....and less crowded is the Kahekili Highway in West Maui, where the "highway" is indeed one lane most of the way, razor-narrow one lane, mirror-scraping-rocks one lane. The landscape is entirely different than anywhere else on the island, more wind-scrubbed by the wide-open waters of the Pacific, plants and trees hugging the ground. It's cattle-country, and hunting country. Red dirt country. It actually reminded me a lot of the sodden coastal West of Ireland, but with heat.
There is a single village of a dozen or so houses, nestled in a steamy valley --
-- where an old bus anchored to the cliffside serves up deep-fried hot dogs and mahi mahi & chips --
A bit further down the road, a banana bread stand sold mini loaves, still warm, complete with a plastic knife for slicing....
My favorite sights, though, were the fruit stands, unattended, with a jar for payment: the honor system:
This felt more like an authentic Maui, with taro plantings and chickens wandering, no hurry. The resort scene is a world unto itself, fascinating to observe, relaxing and a kick to be a part of. But today I entered into an older world, minus a single gas station or mini-mart. (No Starbucks!) And imagine this: no cell phone service. Remote? Indeed. But with a luxury of breathing space that one is hard-pressed to find in the land of multi-lane roads and five-bar phone service.
It's interesting that pineapple isn't relatively inexpensive on Hawai'i either.
ReplyDeleteLove, c.
great shots! When on the big island last year, I visited a friends farm where I got to pick pineapple that she was growing there. She also had taro and various other exotic fruits and plants.
ReplyDeleteEverything is expensive on the islands -- but it's worth it. You'd think fish would be cheap, but I've been told all the local waters are fished out so they import the fish from far away.