Page 29 of Turbulent Fires

Fifteen minutes later, we’re walking across a private landing pad to a sleek black helicopter gleaming in the morning sun. A pilot in mirrored shades shakes our hands before talking to us about safety, opening the door, and helping us climb inside.

I’m grinning after I’m buckled in and my headphones are firmly in place. I look at Wolf, amazed that he has planned all of this on such short notice. I wonder what he could do with more time.

“Are you trying to get me to fall for you?” I ask. His eyes are sparkling.

“Is it working?”

“Maybe,” I admit. My attempts at keeping him at arm’s length are shot. He certainly likes this answer.

The rotors begin spinning, and the helicopter smoothly lifts from the ground. Within a matter of seconds, the resort is a speck behind us, the deep green jungle of Maui unfurling beneath the glass bubble of the helicopter.

“This is the best view in the house,” I tell Wolf.

“Better than falling from the sky?” he asks.

“Well, half of that flight my heart was thundering so loudly it affected my vision. This time I’m relaxed and able to look in all directions,” I tell him.

“Just wait, because you haven’t seen anything yet,” he assures me, his voice coming through perfectly in my headset. “Look over to your right.” I look and gasp at the sight.

Below us, the cliffs of the Na Pali Coast rise like emerald cathedrals, impossibly steep, and lined with waterfalls that shimmer like silk ribbons in the wind. The ocean below crashes against the wall, waves curling against rock with white-foamed intensity. The pilot banks left and flies low over Ke’e Beach, the water so clear I can easily see turtles gliding in lazy circles.

“It’s so beautiful it doesn’t seem real,” I breathe.

“It’s certainly real,” Wolf says. “It’s also rare. Most people don’t get to see this from the sky which is sad.”

“I love travel, and I’ve always been fascinated at how much beauty is in the US. We can be in different climates with different sites all over the place. Sure, there’s beauty all over the world, but most US citizens never see even five percent of what our own nation has to offer. It’s one of the reasons I began my blog to find hidden gems around the country. I want to see so much more.”

We fly past Hanalei Bay, where paddleboarders are carving lazy trails through still waters. Further on, we cross dense rainforests, broken by glowing green taro fields and an occasional thatched-roof hut. Birds burst from trees in flashes of red and yellow.

“Look down there.” Wolf points as we pass over a small canyon framed by jungle. “That’s where they filmedJurassic Park. And yes, I’ve definitely acted out scenes there. Shirtless, of course, in the name of science.”

I burst out laughing. “I’m sure you made many tourists incredibly happy when doing so.”

“I adore my fans,” he dramatically says.

The pilot slightly turns inland, flying us over Haleakala’s crater — an enormous volcanic bowl the color of rust and dark shadows. It’s like gazing at a whole other planet. The sheer power of a volcano is otherworldly.

“The thing about Hawaii that fascinates me the most is how one place can look like the Caribbean, then you turn a corner and the land looks like Mars. The beauty of our country isn’t appreciated enough.”

“Many places around the world are the same. I love flying because I get to see so much landscape. Hawaii has many treasures. It’s beautiful, untamable, and full of surprises.” His smile grows. “Just like you.”

I shake my head. “Now, that’s a line,” I tell him. “If you keep complimenting me, I might think you have a crush.” I’m trying to keep this light and flirty, but it’s evident he’s getting to me. I don’t want to get too serious because I’m afraid the fall will be far more terrifying than jumping from a plane.

“Oh, it’s more than a crush,” he assures me, seriousness in his eyes. The moment feels so intimate. I lose my breath again and turn to look out the window, that option much safer than gazing into his incredible eyes.

Before I know it, the pilot announces we’re minutes away from landing. I look around, wondering where in the heck we’re landing. We’re far from the resort and normal tourist places. The helicopter dips, gliding between ridgelines, until we come to a soft landing near a hidden trailhead surrounded by thick foliage. What’s happening now?

“We’re going on a hike,” Wolf says.

“Wow. You’re going all out,” I say with admiration.

“I want this trip to be unforgettable.”

“You’ve already achieved that.”

He jumps from the helicopter then helps me out as the pilot leans back and closes his eyes. Wolf takes my hand, and just like that, we’re on land again and moving through the incredible wilds of Hawaii in a place not too many people tread.

The hike is like walking in a dream, but better because I can feel, touch, and even taste the sweetness in the air. The trail winds through the dense rainforest, where sunlight filters in scattered beams and the ground is soft beneath our boots. Bright red hibiscus flowers pop from the greenery. Tiny frogs chirp unseen. The air smells like damp leaves, mango, and rain.

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