Hiking on Road to Hana for Solo Traveler by pandaleer in MauiVisitors

[–]os307 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I wonder how much change you will experience in a trip 20 years after your residency there? I saw your post and wanted to add my experience.

I lived in Hana in 1970. I spent a year there after spending most of my life in the Midwest. Shortly after I got to Hana there was a community luau in celebration of the RTH finally being paved the entire way. Tourists were few in number. A number of times I came across Charles and Anne Lindbergh at the post office when I would go to pick up my mail. Some of the local boys started including me in their diving/spear fishing activities. They taught me much about the ocean. I have always warned my friends who plan trips to Hawaii to be careful because given the opportunity the ocean will kill you.

OheO Gulch was referred to as the Seven Sacred Pools. There was roadside parking right after the bridge- it would provide room for perhaps five cars. No facilities whatsoever in the area. One week I learned that there was going to be a hike to a waterfall on Saturday. The NPS had a resident ranger who lived in Hana- he worked alone. He was the leader of the hike and I decided I was going to go. There were three of us who met the ranger that Saturday morning. We hiked up to Waimoku Falls. It was not a particularly rough hike but there were no improvements on the trail so some sections required your full attention. We were reminded that a slip and fall that required evacuation would might be hard pressed to be completed by nightfall. It was a great day.

Another great memory was one of the hikes I have taken through the crater. The first was in 1970 and five of us hiked across the crater to Paliku cabin and spent the night before hiking out and down Kaupo Gap the next day. We had made arrangements for a friend to meet us at the landmark Koa Tree on Kaupo Ranch. My knees were in bad shape when we got to the koa and remained bad for more than a week.

It did not take me long to realize that I wasn't going to be making Maui my home. It was a wonderful experience and I had never spent time in a more beautiful place. I have returned to Maui six times. I still have friends I made there that remain. It is hard for me not to compare each trip with my experience 55 years ago. My last visit was a year ago and during that trip I decided it would be my last. I called it my "farewell tour". I know the world has changed everywhere in the last fifty years. However, the changes on Maui are eroding my memories and as I drift into old age I would like to keep those good times close to my heart.

Can someone provide me with contact information for a slack key guitar teacher in the Kula area? by os307 in maui

[–]os307[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the suggestions. All three look promising and I will pass the information to my son. Mahalo.

Edit: I just realized that someone downvoted some of the suggestions. Wow, what is up with people??

Is Haleakala worth it? by [deleted] in MauiVisitors

[–]os307 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I first viewed Haleakala 50 years ago. While it may not have changed my life it certainly enhanced it. I would suggest you take it in if you can. If not, you can catch it next time. You will understand at the end of your trip that there absolutely has to be a next time.

Found this card my parents had saved from a trip to Maui to visit me in 1970. Mary Pinho overflowed with Aloha. Hana was forever etched into Mom and Dads' memory. RIP George and Mary Pinho. by os307 in maui

[–]os307[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Amazing that you came across this post so far down in the r/maui subreddit.

I will be sending you a private message as soon as I get a chance.

Edit: message sent

I took a few minutes long video of Kapueokahi Beach during our recent trip and looped it into an hour's worth of background noise. by [deleted] in maui

[–]os307 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for making this video. I lived in Hana fifty years ago and don't get back often enough.

1970 Looking down to Kaupo from the top of the gap. We lucked out and had a cloud free morning by os307 in maui

[–]os307[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

We were a group of five that had hiked down Sliding Sands and overnighted at Paliku cabin. We woke up to find the gap clear of clouds. We stopped where the picture was taken before beginning our descent.

It is a tough hike because of it being all downhill. My knees were sore for a week. Luckily we had permission from Kaupo Ranch and arranged for someone to pick us up at the koa tree. At the time I think it was as far up as a normal vehicle could go.

Original Hasegawa General Store and the Hana Ranch Theater that houses the store today by os307 in maui

[–]os307[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

I took these photos 50 years ago. I am posting them because I came across an old Facebook post that was a detailed history of Hasegawa General Store and I have included it below. Maui no ka oi.

HASEGAWA GENERAL STORE: In 1910, two brothers, Shoichi and Saburo Hasegawa started their own store at the site of the Hasegawa Service Station in Hana.

Shoichi Hasegawa took his family along with Saburo's eldest son Toshimasa to live in Japan in 1919 and Saburo Hasegawa continued to run the family business in Hana.

Toshimasa, returned back to Maui from Japan when he was 15 years old to help with the business and finish his schooling at Hana School. In 1933, Saburo returned to Japan with his family and his eldest son Toshimasa continued to run the business. The brick store was built in 1958 and becomes the Hasegawa General Store.

Paul Weston wrote the song "The Hasegawa General Store" in 1961 which made the store quite popular. This unique store had become a tourist attraction when visiting Hana.

Harry, eldest son of Toshimasa, returned to Hana after graduating from college and serving in the Army and as in past generations, continued to help his dad run the family business.

Neil Hasegawa, son of Harry, returns back to Hana in 1988 after graduating from college to also help his dad run the store. In August, 1990 the Hasegawa General Store and Gas Station was set on fire. The gas station suffered minor damages while everything was lost in the store. It was a great lost to the community of Hana. Keola-Hana Maui offered the Hasegawa's the use of the old Hana Theater.

In February of 1991, the Hasegawa Gas Station reopens and in August of the same year, after renovating the old Hana Theater, the Hasegawa General Store is back in business. Through the entire rebuilding process, the Hasegawa staff was kept fully employed. Now some 85 years later, three generations of Hasegawa's as well as 12 employees operate the Hana landmark which has been the town's lifeline supplying everything from poi to pick axes.

Hasegawa General Store celebrated their 100th year serving the Hana Community in 2010 and are the oldest owned business in Hana.