Sunday Photo: Kama'ole Beach I

Kama'ole Beach I
Taken by Kris Nelson on April 22, 2008
Location: Kama'ole Beach I in Kihei
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How's up for a little beach hopping? I'm starting a beach theme for the next few Sundays and the first in that series is the above photo of Kama'ole Beach I taken this past April. Although it was a partly cloudy day for a good amount of the time we spent there that day, one of the things I like about this photo is the details in the water right at the bottom. I just love walking along the shoreline and snapping photos, but when you can look down and the water is so crystal clear as it washes over your feet, it's pretty neat.

Kama'ole Beach I was the first stop on our beach hopping day during our '08 Trip, and it was a great way to start the day. For us, coming from the Lahaina/Ka'anapali area, it is a little bit of a drive, so to get the most out of your trip down to South Maui, be sure to make a day out of it and plan to stay awhile. Kama'ole Beach I is actually the northern most of a series of 3 beaches that share the Kama'ole name. Beaches II and III each offer something a little different, and are more popular with the local residents than Beach I. Still, with a view of Molokini, parking nearby (that fills up fast), lifeguard, restrooms and showers and a mini mall across the street for a quick snack, you pretty much have everything you need for a day in the sun.

What I thought was neat about this particular beach in the chain of 3 was that there were a few hours along the north end right up against the sand, with only a small line of bushes separating them. The one below, for example, looks like it would be a blast to live in, having full sized windows and stunning views of the ocean. The sunsets alone will probably make you weep with joy. I can only imagine, though, that buying a house like that comes with a pretty hefty price tag. Oh well.



Mahalo.

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If you'd like to see more photos, you can check out our Sunday Photos category here at the blog, featuring a new photo every week. Our website also features daily photos on the Today's Photos page, and if you're Flickr fans like us, you can check out our Ka'anapali Dreamin' collection.

What to own or use any of our photos? Check out our new photo store, Maui Wall Candy, for purchase info and ideas on what you can do with them. Both print and digital formats are available.


Also, subscribe to our blog to get the latest updates throughout the week.

Sunday Photo: Molokai from Maui

Molokai from Maui
Taken by Kris Nelson on June 4, 2006
Location: Sheraton Maui Resort in Ka'anapali
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As mentioned in the comments from the previous Sunday Photo, this photo was also taken from our time at the Sheraton, and to my amazement, I haven't featured it yet in our Sunday Photo series. Of all the photos from our trips to Maui, this has to be one of my favorites. You can read more about the details at my photography site.

This shot was also one from of my first days with a DSLR camera, and I just remember being so overwhelmed with all the options. I am living proof, however, that a little luck and a beautiful canvas can still lead to magical things. Now, two years and a few thousand photos later, this is still the desktop wallpaper on my primary computer at home and I even have a 20" x 30" version of this hanging on the wall in my home office.

Even though I see this photo everyday, this scenic view at the Sheraton is still one of the first spots we go to every year. It really has that "welcome back" feel for us. I hope you enjoy it.

Mahalo.

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If you'd like to see more photos, you can check out our Sunday Photos category here at the blog, featuring a new photo every week. Our website also features daily photos on the Today's Photos page, and if you're Flickr fans like us, you can check out our Ka'anapali Dreamin' collection.

What to own or use any of our photos? Check out our new photo store, Maui Wall Candy, for purchase info and ideas on what you can do with them. Both print and digital formats are available.


Also, subscribe to our blog to get the latest updates throughout the week.

Sunday Photo: Maui Vista

Maui Vista
Taken by Kris Nelson on April 19, 2008
Location: Sheraton Maui Resort in Ka'anapali
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It's been raining nonstop here in Chicago for the last 48 hours and I really need to see the sun again. For our Sunday Photo this week, I chose one of the many shots I enjoy taking from our lanai at the Sheraton. This one has just about everything but the sand.

In the distance, you have the island of Lanai with it's fluffy white clouds overhead. Aside from that, the bluest of blue skies. Next, one of the few palm trees that greet us every morning on the oceanfront lawn at the Sheraton, standing tall and dancing in the gentle ocean breeze to get my attention. Last, but not least, a quiet reef area behind Black Rock that, for late on a Saturday morning, is currently absent of the regular snorkelers that often frequent these waters.

This photo makes me miss the island, yet it also makes me feel fortunate that all of our hard work throughout the year gives us the opportunity to enjoy such a paradise, even if only two weeks at a time. Some sources will argue that paying extra for an ocean front room isn't worth the money, but we feel differently. We know it's a big splurge and we could save a ton of money by getting a room in the different part of the resort and just walking a few steps to see the ocean, but for daily views like this one from your own private balcony whenever you step outside, I'm okay paying extra for the time being.

Mahalo.

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If you'd like to see more photos, you can check out our Sunday Photos category here at the blog, featuring a new photo every week. Our website also features daily photos on the Today's Photos page, and if you're Flickr fans like us, you can check out our Ka'anapali Dreamin' collection.

What to own or use any of our photos? Check out our new photo store, Maui Wall Candy, for purchase info and ideas on what you can do with them. Both print and digital formats are available.


Also, subscribe to our blog to get the latest updates throughout the week.

Sunday Photo: Warm and Golden Maui Sunset

Golden Maui Sunset
Taken by Kris Nelson on June 6, 2006
Location: Offshore near Kahekili Beach in West Maui
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By my estimates, it's time for another sunset photo in our weekly series. Checking the posts here filed under the sunset category, it looks like it's about every month or so. I was just writing about sunsets the other day on my newest photography site, so I was sort of in that type of mood this weekend.

In any case, this shot was taken from the Teralani on our first sunset cruise back in 2006, which nowadays seems like ages ago. The orange sky at this time of day and under these conditions leaves a warm and inviting impression on you and it makes you feel so alive and ready to do it all again tomorrow. While some of my favorite sunsets are the ones that drop right down to the ocean at the horizon and leaves a sparkling reflection in the water, this one is a keeper, too. Here, the sun is escaping behinds clouds as they hover above the island of Moloka'i, and catching it at halfway through the event gives it just enough definition around the edges to come out perfect.

Mahalo, and have a great week.

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If you'd like to see more photos, you can check out our Sunday Photos category here at the blog, featuring a new photo every week. Our website also features daily photos on the Today's Photos page, and if you're Flickr fans like us, you can check out our Ka'anapali Dreamin' collection.

What to own or use any of our photos? Check out our new photo store, Maui Wall Candy, for purchase info and ideas on what you can do with them. Both print and digital formats are available.


Also, subscribe to our blog to get the latest updates throughout the week.

Sunday Photo: Black Rock Torches

Black Rock Torches
Taken by Kris Nelson on Sept. 17, 2007
Location: Black Rock at Ka'anapali Beach in West Maui
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It's Labor Day Weekend, and if you're having a BBQ and spending some time outside tonight, you might have a few tiki torches nearby. Well, if not, here's one that's about 4,000 miles away.

This shot is a close-up of one of the torches that is lit atop Black Rock as part of the nightly cliff dive ceremony at the Sheraton Maui Resort. Obviously there isn't much to this photo, but for West Maui fans, it means a little something extra.

Mahalo, and enjoy the holiday weekend everyone.

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If you'd like to see more photos, you can check out our Sunday Photos category here at the blog, featuring a new photo every week. Our website also features daily photos on the Today's Photos page, and if you're Flickr fans like us, you can check out our Ka'anapali Dreamin' collection.

What to own or use any of our photos? Check out our new photo store, Maui Wall Candy, for purchase info and ideas on what you can do with them. Both print and digital formats are available.


Also, subscribe to our blog to get the latest updates throughout the week.

Sunday Photo: Sailboat at Ka'anapali Beach

Sailboat at Ka'anapali Beach
Taken by Kris Nelson on Sept. 17, 2007
Location: Ka'anapali Beach in front of the Westin Maui
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While a good amount of ocean tours operate out of Lahaina or Ma'alaea Harbor, a few of the come right to you! This photo is a shot of the sailboat Gemini approaching the beach in Ka'anapali just in front of the Westin Maui Resort. For those staying in Ka'anapali, having these vessels come right to your door is a big plus rather than having to drive to the harbor, finding and paying for parking, and then waiting for your boat to exit out into the ocean (which can be an event in itself).

The Teralani is another boat you'll see often, and one that we did back in 2006. It was great because we were able to hang out at Whalers Village a while after check-in for the tour and after the cruise was over, we went back for ice cream at Ha'agan Dazs. :)

Only the smaller ships are able to pick up passengers along the beach, so those tours are usually limited to cocktail cruises and snorkel or scuba adventures. The bigger whale watch tours and dinner cruises all have larger ships and those are out of the harbors mentioned above.

Have a favorite tour company of your own, or have experiences with any of the ones mentioned here? Share your stories with us.

Mahalo.

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If you'd like to see more photos, you can check out our Sunday Photos category here at the blog, featuring a new photo every week. Our website also features daily photos on the Today's Photos page, and if you're Flickr fans like us, you can check out our Ka'anapali Dreamin' collection.

What to own or use any of our photos? Check out our new photo store, Maui Wall Candy, for purchase info and ideas on what you can do with them. Both print and digital formats are available.


Also, subscribe to our blog to get the latest updates throughout the week.

Sunday Photo: Cool Drinks in Lahaina

Cool Drinks in Lahaina
Originally uploaded by webnelly

Boy, to say that I've been busy these last few weeks would be a big understatement. I thought posting this little photo would help take the edge off.

This was taken at BJ's Chicago Pizzeria in Lahaina. One of our favorite activities when going out to eat on vacation in Maui is trying different tropical drinks. Not only do they help you enjoy your time on the island, they usually look pretty neat, too.

With this photo, I decided to play around with Photoshop a little bit and bring out the colors of the drinks themselves by graying out everything else. It's a technique I was playing around with last year and something I featured in a previous post for Black Rock.

Now, back to the busy part. I've been working tirelessly on getting photos uploaded to my new photo store. There are still a lot of photos to process and upload, but I should be ready for a formal announcement sometime this week. However, since I feel it's ready enough for a sneak peak, I thought I'd give a first notice here for my readers at Ka'anapali Dreamin'.

So, if you like what you see here in the Sunday Photos series and are looking for some beautiful images of Maui to decorate your home, workspace or to give the gift of Maui to a loved one, be the first to check out Maui Wall Candy. Be sure to look for a formal announcement this week as well and checking back regularly as I process and upload a long list of photos I'm looking to share with all of you.

Mahalo.

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If you'd like to see more photos, you can check out our Sunday Photos category here at the blog, featuring a new photo every week. Our website also features daily photos on the Today's Photos page, and if you're Flickr fans like us, you can check out our Ka'anapali Dreamin' collection.

Also, subscribe to our blog to get the latest updates throughout the week.

Sunday Photo: Beach at Whalers Village

Beach at Whalers Village
Originally uploaded by webnelly

Not the sharpest photo in my collection, but this shot of the beach at Whalers Village (taken from aboard the Teralani) is nice view of a common pastime of shoppers at Whalers after dinner: sitting along the beach after sunset. In the background, there is Leilani's on the right, the Rusty Harpoon farther back in the center, and Hula Grill on the left. Those familiar with the area will know exactly of where this is. :)

We've been spending quite a bit of time lately thinking about Whalers Village, and Maui in general, as we're starting to get closer to our next trip. We even picked the dates, the last two weeks of February!!! That's only 6 months (and a long Chicago winter away). Kidding aside, here it is nearly the middle of August and we can't believe summer is almost over. Wow.

Also, I've been pretty busy the last week or so working on our new photo store, offering our favorite photos from Maui in a wide range of sizes and all at very affordable prices. We're pretty excited about it and will be sharing more information in the next week or so. Stay tuned.

Mahalo.

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If you'd like to see more photos, you can check out our Sunday Photos category here at the blog, featuring a new photo every week. Our website also features daily photos on the Today's Photos page, and if you're Flickr fans like us, you can check out our Ka'anapali Dreamin' collection.

Also, subscribe to our blog to get the latest updates throughout the week.

Sunday Photo: Sunset Cruise

Sunset Cruise
Originally uploaded by webnelly

Time for another sunset shot here for our Sunday Photo series. It's true that you can see a great sunset just about anywhere on Maui (or Hawaii for that matter). One of the extras you can do in West Maui, though, is to hop on a small boat or catamaran with one of the many tour companies offering sunset cocktail cruises and you can get even closer. A nice way to end any day on Maui, for sure. We usually book a cocktail cruise for the last night of our trips as sort of the final send off.

This photo was taken from the lanai of our room at the Sheraton (of course), and forgive me for not being able to remember what particular boat and tour company is pictured in this photo. There are at least half a dozen companies that offer these sunset cruises, and they're all pretty affordable as far as Maui tour standards go. We've gone with two different groups in the past, the Teralani and the Pacific Whale Foundation.

The Teralani was a smaller vessel, and it docked right on the beach near Whalers Village, so that was pretty neat. The PWF boat was much larger and went further out along the West Maui coast than the Teralani, plus part of the cost of the tour goes towards research and education on the islands, so you can't go wrong, either.

If you have had experiences with other sunset cruises while on Maui, don't be shy!!! We'd love to hear from you.

Mahalo.

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If you'd like to see more photos, you can check out our Sunday Photos category here at the blog, featuring a new photo every week. Our website also features daily photos on the Today's Photos page, and if you're Flickr fans like us, you can check out our Ka'anapali Dreamin' collection.

Also, subscribe to our blog to get the latest updates throughout the week.

Sunday Photo: A Stroll Down Front Street

A Stroll Down Front Street
Originally uploaded by webnelly

On an island with so much to do, sometimes you just want to take it easy and just enjoy the beautiful weather outside. This week's photo was taken in Lahaina doing just, that. A nice stroll down Front Street near the harbor after a late lunch with a gorgeous blue sky overhead and just a gentle breeze off the water.

There are quite a few spots along Front Street in Lahaina that you can stop and just look out into the water, this being only one of them. The photo was taken just southwest of Cheeseburger in Paradise to give those familiar with the area a point of reference. We're not ones to say any particular spot is better to watch the boats than another, but we do end up here now and again after lunch or just walking downtown throughout the day.

And, if you happen to see the ship below just outside the harbor, fear not that someone might be in trouble. The sailboat has actually been there for many years now, and only silly people like us, who after seeing it for the first time from our oceanside table at Cheeseburger in Paradise asked our waiter if that boat was in danger of sinking. :)



Mahalo.

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If you'd like to see more photos, you can check out our Sunday Photos category here at the blog, featuring a new photo every week. Our website also features daily photos on the Today's Photos page, and if you're Flickr fans like us, you can check out our Ka'anapali Dreamin' collection.

Also, subscribe to our blog to get the latest updates throughout the week.

Sunday Photo: Black Rock, colorized

Black Rock, colorized
Originally uploaded by webnelly

This shot was taken at the base of Black Rock in Ka'anapali, Maui about 30 minutes prior to sunset. I colored it up a little bit by isolating the green and the sand in the foreground and a few highlighted spots near the boat.

We were at Black Rock for the nightly Cliff Dive Ceremony there, and spotted a ship nearby that was there for the same reason. On some nights, there are keiki (kids) jumping from the rocks as late as five minutes prior to the ceremony, so what you're seeing here is the last few jumps before the ceremony started. You'll see a lot of photos (including mine) that have the normal view of Black Rock from the beach with it's familiar shape (an example), but if you visit the beach, you can walk all the way up to the base of the cliff and you get a completely different perspective of the cliff itself and where he's jumping from.

Even better, if you're out for a late night stroll after an ono dinner along the beach, why not walk all the way over to the base of the cliff while the torches are still lit. You'll be memorized by the flames of the torches that line Black Rock as they dance in the water and the waves below. If you turn around, you can see the nighttime glow of Ka'anapali along the beach as well, as shown here.

Mahalo.

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If you'd like to see more photos, you can check out our Sunday Photos category here at the blog, featuring a new photo every week. Our website also features daily photos on the Today's Photos page, and if you're Flickr fans like us, you can check out our Ka'anapali Dreamin' collection.

Also, subscribe to our blog to get the latest updates throughout the week.

Sunday Photo: Inside the Lava Tube

Inside the Lava Tube
Originally uploaded by webnelly

Okay, so the first thing you think of when you see this photo isn't really Maui. It's not a shot you'd find on a postcard or on the front cover of a travel guide at the bookstore, but it's still a neat shot.

This was taken from inside the lava tube at Waianapanapa State Park along the Road to Hana. Lava tubes were formed hundreds of years ago by flowing rivers of lava that ran down from the volcanoes, which also was the foundation for many of the black sand beaches as well. They pretty much like caves with two ends forming a tunnel, and were used in the days of the ancient Hawaiians as a safe haven for women and children during battle.

What was neat about this lava tube was that you could easily walk in from one end (although the clearance was about 3 feet) and on the other end was the ocean, with waves crashing in through that opening just like it was on the black sand outside. It was rather windy when we were there this past trip, and the waves were crashing pretty hard. So you could hear the loud sound the waves were making as they slammed into the nearby rocks, and then you would feel the water rushing into the opening of the lava tube (it was pretty cold). Finally, as the water descended back into the ocean, it would run across the small rocks at the base of the tube opening and would make an eerie hissing sound, almost like a sizzling sound.

I loved it so much after taking these photos that I ran back up the rocky stair climb to fetch my video camera from my wife, who was watching with mom from above. After returning to the lava tube, I shot video for about 5 minutes walking into and through the lava tube, seeing other people inside, others climbing on the rocks and one of the holes in the upper area, and also capturing the waves and that sizzle the water was making as the waves left the entrance.

I haven't had much luck encoding and posting that video online so far, but once I do, I'll add a link from this post.

Mahalo.

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If you'd like to see more photos, you can check out our Sunday Photos category here at the blog, featuring a new photo every week. Our website also features daily photos on the Today's Photos page, and if you're Flickr fans like us, you can check out our Ka'anapali Dreamin' collection.

Also, subscribe to our blog to get the latest updates throughout the week.

Sunday Photo: Maui Sunset '06

Maui Sunset '06
Originally uploaded by webnelly

You can never really have too many sunset photos from Maui. This one was actually one for the first ones we took back in 2006. It was taken from the lanai in our room at the Sheraton looking right out onto the ocean, with nothing but a small palm tree off to the lower right in our view.

Not many people will argue that the sunsets anywhere on Maui are absolutely spectacular, but we tend to believe that Ka'anapali and Lahaina sunsets are second to none. But at the end of the day, seeing the sunset anywhere in Hawaii is just as magical.

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If you'd like to see more photos, you can check out our Sunday Photos category here at the blog, featuring a new photo every week. Our website also features daily photos on the Today's Photos page, and if you're Flickr fans like us, you can check out our Ka'anapali Dreamin' collection.

Also, subscribe to our blog to get the latest updates throughout the week.

Sunday Photo: Docked in Lahaina Harbor

Docked in Lahaina Harbor
Originally uploaded by webnelly

This photo is from a couple of years back when we first visited Maui. It was taken aboard a water taxi, the Spirit of Lahaina I believe, that was taking us out to the Maui Princess for our Dinner Cruise. It was also our first time at Lahaina Harbor and seeing all the slots and different boats lined up there offering many different activities. Very photo-worthy.

Since then, we've been back quite a few times for other dinner cruises, sunset cocktail cruises, and even a whale watch. While we were in Lahaina last time, there was also a cruise ship "docked." Now, obviously a large cruise ship would certainly not fit in such a small harbor, so that big boat is anchored quite a ways off shore and a water taxi takes it's voyagers to and from the harbor.

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If you'd like to see more photos, you can check out our Sunday Photos category here at the blog, featuring a new photo every week. Our website also features daily photos on the Today's Photos page, and if you're Flickr fans like us, you can check out our Ka'anapali Dreamin' collection.

Sunday Photo: Hammock on the Beach

Hammock on the Beach
Originally uploaded by webnelly

Ah, a lazy afternoon sending your cares away in hammock along the beach. How's that for a thought on Sunday?

This very inviting hammock was setup just off the Ka'anapali Beachwalk in Ka'anapali on Maui, down near the Hyatt if I recall. The beach itself is just on the other side of those bushes, and if you look in the water between the trees there, you'll see a group of students from a nearby surf school going out for the first time. The island in the background, of course, it Lanai.

Sunday Photo: Ka'anapali Beach

Ka'anapali Beach
Originally uploaded by webnelly

This is actually one of the first photos we took from our first trip to Maui back in 2006. It's still one of our favorites to this date. And if you think it looks familiar, it's the photo currently used in the header of our website and blog. :)

While the truth is there is really so much you can do on Ka'anapali Beach, this picture truly captures one of our favorite pastimes, just relaxing on the beach and enjoying a gorgeous day on Maui. That's the island of Lanai out in the distance, topped with the only clouds in the sky (aside from Molokai off to the right out of frame).

Sure, you could probably find days like this on other islands, back on the mainland, or even other parts of the world. For us, its just what we equate to being on Maui, and there's really nothing that can compare, nor is there really a compelling reason for us to look elsewhere for such magnificent beauty and magical memories of the happiest days of our lives.

Sunday Photo: Sun Behind Black Rock

Sun behind Black Rock
Originally uploaded by webnelly

It's been said before, both here and many other places on the web, that the sunsets on Maui are some of the most beautiful in the world. The ones on West Maui, from our favorite Ka'anapali area especially, are often considered the best of the islands.

Here, after watching the nightly cliff dive ceremony at Black Rock, I went to work capturing the sun's descent as it drifted slowly behind Black Rock on it's way to the horizon.

Sunday Photo: Grumpy Honu

Grumpy Honu
Originally uploaded by webnelly

Honu, is the Hawaiian name for Sea Turtle. These are green sea turtles that are part of the Turtle Lagoon exhibit at the Maui Ocean Center. They always seem to be grumpy (hence the name of the photo) whenever we see them in photos or even near Black Rock when we see them poke their head above water for air. I think one of the reasons we get a kick out of these guys is because of the Comcast commercials they had here in Chicago a few years ago with The Slowskys.

Unfortunately, we don't scuba dive and don't get the opportunity to go down under the water and watch these guys swim close up. There are tons of photos on Flickr that people have taken doing just that. Here's one of my favorites. Maybe someday we'll break down, learn to snorkel first and then take the plunge.

Sunday Photo: Honomanu Bay

Honomanu Bay
Originally uploaded by webnelly

There's a good chance you've seen photos of Honomanu Bay in books and on postcards from Maui. It is one of the most recognized images that people often take when on the Road to Hana. In fact, try this search on Flickr and you'll see over a hundred just like it. It's still a nice view, though.

Adding in a little piece of trivia, Honomanu Valley means "Valley of the Bird".

Down below in this valley, is a small black sand beach which is a little tricky to get down to. Most that are able to think of driving to access it are driving Jeeps and other vehicles with 4-wheel drive. There is also a very limited amount of space down there, so if you're not one of the early ones, might as well keep on driving.



If you do happen to make it down there or have been there already, please share your thoughts with us.

Mahalo.

Sunday Photo: Fire Knife Dancer

Fire Knife Dancer
Originally uploaded by webnelly

This one was shot at the Ka'anapali Sunset Luau at the Sheraton Maui Resort last week. Just about every luau on the islands have some sort of fire dancer near the end of the show to add a little danger and excitement to the evening. As if the lovely hula maidens and strong Hawaiian warriors aren't exciting enough.

Sunday Photo: We're Back

We're Back
Originally uploaded by webnelly

Here's a quick peak from our latest view at the Sheraton Maui Resort on our Maui '08 Trip. While we're actually just two room numbers from where we were last September, the room is around a corner in the buildings on this side of the resort and we have a completely different, yet equally spectacular view.

It's been a long travel day and we're just about finished getting settled in. Haven't had a chance to take a lot of photos, but wanted to post at least one that says "We're Back".

Journal blogging begins tomorrow morning with details on our travel day here.

Mahalo.

Sunday Photo: Wailua Falls

Wailua Falls
Originally uploaded by webnelly

I'll admit, this isn't the best photo on the web of Wailua Falls along the Road to Hana, but that's going to change soon. We're going back to Hana in two weeks while we're in Maui, so in addition to better photos of these falls, there's going to be many opportunities to capture many new Sunday Photos for weeks to come.

Sunday Photo: Maui Sunset

Maui Sunset
Originally uploaded by webnelly

When it comes to sunsets, "Maui No Ka 'Oi" certainly holds its merits. While Haleakala is perhaps the Maui standard for sunrises, just about everywhere in West Maui (and even South Maui for that matter) is the place you want to be at the end of a memorable day on the valley isle. This shot was taken from the Teralani 3 sailboat on their sunset cocktail cruise on our last night from our first trip to Maui, and it's been a hard photo to top. As the description on Flickr says, the only ones with a better view are the lucky folks on that boat off near the horizon.

Sunday Photo: Sunny Whalers Village

Sunny Whalers Village
Originally uploaded by webnelly

When staying in the Ka'anapali area, Whalers Village almost becomes a daily stop. With so many great shops and activities, their own whalers museum, and restaurants right along the beach, we can't think of too many other places that good for strolling around and enjoying a sunny afternoon in between trips to the beach and downtown Lahaina.

Sunday Photo: Black Rock Cliff Dive at Sunset

Black Rock Cliff Dive at Sunset
Originally uploaded by webnelly

Perhaps one of my favorite photos that I've taken of one of our favorite activities in Maui. The Black Rock Cliff Dive Ceremony is nightly event that takes place on Black Rock at the Sheraton Maui Resort in Ka'anapali. Each evening at sunset, a man portraying a great Hawaiian Warrior bears a lit torch up the side of Black Rock and offers his lei to the heavens above before he dives into the water below. The dive is accompanied by a Hawaiian chant performed right outside the beach at the Sheraton.

Since we stay at the Sheraton when we visit Maui, we try to take in a cliff dive about 3-4 times a trip. It's actually part of our "just arrived" routine, when we drive in from the airport, drop of our bags, and grab a seat at the Sundowners Bar at the Sheraton and watch the dive while having dinner and sipping on a cool frozen drink. Man, knowing that we'll be back there in six weeks is giving me chills.

It is cool, though, to see just how many people crowd up along the beach to catch a glimpse of the dive ceremony, with video cameras and digital cameras. If you're staying at one of the Ka'anapali resorts or condos, you can't help but stroll along for a glimpse.

Sunday Photo: 'Ohe'o Gulch

Pools of 'Ohe'o
Originally uploaded by webnelly

Accessible from a short hiking trail at Haleakala National Park, 'Ohe'o Gulch, more commonly referred to as the Seven Sacred Pools, is a popular stop for folks visiting Hana. While technically not on the Road to Hana (it's about ten miles past Hana), visitors that continue onto Charles Lindbergh's grave will stop here for a dip.

This photo was actually taken from the bridge on Route 31 that passes over the gulch allowing you to get somewhat of a bird's eye view of the various pools. There are also a few pools on the other side of the bridge that are somewhat hidden, but still as picturesque. The pools themselves fill up rather quickly with visitors, so you if you want to beat the crowds, you're best bet it to get there earlier in the morning. Most guides recommend before 10am, in fact.

If you're a hiker, you're in luck as well, since there are many eye-catching hikes near and around the gulch as well.

Sunday Photo: Black Sand Beach

Black Sand Beach from Above
Originally uploaded by webnelly

As a reminder of, and almost a tribute to, how the magical islands of Hawaii were created, the black sand beaches found on her islands are made up of harden lava that has entered the ocean and has been eroded over hundreds and thousands of years into tiny grains of sand.

This black sand beach is from Wai'anapanapa State Park, which can be found along the Road to Hana. It is also accompanied by a series of caves along the shore of the beach, which as legend has it, was where the Hawaiian Princess Popoalaea would come to hide. She was hiding from her cruel husband, Chief Kakae, who eventually discovered her hiding spot and took her life. As a result, there are certain times of the year where the water here turns an eerie red color due to tiny red shrimp that wash up towards the beach. The red water is said to symbolize the blood of Princess Popoalaea.

The beach itself is rather amazing. While we were only there for about 15 minutes as part of a guided tour, I remember the look and the feel of the sand to be almost like a regular beach (maybe a little coarser), with footprints being washed away by the waves and the usual. There was just some part of my mind that still had a hard time grasping that this was actually a beach, and the sand was black. We'd seen pictures and read about it, but now that we were standing there, it seemed surreal.

Be sure to check it out if you haven't yet seen one. And if you've been, let us know your thoughts.

Sunday Photo: Waves at the Beach

Waves at the Beach
Originally uploaded by webnelly

Interesting enough, not as crowded and popular as Kapalua Beach is, just a litte further north on Hwy 30 you'll find the D.T. Fleming Beach Park. You might miss the turn if you're not looking for it (we did), but once you find it, you have practically the entire beach to yourself.

The first thing we noticed when we went was that it was rather windy. I'm not entirely sure if it was because it was slightly overcast or if that's just the normal for this area. In any case, it's a nice stretch of sand and great for enjoying the sun (like my wife) and just walking along the shore taking photos (like me). We're not sure if this beach is actually larger than Kapalua or just felt that way because there was hardly anyone there. It was still nice and quiet and offered some great time to relax.

Check out more photos from D.T. Fleming Beach Park in our Flickr set.

Mahalo.

Sunday Photo: View Behind Black Rock

Behind Black Rock
Originally uploaded by webnelly

Most people that frequent the Ka'anapali area can recognize Black Rock from the beach, looking North from Whalers Village, or even from an aerial photo (bottom of page). Put in this photo, we actually are looking East towards Black Rock from a Pacific Whale Foundation sunset cruise. We hadn't been able to get this close to the beach from the water up until last year, and had the opportunity to snap a few photos from this view. We didn't, however, get to see the cliff dive ceremony from the cruise, which would have been neat to see.

Sunday Photo: Lahaina Banyan Tree

Lahaina Banyan Tree
Originally uploaded by webnelly

This very well known tree among Maui visitor and residents was planted by missionaries way back on April 24th, 1873 (Wikipedia). It is a part of Lahaina history and even their social calendar, having it's own birthday party every year hosted by the Lahaina Town Action Committee. What do you buy a tree this big for its birthday anyway?

Perhaps the most amazing thing about this tree, aside from its age, has to be its sheer size. The Wikipedia article listed above says that this banyan tree covers almost 2/3 of an acre. Wow. That makes this giant tree very, very hard to photograph. Perhaps the best way to capture the magnitude of this tree is to view it from space, as in this Google Map. That slightly orange roof building just southeast of the banyan tree is the Old Lahaina Courthouse, which is now run as the Lahaina Visitors Center. It's a fairly decent sized two-story building, but is still obviously dwarfed by the size of this tree.

It's a neat thing to see if you're in Lahaina, and very hard to miss. Hopefully for anyone shopping down Front Street it's not too far out of your way, and definitely worth seeing.