Beach Banana

I noticed a lovely banana flower (well, lovely for a banana flower) at Polo Beach this morning.

Now that the big holiday rush is over, Wailea Beach was peaceful once again.

Idiots Like This

Why would anyone want to live anywhere but here?

Well...maybe because of idiots like this...

Come To Me

Thirty-some Spinner Dolphins caught up to me on my ocean swim this morning, then never left my side. I guess they had new members who needed to learn good technique by watching me (and then doing the opposite). A couple of snorkelers from California appeared at one point and seemed to be thrilled by the sight of so many dolphins. I coached them on not chasing the dolphins, but letting the dolphins come to them - and it worked - big time.

This was the first time I've ever seen dolphins blow a bubble ring. I've seen it on YouTube, but never in person, and it was much more fun in person. I tried swimming through the ring, but only managed to break it apart.

Click HERE for lots more photos from today's swim.

My Morning Stroll

The Mana Kai (above) is my usual turn-around point for my morning ten mile stroll along Maui's south shore. And not just for me, but hundreds of people walk this beach every day, and their dogs too.

This gazebo (right) usually marks the high elevation point of my walk with great views of whales breaching.

And there's something about the Monkeypod trees along Wailea Mauka Road (below) and Wailea Ike Drive which captivate my attention and keep me snapping photos there day after day.

Huge Disaster

This morning was my second deep-water swim of the season - and my final one without an emergency vehicle.

I was out almost a mile from shore when I saw a creature heading directly for me from below. It wasn't a whale and it wasn't swimming like a dolphin. It was a shark. A BIG shark. A big Tiger Shark!

Strangely enough, I did not panic but put into action what I have been told to do. I stopped swimming, I faced the shark and dropped my feet down below me. I spread my legs and arms to appear as large as possible and tried to look threatening. I even threw some jabs with my fists as it got close (I must have looked totally ridiculous). Deciding that I was too obnoxious for words, it turned and headed back the way it had come.


But the biggest disaster, the Huge Disaster, was that I had entirely forgotten to take a photo! I would be worthless as a photojournalist where rule number one is to get the shot first. I grabbed my camera and turned it on and waited and waited and waited until I could get a shot. I finally got a couple of blurry ones as the shark disappeared into the gloom.

Still, I decided that chasing it down to try and get a better photo was not a good idea. Instead I set a personal best speed record for my swim back to shore.

Wailea Beach Morning

Morning activities at Wailea Beach here on Maui. What could be better?

...and the mailbox of a neighbor just down the street.

New Year Accomplishment

We started our New Year off right with a sometimes treacherous hike along the lava sea cliffs near our house.

There's nothing quite like overcoming a challenge to give a warm sense of accomplishment. We wish you all that same feeling of accomplishment in this new year.