Showcase Maui Photography

I thought about writing my experience about driving on the road to Hana, which is one of the most famous activities on the island of Maui. I am not a really travel blogger, but I will give it a try. Here is one of the reasons that you want to drive the road to Hana. Watch the high definition video from ther2h.com. The road is built beautifully and there are so many small bridges, water falls and beaches on this 60+ miles drive. You will need to get up early before the rush hour. Here are some tips!


Experience the Road to Hana | Maui | R2H from R2H: The Road to Hana on Vimeo.

Well. Personally, we got up at 5:00AM and went to McDonald and bought our breakfast. We also pack our own lunch with us, because there is no real place to eat in between Hana and Paia other than banana bread stand. Believe me, you will spend 16 hours or even longer on the road from Paia to Hana, to Kaupo, to highway 31, and back to Kahului. Not to mention that you will need to reserve at least 3 hours to hike to the Waimoku fall (2 miles one way) and soak yourself at the 7 pools when you get back down.

The most beautiful part of the Road to Hana is actually from Hana and to Kaupo, which includes few miles of unpaved one lane road. ** Watch this YouTube Video to see what I mean exciting **. I don’t recommend renting Jeep for more than 2 person on board. Personally, the humid weather can easily make your passenger carsick. Not to mention you don’t have enough space to store your camera equipment and food. We bought a case of bottle of waters from Costco a day before and leave them in the trunk. So a car with air-condition will be a better option than Jeep does. You will get dehydrate fast without knowing it. You will need to expect unexpected rain shower that can get you really wet and cold as well.

Here are my personal tips:

  • Get up at 5:00am and get to Paia before 6:00AM
  • Prepare your own breakfast, lunch and snack
  • Prepare lots water
  • Prepare extra pair of dry cloth
  • Rent an air-conditioned car for 4 or Jeep for 2
  • Don’t forget your sun block. Even though it’s cloud day, the UV index can be very high
  • Get the map at the airport. There are people at airport handing you large folding map with mile markers on it. Lots information on the map that can save big bucks on all kind of activities
  • Skip the Twin Fall between marker 2-3, which is the only water fall with BIG sign. It’s NOT worth the time
  • Stop by as many beaches as possible on the map. There is never two beaches on the island that look the same
  • Get to Hana before 1pm. So you will have time to spend at Waimoku fall and drive back.
  • Follow the tour bus. When they stop, you stop. The drive knows where the good viewpoint is. Get ready to leave before the bus, so you can follow them.
  • Do NOT pass other car at no-passing zone. There is always car came out no where on the other side.
  • Don’t miss Waianapanapa State Park (see the picture below) few miles before Hana. There is only a small sign and no marker. The entry is really easy to miss.

  • Get to the Waimoku fall Trail at Haleakala National Park before 2PM. So you will have 4 hours to stay there. This is the most famous spot on the road to Hana. See more pictures below.
  • Do NOT wear flip-flop to hike to the water fall. there is a lot of bamboo came out no where, which may cut your toes off.
  • There is also famous 7 pools down below. Tour bus only stay there for restroom. This is the reason why you want to drive on your own.

It will look just like the picture below. It’s all muddy water and you can’t count the 7 pools.

During the 2 mile hike, you will see this beautiful bamboo forest. They are actually much darker than the pictures are. It’s breath taking! I guarantee!

Finally, you will reach the Waimoku Falls!

Well. After this point you will have lots driving on the unpaved road and them super smooth highway 31. Watch out for the big dump-truck, which will come out as surprise (see the YouTube above).

Super smooth highway 31. Seriously, I mean very SMOOTH. You won’t believe that people are living there!

Well. I hope this guide gives you clear ideas about the road to Hana in Maui. Enjoy and let me know if you discover something else on your road to Hana!

The Makena Beach at South West corner of Maui is one of the best place I like to take beach photos and turn them into HDR. It’s hard to resist the blue sky, white cloud and deep ocean and the beautiful beach. You can over look the other island including the Molokini island, which is one of the best place to see sea turtle.

Well. One of the reason Maui is so beautiful is their micro-weather. You can enjoy the sun shine and storm in same day. We stay at the resort in city of Kihei near the beach. There is not much too see at night and the restaurants are NOT so good either. We did catch the storm at night after dinner. The sky looks like it’s the end of the world.

Of course, they are HDR photos. Honestly, There is not single restaurant that is good for us. Lots taco shops. I don’t think people living there care about their cooking. They are probably just make living so they can surfing when they are free. Even the coffee shop there has so-so coffee.

I have to say that I had really good time taking photos at Maui, Hawaii. There beach everywhere and they all look different. It’s so far the best place other than Arizona to take blue sky, ocean and turn it into HDR.

Here is the same shot in Black and White.

I know you may laugh at me, but the first thing we did on the first day after we land at Maui, Hawaii is to find out where the shopping mall is located and how the 1% live on the island. So we can decide where to eat and where to get started on our vacation. The shops at Wailea is located at the south west side of Wailea-Makena on the island. It has most of the luxury brand you can name. Tiffany & Co., Gucci and many more. It’s funny that we were the only few people hang out at the luxury mall, while there is no other people around.

These are my newest edition of HDR photography, which I kind of over process them. I am sure next time, I can do better job.

Honestly, I like how the color turns out to be.

Well. It’s been a long time (over a year) since my last vacation. I decided to move on to the 1% lifestyle and hopefully stay for a while and enjoy it for the rest of my life. My wife and I decided to pay a visit to Maui, Hawaii. The island is beautiful with so may beaches that you can swim and do snorkeling all day. Not to mention that there are so many luxury mansions and resorts around the beach. I stop by this luxury property and love the decoration. Sorry. Can’t show you the inside. I also haven’t done any HDR Photography for sometime. My skills is getting rusty. You will soon see more Hawaii Photos.

Well. If don’t know where to start your Maui lifestyle, check out the following deals (click on the image). You can also use this link to save 10% on every luxury deal you find that is over $1000.

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