Seal of Approval

This is one happy guy. He and his team won their tennis match today, then all his aches melted away in his prized hot-tub. Oh, and there were hours and hours of the French Open to watch on TV on three different networks. How could life possibly be any better?

For me I have been working all day while jamming to Amy Winehouse's album Back to Black, and Leo Kottke & Mike Gordon's album Sixty Six Steps. I can highly recommend both. Speaking of seals of approval, just what is the one in the photo peeking at?

Hawaiian Culture for Sale

Maui generally offers a rather sterile middle-America tourism experience: mega resorts, clean sandy beaches, national park, and a couple of road trips. I appreciate the few cultural activities which are slowing arising, such as outrigger canoing from the Fairmont Kea Lani. Visitors get a little exercise, some history, legends, chanting and conch shell blowing. Not to mention a video record of the experience. What could be more Hawaiian?

Nightmares in the Deep

I watched Bruce venture out for a swim this morning while his home was being visited by a group of silverbacks. He didn't seem pleased about leaving, probably grouchy after being woken from dreams about lobsters and pink suits. Poor guy, I know how he feels (especially when it comes to waking up after a nightmare about pink suits).


I swam through water which was crystal clear alternating with goopy water filled with all different size and shape of micro organisms. How long has it been since the full moon? The good news is that this nutrient-rich soup brought out a manta ray who was actively feeding. I swam with her for quite a while, but was challenged to keep up. She kept moving pretty fast. Fortunately she moved back and forth searching for the most food, so sometimes I was able to anticipate where she would go next. Still, I was so out of breath from following her that I had nothing left for deep dives and photos.

Do you think it possible that she was moving fast out of fear that someone might try to make her wear a pink suit?

Kiawe Dreaming

Maui's south shore used to be lined with groves of Kiawe trees, all descended from a single tree brought from Paris and planted on Oahu in 1828. I do not lament the wholesale removal of these tangled shrubs with long, sharp thorns; however, the few remaining giants have a special place in my heart. I feel a sense of loss each time one of these historic trees is cut down.

This Kiawe is still keeping watch from Wailea point. For years our Sunday swim group used to meet at Keawakapu beach and swim to Polo beach, then walk back. This lone tree provided the landmark which guided our course. We would swim and swim, and it always got further away, never closer. Until, suddenly, we were upon it and then past it to our destination.

What's Hot and What's Not

Love 'em and hate 'em - is how I feel about two movies playing now.

The bad news is that Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was a total disaster. Yes, it delivered the non-stop action upon which the franchise was built. Unfortunately, it was empty, meaningless action. I never felt like any of the characters were in the slightest bit of danger. Ever! How can I cheer for any of the good guys to win when they were never threatened in the least. Boring and then some.

On the other hand and despite bad reviews, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian was a winner. It was much better than the original, and I cared deeply for each of the characters. Unlike the swordfight in Indiana Jones where no one gets even a scratch, in Narnia important characters die tragic, heartbreaking deaths. People prevail through terrible injustices to grow and become better. No happy Hollywood endings, but lots of inspiration. And humor.

Even though we own all of the Indiana Jones movies on DVD, I will NOT be buying this one. But I WILL be buying this installment of the Narnia series.

As for today's photograph, it has nothing to do with either movie. But the water was warm and I saw lots of turtles and fish on this morning's swim.

And The Winner Is...

Woo Hoo! Congratulations Doug! Winner of the 24th Annual Wailea Open
Tennis Championships.

Wicked Attrition

Two weekends and three of our regular Sunday swimmers have moved back to the mainland. Is it something I said? Aloha Jonathan and Cheryl!

Click HERE (or Below) for the Video of Today's Swim.