Day 41 (25 September 2015)

Ready to board our tender from the Golden princess to landfall at Lahaina, Maui.

One of the tourist hotels along the beachfront at Lahaina, Maui.

The Golden Princess as seen from Lahaina, Maui before our excursion to Haleakala National Park.

The view from the winding road to the Haleakala Crater – showing the Maui Neck beween the two dormant volcanoes.

Another view from the winding road to the Haleakala Crater – showing the Maui Neck between the two dormant volcanoes.

The winding road on the way to Haleakala Crater, Maui.

Rare Nene Ducks located at the Haleakala National Park Headquarters, Maui.

Rare Silversword plants in the Haleakala National Park, Maui.

View of the Haleakala Crater, Maui.

Another view of the Haleakala Crater, Maui.

And another view of the Haleakala Crater, Maui.

The road to reach the Pu’u ‘Ula’ula Observatory on Haleakala Crater, Maui.

Looking down to sea level taken from the Haleakala Crater, Maui.

Us at the Haleakala Crater, Maui.

In the town of Makawao, Maui.

In the town of Lahaina, Maui.

Waiting for us – our Golden Princess in Lahaina Harbour, Maui.

Anne along the shoreline at Lahaina, Maui.

Shaved ice (yum) a Maui treat at Lahaina.

Driving the Golden Princess tender in Lahaina Harbour, Maui.

The other (sister) Maui volcano taken from the Golden Princess, in Lahaina Harbour.

After an overnight sail from Honolulu we arrived at Lahaina on the Hawaiian island of Maui early morn. The Golden Princess is too huge to berth therefore a tender service is employed. We had an excursion to Haleakala National Park a 90 minute drive on switchback roads to scale the 9,740 feet volcano. This volcano is one of two on the island which last erupted in 1790, now declared dormant but the crater is awesome. After descending we had lunch in Hotel Casanova in village called Makawao. Our driver, a Hawaiian descent kept calling us cousins – a term frequently referring to anybody in Hawaiian lore. After a drive back to Lahaina via the back roads found us walking the tourist streets looking at ……..wait for it…..women and men’s fashion. Taking the tender back to the ship at 5 pm we were almost exhausted after two days venture on land. Anne is suffering from a cold and not the best on these excursions. The Golden Princess departed Maui for Tahiti at 6 pm and at writing is heading south-east. Officially we are out of the US and actually finish with being on American soil. This will take five days at sea and will cross the equator. We are now aware that we are on our last segment of our holiday and getting closer to Australia. Cheers.