A few days ago I posted about seeing the sunset from the top of the dormant Haleakala volcano. Today’s Hawaiian sunset post is from the other end of the island on the northwest coast. It was a short drive north from Kaanapali Beach where we were staying. If you use your GPS to get there, you end up parking across the street from a restaurant. The Dragon’s Teeth Access trailhead is not easily recognizable, but you walk a short way along the right side of a golf course hole to get down to where the trail starts. Trust me, the trail is there. The windswept trees and the large rhododendron looking plants add to the beauty of this place.
It is officially named Makaluapuna Point, but is more commonly known as Dragon’s Teeth for the unique rock formations that look like something out of Game of Thrones. Until you are up close, the photo below doesn’t give you the full effect of these large toothlike rock formations.
When flowing lava hits the water and wind at the ocean, it can be pushed up into these toothlike formations. To me they looked more like huge scales off a dragon. Even the ground was covered with these rocks which makes walking interesting. This rocky point is a beautiful place for a sunset as well as to view these unique lava formations.
I must have taken fifty shots trying to time my shot with the biggest waves crashing against the rocks. Almost got soaked a couple of times as the spray comes occasionally over the top of the teeth.
The sun was setting on the opposite side of the point so after I got my waves crashing onto the teeth photos, I continued down the trail farther out on to the point. The trail sort of ends when you are on the point so you can just wander to whatever interests you.
In the middle of the point is a huge labyrinth outlined by rocks. As the sun started to sink behind me and some cool clouds rolled in above, I took this shot looking across the labyrinth. You can see my long shadow center in the photo. I should have saved this one for the Shadow Hunters contest.
Just a few minutes later, the setting sun really warmed up the colors of the lava rocks and provided a nice contrast against the blue skies.
On the tip of the point was a channel that waves ran into and then went under a small rock bridge before the channel ended, creating a blowhole effect with some large waves. I didn’t get the timing right to get the water shooting up, and because the rocks were wet and slippery, I decided not to take a chance of falling in just to get that shot.
The rocks on the other side of the point were also covered in a gold colored lichen.
All the way out on the south side of the point were some great waves crashing high on the rocks and then creating nice waterfalls pouring off the rocks back into the sea.
I got the photo below using a half second exposure to fully capture the waterfalls.
After taking time to take photos of the “teeth”, the labyrinth, the blow hole, and the waterfalls, we were scrambling to get set up with our tripods to shoot the sunset.
While waiting and hoping the sun would eventually be visible with all the clouds, I found some tidal pools surrounded by lava rocks to reflect some of the color in the sunlit clouds.
Thankfully, the sun did eventually drop below the clouds enough to get a decent sunset shot.
This place was really a photographer’s dream. There were so many interesting things to shoot. We should have given ourselves more time before sunset, which is what I recommend you do if you visit the Dragon’s Teeth.
