February in Maui is a nice time and place to be. For one, the whales are kicking offshore. They’re everywhere. When I look out towards the ocean I don’t see ocean anymore. All I see is an immense playground, where whales are jumping, splashing, slapping their tales, and having a blast. You don’t even have to try and see them now. Just glance out towards the beach and you’ll spot them. It’s amazing, and I’m really glad to have the privilege of witnessing it every day.

On Sunday my family and I went to Maluaka Beach Park with a pizza and watched the whales playing offshore. At first I was freaking out because we saw nothing. But as the sun sank closer to the horizon, they came out for one last round of the day. I can’t tell you how many whales we saw. But we were still waiting for one of them to launch straight up into the air and come down with a powerful splash. Suddenly it happened, and my wife and I shook our heads in amazement. My daughter wasn’t so blown away. She was preoccupied with the pizza crust she was polishing off.

Another point of excitement is, surprisingly, the presidential election. Suddenly Hawaii has an important say in who the Democratic nominee will be, now that the race Between Obama and Clinton is so close. Normally candidates aren’t too worried about Hawaii’s delegates. But not this year, when every delegate counts. Here’s a hint to the native Hawaiian population - this would be a great time to make sure that both Democratic nominees commit to passing the Akaka bill if elected.

Want some more big news? OK… I got a bike. How’s that? It’s practically brand new, and I got it for a steal off of craigslist. This guy was selling it after shipping it over here (along with everything else he owned) from San Diego. Poor sucker. He didn’t know the golden rule of moving to an island… DON’T BRING ANYTHING! Well, a car is OK, but nothing else! So he ended up selling most of his stuff because he didn’t have any room for all of it. And that resulted in me taking advantage of another person’s relocation ignorance and getting his bike for practically nothin’. And the best part? I actually use it!

Well, that just about sums it up for now. A hui ho, baby.

The big news here on the island is that snow actually fell on Maui yesterday. A storm passed over the island, bringing the windchill on top of Haleakala to just 20 degrees. It was pretty strange seeing snow at the top of the volcano’s summit while driving home yesterday. And for at least one day, when people talked about ice on Maui, they weren’t talking about the island’s meth problem!

Haleakala weather is one thing many visitors tend to overlook. When I was there a few months ago, I can’t tell you how many people I saw getting out of their car wearing slippers, shorts, and t-shirts. On the summit of a 10,000 foot volcano, that ain’t gonna keep you warm! So if you ever plan on visiting Maui, remember that a trip to mighty Haleakala requires warm clothes no matter what time of year it is. Here’s a link to current Haleakala weather conditions (click here), as well as a live webcam of the crater (click here).

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And here’s one last tip for those planning a visit to the Haleakala summit… finish the trip at the beach! The Haleakala crater is like a window to a different world. And there’s no better way to highlight the difference than to drive straight from the cold summit to Baby Beach at the far end of Baldwin Beach Park in Paia (click on the Google map above for a suggested route). That way you can enjoy two extreme climates in one day, and finish your journey with a relaxing swim.

Since this is the biggest news story throughout the islands, I thought I’d keep everybody updated on the latest Superferry news. It hasn’t been good for the boat this week. First, the Hawaiian Supreme Court ordered the state to conduct an environmental assessment of the Superferry operations. The Superferry operators, with middle finger firmly extended, ignored the ruling and sailed anyways, beginning service this past weekend. Since then, a Maui judge has ordered an injunction, barring the Superferry from docking on Maui. In addition, protesters on Kaui prevented the Superferry from docking there, blocking the boat with kayaks, surfboards, and whatever else floats. The local coast guard was completely caught off guard, and the boat was forced to turn around and head back to Oahu. Read the rest of this entry »

I wanted to show you our first piece of artwork. I know, it’s just a clock. But it took us 4 years to start decorating our last place. So even though we’ve only hung a clock, it’s a step in the right direction.

There’s not a lot going on with us right now, so I thought I’d take this opportunity to fill you in on some news from the island. The latest news centers around the Hawaii Superferry. Read the rest of this entry »