SUNDAY - AUGUST 14th -  HIKE, CHURCH, AND HANA HIGHWAY.  Journey to Maui, Hawaii.

This is Maui's lao Needle in the Iao Valley in Maui, Hawaii.  This is where warriors would go as a lookout point to try to spot their enemies.  This mountain is so skinny and it stands 2,250 feet above sea level.  Maui was one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen.  God's creation is amazing!  

The family by the Iao Needle.  Half of us are ready for church.  The other half got dressed in the parking lot of the church.  We got off the ship, went on this little hike, and then went to church at one of the Maui Wards.  It was great!

GIRL POWER!!!!

Heavenly Father creates some of the most beautiful landscapes!

After the hike, we went to some gardens that were done by the Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, and Koreans to remember their ancestors and the early immigrants that came to the islands of Hawaii.

Japanese Gardens.  

Monument recognizing the Japanese immigrants for their sacrifice and pioneering.

Chinese Gardens that we walked through.  Amazing!!!!!

We saw trees like this in Tonga.  They are called Ovava Trees over there.  They are incredible!

We went into the middle of the island, but we found a Church that had meetings at 1:00.  The people in Hawaii are so gracious and kind.  This church building overlooked the ocean.  Great place to have church.  After church, we took off to see more of the island.

After Church, we drove on the "Road to Hana".  The road is crazy curvy, but worth the drive.  The family was getting car sick due to all the turns.  We drove to the Garden of Eden Arboretum, where there was lush botanical gardens that was set on 26 acres, with trails, picnic spots, waterfalls, and coastal views.  We spent a couple hours there and then drove back.  The Garden was all done by one man named Alan Bradbury, Maui's first I.S.A. certified arborist and landscape designer.  Alan purchased the 26 acre site in 1991 and had a vision of restoring the area's natural ecosystem with Hawaii's native and indigenous species.   There are over 700 botanically labeled plants.  This garden is very elaborate with a series of meandering trails that have unique flowers, rare trees, and a sweet smell of tropical blossoms.  Alan and his family have done a great job with this garden and it really did feel like the Garden of Eden.  The following are pictures of Alan's Garden - "Garden of Eden".

These flowers are incredible!  I've never seen such amazing and diverse plants.  The ecosystem is so amazing!  I can see why there are so many scientists that come to the islands of Hawaii wanting to study the Botany and the Ecosystem.  Amazing!!!!!!!!!

Maddison and Ella hiding in the Bamboo Forest.

This picture was taken by Logan.  Amazing view of the Bamboo trees!  I think he has a future in photography.  We found one of many talents that Logan has.  Logan's awesome!

Being crazy while the other kids were using the restrooms.

They had peacocks that the kids were chasing and trying to get them to show off there color.  Didn't work, but it was fun to see the mother and her little baby following after her.

On our way back to the boat.  It was a great Sunday!  While we were waiting, we all gave each other shoulder rubs.  Good way to do it.  If you do it this way, you want to be in the middle.  Because..... when you turn around to go the other way, if you're on the inside, you get shoulder rubs both ways.  If you're on the outside, you only get shoulder rubs half the time.  Ella and Logan got the shaft.  :)  Shhhh, don't tell them.

Every night, when we got back to our little cruise ship room, the beds were made and there were animals made out of towels on our beds.  Little Ella's bed was made nicely with her baby and her little monkey on her pillow.  She thought it was the best thing ever!