In August of 2004, I got to experience a couple of things I didn't think I would ever have the opportunity to partake of. Both of these things I had been wanting to do for a long, long time but had all but given up. The first of these things was to go up to the top of Haleakala on Maui. Haleakala is an extinct volcano which, in Hawaiian, means "path to call the sun," which is an entirely appropriate name because from the top of the volcano, hundreds of people gather to watch the sun rise over the crater. And so, on that August morning, we (I was with my three children and another family) dressed in many layers and prepared out hot chocolate and snacks and headed for the top of the volcano. It was before 4 AM. We weren't the only ones.
We were joined by many cars and several bus loads of early risers in the sub-zero temperature.
After waiting for about an hour and a half, we finally got our first hint of the vaguest bit of light.
From there, the sun light came quickly...
...until the sun was finally fully revealed.
Within a few short minutes, the crowds left and we stayed for just a bit longer to take some pictures and check out the Visitors Center.
The second thing I got to do, was go up in a helicopter on Maui. That will be the subject of another photo essay.
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