Makena 5 caves beach, Molokini in distance
We arose early and drove south through Kehei and Makena to this very pretty spot just south of the Makena Surf Condo. When we got there it looked as if the water was rather turbid, but a couple there snorkeling said it was one of the nicest spots. There were many people there Scuba diving, but they said the snorkeling was good to the left side, and also on the right.
We took their word for it and went to the left side. It was really poor. The water was very cloudy, and there is almost no coral. The small amount there was was being mauled by large swells breaking over the rocks, so that there was no way one could see anything. So we swam all the way back to the other (right) side. It was a bit clearer, and there is some nice coral, but the visibility was very poor. As she quit, Enid spoke to a woman who was Scuba diving, and she said that it is usually a very nice place, that they had been here for a month, and this was the worst day of all.
I went out again after lunch, and it was perhaps a bit better, but still very poor viibility. I saw three turtles. One of them had a very large growth on the side of it’s mouth. It was either the result of an old injury, or else it had some kind of a tumor.
Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve Lava flow and ocean, Molokini in the distance
When I quit snorkeling we drove south to the Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve. Along the way we stopped at a very small church, where someone was playing a beautiful grand piano. We realized later that this is where the classical music festival we’d read about was being held. The road to the natural reserve is very narrow, and passes by some very large expensive houses. This whole part of south Maui seems to be a very ritzy area.
We walked out to the ocean at the reserve. This is the only area where you are allowed to snorkel any longer, as they have closed the rest of the reserve. It is a beautiful site of black lava rock and deep turquoise ocean. Perhaps we will come back here early some morning to try it.
Makena big beach
On the way back we stopped at Makena Beach State Park. This is a very long golden sand beach. It has lifegaurd stations, but the beach itself was not very busy. Today it was red-flagged, so there were very few people in the water. The beach reminded us of some of the beaches in Australia, though there was much less surf.
Tonight we went for fish and chips at the brew-pub just about a quarter mile from here. We’d gone last night, but it was Sunday, and we were a bit later, and it was full. Rather than wait for at least half an hour to get it, we decided to come back tonight. The fish was good.