Maui, Iao Valley, Wailuku

We'd heard how great it was to be on top of 10,023-foot Haleakala for a sunrise ... well, we didn't start out quite early enough for that, but no matter ... Leaving Kihea, it was a 40-mile drive to the summit — the shortest paved route from sea level to that elevation in the world. It was a great zigzaggy drive up the dormant volcano. Spectacular views back down to the western coast and north, to the West Maui's. Sidebar: I was continually thrilled by the panoramic views on Maui ... it seemed you could always see all over the island from wherever you were. We'd know where we were in relation to other areas; we got a great feel for the area and the geography.

The mountainside was a mix of pretty yellow-green fields and some leftover lava flow — the last eruption here had been in 1790. As we got closer to the top, the temperature was much cooler. From the high 80s at sea level, we were now in the low 50s. At the summit, the landscape was barren and lunar-like.

Science City (far right in picture), at the end of the road perched on the crater rim, is a laboratory that does research in astronomy and geology. We circled back to the visitor's center and were anxious to get to an overlook to see into the crater.

Whoa ... and wow. There's nothing I could compare this place to, that I'd seen before. An immense landscape was beneath us. Stunning soft earth colors from brown to orange to sand to white. Rolling smooth hills and jagged mini-mountains rose from the crater floor. There were decorative small craters within the crater. Old lava flows created beautiful patterns. A fantastic mosaic of color, shape and texture. Clouds were blowing through and into the crater, constantly changing the light and shadows. It was captivating, amazing.

The size of the crater was mind-boggling ... here are some stats: it's 7.5 miles long, 2.5 miles wide and 3,000 feet deep. And supposedly Manhattan Island would fit inside, with its tallest building below the rim. Hmmm. We spent quite a while here, I couldn't get enough of the incredible geography.

We saw a Silversword, a plant that only exists on Haleakala and in Volcanoes National Park. (I'd say it has excellent taste ...) They live up to 20 years and only bloom once (we missed that). We also saw a nene, a duck-like guy that's the Hawaiian state bird.

It was time to head back down ... more great views. We turned in the opposite direction about halfway down and went around the southern side of the mountain, to ranch country. Ulupalakua Ranch to be exact. This was a large working cattle ranch complete with paniolos — Hawaiian cowboys. We moseyed on into their general store for some snacks and gifts. A very relaxed, country atmosphere.

Once again, we continued as far as the road allowed ... It was pretty, rolling country and here on Maui, we were actually reminded of New England ... seems great minds think alike. In the same manner that stones cleared from fields were put to good use as walls back home, so too were lava rocks by the Hawaiians.

We could not quite complete the circle around Haleakala, to where we had been in Kipahula earlier, but we came close. We backtracked and wound our way down the rest of the mountain and back to Kihea. As we neared "home" we had one more unusual sight on this wonderful day ...

Gallery...Maui