index maui

MAUI 2009.Dec

Chico airport:
We got on a small dual prop plane in the darkness of night. The weather was freezing and overcast.Rain is forecast here in Chico for the duration of our trip to maui.That is fine with me. I could care less. We are out of here.

Arriving over San Francisco, I see the moon and the hint of dawn breaking. Youcan see the engine cowling and the swirl of a white tipped prop blade.

The moon is not too clear through the window. It is a double layer of plastic.And it vibrates. So you must not let the camera touch any thing that moves.I needed to warm up the camera and practice on something before arriving in Maui anyway.Just could not wait any longer.

But we have a layover in SF before heading to Maui.Guess that will be OK. I have no choice...

This is a Boeing 777: Two seats on the left, five across the middle, and two seats on the right.I get air sick if I don't have a window seat. I have it, and have had no trouble.At four or five hundred miles an hour the air noise is relentless and aggravating. The 777 has the longest wing that I have ever seen!
It is way out there.
Arriving in Maui from the East, then a maneuvering bank to the south, then a bank to the west,and finally a bank to the north as the runway comes into view on final approach. Can't wait to get off this thing.

In case you did not know: That is paradise down there...

Maui Terminal
Notice the carpet floor.
Notice the plumaria smell.
Notice the free spirit.
You can suck in gobs of clean air. (There are 2000 miles of clean ocean all around.And you can immediatly feel and smell this fact.)




WorldMark resort located in Kihei:

Here is where we are staying. We have a time share here.I bought this for my wife. I came from a poor family and would have NEVER havebought this except for one reason: Now my wife gets to have somethingnice, that with my history, I would not normally choose. Economically, a time share is nota bargain. But the niceness and convenience lends itself to what she deserves.Before I bought this I was looking for $50 a night motels.And, as a consequence, I was also looking for cockroaches.Now Worldmark gives us a beautiful place free for one week a year with no worries, and yet atouch of personalcatering.

Here is a couple of views from our balcony at Worldmark.


That sun is only at the exact center of that palm only one day out of the whole year.At least that is the way it worked for the stone masons of the Druids and the Egyptianswith their stonehenge and pyramids.



Here is a canoe race from our balcony.
So many people like single and dual seat kayaks.And wind surfing and parasailing are real popular, and can be seen from our balcony too.

Pool at WorldMark.

I don't plug anything about anybody unless it is true.

But for the best sauerkraut hotdogs or chili hotdogs or custom banana splits go to Peggy Sue's.Also Peggy Sue's has excellent mahi mahi that far exceeds its price.Peggy Sue's is the best quality and economy on the intire island. Also the music is great. And you can select your favorite oldies from your table - Jukebox style. The girls are pretty too, but you did not hear me mention it.

...Located in Kihei.

For the best chicken salad sandwiches, get the one with curry sauce at Stella Blues.We never get tired of this sandwich every time we come to Maui.

Here is Longs with Haleakala in the background. Notice the clouds are lower than the ten-thousand-pluselevation of the volcano. Wait to go up on Haleakala when the volcano is ringed by clouds, which is most days. You will climb through thick moist fog. Feels extra good in a convertable!The sun will be shinning on top, but you will appreciate a jacket.

Looking down unto the valley...

The Lavender farms are just below. The west side ocean on the left.The east side ocean on the right. The air is filled with smoke from another volcano. It burnsmy eyes and fills my sinuses. It burns my wifes eyes too, but her sinuses are ok.The haze makes for unclear pictures unlike other trips to Maui....Still paradise!

Hyatt:
Not everything is expensive at the Hyatt. I bought a gold chain with pendant for $20 here.The luau, however, is a little pricey: about $180 per couple.

Hyatt:
Beautiful costumes...



You will not look any younger, but you will feel like it.
Maui will rejuvenate you in many ways.


Lights decorating the grounds of the Grand Wailea .


MaiPoina Beach:
Linda and I at the beach.
Ma'alaea Bay on the right.
Lahaina and Kaanapali on the left.


Linda thinks that I am immature, but she is not complaining.
Linda is happy and thankful to be here.
I have already explained to her that on Maui you have to be a kid.

I know of someone else talking about kids and Paradise.

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18

I know of someone else talking about kids and Paradise.
And it is here...




Kula Botanical Gardens:

This bird is semi enclosed, and obviously very tame.I do not know what it is.To see this bird in person, Go to the far end of the gardens. It should be roaming there.


You must go to the Kula Botanical Gardens.It is not just the beauty of one place, like the Kula Botanical Gardens - This INTIRE Island is magical.

Maui Tropical Plantation:
Always go the to plantation. There we rode the tram again. The price is about $15.
There, a small girl will show you how to crack a coconut with a big rock.We actually drank the "milk" of the coconut.You can see dozens of trees like coffee trees, and mangoes; Too many to mention.


Also go to Iao Valley. The only difference is that Iao is a higher elevation.It was about 82 degrees every day in the valley.But at Iao valley it was about 76 degrees with sometimes mist or fog. Very pleasant!

Both are full of native plants.




Also go to the Enchanting Flower Gardens for all kinds of Pacific Island plants.


HOOKIPA Beach:
Last time I was here there was only a few cars. This year there are dozens.

Girls abound, not that I noticed.

PAIA:
All the older cars have smashed in bumpers, dented finders and doors. You will see lots of pickup trucks withbacks full of brown riders. Everybody haves fun without trying and despite their best efforts.It is natural here. Maui is a cilled-out island, and will convert even tourists.

No one will honk at you if you stop in the middle of the intersection while you get the lay of the land.It is standard procedure and it does not matter what color the light is. Just chill out.

180 ft high power windmills:
Actually, and being an engineer: These are Wind Turbines.
I have been coming to Maui before Maui made a serious effort to go green.
I remember when these turbines were not here.
I respectfully suggest that the locals don't understand at all that Wind technologyis as green and natural as palm leaves.

Maui could be the first state in the nation to be totallygreen and self sufficient in water and power. Green does not mean stagnation and poverty.

I have shown twenty turbines. But there will be two more banks and three times this amount soon. Maui is rich in wind and solar, and poor in water.

Well, that is, if it is not voted down.
The people of Maui do not realise that they can not continue to live as they do. I am an engineer, and I know that Maui can not sustain itself.

There are no restrictions on tourists. Or should I say, No restrictions of OffShore interests.
Human Greed is raping Nature, and not renurishing with an interstructure.There are few building codes, or community planning. There is only resentment and apathy.
There are no trained police. A tocan force of low profile, that does not know what to do.
There are few Fire Departments, but I did see a yellow firetruck.
There is no shore maintenance, or planning. Or should I say protection.
The power grid is in shambles, and can fail.
There is no water management, and is not commensurate with population growth.
And there are no good teachers at the college, and probably not at the elementry. The local people are both stupid and ignorant, but I love them.
The local people are exploitable. And the island is fragile.


Basically, the local people do not want to spend money.
Their society is not supported by engineering in any sector.
Linda and I love it here. It truly is paradise. And we love the people.
But any paradise is on a prescription plan, where it continually costs money.
Ominously, behind the scenes, invisibly, Maui is on burrowed time.
Money is not showing up in the wires above or the water beneath. So if it is like the mainland, it is showing up in pockets of the "social ones".The big sharks are either utterly incompetent or evil.

Linda says that I am too negative. But she stays with me. I do not understand it.And sadly, I don't understand me. She keeps me from going off the rails, which I just did.