Author's Description:

Surreal. It looked so very different, the view from the summit of Haleakala volcano, that is. I’ve seen this in print and on the internet prior to shooting, but nothing could have prepared me for the experience of setting foot on this amazing expanse of land. I know they could not (and would not) have faked the photos, but sometimes to see really is to believe. It looked like we were standing in front of a huge flat screen television and I felt the need to stretch out my arm beyond the ‘glass’ just to make sure, this was real.

It was a cloudy day and we were patient enough to wait until the skies cleared up, about 30 minutes. That is the ‘risk’ you take when you go to elevated areas in Hawaii to view scenic spots. It is very possible to spend an afternoon for the skies to clear so you can see what it’s hiding — the view of the valley, the other islands, waterfalls, etc.

We were fairly lucky that day.

Photo Notes: Taken with my go-to camera that 2007 in Hawaii, the Nikon Coolpix 5200.