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