Braver than Me

My sister and I are continuing our explorations of Maui island, and Lauren is proving to be much braver than I am.

She gamely climbed down a cliff by hanging onto Banyan tree roots and drove around the back side of West Maui. Fun, fun, fun.

I wonder what tomorrow will bring?

Taking it Easy

This morning Lauren and I took it easy and hiked the King's Highway down past the end of civilization. The trails felt a little bit treacherous, but we managed without a single scrape or cut. I am having a great time getting out and about with my little sister.

First Timer

 My sister is visiting Hawaii (and Maui) for the first time ever and we've been seeing the sights.

Yesterday found us hiking at Twin Falls followed by a huge Birthday party for Christine at Little Beach. What fun.

Surface Skimming

I thoroughly enjoyed swimming with a friendly Manta Ray this morning.

Our neighborhood Frogfish is still hanging out in its usual spot (and is still quite tiny).

And best of all was encountering various friends in the ocean.

Different Every Day

We've been sitting on the lawn watching sunset most evenings, and also watching the wedding photo shoot of the day on the point.

Some days there is a single photographer with no lighting equipment besides an on-camera flash, other days there is an entire crew hard at work.

 Some brides are very cautious about walking on the rough lava rock, others have no problem navigating the treacherous terrain in high heels.

Fun and More Fun

Maui's Mermaids had an action packed ocean swim this morning in a different than usual location. We wondered what kind of fish we saw in a huge school, we got to be up close and personal with a shark, we caught a rare glimpse of a Triton out of its shell, plus turtles and more.

Click HERE for more photos from today's adventures.

Simple Pleasures

The Maui Pink Cap swimmers find fun in practically everything.

Yesterday, we had a wonderful time popping SCUBA bubbles and exploring the sudden proliferation of fields of gray algae.

Click HERE for a few more photos of Sunday's ocean swim.

Bubble Rider

This small turtle was having fun riding the bubbles this morning.

And goatfish were plentiful, as always.

Double Up

People like to double up while paddleboarding, and this morning it seemed that everyone was doing it.

Plein-air painters were out along the shore recently.

The moon from two evenings ago.

Zoom Zoom

Maui's Mermaids zoomed out to the Aquarium this morning and then zoomed back in. Before I knew what had happened I was once again standing on shore and wondering if I had imagined the whole thing. Thank goodness for photos, now I know it really happened.

Perfection Again

 Maui's Pink Cap swimmers had a lovely morning for an ocean swim today. The conditions varied from crystal clear to not bad at all.

Click HERE for a few more photos from another nice Sunday swim.

Mobbed Again

While out for a brief swim this morning I was mobbed by more than fifty Spinner Dolphins. They came at me from all directions and kept swimming around me, before suddenly departing.

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

Drama in the Skies

We are seeing some dramatic cloud formations due to a nearby weather system. These vertical clouds at sunset yesterday were the only ones lit in red.

Hang gliders jump off the mountain most clear days, but only on rare occasions come all the way down to land illegally on the beach. The moment they hit ground, they immediately pack up the parachute and scoot away.

Doug's 74th Birthday

Many of the Maui Pink Cap swimmers helped Doug celebrate his 74th trip around the sun with, of course, an ocean swim. And chocolate covered coffee beans. And lunch. And chocolate cake.

And lots of laughter. Lucky us, getting to swim with each other.

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

Rescue Team

Many thanks to the Reef clean-up and rescue team headed by Cheryl, Alan and Bruce. You and your team make our island a much better place to live. Mahalo

And Alan pointed out this Scorpionfish which I never would have noticed otherwise. How cool.

Fashion Statement

For some people sun protection is paramount. Of course, they are often clueless about the need to hold the umbrella between the sun and themselves. Or maybe the umbrella is simply a fashion statement...

Cute Little Frogfish

I've been hearing about this cute little Frogfish for over a week now and am glad I finally got to meet it.

But even better was getting to meet Becky and Snorkel Nancy. They generously offered to show me around their home reef this morning.