I was so worried about how the girls would do with this activity. I researched A LOT about Maui. This was the activity that I wanted to do the most. I talked with the kids ad nauseam about how I needed them to behave and not ruin this experience. I read so many horror stories about people puking and passing out on the top because of the twisty roads and elevation, that I was also researching island babysitters at one point so C and I could do it alone. As usual, the internet made it sound much scarier than it was. Everyone did great and we had a great time!
We left around 3 am. The first part of the drive was flat and straight. The second part of the drive climbed the crater, and had many hairpin turns as the road climbed the crater. It was kind of scary in the dark. However, other people were much more scared than we were and were driving so slow that they would pull off so C could pass them (and it's not like we were racing). There were signs as we climbed the crater that reminded cars that you needed a reservation to get to the summit. At each sign, we would see cars stopped in front of the signs, using their cell phone to try to get a reservation. At the park entry, a few cars held up the line trying (unsuccessfully) to argue their way in despite having no reservation. When we were in line, I was worried that we were going to miss the sunrise because the line was moving SO SLOW. The good news is, we made it to the top with 15 minutes to spare. If I had it to do over again, though, I would leave even earlier so I could see all the stars from the summit. On a clear night, you can see the Milky Way.
The kids used their Sea Bands, and slept most of the drive. Leah woke up as we entered the park, and we had to wake Juliet up when we got to the top. Neither girl got sick or complained at all about the drive or thin air. We didn't tell them about the twisty roads or about the thin air. We thought it would be better to wait to see if it was an issue, rather than have them spin about potential problems. I think it was the right move.
Behind where the sun was rising, you could see the rays in the sky. Some native Hawaiian people were there singing. It was cool to hear.
The kids got out of the car, and immediately wanted donuts. They walked around with a case of donuts we had packed. It was pretty funny. It was pretty chilly up at 10,000 feet, I think around 45 degrees on this morning. We all wore pants and coats. The girls wore hats and mittens, too. By the time we got back to our condo, it was almost 90. The difference in temperature due to the elevation is crazy, especially considering the 2 points are less than 100 miles apart.
As the sun rose, we all swore we saw Maui (the demigod) doing strong man arms in the clouds. It was very exciting for all of us, especially since we had watched Moana 50 times before coming. Also, the legend is that it was here, at the top of Haleakala, that Maui used his magical hook to snare the sun. The sun and him made a deal that the sun would pass more slowly over Maui, giving people more time to grow crops and enjoy the sunshine.
As the sun rose, one of the guides played "Here Comes the Sun" by The Beatles. It was such a moment. Afterward, the guide was trying to tell the girls about who The Beatles are. Both of our kids were like, "We know The Beatles! We have that song at home and we love that song!" The guide was really happy that The Beatles have a new generation of fan following.
The sunrise was beautiful, but 20 minutes or so after the sun came up was even more beautiful.
Both girls warmed up fast, and Leah had her coat off 30 minutes after the sun came up. We did a little hike to look inside the crater. There were a ton of steps and loose rocks, but both girls did it independently.
We also saw Silverwood, which is an endangered plant. It was a very lovely plant. It's part of the daisy family, but also looks like a succulent.
After our hike, we drove down to the Kona Lodge for breakfast. They have some beautiful grounds. We had to wait a bit for a table, so we walked around for a bit. They reminded me a bit of the grounds of some Northern Californian wineries.
We got back to our condo around 1, and took a good nap. Afterward, we hit the beach again.
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