Maui Paradise

Maui was a location I had dreamed of visiting for many years. Finally in 2016, I made that dream a reality when I booked a trip with my family. The island was more beautiful than I imagined. It truly felt like paradise. While this was more of a family trip than a dedicated photography trip, I did manage to photograph some of the island. A return trip is high on my list.

One of my most memorable moments was seeing and photographing the Milky Way rising over this science observatory at Haleakala National Park during a cold early morning. Then, I waited for the sun to rise above the clouds which is the reason most people travel to the summit. The warmth of the sun felt so nice.

^{Sony a7RII + 16-35, 35mm, f11, 1/25 sec, ISO100}

^{Sony a7RII + Zeiss Loxia 21, 21mm, f2.8, 20 sec, ISO3200}

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Next we explored the northern coastline of Maui. I had to stop along the highway and setup for this shot of the impressive cliffs covered in green foliage, rugged coastline, and ocean below. Somebody sure is lucky to have a home at this incredible location.

^{Sony a7RII + Zeiss Loxia 21, 21mm, f11, 1/200 sec, ISO100}

Driving along the coastal highway was a real treat as you'll often find calm scenes like this one: a sailboat out in the Pacific as blue as the sky.

^{Sony a7RII + Zeiss Loxia 21, 21mm, f10, 1/125 sec, ISO100}

However, we were not so lucky to have sunshine during our entire trip. In fact, it rained quite a bit. I didn't mind it since stormy skies often make for dramatic photos but this storm did ruin our luau in Lahaina. I still owe my wife a proper Hawaiian luau since our plans were cancelled.

^{Sony a7RII + Zeiss Loxia 21, 21mm, f9, 1/400 sec, ISO200}

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Massive rain storms also put a damper on our drive on the Road to Hana. If you have not heard of this, it's a beautiful winding drive through a gorgeous part of Maui where you can stop at the many iconic locations along the way. I was happy we had a capable Jeep for the drive as there were parts that were a bit rough especially with the heavy rain. I didn't take many photos along the drive but did photograph this waterfall during our trip. When we return to Maui, I'm definitely going to do this road trip again and hopefully we can stop at the amazing sites along the road.

^{Sony a7RII + Zeiss Loxia 21, 21mm, f11, 1/25 sec, ISO100}

Sunsets were rare sightings during our Maui trip again due to the weather but I managed to photograph these clouds along a nice stretch of beach on the Southeastern part of the island.

^{Sony a7RII + Zeiss Loxia 21, 21mm, f11, 1/25 sec, ISO100}

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One of the other things that impressed me with Maui were the trees. From Jacaranda trees with their purple flowers to old Banyan trees with their incredible branches to the well known tall palm trees. I even managed to photograph a rainbow during the trip.

^{Sony a7RII + Zeiss Loxia 21, 21mm, f11, 1/25 sec, ISO100}

^{Sony a7RII + Zeiss Loxia 21, 21mm, f5.6, 1/25 sec, ISO100}

^{Sony a7RII + Zeiss Loxia 21, 21mm, f9, 1/320 sec, ISO100}

^{Sony a7RII + Zeiss Loxia 21, 21mm, f10, 1/100 sec, ISO100}

All in all, we had a wonderful first trip to Maui despite the weather. The island is truly beautiful. There is a laid back mood with the locals and the food, especially the seafood, was delicious. Next time we go, I will charter a helicopter tour to explore more of the island from the air.

Thanks in advance for your support.

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