7 Sacred Pools are located on the far southern edge of Maui, on Rt 31, just past Milemarker 42. You'll find parking on the ocean side of the road. What some secrets of visiting this hidden gem?
1. Oheo Gulch is the best hike on Maui!
It's also 2 1/2 hours of pure natural bliss -- ferns, tropical flowers -- all ending at Waimoku Falls, a 400' gush over a sheer lava cliff!
There's also an infinity pool!
By the way, that's ME, the tiny speck in hot pink at the base of the Falls!
2. Bamboo talks!
Have you ever been totally ensconced in a grove of bamboo, with each stalk so fat and round that you could barely wrap your hand around any one...
with the forest 100' tall and so dense, you were in deep shade, at 1pm...
where, if you stood silently, the only sound you would hear was the tinkle of the stalks -- "chink chink chink"-- hitting one another, in the slight breeze? It brings to mind heavy wooden chimes.
Fun facts: Bamboo grows 3 feet a day!
Imagine.... how would this bamboo-engulfed trail feel, if you got caught out there as dusk fell, on a windy night?
3. You don't have to hike at all, if you don't want to (or can't).
Most of the pools are right by the road. This sounds awful, but it's not. The pools are lovely, the sea view sprawls out before you, and the crowd makes for entertaining people-watching. (might want to read #5 below, though)
4. Pedal a bike -- I mean, make a smoothie. Actually, you do both at the same time, on the bike-powered blender at Laulima Farm's Organic Fruit stand! Try the Coconut Latte! It's only 2 miles from Oheo Gulch, in Kipahulu.
One reviewer says it this way:
harmonious non irradiated beyond orgasmic, I mean organic sun drenched goodness.
5. There is reportedly a "shark's den", where the stream spills out into the ocean at the lower Pools. I'm not sure what a shark's den actually is, but I'd recommend steering clear of the strong current, anyway.
6. The road to Hana is only 60 miles, but can take as long as 4 hours, one way! It's serpentine, cliff-side, and sprinkled temptingly with waterfalls and sea vistas -- so you just TRY and not succumb to a photo stop or two.
Suggestion? Plan to stay in Hana for at least one overnight. I can reserve you a treehouse!
7. You may have the pleasure of witnessing some nude sunbathers. Native Hawaiians seem to shun clothes!
--------------photos censored by the management of TLT ----------
Aloha!
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