The Maui Goodness

Maui has a new web camera, which is pretty exciting for all of us addicted to Maui.  It’s attached to the Makena Golf Resort and is owned and operated by Kai Kanani Sailing Charters.

You can see it live here: Makena Web Camera

The camera switches views from multiple locations on an automatic basis.  The camera is located in a prime location, high up on the Makena Beach & Golf Resort, which gives it a great number of potential views.  These are the views that it is set on right now:

• Mooring of the Kai Kanani II
• Molokini Crater (Close Up)
• Molokini Crater from the Beach
• Beach Check in area for the Kai Kanani
• Lanai Island
• South Maui area (includes Puu Olai and Kahoolawe)
• The Beach in front of the Makena Resort
• Surf Conditions for Beach Loading (2 views of this)
• Maalaea Harbor and West Maui Mountains

Below is an animation showing sceenshots from each view.  We know you must think we’re a little crazy about this, but we don’t have that many webcams on the island, and it’s nice to have one that has so many views.  it’s like having 10 cameras in 1.

If you haven’t already seen it, you will.  Stand Up Paddle boarding and surfing is the latest retro craze.  For years, we we’re reluctant to give it a try because we feel tied to our own roots of surfing.  But, finally we gave it a shot and rented some boards from Boss Frog’s Dive & Surf in Kihei, Maui, Hawaii in Dolphin Plaza (ask for Benjammin.)

And WOW!  It’s a lot of fun!  Now we’re all hooked.  It’s like going snorkeling without getting wet (if it’s calm and you don’t fall.)  From looking down over your board, you can see the reef clearly as well as any sealife.  Turtles are everywhere!

Not only is it fun for the views of Maui and sealife, we enjoy it because it’s great exercise and a lot of fun.  Sometimes we’ll put some snorkel gear on our board (attached to the leash) and go out to spots that are difficult to access.

When it comes to surfing, it can make a really bad day good.  I don’t recommend taking them out in big waves, but riding tiny waves is really fun.  I feel you have more of an advantage in surfing larger waves with a short board or regular longboard.  Some would disagree, but we suggest only riding the SUP boards in really small waves or just for distance exploration.

Here’s a video from the boards the last time we went out.  We rode from the Makena Golf Resort to Little Beach and back.  We got up a little late, so it had a bit of bump.  It was still a lot of fun, but we suggest going out before the wind hits around 10-11 in the morning while it’s still glassy.  If there is wind, make sure to go up wind to start.  Save going down wind for when you’re tired and coming back. Also, always be safe and don’t ride over shallow reef or areas you don’t know. Be careful!

We rented our boards at Boss Frog’s Dive & Surf.  You can call and rent boards on Maui, Kauai and the Big Island of Hawaii by calling (808) 661-3333.

We recently caught up with Tamera, head wedding coordinator for Akia Weddings & Events.  She told us about the great weddings she’s enjoyed putting together lately and shared some photos with us.  All of the photos on this page are from one of her latest Maui beach weddings.

“Most brides choose to get married in the summer on Maui.  The weather is usually best during this time on the South and West side of the island.  One thing many couples don’t realize is that the weather is pretty consistent throughout the year in these areas.

Sometimes choosing a wedding off-season can save you and your guests a lot of money.  These are some of the things we like to discuss with you to help keep you in budget without losing out on all the wonderful details you want at your wedding”

There are a million things to do when you get married, and we know that you’ve come to Maui because it’s has gorgeous locations and you want to cut down on some of the stress.  This is where we see Akia Weddings help brides the most.  Having a Maui wedding planner makes everything easier.  And that’s what your wedding should be: easy, enjoyable, and unforgettable!

Maui Beach Wedding Tips

• Make sure you know what time the sun sets before you plan the timing of your wedding.  Consult your wedding photographer for the best time to shoot post-wedding photos.
• Hawaii is Windy!  Make sure you’ve got enough product in your hair to keep things from going awry.
• If you’re wearing a strapless dress, or any type of wedding dress that could possibly show tan lines, make certain that you use sunblock before your wedding.  Better yet, buy a strapless bikini to be safe.  This tip pertains to both large and small Maui weddings, and we mention it because it is all too often a problem.
• Make sure you have parking and transportation arranged for your different locations.  Nothing is worse than having a group of guest late to the wedding because of insufficient parking.  Your wedding planner can help you with this.
• Make sure the beach you choose allows you to have a wedding there.  Some beaches (ex. Kaanapali Beach) do not allow any commercial wedding activity on the sand.
• Understand that if you’re getting married on a public beach, there may be other weddings in progress.  Some beaches are more popular than others for weddings.  you may want to reserve a private estate on the sand.  This way there’s no guess work.
• When your Groom is deciding on his Maui wedding attire, keep in mind that Hawaii is hot!  If you’re in the sun with a 3 piece suit, it might be a very short wedding.

We hope a few of these tips were helpful.  If you have more questions about your upcoming wedding, speak to the Maui Wedding Planners at Akia Weddings.  They’ll start you off on the right foot and make sense of your destination wedding in Hawaii.

Call Tamera at (808) 870-5525 to start planning today!

Thank you Natalie Brown for allowing us to post your beautiful wedding photos.  Cheers!

We recently enjoyed a top notch sailing trip aboard the Kai Kanani, which leaves from shore in South Maui.

Unlike most boats in Maui, the Kai Kanani offers shore entry, meaning you walk from the sand onto the boat.  It’s also the only boat that leaves from South South Maui, in front of the Maui Prince Hotel.  This makes it much more convenient for those staying in Wailea, Makena, or Kihei.  When getting on the boat, keep in mind that you’ll probably get wet up to your knees, and possibly thighs (depending on the surf.)  It’s best to wear shorts.

We left an hour or so before the sun sets and cruise along the South shore by sail.  There’s very little on Earth that matches the simplicity, peace, and relaxation that’s found while sailing in Maui with out a motor.  Maui’s warm breezes helped lull us into a sense of total relaxation (though the Mai Tai’s helped too.)  Being on a catamaran is also nice because it’s less turbulent, offering less of a change for sea sickness.

One of the things we really loved about the Kai Kanani is that they don’t pack the boat like a can of sardines.  It’s a pretty big boat, and they only put on a small amount of people.  There’s plenty of room to sit and move around both in the cabin and on the decks.  Another plus is how new and well kept the Kai Kanani is.  You can tell the captain and crew take pride in their work and love that boat.

Here’s a real quick list of why we recommend the Kai Kanani for your next sunset voyage:

• Convenient South Maui Departure
• Ultra-Friendly Captain and Crew
• New High-Tech Catamaran
• Plenty of Room
• Great Cocktails
• Excellent Pupus (Hors D’Oeuvres)

The food on board is really good.  They have jumbo shrimp, meatballs, assorted cheeses, salad, bread, and vegetables with dip.  Unlike some other boats, they dont’ charge for cocktails, and you don’t have a limit (unless you’ve had too much.)  Mai Tais, Local Beer on Tap, Wine, and Pina Colodas are spun up at your request.

Of course, the sunset over the water is what we’re inevitably after.  Watching the sun disappear between the neighboring islands and into the ocean is something best enjoyed on a boat.  We left feeling warm, relaxed, and happy.  We think you will too.

Book your trip direct by calling (808) 879-7218 or visit their website at Kai Kanani.

Thank you Greg Hoxsie for your photos!

Billionaire David Murdock has plans to build over 200 wind turbines near Polihua Beach on the island of Lanai, Hawaii.  The power generated by the windfarm would be sent by underwater cables to the island of Oahu, our most populated island.  In this move, Murdock would recoup some of his losses from his struggling Lanai resorts as well as provide Oahu with a large amount of much needed renewable energy.

As with any change to the islands, residents and visitors are complaining about Castle & Cooke’s building of these windmills.  It seems that with any change, for good or bad, people become restless and upset.  But when you look at the project rationally and objectively,  it benefits everyone affected.

• Lanai Residents – Jobs will be made and the island will prosper with additional revenues.
• Maui County – Maui and Hawaii’s goal of using 70 percent green energy by 2030 will come closer to completion.
• Honolulu, Oahu – Honolulu will become less dependent on foreign oil and coal for their power needs.
• David Murdock and the Castle & Cooke Company – The new profits will make up for their disastrous losses over the years.
• Hawaii Visitors – The resorts of Lanai will remain open and Lanai will continue to have ferry services.

With time, our islands need to change.  It’s a sad thing that the Lanai is no longer accurately called the Pineapple Isle.  But as the world becomes smaller and the economies of each nation become further intertwined, the only way to survive is to acclimate and grow with the changes.  In light of all the bad decisions effecting Hawaii (overdevelopment, pollution, loss of Aloha), we believe that this is one of the better moves by a large corporation.

Maui’s Big Beach (Makena Beach) is finally getting lifeguards!  Today, over a dozen lifeguards trained near the second entrance as a lifeguard tower was put together.

The dangers at Makena State Park are SERIOUS!  The shore break is extremely powerful even when there’s little to no real swell in the water.  Incidents of injury and death have become common place on Big Beach.  Finally, we’ll have some professionals to take care of the many visitors that are unaware of the dangers.  Read more on Big Beach Dangers.

Funding for the lifeguards at Big Beach had been approved back in July of 2007. It’s taken 2-3 years for us to see the reality.  Due to impedments from the DLNR (the Department of Land and Natural Resources), it seems that we’ve had to wait this long for action.  It’s a shame that this should happen, seeing that many people have been hurt and some killed during their stagnation.

After watching the actions (and inaction) of the DLNR over the last few years especially, it’s fair to say that the interest of Maui residents and visitors are not at heart.  Many of their actions bare little effect and only harm the tourist industry and local Maui residents’ way of life.  If there ever was a time for reform among the DLNR, it is now.

To our future lifeguards: Thank you for taking on this difficult task.  Though you’ll be working pretty hard to keep people from hurting themselves, you will be lucky enough to be the only ones making a living on Big Beach. Not a bad life!

Want more information on Maui Beaches?  We’ve got plenty at the Maui Information Guide along with accommodations, activities, and other helpful information for visitors and residents of Maui County.