Haleakala ..... House of the Sun ..... followed by Mama's Fish House

Today is Tuesday and we are remembering 911 eleven years ago today.   How our world changed that day. 

Today we are driving to Haleakala.  Pronounced Hale a ka la and means  'house of the sun.'  we are headed south down  hwy 30 past Lahaina then up 380 through Kahului.  I think we will stop for macadamia nuts before heading through the sugar cane fields and highway 37,   when we arrive, our elevation will be 10,023 feet.   The drive is a stunning view starting with rolling grassy fields, lavender gardens, homes with breath-taking views and free roaming cattle.  as we climbed the curvy road, looking up all we could see was clouds above.  we wondered if we should turn around and go back rather than rach the top and see nothing but clouds.    the bicycles were assending -- they were up there for the sunrise.  we were due to make it to the top between noon and one o'clock.

we continued to climb .... Roads seemed newly paved with painted lines.  Just many turns and twists.
Inside the National Park, we stopped at the visitor center.  we had 30 minutes of driving time left.  and no promise of a clear view into the crater.  everyone said it constantly changes.
this is when we began to see the Silver Sword

 which only grows on Haleakala, once it blooms, it dies.

Yes, we could see into the Crater.  the camera can not do it justice with all the hues and shades of color.



Driving down we were due to reach the bottom around 3:30 and had not had lunch.  I suggested we try Mama's Fish House in Pa'ia.   I had see the commercials on the tourist channel and thought it too pricie ... But maybe lunch would not be too expensive.   Pa'ia is a homie little town south of the airport  and Mama's was a family run restaurant which only served what the fishermen brought in daily.   what a surprise!  we were not allowed to park our own car ... Clue number one.   we walked down onto a beautiful beach to open windowed building that rambled on and on.   finally finding an entrance, we were allowed to seat ourselves in the bar area as dinner starts in 45 minutes and those with reservations got those romantic window seats.     the lunch menu called 'light menu' consisted of appetizers, entrees (all raw fish) and salads.  Ken not eager for raw fish had the coconut prawns and Mama's salad.  I went for the macadamia crab cakes and Ahi crusted salad...and the Ahi was raw.  

The service was classy, the food amazing, the ambiance romantic and fun, and the bill was large.