The view from the top of Haleakala, Maui
Sunrises are beginnings, and I chose this theme to re-introduce my photography in a new format and website.
I think the best spot to witness the sunrise is from the top of Haleakala Volcano on the island of Maui. The view from this altitude is stunning. On a typical morning the trade winds from the east have ushered in the low lying clouds that hug the coastline some 10,000 feet below. When the sun begins to pierce through the mist it's like an anthem of incredible silence and solitude. The feeling I describe is of a power that borders on cosmic. I haven't quite felt or seen anything like this elsewhere in Hawaii, much less the world (except perhaps on the other side of the day at sunset from the top of Mauna Kea, more on that later).
If you're ever on Maui and want to see this yourself you probably want to wake up about three in the morning (if you're staying in Wailea-Kihei, earlier if you're in West Maui). The drive up to the top of Haleakala is all paved but it's very windy/curvy so it takes some time). It's best to arrive on top before the first hint of light appears on the horizon if you want to experience the full spectrum of the sunrise-it is really worth it.