With the flowers substituting the sun, lighting up the sand, the ocean takes on a color all its own. Switching from a clear shade, to light blue, to turquoise, and then a vibrant chlorine color this stretch of coastline has every shade of blue. The water here felt warmer than other areas as it is surrounded on all sides by neighbor islands. With its lengthy stretch of sand, jagged rocks to climb, and captivating waves, this is one of my favorite beaches in all of Hawaii.
On a solo trip to Maui, I stretched my comfort zone by exploring what it felt like to travel to a new place independently. Hesitant at first, I decided to lean into my discomfort and follow my intuition which encouraged me to try something new. Maybe I was testing myself, embarking on a mini trip to see if one of lengthier time and distance would be both feasible and enjoyable. The verdict: both are true. Traveling alone was a freeing experience where I could decide on each step on the beach and up on the rocks, follow each whim for what to eat, and take any twist or turn in the road that caught my eye. I met people who I wouldn’t have encountered otherwise and tested angles with my camera with no type of restraint. Looking over Makena Beach, I tip toed across the rocks to these flowers as the ocean formed a curving frame around the plants. The ocean itself here was so clear and blue I could hardly look away. High up above the water surface I could see straight down to the sandy sea floor. When I finally looked up and around, I walked further out onto the rocks and could see four other islands across the ocean surrounding a safe cove for Humpback Whales to seek refuge and give birth to their young, which is what I truly came to Maui to see.
Lava erupts from the earth right before my eyes! The smoke that you see is no campfire, no beach bonfire, no manmade occurrence. The Hawaiian Islands evolved from volcanoes after all and this is how earth is made. To arrive at this spot, I bike four miles across black lava rock on a dirt rode until finally ditching my bike and climbing across the dark ground to a safe vantage point. The sky changed color as the sun set, yet not nearly as bright as the sparks of natural fireworks that spewed through the smoke and lit up the water. Boards dared to inch close, and lava erupted into crashing waves, threatening all bystanders. Staying here until well after dark, we saw the stars come out while the light show at the ocean’s edge continued. Knowing that this rare phenomenon might not be something I ever see again, hours passed from this spot. On the four mile bike ride back under the stars, I sped up though I could only see a few feet in front of me. With the stars, and the open path, and the new experience washing over me, I just peddled into the unknown, ready for adventure.
