North Shore Clean Up: Success!

Aloha,

A wonderful event took place on the North Shore of Maui yesterday, and we are all the better for it.
+H2O of Maui organized a massive clean up of Maui's North Shore Beaches and Beyond. These awesome folks partnered with Community Work Days and Maui Chapter of Surfriders Foundation and other local folks to clean up the shoreline and raise money for their Water Charities Fund.

+H2O''s founder Levi Silver is passionate water man who walks his talk by raising more than awareness of our precious resource. Please check out their site and donate if you can to help create clean water sources for impoverished areas.

The community really pitched in with hauling truck loads of trash off the shoreline and pulling abandoned cars from the cane field surround the shoreline. It is hard to believe how disrespectful some folks can be their own opala (trash)......! I have been eyeing one of our upcountry streets to walk and clean up, gonna happen soon. I don't understand why we see more trash on the side of the roads lately...But, the good news is, the community is coming together for these sorts of wonderful events with the common cause to make a difference.

Come and visit and volunteer on Maui, check out my volunteer-on-vacation-hawaii.com for a great experience during your island time. More of my guests are enjoying these benefits, discounted stay with me (!) and an opportunity of a life time, to give back, usually in some of the most beautiful places on the planet.

Do Good, Feel Good! Simple formula for a Happy Life.

Aloha,
Cherie

Sea Surprises

Aloha,

It's been awhile since I have posted, and I have to say that I miss talking story and posting great pics for folks to share some Maui time. It's been a busy fall, and our visitor season has not really kicked into full gear yet. A few months to go until whale season when everyone wants to come to Hawaii!

If I have a chance to take an early morning walk on the beach, I always run into the" seaweed pickers". These folks are at the beach every morning with their laundry baskets floating down the shoreline collecting a variety of seaweeds. The beach strolls reveal at least four spectacular and varied types of seaweeds.

There is a beautiful pink lacy one, a dark green thick branchy one (my favorite to eat), a lime green flat variety and brownish one. I know they have names, and specific functions, and different flavors, but, I don't know them. The pickers separate the seaweeds looking for their favorites and usually leave the beach with full baskets. I always wonder where they go from there........

My friend Mike Eliers, sent me some new dive photos last week and I love sharing his pics. He has a way of getting in close and personal with the subjects of his amazing shots. Mike happened upon a Moray eel coming out of it's hole to investigate like Morays do. These rather aggressive and dangerous creatures are discreet and usually remain hidden in holes and crevices and rocky ledges. They have a keen sense of smell and poor eyesight. Their teeth are razor sharp and concave.

People sometimes try to feed these eels, and it is not a very smart thing to do. They are quick and, if somebody is accidentally bitten by a Moray eel, it can cause a serious injury. However, the Moray only attacks if it feels threatened. The "Puhi" Hawaiian word for eel, has smooth skin, a snake like body and supports small shrimp and wrasses who are "cleaners" feeding off of parasites and small scraps of food from it's mouth. The beauty of this relationship is in it's necessity.

If you are thinking about learning how to dive or getting certified , come to Maui. It's fun and exciting and a great experience....come and discover the amazing world of underwater.

Aloha......see you soon,

Cherie