A Canadian family emailed us that they met Luke and his clients on the trail near the 400-foot falls on our Hana Hike. Their daughter hurt her foot, so Luke stepped up and shared his First Aid kit.

The family wrote: “You could see it in Luke’s eyes that he was a genuine person who truly cared about anyone he came in contact with. . . . Before we parted, one person in his party (slower and more elderly) commented about how excellent Luke was as her guide. We thank Hike Maui and especially Luke. You will both have a special part in our memories on our first trip to Maui!”

Guide Luke get a rave review for showing compassion on the trail.

We’re having a “run” on Kaupo Gap lately. . . three trips within a few days.

This story is particularly touching. A client, Sara Seager and her six-year old boy Alex (yes, SIX) begged us to take them up the Gap to the Summit, and Sara was surprised when we said yes. But, Sara was convincing — her Alex had hiked numerous mountains and tough trails, even trying to get into the Guiness Book of Records as the youngest to hike various trails, and Kaupo Gap was his next goal. Who were we to say no to such tenacity?

And so, stalwart guide Dylan, who had planned to RUN up the Gap with his marathon friends, decided he’d slow his speed to a six-year old’s pace. They left Upcountry Kula at 4:30 a.m., began the hike at 6 and came out at 8:30 p.m. Much to our relief.

Sara is an MIT professor of physics and planetary science, so walking under the clear night sky at 10,000 feet was a dream come true. She called their Kaupo experience “epic,” and “more spectacular than I had anticipated,” and said Dylan was fabulous and patient (slowing his speed to a six-year old’s legs).

Sara emailed us this touching note: “After my husband died of cancer earlier this summer, I decided to live more purposefully and enable the dreams of my children, students, mentees, and others.  The success of this trip is so empowering that it will have a significant ripple effect for a long time to come.”

Six-year old Alex is dwarfed by Haleakala's massive Crater.

Sara and her hiking boy Alex take a breather on the 16-hour day.

Here’s fabulous Dustin, a new Hawaiian guide born and raised on Maui, who had somehow never spent time in Haleakala Crater. So, for his first serious trip, he decided to go up Kaupo Gap! Yikes. That’s 19 miles up, up, up all day long.

Guides Kahi, UlaUla and i all went up the gap a year ago and we took our time — we cruised out at 11:30 pm. Great night sky, but freezing cold for Maui-boy Kahi who stays on the warm seaside (he grew up in Lahaina Town).

Dustin was hurting from his all-day hiking binge, but said it was the most “breathtaking” and “wonderful experience” he has had in his life. He is now a convinced “crater hound.”  He joins a dedicated group of us.  . . .mj harden

Dustin at the end of the afternoon -- at Halekala's Summit!

Guides Dylan, Erik and Jeremy are continuing their exploration of the Crater. They recently did the 12-mile hike from the Summit at 10,000 feet across the crater floor and then out the 8,500-foot level on the Halemau’u Trail.

Now they’ve just completed the Kaupo Gap — a 17-mile trek that started at 5 am in Kula and ended back in Kula at 6 pm. Great timing and they were all cheerful and totally stoked (as Jeremy said).

Our guides Dylan, Erik, Jeremy - Kaupo Gap hikers

Happy hiking through the holidaze.

“A DAY AT THE OFFICE”  HIKE MAUI STYLE

Many thanks to Guide Kate for her spirited modeling. She is hilarious, even while wet and soggy. No Photoshop – she is standing under that 40-foot falls.

“PAU HANA”

( means “off work” or “TGIF”)

http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/11/living/cnn-heroes/index.html

I heard that a Robin Lim won the 2011 CNN Hero of the Year, and i scratched my head, thinking, i knew a Robin Lim 20 years ago on Maui. I lost track of Robin when she moved to Bali, and now she reappears as a world-famous “hero.” Wow. I’m so thrilled for her. She was always a gentle soul, interested in babies, birthing, writing and animals. She now has two birthing clinics in Bali and in Aceh and is truly making a difference.

One of our guides, Sonya, who is also interested in babies and birthing, visited Robin’s Balinese clinic. Sonya hopes to open a clinic in Maui some day. Read the CNN story (in the html file above) and watch a short clip of Robin winning on CNN’s big extravaganza show. The whole show airs again on CNN Christmas night. ~ mj harden