Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Rainforest and Waterfalls: It's not ALWAYS about the Beach

The breast cancer awareness post below is updated with a couple of links that are worth checking out. Now, on with our regularly scheduled program...



It's THURSDAY! Yay. Well, you know how it goes. It's actually Wednesday afternoon over here. But my time zone is so far behind everyone else, I like to get the travel post up early so those of you Mainlanders ahead of my schedule can link up if you like.

The first time I came to Hawaii, which was for a visit and not when I moved here, I remember expecting the entire island to look like South Pacific. Rainforests. Waterfalls. Completely and totally Bali Hai-ish.

There is that. But there are also lava wastelands, dry west sides to each of the islands, beaches with pine trees. The pine trees really surprised me.

But there are beautiful waterfalls too. Today we are going to Maunawili Falls. An easy to get to and easy to hike to waterfall and swimming hole.

So come along for the photo tour and click on a photo for a closerr look...

The trail...

The Falls.

Teens that I may or may not know....


Beautiful tropical flowers along the way.


Lots of green







Hope you enjoyed the hike. Careful when you climb on the rocks, they are slippery.
Have some photos of a favorite place to go in your neck of the woods? A daycation spot? Join the virtual travel and link you post up with Mr. Linky. You can grab the Travel badge in the sidebar.




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31 comments:

  1. MikeOctober 21, 2009 at 7:03 PM

    Gorgeous!!!! After Seattle, your house is next!!!

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  2. AshOctober 21, 2009 at 7:26 PM

    Oh, sweet pictures to fill my head as I go to bed - simply gorgeous.

    And pine trees at the beach are my absolute favorite :-)

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  3. bernthisOctober 21, 2009 at 8:06 PM

    paradise. Pure paradise

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  4. DebOctober 21, 2009 at 8:17 PM

    just beautiful! does this mean i got my exercise for the day since i joined you on the virtual hike?

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  5. CristinOctober 21, 2009 at 8:46 PM

    Ahhhh...green is the best.

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  6. Midlife RoadtripperOctober 21, 2009 at 11:16 PM

    Beautiful. I'd take that hike.

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  7. KristanOctober 22, 2009 at 1:41 AM

    Oh wow, how beautiful! Reminds me of some falls I've been to in Taiwan (at Wu Lai Mountain / national park) but I didn't do anything fun like those teens.

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  8. MsTypoOctober 22, 2009 at 1:49 AM

    Hawaii is so beautiful! It's so green and lush. These photos need to be part of the Hawaii tourist board info pack. All i want to do is fly there right now! :)

    I'm linked up. :)

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  9. cheatymoonOctober 22, 2009 at 3:05 AM

    Love this Pseudo. A hike that I apparently need to do...
    I will join in later. Will be home with a sick and hopefully not flu-ish kid.
    xo

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  10. AnonymousOctober 22, 2009 at 5:05 AM

    How many times can one say Gorgeous! Thanks for sharing!

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  11. Maureen@IslandRoarOctober 22, 2009 at 5:46 AM

    What could be better than hiking to come upon a hidden waterfall? We did this in Puerto Rico, but yours looks far more beautiful!

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  12. UnknownOctober 22, 2009 at 5:49 AM

    I'm a total sucker for waterfalls!

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  13. MicheleOctober 22, 2009 at 5:51 AM

    Water is the essence of life. Proof by how many of us are drawn to it. Lovely lovely photos. Thanks for sharing another aspect of Hawaii.

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  14. JanOctober 22, 2009 at 5:53 AM

    Oh, this makes me wish we were going back to Hawaii again this year. *sigh*

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  15. JessOctober 22, 2009 at 6:46 AM

    Ohhhhhhhh! I could stay there all day! Beautiful!!! I have got to visit our fair island one day...

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  16. AmyOctober 22, 2009 at 6:58 AM

    I hope to make it there some day. I will come and see you I hope..

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  17. cheatymoonOctober 22, 2009 at 7:06 AM

    Ok, I'm in. :-)

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  18. buffalodickOctober 22, 2009 at 8:24 AM

    Wow. What a beautiful place! Hope to see it someday..

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  19. Sprite's KeeperOctober 22, 2009 at 9:34 AM

    I remember my sister showing me almost identical pictures from when she went there. Gorgeous!

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  20. Brian MillerOctober 22, 2009 at 11:06 AM

    beautiful. all the green and the waterfall. went kayaking about 2 years ago and chased a stream off the river to a secluded fall. an amazing climb. thanks for taking us along, stunning pics.

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  21. Julie HOctober 22, 2009 at 1:42 PM

    Beautiful!!

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  22. Erin@TheLocalsLoveItOctober 22, 2009 at 2:25 PM

    Gorgeous! I remember when we were on the Big Island we stayed on the Kona side. But we drove around the island to the other side and it looked green like that. The side we were on reminded me of the moon (not that I travel there often) but it was rocks and blah. I'm coming to visit your part of Hawaii next time.

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  23. JackOctober 22, 2009 at 3:00 PM

    Paradise! I could see me spending many hours at Maunawili Falls, just me and my thoughts... ahhh!

    Thanks for sharing your photos with us :)

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  24. Stacy UncorkedOctober 22, 2009 at 3:30 PM

    I want to visit Hawaii. Now. :)

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  25. Liz MaysOctober 22, 2009 at 3:35 PM

    I like that you show us all facets of island life!

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  26. Smart Mouth BroadOctober 22, 2009 at 5:47 PM

    The different terrain and elevations were a big surprise to me. Before Smitty moved there, I had no idea. Just beautiful, Pseudo.

    And thanks for the linky love too.

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  27. LoriOctober 22, 2009 at 7:05 PM

    Wow! How beautiful! I love waterfalls and I would love hiking to this place. It is not very warm here so it's kinda nice to see someplace warm. XXOO Lori

    PS I have sure missed keeping up with you. I look forward to catching up in the near future.

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  28. essbeseeOctober 23, 2009 at 10:06 AM

    love that hike. and not just because I'm lazy. maybe one day I'll have to join in on Travel Thursday.

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  29. Fragrant LiarOctober 23, 2009 at 10:55 AM

    I love Show and Tell days here. All the pics are gorgeous and make me want to come for a visit. You have my room ready??

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  30. Captain DumbassOctober 23, 2009 at 5:34 PM

    What? Those places are real? I thought they were just elaborate Hollywood set designs or special effects.

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  31. Jeanne EstridgeOctober 24, 2009 at 5:03 AM

    Oooh, pretty!

    I can't imagine what it must be like, living surrounded by such beauty every day. Does everyone smile a lot?

    Of course, I think the same thing about the delicious smells of working at a florist's, and they don't seem to smile more than any other working group.

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