Hiking is a fairly new passion of mine. While a lot of folks took up hiking during the pandemic, I had started trekking a bit before then, in Fall of 2019. And like most interests of mine, I pursued it with ZEAL!! Meaning, I did tons of research, then loaded up on outerwear, hiking shoes (multiple pairs!) and all kinds of gear to be ready (okay, maybe a little OVERLY ready!). Then I hit the trails and haven’t looked back since!
Why Do I Hike?
First and foremost, hiking brings me such a sense of peace and communion with nature. But it’s also a fantastic way to work out and stay healthy! Sometimes I hike with friends, sometimes with family, sometimes with a group, sometimes solo. Each experience has its benefits, and I’m always grateful to get out there!
A View From Above
One of the hikes I tackled early on is the Lāhainā Pali Trail, which follows an old historic road that traverses high over a stretch of Honoapi‘ilani Highway, offering expansive views of the ocean and island. The rugged, rocky and often steep trail spans five miles from Mā‘alaea to Ukumehame, with a pretty dramatic rise of 1600 feet in just 2.5 miles. It was definitely a test of endurance and patience at the beginning, and sometimes still is if I haven’t hiked in a while! Some words of advice on this trail: make sure to have solid shoes, wear sunscreen, bring a hat, pack plenty of water and don’t forget sunglasses!!
Witnessing the Wind in Full Force
A unique gift after climbing up, up, up the trail is to see –and even hear — the giant, powerful wind turbines rotating around and around at the top. Launched in 2006, the Kaheawa wind farm was Maui’s first commercial wind energy generation facility, and remains one of the largest wind farms in Hawai‘i. It’s well-placed, since this part of Maui can get mighty windy!!
Then Comes the Camera Gear
I added camera gear to my trail pack around May of 2021 when I first started delving into photography. When I bring multiple lenses, it can make for a lot to carry, but more often than not, I’m glad I have them when inspiration strikes and I start snapping away what’s around me! With a zoom lens, it’s also nice to get long-range shots, like the photo of Molokini above. Just look at that “cotton candy” sky! I’m thankful to be surrounded by so much inspiration and natural beauty. Here’s to more hiking, on Maui and beyond!!