The Whale

If you read a recent front page story of the San Francisco
Chronicle, you would have read about a female humpback whale who had
become entangled in a spider web of crab traps and lines. She was
weighted down by hundreds of pounds of traps that caused her to
struggle to stay afloat. She also had hundreds of yards of line rope
wrapped around her body, her tail, her torso, a line tugging in her
mouth. A fisherman spotted her just east of the Farallon Islands (outside the Golden Gate ) and radioed an environmental group for help. Within a few hours, the rescue team arrived and determined that she was so bad off, the only way to save her was to dive in and untangle her.

They worked for hours with curved knives and eventually freed her. When she was free, the divers say she swam in what seemed like joyous circles. She then came back to each and every diver, one at a time, and nudged them, pushed them gently around as she was thanking them. Some said it was the most incredibly beautiful experience of their lives. The guy who cut the rope out of her mouth said her eyes were following him the whole time, and he will never be the same.

May you, and all those you love, be so blessed and fortunate to be surrounded by people who will help you get untangled from the things that are binding you. And, may you always know the joy of giving and receiving gratitude. I pass this on to you, my friends, in the same spirit

Beaches on Maui

Thanks to my daughter Bleu for this great description of the beaches on Maui.

Maui is unique amongst the Hawaiian islands because such a large portion of the island is covered by swimmable beaches. There are many sheltered coves where swimming is safe, easy, and fun. However, swimming at certain beaches endangers your fun-filled Maui vacation because of the big waves and strong currents. The shoreline of Hawaii is public property, so don't let anyone tell you that the beach is private because there is no such thing as a private beach on Maui.

BIG BEACH or MAKENA BEACH is one of the most picturesque beaches on Maui. No Maui vacation is complete without a visit to Big Beach. The beauty of this beach and the lifeguard on duty are alluring to tourists and give them a false sense of security. DO NOT SWIM HERE! Even though you see a ten year old playing happily in the ocean, this is not safe water. More injuries happen here than at any other beach in the entire Hawaiian island chain. Swimming is much safer if you are willing to hike over the rocks at the right side to little beach.

LITTLE BEACH is safer for swimming than big beach, but people lean towards nudity here because of the seclusion that is offered by the short hike over the rocks. If nudity is your thing then this is a great beach, although the crowd is mostly middle aged men.

SECRET COVE is a perfect picturesque place for couples to get married. Everyone knows this and it is a well-known wedding spot.

ULUA BEACH is generally calm water and great for snorkeling off to the right. Be sure to take advantage of the Reef-Safe sunblock that is provided here for free at the information desk.

KAMOLE III is perfect for boogie boarding and people watching. This is a great family beach where the water has good waves for body surfing and it is relatively gentle.

OLUWALU has some snorkeling but most of the reef is dead. The beaches are not very big and are used heavily by campers. The water is calm though and this can be a good beach for young kids.

AIRPORT BEACH (by the Westin) has great snorkeling. The coral here is flat and very diverse. There is also a very diverse fish population here. The beach park is really nice with a big pavillion for parties and your choice of grass or sand.

BLACK ROCK (at the Sheraton) is also good for snorkeling. Locals frequently jump off of Black Rock to entertain the tourists, although jumping is not very safe.

HONOLUA BAY is great for snorkeling in the summertime. The bay is sheltered and full of coral and fish. There is a surf break next to the bay in the wintertime.

BLACK SAND BEACH AT WIANAPANAPA STATE PARK is beautiful. The sand is truly black, not gray, althoImage by pbull via Flickrugh there is not very much of it. It is swimmable but generally empty, so be sure to take someone with you.

thanks to my daughter Bleu for this great Research

Rainy Day on Maui

Image via WikipediaWe have very few rainy days on Maui especially during the summer. As we head into the winter we will see alot more on the east side and a bit more on the south and west side. As an activity concierge many people ask me what they can do on a rainy day.... I have made a list -

1. Visit the Maui Ocean Center. This aquarium does a great job of introducing you to the fishes of Hawaii. They have some great exhibits on the humpback whales that visit Hawaii’s waters each winter. (Admission fee is required.)
2. Tour the Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum. (Modest admission fee required.)
3. Learn about Maui’s whaling history at Whalers Village Museum in Kaanapali. (Free)
4. Shop at the Lahaina Cannery Mall. (Free) or the Maui Mall in Kahului.
   
5. Tour the historic Baldwin House in Lahaina. (Currently open daily from 10 – 4. Located at 120 Dickenson Street in Lahaina. Modest admission fee of $3 for adults, $5 for families, and $2 for children is required.)
6. Admire 100% locally made crafts at the Maui Crafts Guild in lovely Paia. (Free)
7. Schedule some pampering time at a spa. Maui has an abundance of top rated spas. (Be sure to check out our popular suggestions for maximizing your Hawaii spa treatments.)
8. Drive through Iao valley and take some hikes the rain is always warm and refreshing.
9. Watch the windsurfers or surfers at Hookipa beach park and then have an expensive, incredible lunch at Mama’s Fish House.
10. Take a tour of the Maui Tropical Plantation. The tram on the tour tour has a roof.
11. Drive up to Haleakala, it might not have clouds or rain at the top
12. 12. Visit Dan's Greenhouse in old-town Lahaina to gawk at tropical flowers, buy one of Dan's world-famous Fuku-Bonsai lava rock plants or play with miniature piglets and baby birds, 193 Lahainaluna Road

13. Take the family to see Kupanaha, the great Magic, dinner show, or Ulalena in downtown Lahaina….
14. Nab one of the umbrellas on the patio at Aloha Mixed Plate and stay dry while sampling local food.
15. Sample a red or white at the King's Cottage tasting room at Maui's Winery at Ulupalakua Ranch near the mountainside community of Keokea. (Tedeschi Vineyards)
16. where else in the world can you go to a Glow in the Dark, miniature Golf Course. Glow Putt in the Lahaina Center.