A Journey of Exploration,A Maui circular drive in Hawaii

Go into "Jurassic Park"

The Hana Highway on the Hawaiian island of Maui is one of the most beautiful roads in the world where the Jurassic Park was filmed. The road of over 80 kilometers is built along the coastline all the way through, passes 54 bridges and over 620 bays and fjords. Actually, a circular road trip of Maui offers you as spectacular views as those along Hana Highway. The route which runs hundreds of kilometers is lined with over a thousand bays and fjords. As the road is built by the sea, a road trip enables you to enjoy the most exciting driving experience and unlimited beauty of scenery.

Blue sky and sea, white cloud and sand, exuberant forest, great waterfalls and black beach make Eden-like scenery captivating the visitors. In a three-day road trip by myself, I not only went through Hana Highway, had a circular drive around Maui Island, but also came to see the sunset and hike in Haleakala National Park.

Maui Island is a volcanic island in Maui county and the second largest island in Hawaii. Why I chose to take a road trip in Maui is not only that Hana Highway is beautiful but that the narrow road on the island is not suitable for buses and thus few tour groups come here. The shape of Maui is like the bust of a man: Kahului Airport is at the position of the man's cervical vertebra, Hana Highway is on the man's back, the famous "surface of the moon" in Haleakala National Park is at the center of the man’s upper body where you may watch the best sunset, while Lahaina beach at the man’s noses and eyes houses most of the hotels on the island.

You appreciate the scenery while driving for most of the time during a circular road trip on Maui. Because all of the highways on the island are quite narrow and you could only stop to take photos when there is a sightseeing platform or a parking lot, otherwise you could only enjoy the views in car. You don’t need to remember all the scenic spots as the remarkable ones together with the marine parks are all marked in a google map.

Sheer cliffs and "fountains" everywhere

Waihee Beach Park was a highlight of my trip. A slope lies ahead of the park where I gained a splendid panoramic view of the coastline I had passed. Honolua Bay features sheer cliffs and what impressed me most was a "fountain" of several meters high formed by sea waves beating against the cliff. The moorland there feels like plateau. Kapalua Beach is also a wonderful place and on my way there I passed a small village where the whole valley could be seen from a vantage point. It was dangerous driving along the road down the hill most parts of which are one way only and few places have spaces to let an oncoming car pass. You may take a break at either of the two agreeable cafés on the way.

Between Honolua Bay and Oneloa Bay lies Kaanapali Coast which is home to a top surf spot on Maui. You can drive your car by a trail on your right. The top of the cliff is always packed with cars.Though the coast is not suitable for swimming, it's an ideal choice for surfing as the waves reach as high as two to three meters. During the peak time at dusk, you may see over a hundred people surfing in the sea. Besides, it is perfect to watch the beautiful sunset here. Many surfers would go ashore and enjoy the beautiful scenery on top of their cars at sunset.

Kaanapali Beach is rated as one of the most beautiful beaches in the US. It was the place where the royal family of Hawaii once lived. Surrounded by a number of hotels and resorts, the beach is known as one of the world-renowned holiday destinations. Featuring fine sand, the beach is fit for both swimming and surfing. As I approached the beach in the distance, a pecular rumble reached my ears. It turned out that the sound was generated by high waves pounding the rocks on the shore. You should take great care when swimming here, as the waves are as high as half a meter even on the beach. Hilllike waves follow one another on the sea and slap the shore endlessly.

Lahaina was the royal capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom and is the place where I lived during my trip. Every day I hit the road from and returned here. Lahaina Beach has small waves but the scenery there is charming as well. I saw some large cruisers anchor on the sea. Most of the low and medium grade hotels gather at Lahaina.

Stunning black rock and beach

Hana Highway is lined with several forest parks. You may visit them one by one, so long as you have enough time. It is said that some scenes in Jurassic Park were filmed here. It may take you one day to hike in even only one of these parks.

You may find many waterfalls beside the road during your driving tour but you cannot stop to appreciate them. The waterfalls in parks are also great, and those in Waianapanapa State Park are recommended for visitors by many travel articles. I found them indeed gorgeous after visiting the park. Giant surfs break on black rocks and beach forming a magnificent view. You may also swim here after passing through a track in black pine forest. I still felt reluctant to leave even after I had spent two hours taking photos there.

The giant white waves and black rocks constitute a stark contrast. Like a fountain, spray as high as 10 meters is formed as the two clash. It is the first time I have seen a black beach. A father was watching the sea with his children on the beach and suddenly a giant wave rushed onto where they were standing. Realizing this, the father grabbed his youngest child and ran to escape the wave only to find himself soaked.

Hiking on the "moon"

After finishing your driving trip along Haha Highway, you may move on if you like. Later you will find there are fewer and fewer cars as you drive on until the road becomes totally worn out. Like a roller coaster, the car bumps up and down at the maximum speed of 10 miles per hour. This dangerous road is often accessible to one car only, but the scenery is quite natural. It is said that the view along this road is the most original and only view unspoiled by man in Hawaii.

Haleakala National Park is the most beautiful place on Maui Island that offers the most amazing sunrise. When the sun rises slowly above a sea of clouds, every visitor is stunned by its beauty.

Tips：

It is about 116 kilometers from Lahaina beach to Hana and takes about four to five hours to finish a driving trip between the two places (a longer time if return trip is included). Most people start early in the morning. The distance from Lahaina to Hana Highway is 36 kilometers and it takes around 40 to 50 minutes, and occasionally there is a traffic jam. You may stop at only three scenic spots on the way. Swimming (with no lock room or shower facilities which are only available in parks on Maui Island) is available at two of them, but another one is only for sightseeing.

(Words & Photos/Xingzhe Laohu)