So I haven't updated in a really long time, mostly because I was running around crazy busy! So the holidays came and went, I was able to experience a hawaiian christmas which was quite warm, and explored some of my japanese culture for New Years. Apparently its a bigger holiday in Hawaii than anything else, meaning lots of fireworks and eating. I ate the day before, the day of, and the morning of the 1st. It was a lot of japanese food, definitely not complaining. Started out the year doing a fantastic hike called Kuliouou Ridge Trail which was a nice 3 hour hike with a great view. Then all my energy was channeled into preparing for my friend Alex's visit to Hawaii for the first time, our trip to Maui, a meeting on the Big Island, and then a trip home.
The trip to Maui was definitely the highlight. We began the trip staying at the summit of Haleakala where it was absolutely colder than I have been moving to Hawaii. We did a hike into the crater which had crazy wind blowing down and where I got to see a silversword, an endangered plant in Hawaii. We also did a hike lower in the crater as well as a native bird hike.
The next day we did the road to Hana, filled with switchbacks and waterfalls at every turn. It was beautiful, but almost made me carsick. We ended up doing a coastal hike in Waianapanapa State Park before heading to Kipahulu camp ground where we had a campsite looking out over the ocean and a rainforest behind us. I don't think I could find a more incredible place to call home for the night.
The next day we hiked to the Waimoku Falls which was gorgeous and so tempting to hop in, until we saw rocks falling from the top of the falls! Next up was the south coast drive of Maui, which was quite bumpy before we met up my old freshman floor mate Chelsea in Paia for awesome mexican food and happy hour. Then we spent the night at her place in Kihei. The next day we fit one more hike at Waihee Ridge Trail and found a weird asian park before returning home. The trip was just what I needed to start the new year. I had been missing home so it was great to have a friend come visit and to take vacation and explore my new state. Most of the hikes included me with a giant smile on my face because I had missed adventure so much! But once the vacation was over, it was time for the meeting we had been planning for months.
