ALOHA from Hawaii!

We are in Maui! I love it here. This morning I woke at dawn and went out on the lanai to find the full moon setting over the ocean.

 

    No not a sunset – the moon setting in the west at dawn as the sun starts to rise behind us in the east.

 

Changing sky at dawn…

(the moon really is going down, but my camera angle doesn’t show it – poor planning on my part!)

 

Every day we go snorkeling. I would tell you my favorite spots, but there are so many: on the west shore – between Kapalua and Kaanapali – or the south shore where we are.   If you come here, to the Kihei-Wailea area, head south and first there is Ulua and then almost any ocean access south of Paluaea (White Rock) offers coral reefs to swim out to.

 

Heading out to snorkel.

 

 

a parrot fish

 

When we first came here, over twenty years ago, there were not as many tourists – nor lodgings- in the south and the people who did snorkel did not venture out very far. Sadly the near shore reefs are not as healthy as they were back then – probably from people standing on the coral, but also warming oceans and acidity play a part. At any rate we started swimming out farther and farther and surprisingly more people are doing the same – even older women in flotation devices!  

The state fish of Hawaii: Humuhumunukunuku apua’a

Yesterday we swam a good ten or 15 minutes offshore and along a rocky (inaccessible) coast. For awhile we had an area all to ourselves, save a kayak or two, and spotted turtles, many colorful fish and beautiful coral formations.

Green sea turtles – endangered ( and yet we often see them).

It’s another world – an ethereal, blue, quiet one. (Then alas two – and eventually four boats came and out came with loads of other snorkelers. One ran into me and I had two other near collisions before decided to heading out further along the coast! But enough complaining – it’s still an incredible experience!) You get out of the water having had a wonderful encounter with nature and feeling great from a good workout!

View from lanai of rented condo.

 

It is also whale season and every day we see them spouting and breaching in the distance; you can see the splashes far out to sea. If we are lucky, they will put on a show closer to shore where you can even discern a mere fin or tail wag.

Humpback whale breaching.

 

It’s raining today so we will walk the beaches, maybe body surf (we’ll be wet any way right?), write this blog or find other activities. I love the tropical plants. Out driving around in the countryside, we spied flowers for sale at a little house with an honesty box.  Tom brought me a whole bouquet of proteas  for just $5.

…a picture of the proteas.

 

I never get bored and would spend the winter here if I could. Do you have a favorite place in the world?