Have I ever mentioned how my Grandpa is my idol?
Well he is.
And I think part of it has to do with the fact that he and I think a lot a like.
Take for example: vacations.
We both like to research where we are going. Know our options, and set a game plan for maximizing our stay.
Heading to Maui, we both researched the Must Do attractions, and on the top of both of our lists was an excursion called, "The Road to Hana."
After settling in our first night we got up the next morning and decided to head out and try our hand at Hana.
Here's the thing.
Every travel site, every top ten list, every recommendation put The Road to Hana as the number one thing to do in Maui. You were promised a scenic drive through lush rain forest. Beautiful seaside views. Tons of excursions along the way. And one of the most amazing experiences of your life.
AHEM.
It sucked.
Hard.
But it didn't start out that way.
The entire stretch of the trip is only 30 miles. But those thirty miles take you about 3 hours to travel. One way.
Excited, we stopped by each of the suggested stops on the way eager to take in the sights of Maui.
Our first stop was at an overlook of a beautiful beach where tons of surfers were riding the waves.
It was gorgeous. Perfect weather. Perfect scenery. Perfect company to enjoy it with.
Our next stop was a small hut on the road that sold fresh pineapple smoothies and offered a one mile hike to a waterfall.
Sign us up!
We dropped down from the road to start the hike and Jeff says to me, "Wow. I didn't know bamboo got so big."
At the same time we hear Kaeden come up from behind and say, "You know what that yellow stuff is Mom? It's bamboo."
A little baffled that he knew what "bamboo" was, let alone could identify it, so I asked, "How do you know that?"
To which he gave me a "duh" look and said, "Pandas eat it."
In my head I was like, "No they don't. Koala's eat eucalyptus and pandas eat...they eat...well shoot. They do eat bamboo!" What the heck?
So I then asked, "Kaeden, where did you learn that?!?"
And he says nonchalantly, "Ni Hao Kai-Lan."
And that was that. I will never look at bamboo the same.
Our hike was a fairly simple one, and we eventually made our way to the waterfall.
Jeff took Kaeden around the back of the cave that the water fell over and tried to get him in the water.
Luckily Kade was hesitant to swim over to the waterfall because Jeff said the water was so cold he could barely breath.
After our hike back to the cars we decided that even though it was a minor trail, the hike had left us all a little tired. We resolved that unless a turnoff on the road to Hana really called to us, we'd just keep making our trek to the small town so that we could sit and have lunch.
After a bit the boys fell asleep.
Peaceful, right?
Right. But then things slowly took an awful turn.
We finally make our way to Hana after navigating winding one-way switchbacks where you are constantly accelerating and than braking, accelerating and braking. Then watch out! There's suddenly another car headed in your direction. Quick! Find somewhere to squeeze over and allow the other car to pass. It gets old. Quick.
By the time we hit Hana, we were all a little carsick.
At then guess what. You get to Hana.
And your prize for your long journey?
Nothing.
Nothing, but the opportunity to pack it in and head back.
Three hours.
Same winding road.
We spent about an hour in Hana eating lunch on the grass of a parking lot. There was a bit of an arts and crafts fair near us, so we wandered through that briefly.
With not much else to do, we resolved to head back. My grandparents were still up for some adventuring, so they decided to press on a bit and see some caves or something that were another 10 miles up the road.
Jeff and I loaded they boys and decided to just make our way back knowing that our boys wouldn't be excited for another long car ride.
A few miles in, and things started going bad.
We had to pull over and let the boys out of the car about every 5 minutes because they were so carsick. I have to admit. I was too.
But not as much as the boys who started puking in the car shortly after.
One would puke, and then the other. Each time we'd have to pull over and clean up, then convince the boys to get in the carseat for "just a little longer."
As you can imagine, we felt like the worse parents ever. Here we have two little boys, sick as dogs, and we keep having to coax them back into the car for even more torture. There was no where to pull off for an extended time. No small town to stop in. Nothing. We just had to soldier on.
I kid you not. My kids each puked about 7 times.
And then their little bodies gave in, and they fell asleep just long enough for us to get out of the winding part of the trip, and eventually hit the highway home.
Needless to say, my kids never wanted to see the inside of the car again.
So my advice to traveler's going to Maui.
Skip the road to Hana.
The hype is not real.
It sucked.
Hard.
Whenever we want to tease Kaeden, all we have to say is, "Who wants to go to Hana?"
And he screams.
If that's not an endorsement, I don't know what is.
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