Hi & thanks for stopping by! I hope to gather all the photos from my travels and share them here with you. I find that our memories can get muddled & lost with all the daily constants in our lives and we need to find a place and time to look back. That is why I wanted to build a curated space for my photography so I can truly take it all in. I hope "Straight On Till Morning" will inspire you to visit towns you have never heard of, travel to a country you may have been apprehensive about, or introduce you to a different restaurant in a vacation spot you been going to for years. Let the journey begin!
Bon Voyage!
Let's take a little trip to the islands of Hawaii! Our first stop is Maui, which tends to be a very popular island for tourists but hopefully my travels will expose you to some parts of this beautiful piece of land. My husband and I started in Kaanapali and worked our way down the western coast eventually heading east on the road to Hana. Buckle your seat belts for this curvy & lush green ride!
Black Sand Beach
One of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen is Black Sand Beach, the sand is actually small black pebbles and rocks that were formed when lava hit the ocean and shattered. Its the best natural foot massage mother Earth will ever give you! This park is filled with freshwater caves, lava formations, and ancient burial grounds making this destination worthy of the accolades.
There are great trails around Waianapanapa. There are breath taking views of the beach itself, the Pacific Ocean and you may spot a rainbow or two as the waves crash against the cliffs. This was our favorite place to explore on the island, there is really nothing like it anywhere else. I came back a few years later for a photo shoot!
Road to Hana
There are many places to pull over along your way on the "Road to Hana" which is a 64 mile long journey (with 620 curves & 59 bridges) to a town on the Eastern side of the island. It is about a 3 hour drive straight from Kaanapali so make sure to plan out your timing accordingly. I can't believe the road wasn't paved until the 1960's! Some of the beautiful bridges date back to 1910.
There is the Botanical Garden which has tropical flora and fauna all over! There is The Seven Sacred Pools; a group of waterfalls you can hike to (however this can be overcrowded during high season). The bamboo forest along the Pipiwai trail is a special treat and also a great 1 mile hike. Despite the majority of the hike being vertical, it is worth going all the way to the top!
The best decision we made was renting a convertible Jeep Wrangler. The open roof served us well since there is so much lush rainforest to see above. At one point, we had a slight downpour and had to hop out and put on the roof before we got soaked. Make sure you know how to put on the roof ahead of time ;) The Jeep is also crucial for all the twists and turns of the Hana HWY.
An old church we stumbled upon in the small, untouched town of Hana.
We have done the road to Hana twice now and always stop at the Cafe below for baked goods, iced coffee or tea. They also have a "to die for" banana bread! Make sure to stop at Mamas Fish House on the North Shore in Paia on your way back for dinner. We had my birthday dinner there on our trip back and the ambience is one you will never forget!
Kaanapali
This part of the island is on the Northwest coast and has many great hotel selections, world renowned golf courses up North in Kapalua, and beautiful views of the coast. We had a spectacular view of the island of Lanai from The Sheraton and during sunset, it was a magical hour! If you are a SPG member, this hotel will do you justice.
Check out Honolua Bay for amazing snorkeling. Just north of Kapalua, there is a beautiful trail before you get to the beach. We took many snorkeling photos under water but I'll save you from those unsuccessful attempts.
I highly recommend going to this restaurant known for their sunsets and atmosphere called Merriman's. Go here for a special occasion or romantic date night! They don't fool around with their cocktails either.
Lahaina
A classic Hawaiian destination on the island is the historic town of Lahaina. It was the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1820 to 1845 before moving back to Honolulu! There are so many ocean front bars and restaurants along Front Street for a memorable sunset dinner.
There is a fascinating map store where we purchased maps of San Francisco & New York City that we now have framed in our apartment. If you like geography and history, visit Printsellers and they will tell you everything about the history of Hawaii & Captain Cook!
Try Kimos for a mean Mai Tai or Mojito!
