Jessica in comparison was small fry. The turquoise waters, the golden stretch of sand, the emerald palms and the exotic flowers enthralled her. She had somehow never visited these islands and their beauty now held her spellbound. At the Kahului airport, a chauffeur-driven road ranger awaited them to transport them to the Hart villa. The travel was around three hours long and Jessica relaxed against the comfortable seat to enjoy the ride. They took the highway 360 that was known for the spectacular display of natural beauty. The rains that fell on Haleakala, the island’s volcanic crater, cascaded down the road covering it on either side with thick, jungle-like vegetation. The highway twisted tortuously in and out of gorges, past innumerable waterfalls, and over more than fifty tiny one-lane bridges. Sean informed the cousins that the route was ablaze with color all the year round, displaying orchids, rainbow eucalyptus and African tulip trees with their orange blossom. Since they were in no hurry, they stopped at rest houses at periodic intervals, marveling at the stunning beauty of the island.
