We're about 40 minutes from the airport and we live in Huelo (hu-aylo),
mysteriously described in one of the travel books as "an old
Hawaiian village forgotten by time". Two churches at the top
of the road were built back in the 1800's. Apparently stones were
passed along a line of people stretching 3/4 of a mile from the
bottom of the cliffs near our house all the way up to the church
construction site. Of course, the valley of Huelo is much older
than this. A few months ago a huge ancient Hawaiian hei'au was unearthed.
As you wind down Door of Faith Church road you pass families who
were born here relaxing with a cool drink under the trees or on
a veranda. Old Johnny owns the farm nearby- at the age of 83 he
was still working 12 hours a day on his farm "Kanane O Huelo"
("Beautiful Huelo")... bananas...red ginger...papayas...He
is resting now and we miss him a lot. We took exactly 10 minutes
to decide to buy our house here!
We are on Huelo Point about 400 yards back and 300 feet above the
cliffs of Huelo Point, the "weather vortex" of this side
of the island, and from here you can watch dramatic weather changes
sweep along the coastal cliffs from Hana all the way up the summit
to Haleakala.
Fifteen minutes away is Ho'okipa Beach, where the world famous
windsurfing “Aloha Classic” is held just down the road
from the infamous “Jaws” which makes its spectacular
appearance in all the well known surfing movies. Thirty minutes
away is Pa'ia, (pronounced pa-EEa) a funky little sugar and windsurfing
town that is rapidly becoming a tourist destination because of its
good restaurants and boutiques. It is also a center for a lot of
"alternative" life stylers- so there is a wonderful organic
food market and vegan restaurant Just past you will find "Baby"
Beach and Baldwin Beach.
|
