Sunday we went on a little adventure to find the Honokowai Valley in West Maui. This tucked away village, just miles away from the busy Honoapiilani Highway, dates back to 1200 AD. It was filled with all sorts of natural beauties…from the gorgeous native Hawaiian hibiscus to the karo (taro) growing along the flowing creek, and huge kukui trees dropping their fruit overhead.
We went looking for it on our own, but YOU can actually visit, and help restore, this magical Valley on your next trip to Maui. Maui Cultural Lands, the folks behind the restoration of this once booming agricultural village, hosts walking tours for a once in a lifetime immersion into Hawaiian culture.
If you’d like to take part in helping restore this gorgeous Valley, just meet at the Puukolii Sugar Cane Train Station on the mauka (mountain) side of Honoapiilani Highway, across the street from the Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort. They meet there at 9 a.m. on Saturdays.
If you are visiting Maui, or if you live on our gorgeous island, this is definitely worth a visit. It’s a Hawaii not many see!
click on the photos to make them larger
crossing to go home
-
- The beautiful white hibiscus
-
- Sweaty but having a good time!
-
- crossing to go home
-
- Water, life, runs through the Valley
-
- a giant waterfall hangs off the cliff & lands at the base of the valley
-
- a tree literally dripping with mangoes
-
- That’s where kukui nuts come from!
-
- Karo (or taro)
-
- Crossing the creek to get home
-
- Scaling down the mountain (there is a far better way to get there, don’t worry)
-
- Kukui nuts
-
- Natures work is awesome!
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh my gorgeous!!! Got to get us to Hawaii soon!
My girl has declared its her life’s dream to surf. Go girl!!!
Thanks for beautiful photos!
What camera do you use?
~Deirdre http://www.theslowlifeblog.com
Twitter: TheOhanaMama
August 14, 2010 at 5:59 pm
@Deirdre, I took all of those with my old school iphone (first generation)! But I use the ShakeItPhoto app to make them look like Polaroids.
Come to Hawaii…we’ll surf together (I don’t surf so we can fall and get up together) :)
I would love to have a mango tree in my yard! That tree looked amazing
.-= Renee´s last blog ..The Move – Part 1- The Offer and The Answer =-.
Twitter: TheOhanaMama
August 10, 2010 at 7:13 pm
@Renee, Our neighbors all have mango trees, giant ones, that drip with fruit…we’re usually the lucky recipients of bags full of mangoes left on our doorstep. And they are delicious!!
Twitter: Xmasdolly
August 10, 2010 at 8:11 pm
I am so envious. You actually found paradise. Have a great day!
.-= Xmasdolly´s last blog ..PUR WATER FILTRATION PITCHER-FLAVORED OPTIONS GIVE-AWAY! – AND THE WINNER IS- =-.
Do good while on vacation & help w/restoration of Hawaii’s old agricultural paradise. Read more..http://theohanamama.com/2010/08/back-in-... #travel #maui
RT @SarahBHawaii: Do good while on vacation & help w/restoration of Hawaii’s old agricultural paradise. Read more..http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/showthr... …
RT @SarahBHawaii: Do good while on vacation & help w/restoration of Hawaii’s old agricultural paradise. Read more..http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/showthr... …
Twitter: MommaDoan
August 11, 2010 at 7:51 pm
Beautiful does not seem good enough to describe those photos, I can’t even imagine the beauty in person. What a beautiful “backyard” you have, living in Central Florida my “backyard” is Disney which is nice and all but nothing when I look at these photos.
Twitter: winsome6
September 15, 2010 at 6:47 am
I especially like the mangoes right off the trees. It looks like a paradise in these pictures.
{ 1 trackback }