When most people hear the word “Maui,” they don’t think of a scene like this. But all of the Hawaiian islands have a similar geographical division in which the prevailing winds bring tons of rain to the east and north sides, while the west and south sides are very dry. Since every island is actually a volcano, each one has a tall peak that blocks the moisture-laden winds from reaching the opposite side.
In fact, the word “kona” in Hawaiian means “leeward” — it refers to the dry side of the island, the side protected from the winds.
(Click on the image to embiggen.)
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I drove this very road just a few months ago. It is very picturesque, and definitely recommended. Four-wheel drive is helpful, but the stretch this particular photo looks to be from is quite smooth, as I recall. (If you approach from the west, rather than the east, you can drive as far as the road stays smooth and then turn around when you get uncomfortable. If you want to make it to this point from Hana, 4WD will make you feel much better. We did it from Hana, and it was absolutely worth it, but it’s not for the faint of heart.)
I continue to be amazed at the small size of our world (and the breadth of readers of this blog).