Maui
I spent the first two weeks of 2000 in Maui.
Above is Haleakala, a National Park in which I volunteered.
I was in Maui visiting Matt, and for our first week, we backpacked over 10 miles into the Crater
(to a place just at the far end of the crater, below the small dip in the crater wall).
This is just as we reached our destination, on the East end of the Crater is a lush place called Paliku.
I injured my knee so I wasn't much help to Matt.
I did spend one afternoon searching about the rasberry bushes for Nene goose nests.
It was a gorgeous area, rained a fair amount, but we stayed in a cabin that was semi-plush for backcountry
This is a Nene goose, one of the most endangered waterfowl, with approximately 250 in the park.
Matt (and I) monitored Nene nests as part of our duties.
These two Nene are hanging out just above the cabin at Paliku.
"The edge of the crater stands sharply against the paling sky,
its lowest edges dusted with the fading blush of the sun.
Misting clouds drift down to the green pasture dressing the fenceline in a damp blackness from which lichens and moss burst and scatter.
Two Nene walk tenatively past, murmering honks of encouragement as their white serated necks rise and fall.
They shuffle off into the rasberry bushes."
(from notes I took one night at sunset)
Matt phoning home (just outside the cabin door).
I hiked out with my injured knee
(10 miles and over 2000 ft up in elevation in the last 3 miles),
but didn't mind as the scenery is so beautiful.
A rainbow followed us for the first few miles out of Paliku.
It was close enough that I could see it between me
and rocks just 5 feet to my side
When Matt stopped to wait for me,
I asked him if he thought there was gold at the end of the rainbow.
He just smiled and said
"We're standing in it."
(continued)