Our final stop for the day’s adventures – Anahulu cave
(forwarded from www.rajibroy.com)

This is a classic limestone cave replete with stalactites and stalagmites. The water was cold. That did not stop those kids from jumping in!

Interestingly enough, at the entrance, I paid the entry fees to this lonely gentleman. There was really nobody other than him and myself and eventually, I found those tourists inside the cave. We talked for sometime in broken English.

Later, my driver told me that the cave belonged to him! Apparently, this is NOT a government property. This cave was found in the land belonging to this gentleman and his family. He is the one who has built the steps into it and takes care of the maintenance!

I am not sure I know of anybody else in this world who personally owns a cave with stalactites and stalagmites!

From the Haʻamonga ʻa Maui, if you look out to the east, you can see three clearings into the trees. In fact all three are passages thru the trees that lead straight to the ocean. This, apparently served as a calendar. If the sunrise was visible thru one of them, it meant it was one of the solstices or an equinox. That was the cue to go harvest stuff from underground or from the trees.

Sometimes referred to as the “Stonehenge of the Pacific”, this 40 tonne structure is made of three large coral limestones. Built by King Tuʻitātui in the thirteenth century.

Interestingly “Tuʻi” means the king. And “tui” means the knee. (the difference is very slight in how you pronounce the “i”) This king apparently had a curious habit of hitting anybody who approached him from the front with a stick to the knee!!

Got out of the car and just stood there taking in the mesmerizing beauty of the waters.

Missed seeing the “fishing pigs”. Saw the pigs alright – they were busy foraging on the other side of the road. It was high tide.

During the low tides, when the water recedes, those pigs cross over the road – and to answer the never asked question (but should be) – why did the pig cross the road – make themselves busy on the beach looking for small fish and crabs.

Apparently they do not get into the water (like we saw in the Bahamas) so much as dig into the sand next to the water looking for morsels.

All the cemeteries are by the road and presumably close to the homes of the families. Some interesting observations – they always have a lot of sand on top. My guide was not sure why. My best guess is to hold the flowers. Each has a lot of fresh, nice flowers. Also, instead of a tombstone with an epitaph, you will see pictures of the deceased and messages printed on cloth and hung up like banners!

How they stand all the strong storms, I will never know!