Hosmer's grove picnic

A great way to start the year with a picnic at Hosmer's grove. We headed up the mountain at 2:30pm. We emerged out of the could layer into a bright blue sky with the crater clear above us. Waved into the park on Dad's pass ("I know that's the only reason you bring me is to get in free... Not, it because you have the barbecue!")
Our parking spot right next to the covered picnic are waiting for us. We feel so lucky again. A little windex to the aluminum picnic table and it looks clean and new. A bright red checked table cloth makes it look cheerier. Bright red Iiwe flits in the nearby Mamane tree, acrobatically inverting himself as he inverts himself to get the nectar out of the small yellow flowers. Hunny and I venture off to the nature walk. They have been busy building a log fence to keep visitors on the trail.
We did not even put a jacket on.
We celebrated Dad's 87th birthday with hamburgers and potato salad. His dream cake was awaiting him at home. As we descended the mountain the sunset was spectacular.

Maui sunrises and Sunsets Nov and Dec

We have been having some amazing sunrises and sunsets. If you are up by 6:45 am you are in for a treat. If you are adventurous enough to get up to the top of Haleakala in the early morning the view is even more spectacular.
Sunset has been happening around 5:45pm.

LAVENDER FARM

On the road to Polipoli State park in upper Kula you find Alii Lavender farm. Eight acres of Lavender. I never knew there were so many different varieties. Over 20+ with names such as French and English Buena Vista. The friendly staff in the farm shop provided much information. I did not know you should consider Lavender as a plant for a rock garden. No watering unless the soil is completely dry, no fertilizing. It comes from mediteranian cliffs. They have no drip irrigation at this farm. Most lavender blooms June through August. Some cultivars bloom year round.

Ulupalakua picnic

What to do on a Sunday afternoon? we headed out for a picnic at Ulupalakua Ranch's winery. S short stop at Kula ace hardware to get propane for the grill and look at all the nice plants. Very nice lemon, orange and tangerine trees. Olive trees and fig trees in addition to many pretty flowers and vegetable plants. Then Up Pulehuiki to check the persimmons. Hashimoto Persimmon farm had trees laden with bright orange persimmons. Under their trees was a nice carpet of white clover. Their leaves are just starting to turn yellow and orange. As we passed Chings store everything changed from dry and brown to lush Green grass. Keokea and Ulupalakua were very green. Surprising for this time of the year. We found a picnic table and enjoyed sun tea, crackers with cheese and plums. The huge camphor tree and cook island pines were massive and old. A turkey sat on the top rail of the fence eyeing us to see if we were leaving any crumbs. On the way home we stopped by the pumpkin patch.

PUMPKINS

We stopped by the Kula pumpkin patch. What fun! Pumpkins of every size and color. From a muted corange to bright flourescent orange. Miniature horses, a corn maze and the produce stand.

Off to Lanai for work

What a great way to get to work!

Where has the year gone?

Lots of fun at the beach, hiking Iao and the crater. we have to be reminded to take time to enjoy the natural beauty of Maui. It seems we never do anything until friends come for a visit. "Beach? You mean there is a beach 15 minutes from my house?" Of course Hunny was along for all the adventures. She is not a water dog but was going in the ocean amazingly well. baby Beach and Kamaole 3.

Violin maestro

Big Island Adventure

I flew from Kahului Maui, north along the Hana coast on a clear afternoon. Arriving in Kona 30 minutes later to unusually clear vog-less sky's. We had a 35 minute ride to Waikoloa to check out our project for the next 10 days and then another 30 minutes to Waimea where we would be staying with my sister. Hualalai, Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea dominate the landscape. Lava fields remind you just how young this island is.
The project is to repair my rental home which the renters trashed. My cousin Mike from Las Vegas is leading this team of neophytes. We demo'ed the bathroom, ripped out carpet, cleaned the yard and painted, painted everything. New kitchen cabinet faces, new stove and new refrigerator. Unbelievable this had all been done just a few years prior with the renters managing to destroy it in short order. I mean my stove at home is 21 years old and still looks new. The insurance Co has refused to pay saying it is maintenance issue.
One afternoon an hour before quitting time it began to get darker and darker. The sky was black. Dad wisely said, lets pack up as flashes of lightning and thunder roared overhead. It was pouring by the time we headed uphill. Debris had crossed the highway and streams were flowing down from Mauna Kea. The road was closed behind us. Michael tried to sleep out on the porch but moved inside during the night. The next morning Mauna Kea was snow capped.

Whale watching March 2011- Then Turtle town Wailea

 

Unusually calm winds made for a spectacular morning out on the water. Lots of Whales!

Spinner dolphins off Lanai

Turtle Town

Afternoon snorkeling adventure in Makena. A beautiful spring day. We drive past the old Maui Prince and then turned back toward it to park on the south side of the Prince. To the far left of the beach is a large kamani tree which provides nice shade. If you swim straight out you come to a small reef which has great live coral. lots of reef fish and big red pencil urchins. There resting at the base of a large brain type coral head. may bee 10 feet in diameter and 5 feet high was a green sea turtle. She eventually surfaced for a few breaths and just hung there flippers dangling straight down. Then she took her front flippers and folded them against her belly. Very cool. Then down to her resting spot. She was very habituated and didn't seem to be afraid at all.

Whale Watch - Maalaea

A gorgeous morning out on the water. As we drove down the hill at 6:45 am I was pleased to see the smoke from the Puunene sugar mill going nearly straight up. Yeah!No wind!We were booked on Pacific Whale Foundations 65 foot catamaran. Departing with a full boat of 80 we headed out. Across the horizon there were numerous spouts. We saw many pods and listen with a hydrophone for a few minutes. Fun!

Sunset prior to incoming cold front

Mooo evening

When Maui Land and Pine got out of Pineapple recently we were all sad there would be no more "Maui Gold Pineapple". I could not ever imagine not being able to get fresh pineapple at any time of the year. It was unthinkable. Fortunately 4 former Maui Pine managers got together and with the Ulupalakua Ranch manager Pardee Erdmann they formed Hailimaili Pineapple. They leases 1,000 acres and have kept "Maui Gold" growing and available. What about the fields I had the privilege of riding in behind my house? The pineapple field which has been behind my house since I purchased my property in 1988 has been made into a pasture. 400 acres are now cross fenced for the Ulupalakua cattle which were starving this year. The sever drought had left the ranch with little grass. The worst drought anyone had seen in a long time. The cattle now over look the house and freak out the horses. sometimes at night I can see their ghostly outlines and inquisitive ears framing them as they line the fence checking us out.

Lucky to Live in Paradise

Beautiful warm days, no wind and a bright blue sky. To the beach! as I approached baby beach cars were lined down the normally deserted street. Obviously the ocean was calling many. A work day at noon! The outer reef had a 8-10 foot break creating a over reef wave with a current in the normal swimming area. The water was a bit cold but nice after the intial plunge. The dogs loved it! Hunny, Q and Leila :) Q is a swimming marvel with her own lifevest!

Look out tower

On the top of a ridge in Styria Austria was an observation tower. The steps were a open grate making it more and more difficult to ascend the higher you got. I was 20 feet below the platform and had to stop. A small mental discussion of putting one foot in front of the other got me to the top. The views were spectacular. A map showed us what we were viewing. Just a few miles away was the southern boarder. Fun!

Butterfly house in Vienna

Right around the corner from the Spanish Riding school is a marvelous butterfly house. As we walked past the atrium I could see beautiful butterfly's. Wow, I must go in. We had less than a half hour before they closed. It was most enjoyable. Many people had the butterfly's sitting on their fingers.

A shark hanging in a Austrian Castle

Imagine my surprise when I walked through the main entrance of this old castle to find a 16 foot Mako shark hanging in the ceiling guarding the entrance to the castle.
apparently he has been there for almost 400 years. Caught and brought back to ward of and protect the castle. It is the only castle which was never over run by the enemy.

Watermill hike and Peter Skoff's

The day did not dawn. We were in the clouds as a light mist swirls up from the valley. After our morning 8am breakfast ritual of yogurt with a little corn flakes, then a not-so hard boiled egg, gluten free buns with fresh homemade berry, strawberry jam. Occasionally cheese and salami ontop. I really liked the creamy local Eckart cheese. Then Tea, orange juice. we were ready to face the day. Lets drive a little more south to see a watermill and go for a hike. Large umbrellas in hand and rain coats we set out near the watermill. Up we wound until we saw a sign heading into a valley. Hiking boots which had not survved hung from the sign. This should instantly be a future warning vision. Off the road we started on the tract. crossed the small stream. The valley became narrower. I began to think about the tourists who go hiking to the waterfalls only to be swept away. If we were at home we would NEVER have ventured in this valley. we climb an enormous log jam. Bob is saying this isnt a good idea. Finally we come to our sences and turn around. Whew. On the way back we find a black and gold spotted salamander making his way uphill. Carole finds a large rock which looks just like petrified wood. What a find! Once back on the road we continue up. Sascha volunteeres to go get the car and we aks he picks up the petrified wood too. He and Bob return just as the sky's open up. We had reached the end of the road by someones big garden. On the way back we turned down the lane to Peter Skoffs vineyard. as we pulled in a elderly matron and her wet hunting dog appeared at the door. she invited us in. Her grandson was playing fussball. He is in his 20's and escorted us to a cafe room with a view overlooking a newly planted vineyard. Did we want to try all 40 wines or just a smaller assortment? He would bring 4 glasses out at a time and explane about each wine. They were all quite good. By the time we had tasted 16 different wines I was wondering if I would be able to walk out. Thankfully yes!
as we left we noticed at the end of each row of grape vines there was a rode bush. The insects affect the roses first so the farmer knows to begin to treat his grape vines.