Fluffy

Another winter storm front is moving down the island chain which means that our clouds are fluffier than usual - otherwise, sunshine and warmth continue to prevail.

Our neighborhood bougainvillea is once again going off - big time.

I've Been Grounded

I've been grounded for a few weeks due to shoulder problems, so all of my photos will be land-based for a while. The photo on top is out my front door and the one below is behind my house.

Getting to Know You

People are making the best of our missing beaches. Many of them are combing through the rocks in search of shells. And the rest are enjoying getting to know each other as they pack into what little sand is left.

Surprisingly Fast

For those of you accustomed to leisurely strolling the long sandy expanse of Keawakapu beach, some stretches have become a bit challenging. But not to worry. The sand will return surprisingly fast.

Back to the Usual

 Hooray!

The weather has gotten better and we've finally returned to our usual Sunday swim spot. Visibility was far less than perfect, but otherwise conditions were spectacular.

Click HERE for a few more photos from this morning's ocean swim.

Non Resort

 I live on an island which is a major vacation destination, so I am surrounded by top-notch landscaping. Which makes the occasional roadside wildflowers a welcome reprieve.

Again, since this is a spectacular location, I see people posing by all the beautiful spots. But the local urgent care center?

We are back to mid-eighties and clear skies - what a relief from the freezing low-seventies of last week.

Big Waves Roam

 Bonnie finally bowed to peer pressure this morning to risk life and limb by swimming into a cleft in the rocky cliff just as big waves came crashing in. Woo hoo!

We then dragged her out past the final cliffs into the open ocean where the big waves roam.

And on the way back in, in fairly shallow water, a mom and baby humpback whale made a single pass to check us out. I guess we were not sufficiently interesting for them to hang around.

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

Scrubbed Clean

 Weeks of unusual waves and winds have uncovered large expanses of rocks which are almost always buried under several feet of sandy beach. Slowly the sand will begin returning, all nicely scrubbed clean.

Lots of people were utilizing the calm weather to get in some whale watching.  The stand-up paddler (bottom photo) got to see a Humpback Whale lying on its side with tail (left) and fluke (right) sticking out of the water.

Never Enough

It seems I can never get enough of the ocean; I breathe a sigh of relief each time a swim begins (after the gasps upon entering the cold water, that is).

What's the Rush?

Maui is a very new place. Unlike most places in the world, there is little that survives from much more than two hundred years ago. Yes, there are some stone platforms from an indeterminate period in the past, but otherwise everything is new and shiny. This unfinished oceanfront building is the exception and stands out as incredibly unusual here in South Maui.

This little guy was trucking across the lawn. Not just sliming slowly along, but racing. I had to keep moving the camera to keep from being run over. I wonder what the rush was?

Happy Birthday Rich

 Even though it was a beautiful, sunny, calm day, hardly anyone showed up for our weekly ocean swim this morning. Go figure.

The six of us had a great time and are looking forward to next Sunday.

Click HERE for a few more photos from today's swim.

Little Mermaid

 The Little Mermaid was waiting on her favorite rock this morning for sunshine and clear water before beginning her swim with us.

Neither happened but we had a nice, brief but nice, swim anyway.

Loving It

I have been so taken by our invasion of Lovebirds that I hadn't noticed how small they are. This group of twenty-six were so focused on dining in this freshly mowed lawn, that they let me approach quite closely. When I looked up from my camera viewfinder, I was surprised to observe that they are no larger than my closed fist.

This is also the first time I've seen so many that are a faded blue color. Wikipedia tells me (HERE) that the green body with a rosy face is a dominant genetic trait, but that the blue variant is a recessive trait of the same birds. Interesting.

Nudibranch Times Two

 I got to see two of these large Nudibranchs on my ocean swim this morning. I seldom encounter any Nudibranchs, so finding two on one day was exceptional.

And, of course, there were the usual large schools of fishies as well.

An Abundance of Whales

 I had the most amazing morning today swimming out in the deep, deep, blue water.

I was approached by several different whales - the ocean was full of them.

I even saw a small group of dolphins swimming with some of the whales (middle photo).

Click HERE for more photos from this morning's swim.

Playing at the Shore

 This was a morning made for playing at the shore.

A cool breeze (mid seventies) was the perfect counterpoint for nice hot sunshine.

Maui no ka oi.

Day of Babies

I was following three Spotted Eagle Rays this morning when what should I see but a mom and baby Humpback Whale swimming by in very shallow water.

They disappeared almost immediately. On my swim back to shore where the water was clearer, ten Spinner Dolphins then swam by. Including a baby.

What an amazing ocean swim!

Tide Pool Restocking

Our weird weather continues with surf crashing on the normally tranquil south shore of Maui. One advantage for children is all the small marine creatures tossed into tide pools waiting to be discovered.

Nonetheless, the skies are blue and clear and the temperatures are back in the eighties. Mmmmmmm.

Leap and Fly

 This Humpback Whale was breaching far, far out to sea, but I was still able to get a photo with my amazing teeny tiny zoom camera.

This guy has been flying his kite out in the surf the past few days. I had no idea of how much work was involved until I watched this other guy pumping up the structural supports of his kite on shore.

Weird Weather Redux

 Weird, weird weather once again drove us as far as the road goes down to the end of the world this morning.

We were able to leave the rain behind us, and savored clear water, lots of fish and even a whale or three (sorry, I didn't manage any photos of the whales).

Click HERE for a few more photos from today's ocean swim with the Maui Pink Cap Swimmers.