March 23, 2009 - Sunrise on Haleakala

All of us but Will and Chloe were up in the middle of the night for a tour up to Haleakala for the sunrise. The sunrise was slow but beautiful.

Boy it was cold up there. 

The landscape was desolate and rugged from the volcano that formed the mountain.

We weren't far from the mountaintop observatories.

Once the sun was up you could see the mountain's shadow on the plains below.  

We also had views of the sugar cane fields being burned

and the valley below.

There were a fair number of Silver Swords in the area.  They are a highly endangered flowering plant endemic to Hawaii. 

It was a long drive back to the hotel.  

We all really love our hotel...pretty grounds and not too big.

Chloe after her nap.

That evening we celebrated Chloe's 2nd birthday party. 

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Video of Chloe opening presents

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