We didn't rent a car this trip because of finances being so tight so we weren't sure how to get to church. We don't know any members here and didn't have phone numbers of the bishop or R.S. Pres. so we decided to take a long Sunday drive with the Polynesian Adventure tour company. We were picked up outside our hotel at 7:15 am and headed for the volcano Haleakala. We were going from sea level to 10,000 feet in just over an hour so we needed to dress warm, have plenty to drink and basically just sit back and enjoy the ride. Our tour guide was a very knowledgeable little man. He reminded me of a retired science teacher he had so much knowledge. We got a detailed history of the Island from the 1700s when Capt Cook arrived to the present day. We learned about the 4 climate zones on the way up to the top of the volcano and indeed, the foliage adequately represents these zones. If I don't lose my blog like I did the other day I will attempt to put pictures showing the
different zones. Anyway this picture shows the inside of the inactive crater of the the volcano. It is very dead and usually has clouds inside. We lucked out and got to see this moon like area well. The volcanic rock is much denser than the volcanic rock in Calif because the size of the Hydrogen bubbles that formed inside the lava as it spilled out of the main cone. The volcanic eruptions has slow moving lava that doesn't kill people but will burn and destroy property in its' path. We heard a story of a village that watched the lava approach, but after 5 months and the lava still hadn't reached the homes decided it wasn't worth moving. Well, the heat from the lava consumed the buildings like a cardboard box thrown on a hot furnace. The homes disappeared so fast when it reached them. There are also "cones" that are formed at the top of the eruptions and eventually are blown many miles and become part of the landscape. 
The picture of the porcupine like plant is one of the very few plants that grow at 10,000 ft. It is the silversword plant. The leaves have little hairs on them to absorb the moisture from the clouds for water. In the summer there is a long blade looking part that 
grows to nearly 5 ft high. Hence the name silversword. This part of the plant has blossoms on it that reseeds itself when the growing season is over and the sword part dies. It isn't summer today so no sword section of the plant. Not many other plants grow up here. This picture of a bush is in the next climate down from the volcanic climate. This looks like Grouse from Scotland and very well could be if a bird was blown off course and ended up in this section of land. The native foliage on Maui is not the lush green trees palms and fruit trees you normally picture as Hawaii. These didn't get here until the Polynesians came over. There are also many trees from explorers and workers from other countries such as France, Australia and New Zealand. Thank goodness these people brought in the wonderful lush and verdant trees. Sugar cane was such a good crop for the economy. There is only one operational plant left on the Island. There are many sugar cane fields we passed going up to the volcano. Next we went to the Iao State park. It usually has clouds all over 
the green verdant mountain. This is where Capt. Cook introduced King Kahemahema to canon and artillery. We are standing in front of the Needle which is 2,250 ft tall from sea level. The whole state park is pretty green and lush with a river that is constantly rushing down from all the rain. This is the 2nd largest amount of rainfall in all of Hawaii:350 inches per year so the river is always full and flowing very fast. Anyway in this valley of sorts is where King Kahemahema took on the Maui natives with artillery and killed 10,000 of them. What carnage there was. Hi won though and made Lahaina his capital for several years. All in all the day was educational and very beautiful. We met some very nice people and enjoyed the wonderful creations of God on this beautiful Sabboth day.
different zones. Anyway this picture shows the inside of the inactive crater of the the volcano. It is very dead and usually has clouds inside. We lucked out and got to see this moon like area well. The volcanic rock is much denser than the volcanic rock in Calif because the size of the Hydrogen bubbles that formed inside the lava as it spilled out of the main cone. The volcanic eruptions has slow moving lava that doesn't kill people but will burn and destroy property in its' path. We heard a story of a village that watched the lava approach, but after 5 months and the lava still hadn't reached the homes decided it wasn't worth moving. Well, the heat from the lava consumed the buildings like a cardboard box thrown on a hot furnace. The homes disappeared so fast when it reached them. There are also "cones" that are formed at the top of the eruptions and eventually are blown many miles and become part of the landscape. 
The picture of the porcupine like plant is one of the very few plants that grow at 10,000 ft. It is the silversword plant. The leaves have little hairs on them to absorb the moisture from the clouds for water. In the summer there is a long blade looking part that 
grows to nearly 5 ft high. Hence the name silversword. This part of the plant has blossoms on it that reseeds itself when the growing season is over and the sword part dies. It isn't summer today so no sword section of the plant. Not many other plants grow up here. This picture of a bush is in the next climate down from the volcanic climate. This looks like Grouse from Scotland and very well could be if a bird was blown off course and ended up in this section of land. The native foliage on Maui is not the lush green trees palms and fruit trees you normally picture as Hawaii. These didn't get here until the Polynesians came over. There are also many trees from explorers and workers from other countries such as France, Australia and New Zealand. Thank goodness these people brought in the wonderful lush and verdant trees. Sugar cane was such a good crop for the economy. There is only one operational plant left on the Island. There are many sugar cane fields we passed going up to the volcano. Next we went to the Iao State park. It usually has clouds all over 
the green verdant mountain. This is where Capt. Cook introduced King Kahemahema to canon and artillery. We are standing in front of the Needle which is 2,250 ft tall from sea level. The whole state park is pretty green and lush with a river that is constantly rushing down from all the rain. This is the 2nd largest amount of rainfall in all of Hawaii:350 inches per year so the river is always full and flowing very fast. Anyway in this valley of sorts is where King Kahemahema took on the Maui natives with artillery and killed 10,000 of them. What carnage there was. Hi won though and made Lahaina his capital for several years. All in all the day was educational and very beautiful. We met some very nice people and enjoyed the wonderful creations of God on this beautiful Sabboth day.
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