Some people believe that their lives are all about what they accomplish. Their goals consist of what they will acquire and the status they will attain. I believe that there is much more to life. There are experiences and knowledge in the world just waiting for the opportunity to bless us. In order to claim those blessings we must make the time and take the time to go find them. If we make experiencing life a priority our course of action becomes clear. It’s time to escape, to tarry to relish something new. Maui is a great place to slow down and learn to appreciate life.
There is so much beauty to be enjoyed both on the island and underwater. Scuba diving Maui has opened my eyes up to the vast beauty and variety of its waters. A great dive site can be found near the Westin Kaanapali. There are abundant coral formations which provide a home to many beautiful colorful fish. There are small fish with striking fins in bright yellow. The Hawaiian Triggerfish appears to be painted with bold lines in black blue and gold. There are anemones of every variety. My favorite is black and has hard spines that can be tapped with a divers Pokey Stick. There are some small curious fish in grey and purple. I remember them staring at my goggled face as I explored and one seemed to follow me for the entire dive. As anyone can see I could go on and on about everything I saw and this was only the tiniest fraction of what is available to be explored in the ocean surrounding Maui. The splendor continues as you explore the island. A relaxing drive around the island is something not to be missed. If you’re going to do any significant amount of driving be sure to rent a Jeep, they conquer the terrain without effort. I have driven all the way around the island but the road to Hana and back was the best. The lush rain forest is striking. I have never in my life seen anything so green. Along the road you are tempted with many offers of the best banana bread on the island. A white horse peeks over a fence and offers its head to be scratched. Waterfalls can be sighted often and if you’re in want of refreshing waters the Seven Sacred Pools are not too hard to find. The drive will take you all of the day but it is invigorating and well worth the time. Another mesmerizing experience is seeing a sun rise atop Haleakala. According to the author “Haleakala, "House of the Sun," [is the] world's largest dormant volcano whose summit rises to more than 10,000 feet” (Mim Swartz sec. 8). This is relevant because I did visit Haleakala. I had to coax my husband out of bed the morning that we drove to that summit and we weren’t the only ones up early. Hundreds of people gathered at a fence strategically placed so that visitors could view the sun rising over the peaks of the mountain. As first light breaks voices complaining of the cold cease and a mutual sigh is all that can be heard. A bronze desert is revealed and you feel as if you’re looking into another alien world. I could have stood there for hours if it weren’t for fear of freezing to death. I hadn’t accounted for the altitude change and had only shorts and a sweatshirt. I made my way into the bookshop complete with heater and wide windows for your viewing pleasure. I lingered with many others who squeezed in unable to tear their eyes away. As the sun rose higher and higher in the sky a blanket of puffy white clouds crept closer to the peaks.
In addition, much can be learned from the spirit of both the people and the turtles of the island. If you’re not familiar with the majestic Green Sea turtle a great way to be introduced is by booking a snorkeling trip. On my first trip to Maui my husband and I were given tickets on the “Mahana Nai’a” a huge sail boat which frequents Turtle Town and Molokini Crater. Visiting the crater was great but I will never forget our visit to Turtle Town. We were told before we entered the water to try to keep our distance from the turtles because any physical contact with humans could be dangerous to them. I cynically shrugged my shoulders why would I have to worry about them being close; we probably wouldn’t see any anyway, right? Wrong. We jumped into the water and I was immediately faced with a beautiful turtle which was rising to the surface to take a breath of air. I instantly felt a connection with this reptile. A moment later I realized how close the turtle was to me and that I had to paddle away to keep from accidentally touching it. The turtle did not seem to mind me. It did gaze in my direction and its expression suggested to me a great wisdom. As the turtle floated back down to the sea bed, I couldn’t help but be amazed by its elegance and grace. While on this excursion I learned more about both the attitude’s of the humans and the turtles of Maui. Most people here are visitors like me and everywhere you turn all you see are smiling faces. What I find most striking is what you don’t see. There are no suits and ties and as far as I can see no signs of stress. The captain a one time resident of Stockton, California now steers this sailboat with his bare feet to earn his way. His hair is light; his face is tan and lightly touched by smile lines. His wife a beautiful Hawaiian girl has the easiest expression I’ve ever encountered. Her job is to follow around blissful tourists with her underwater movie camera. I think to myself she collects memories and smiles for a living. The turtles spend their long lives relaxing in one of the most beautiful places in the world. In fact Hester states, “It has been speculated that turtles have lived [to] over 100 years of age” (Hester 43). I feel a simple acceptance here among the people and as I swim with the turtles I feel the same. Spending time with people in Maui can teach you to take life in stride and to live the Aloha spirit. “Maui is so unique because of its people. Carrying the spirit of Hawaii through Aloha, you will find this islands residents to be some of the most friendly and welcoming people you have ever met.” (“The people of Maui” sec. 1) To me Aloha means getting out and enjoying nature, treating others with respect and not taking life to seriously. What I appreciate most about Maui is the serenity that you find everywhere you go.
Finally, on my last visit to Maui I had an intense experience that taught me how special life is and how fragile at the same time. I learned several things; one was that turtles contrary to lore can be quite fast. My husband and I were determined to track down some sea turtles and enjoy a dive with them. We asked around the island and found our best bet for a beach dive would be Mala Point. The morning we arrived at the dive site we geared up and surveyed the area. There were no breakers and the water was calm but we were the only diver’s there which was peculiar. Never the less we ventured into the water and soon found we had a hike to make over a mile of slippery rocks. When we finally made our decent the water was murky and green. We stayed close to the legs of the pier and explored some coral formations which had anemones resting on them. Suddenly I saw a monster of a Green Sea Turtle. I screamed with all my might to get my husband’s attention but under water all that could be heard was a little gurgling. Amazingly I reached my husband in time to tap him and bring his eyes to the turtle. I watched the giant amazed at its size and its speed. We tried to follow but soon realized there would be no keeping up with it. Suddenly I got an eerie feeling. This was not normal turtle behavior. “Turtles are actually very agile and fast and if frightened they will flee quickly into the ocean’s depths” (Hester 43). I saw my husband stare in the direction that the turtle had come from. We looked at each other meaningfully and began our surface. Once we surfaced my husband confirmed what I suspected. There was a tiger shark in the area and it was heading in our direction, not to mention the turtle’s. We decided it was time to end the dive. So as you can see, when its necessary turtles can be faster than one would think. Another thing I learned was that encountering a shark up close can make you very nervous but it can also give you greater appreciation for life. I’ve never experienced a dive like this one before. Simultaneously my stomach got queasy and I felt the hair stand up on the back of my neck and the tops of my shoulders. I tried to stay calm but it was nerve racking. Tiger’s are confirmed man eaters. After our swim in and the mile hike back I reached sandy beach happy to be alive. I reflected for a moment on how well, all things considered, the dive had gone and how easily it could have been a different story. I determined that since I had been given this second chance of sorts that I would live my life with gratitude and that I would make the very most of every day. After such a close call I was in need of a more relaxing way to enjoy myself which I determined would be sunbathing at Kaanapali beach and short snorkel close to shore. I lied in the sun and felt my skin warm and luxurious, beads of sweat formed and then were cooled by the light breeze. I exhaled as I hadn’t in months it was pure relaxation. When the heat got to be too much I donned my hot pink fins, mask and snorkel and enjoyed the beautiful colors of the tropical fish. The water cooled me and prepared me for more blissful sun worship. I defy anyone to find something more relaxing than lying on a Maui beach and swimming through its clear waters.
I highly recommend visiting Maui and enjoying all the island has to offer. There is so much to benefit from. Remember, life is more than just what we accomplish it is meant to be lived and a great way to live is Aloha.
WORKS CITED LIST
Hester, Captain Amber. “A few intriguing facts about Green Sea Turtles.” Maui dive and
surf Magazine 2009: 43. Print
“Live Aloha, The People of Maui”, University of Hawai`i Maui College, N.p., 2006, Web. 17 Nov.
2010
Swartz, Mim. “Even Hawaiians say Maui is the best”, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, SPI,
1997. Web. 17 Nov. 2010
No comments:
Post a Comment