When you ask people what to do in Hawaii, one of the most common responses is that you must go see the sunrise over Haleakala Crater. Along with this comes the muttering that in order to do this you will also need to wake up at 3 in the morning and dress warmly. No matter how much you want to scoff at either of these mutterings, don't. Leave your condo at 3 in the morning and dress warmly. And when you think you've dressed warmly enough, add another layer. I'm pretty sure that Scott is freezing is booty off in the picture below. Think 30 degrees and very very windy. Very windy.
You want to leave early for a number of reasons. First, parking. Second, people stake a claim on the railings and it's really best to not have heads in your pictures (plus I had my GorillaPod
wrapped around the railing so that I could take longer exposure pictures). Third, it would be a big fat bummer to drive all that way and miss the damn sunrise!
wrapped around the railing so that I could take longer exposure pictures). Third, it would be a big fat bummer to drive all that way and miss the damn sunrise!
It was cold but heading to Haleakala (Ha-le-a-ka-la) was worth the trip. Plus it's on my bucket list! (yes, I admit that I put it on my list as we were driving up...shhhhh) And no--my pictures by no means to this trip justice. It's unworldly.
(mom, brother Nick, me, sisters Brooke and Kim)
Pretty sure it took forever for that little tiny gold lining!
Haleakala is about 10,000 feet above sea level. Considering we were coming from sea level, it was quite the hike in an hour's drive. The road was hairpin most of the way and driving back down in daylight we could tell just how steep the climb was. There were bikers and even skateboarders flying down the mountain with us (on the road) on the way down. Pitfall to going up and down 10,000 feet so quickly? Yup, that little chickpea may have gotten a little sick...all over her carseat and the rental. Smile.
We actually didn't hike down the crater because we were unprepared, but to give you an idea of the crater without the cloud cover, here's a picture my mom took. Not very Hawaiian, huh?!
So far I've narrowed down my Hawaii pictures from 700 to 60. Most of those are from the road to Hana so I think I can make some collages and such but I'll be breaking up these posts over the next few weeks (or so). Decided that was better than overwhelming you with a million pictures at once.
Have you seen the sunrise over Haleakala? I'd love to hear about one of those most memorable sunrises you've experienced.
Phoar, that's incredible! Though I don't envy you the drive, we drove down a Menorca mountain once, the steepness on the other side was nerve-racking to say the least. Definitely looking forward to the rest of your posts :D
ReplyDeleteRegarding sunrises, the closest I've got is Stonehenge during summer solstice, and I say closest because that year was so cloudy there was nothing to see. The experience of being there was amazing, though, I'd recommend it to anyone.
That's AMAZING! *toddles off and adds it to own bucket list*
ReplyDeleteI have seen very very few sunrises in my life, but in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, there's this bit with this amazing sunrise that just APPEARS from nowhere, and I want to figure out where that was filmed and go and see it happen! Unless it was a bit of camera trickery, in which case... I am very disappointed!
Laura - Ermmmm...ok, great excuse to watch Brad Pitt in order to research which sunrise you're referring to. ;)
DeleteYour photos are breathtaking! I've never been to Hawaii. I want to know how your mom has 4 kids and looks so young!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've ever taken the time to see a sunrise. How sad! Your photos look amazing!
ReplyDeleteWant to go!!! (Of course, I'll have to sit on the floor of the car on the way up and the way back down. :P ) Your pictures are breathtakingly beautiful, and I honestly can't imagine just how incredible it must look in person!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.raelovesny.blogspot.com/2009/05/my-moment-with-god.html
ReplyDeleteI think I snapped this with a point and shoot, and didn't write much because there weren't words to describe the moment I felt so connected and truly like I was the only person in the world experiencing the sunrise, like it was just for me. I had been doing some soul searching and it was during this sunrise I felt like I got some answers.
This is what comes to mind when you ask about a memorable sunrise.
Great pics.
Oh, and it's cheesy but the sunrises I see when I'm running are always beautiful and inspiring.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous!! Making me want to go to Hawaii even more than I already do.
ReplyDeleteI've seen some beautiful sunrises, but the best sunset I've ever seen was better than all the sunrises combined. Santorini, Greece, going down over the Mediterranean. Amazing.
One of these days.
ReplyDeleteThat is so gorgeous Trish!
ReplyDeleteHmm. 3 am? I may never see a sunrise...
ReplyDeleteBut sunsets? I can make some of those. Positano, Italy was the spot for me. Unbelievable.
Beautiful!! And I meant your family..but the sunset is pretty awesome too ;)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos! I don't think I've ever seen the sun rise. Not anxious to wake up so early.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!! How awesome it must be to see in person.
ReplyDeleteI love the pictures. I will be in Maui three weeks from today. I don't know that I'll be able to convince myself to get up at 3:00 am for anything short of the house catching on fire.
ReplyDeleteIt was cold, and it was early, but it was beautiful!! Sunrises typically don't do it for me like sunsets do, but this one was pretty spectacular. Some of the sunsets y'all have described here sound pretty wonderful!
ReplyDeleteMerry--I hope you have a wonderful time in Maui. We went to Haleakala on our very first morning in town so our bodies were still on Dallas time. Made the trip a little less painful. We got down to the bottom of the mountain at 7 in the morning--the folks at Subway were pretty shocked when we stopped in for our lunch-time sandwiches. ;)
I have been to Maui a few times but have not been up Haleakala. We used to go diving, so were unable to go up due to possible altitude sickness. This last time we just enjoyed the pool and the food. :)
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely beautiful! I would have never thought I could get up to see a sunrise in my life but I've actually done it twice this year: in February to see the sun come up over the Chesapeake Bay at a local lighthouse; and in May, when Spence and I were in California. It was a sunrise hot air balloon ride, and it was one of the most amazing things I've ever done. Definitely worth getting up at 4 a.m. during my vacation! I will never, ever forget it.
ReplyDeleteWow! So beautiful! And what a happy, happy family. Your joy comes right out from the pictures.
ReplyDeleteThis is amazing. I love nature and I love to spend every moment in it... love reading about you loving life!
ReplyDeleteAngie
Wow, incredible! I can't myself out of bed at 3 am for much, but I think I might be able to scrape myself out of the covers for that. That is, if I ever make it to Hawaii!
ReplyDeleteMmmm - well, that just might be enough to get me out of bed in the middle of the night in the cold. Sure sunsets are more colorful but there is something so hopeful and soft about sunrises, isn't there?
ReplyDeleteThat's pretty but I really don't think 3am will happen! Even on jet-lagged time, I still barely caught sunrise over Honolulu on our first morning there in May. It was really spectacular though! Being a night person means that I don't see many sunrises.
ReplyDeleteOMG these are fabulous!!
ReplyDeleteUnwordly is the perfect adjective!
ReplyDeleteAnd I can't believe Scott is in short sleeves. Just the memory of being up there makes me shiver!
Gooooooooorgeous. And so smart to bring your gorilla pod! We opted not to do this and now I wish we would've. I remember being so scared of the wake up time but we were so off with the time change that we were up super early every single day (and in bed by 9p). Glad I got to see it after all, even if I wasn't technically there (so thank you)!
ReplyDeleteYayy! I love the first picture of Chickpea looking so cute :) Ryan set up an FTP so I'll have him write out directions so we can all share pictures!
ReplyDeleteThis is why I love Hawaii. So close to nature and life. Ahhh!
ReplyDeleteWhat great family photos. didn't realize you had that many siblings. What a wonderful experience to share with all of your family. Looking forward to your photos whenever you get around to it :)
Wonderful photos--they are quite powerful even though I totally believe you that they don't do the real thing any justice. Thanks so much for sharing. We plan to go to Hawaii someday.. we're actually deciding if we want to go sooner and take the girls or wait a couple more years and go alone. haha! But we do adventurous vacations either way, so I'm going to make a point to do this when we go!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful photos! I would love to visit Hawaii...in fact, I think that I should add that to my own bucket list :) Thanks for sharing these wonderful pictures Trish!
ReplyDeleteAmazing photos, Trish!!! I love that last one with the clouds and the sunburst.
ReplyDeletePoor Scott. I'll bet he was cold! You have a beautiful family (and your mom looks like your sister, not your mother!) and it looks like y'all had a great trip.
Sorry I haven't been commenting, Trish! Being a working mom is tough but being a full-time housewife is equally tough, lol!! I'm glad to see you'd enjoyed your vacation; and those pics are gorgeous!!!
ReplyDeleteDeepak Menon: I must introduce myself first - I am in India and left my great job as a bank officer to write great books to delight everyone from toddlers to the toothless. In the process. I completed and published two books. I categories them as "Full Family Read Together" children's books because they are the stories I used to write and spin to the kids at bedtime every evening. They were narrated from imagination to my kids about 20 years ago, and being in a bank, never got time to even submit them to a publisher all these years.
ReplyDeleteThen as always, my vacillating mind decided to set up a website - so I bought https://www.lovelaughter.net , which is the reason that I reached your site. For some reason my page did not load and google sent the usual silly message : there is some problem - are you looking for ... what not ha ha
Among the suggestions was your the link to YOUR SITE (lovelaughter probably being the key) and the word insanity probably drew me to it like a bee to honey - so, considering my record - insane enough to leave one of the best jobs in India(with an A+ record, for your information) to do what ... er .. write children's books, I visited your site.
Your site is so professional and so well structured with such balance, that I was impressed. Went bit by bit thorough many many of the posts from adventure to the book reviews to the cooking sections and being impressed, I am writing this long note to award you a 5 Star Rating for your site!
Well done Trish and a handshake for your husband and a hug for your very sweet daughter - saw the picture of her with all the books spread around her - my children have grown up ... sigh!
Cheers
Deepak Menon
New Delhi - India