Haleakala

For the past week, our family has been welcomed by the lush, remote, sacred island of Maui. This was our first time touching the earth here and we were filled enthusiastic openness at the adventures and relaxation that lay ahead.

Some friends told us the best way to start our journey was to not to miss the sunrise at Haleakala, the sacred, dormant volcano near the center of the island. There was a catch though. The peace of the volcano was an hour and a half drive from our condo in Kihei and the sun rose at 6:59 a.m. For the first time, I was most thankful for jetlag! So at 4 a.m. (which is 6 a.m. PST, not too much of a stretch to wake for us early risers), we piled in the car (packed with warm clothing for the summit) and off we went filled with eager anticipation for the girls to see their first volcano and watch the day break.

We found it quite peaceful to drive the quiet Maui roads at that early time of the day. The still blackness was inviting. The girls, well Amara, had a ton of questions about things we passed, whether she would get to touch a cloud (something she has talked about since she was about five), and about the volcano itself. Havana was mostly concerned with there being actual lava flowing, which was scary for her. Don reassured her that we were safe but that we would get to see where lava had turned to rock, all which peaked her curiosity.

When we reach the peak of the volcano nothing could prepare us for how cold it was. We are forewarned by first hand accounts from friends how cold it would be but man, we didn't expect to feel like popsicles. Despite layers of clothing, along with hats, gloves and jackets, it felt like a brutal New York winter day. It was so frigid (the wind chill made the already freezing 30 degrees seem like it was in the teens) that Havana refused to get out of the car until I grabbed her minutes before sunrise and ran up the twenty or so steps to the overlook (big mistake to run with a fifty pound six year old at ten thousand feet) so she could see the magnificence of the rising sun.

Witnessing the sun make her way above the clouds was something I will never forget. I have seen countless sunrises and sunsets but there was something about that day and that time, in that spot, that really hit home the truth that the natural world, all made by a loving, beyond creative, Creator, hit me in my core in a way that I had not experienced previously. The truth of this touched the core of me, where this truth had laid dormant, awakening and never to sleep again.

Being on top of the volcano, seeing the sun rise, having the girls experience new and wonderous things; these are things I am most thankful for. I recently experienced a big earthquake in my personal life and what I am reminded of is to focus on what really matters; love, presence, quiet. This external journey to the summit of sacred Haleakala were reflections of those things.

The rare silversword.

 Amara really, really wanted to touch a cloud. Her wish came true! We were high enough to get out in and play in the clouds. What Don and I found exciting was seeing turbulence (above) as we descended the summit. Seeing the moving air come together was fascinating.

Surrounded by clouds.

There was a faint rainbow behind these two happy girls.