Maui Explored: The Hana Road Less Traveled

Beyond the town of Hana, the Hana Highway continues, essentially creating a loop around the island. Unfortunately, due to an earthquake a few years ago, part of the road either disappeared or was buried. The state of Hawaii thought it prudent to close this portion of the road. Katie and Chris thought it prudent to explore two cool sights along this section.
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Katie, always the lawyer, forbade me from driving the Jeep over the concrete barrier that had been outfitted with a stone ramp on either side by locals. Our rental car map strictly issued a warning about not using this road. And admittedly, not knowing what was on the other side, I didn't put up much of a protest. Our destination was the Alelele Falls: a waterfall about 1.5 miles down the road. We packed a lunch, hopped the barrier and wandered down the portion of the Hana Highway that no AARP discounted tour bus dared venture. We quickly gazed upon a fairly desolate beach surrounded in lush greenery. We quickly discovered what had to have been one of the most interesting noises. The beach was not sandy. It entirely made up of smooth rocks the size of softballs that stretched for about a quarter mile with a fresh water stream flowing into the sea midway down the beach. It was relatively open to the ocean and waves were crashing close to shore. The noise we heard was the sound of the incoming and receding waves grabbing the rocks and grinding them against each other. Simultaneously tumbling and polishing thousands of rocks. We stopped, ate lunch, enjoyed the strange noise, and enjoyed the scenery of this isolated cove which even allowed us to get a rare glimpse of a stream we passed over dumping into the ocean from a 50ft water fall.

Kukui'ula Falls from a distance

The rocky beach where we stopped for lunch

We packed up after lunch and wandered to our destination. A mile later we entered into the woods, traversed a stream and came to a special waterfall. The Alelele Falls were nestled in the forest and provided a cooling break from the sun that came out in force that day. We had the place to ourselves. We took a dip in the water, allowing me to forgo a shower that day... And marveled at the sight. Like almost everything there, it was beautiful and its deafening flow almost mesmerizing. We took pictures and relaxed. The tranquility of the location was perfect. However, after a few minutes we were interrupted by two groups of people. The first group contained a old white haired, pony-tailed aging hippie wearing a sarape, his wife, and grandson. Upon reaching the pool and with no shame he shed his sarape to declare to those gathered around the waterfall that he swam naked. We did not take pics.