up from 7,200 to 9,800 feet to the Haleakala Crater visitor's center. First, we went up to the summit at 10,027 feet and got amazing views all the way to Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on the big island. 

 

Then we went back down the visitor's center and to the Shifting Sands trail head. From there we went down 1,400 feet into the Haleakala Crater over 2.5 miles. The landscape was like nothing that we had ever seen. It was the closest we would get to walking on Mars, and it was closer to the Grand Canyon than anything else we had seen in Hawaii. 

Finally, we took more time climbing the 2.5 miles and 1,400 feet out of the canyon and afterwards, exhausted, started the long drive back to Lahaina.

Now we are back at the hotel getting some yoga and walking in (as if I didn't get enough) before dinner.