Happy Earth Day/1000th IG Post

Earth Day this year coincides with what will be my 1000^th post on Instagram @around_the_bay_and_away, but surprise, it is not a food post, but from my other passion, travel.  Of course, it makes sense that it would be from my happiest place on Earth, Maui and speaking of Earth, in honor of this year’s Earth Day as well. 

Having recently finished Dalai Lama’s illustrated quick read Heart to Heart, A New Guide on Compassion, Climate Change, and Living a Meaningful Life from His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, it was a reminder that although humans can be the cause of destruction, humans can also be the solution as well. 

On my recent trip to Maui last month with the purpose to coincide with the return of the humpback whales, I saw both the good and the bad of human behavior. 

The Good

Just like me, many humpbacks return to the warm waters annually coming and going with the first arriving as early as October and the last leaving as late as April/early May.  The first time I saw these magnificent mammals was almost 20 years ago in 2004 and the next time was 13 years later in 2017 and let me tell you, going on a whale watching cruise to see the humpbacks in their natural environment, never gets old especially with the Pacific Whale Foundation. 

Although there are many operators of whale watching activities, I always choose and recommend the Pacific Whale Foundation, so much so, that they were my organization of choice for the Amazon Smile Program since Day 1.  A 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1980, all profits support research, education, and conservation programs and to “protect the ocean through science, advocacy, and to inspire environmental stewardship”.  Just when I thought I learned everything I could about these gentle giants as I shared in my 2017 blogpost - Around the Bay and Away: I Got Mugged in Mau`i, by a Humpback Whale!!, I learn something new as follows.

 

1.    When they dive down and you see their tail fluke, they most likely will be staying underwater for at least 15 minutes, so time to scan the horizon elsewhere vs. hoping for more activity from that specific whale.  Now, that is good to know as we saw a lot of tail flukes on our 2-hour cruise and with our binoculars from shore during the sunset. 

2.    Humpback calves stay with the mom on average about a year, up to two

3.    Humpbacks gestation period is 11 months so they are often pregnant the previous year when they leave Hawai`i for the migration back to Alaska to feed and then of course return the following year to give birth in the warm relatively protected Hawaiian waters

4.    When I mentioned protected, the humpback calves main predator are the orcas.  However, they do encounter them on the migration back to Alaska. 

5.    Luckily mama humpbacks are usually pretty successful in fending off the orcas so the survival rate of calves in the first year is about 80%.

 

The Bad

So, I had said relatively protected waters because although there is a lack of orcas in the Hawaiian waters, strikes by vessels and boats are still a big problem.  Although Pacific Whale Foundations guidelines of maintaining a 100-yard distance is in place and speed limits of 15 knots of less, reducing to 6 knots within 400 yards, a friend captured a video from shore the day I left, of a boat speeding and chasing a whale pod so close that it looked like they might have ran right over a whale with their vessel. 

PWF researchers have identified ship strikes and unsustainable tourism practices among the biggest threats to both whales and dolphins, both of which have just recently been the subject of harassment by disrespectful humans. 

Spinner dolphins harassed: Hawaii authorities open cases against 33 swimmers - ABC7 San Francisco (abc7news.com)

Man who calls himself "Dolphin Dave" cited for allegedly harassing humpback whales and dolphins in Hawaii - CBS News

 

What Can We Do

The first thing we can do is to always follow the key recommendations - Be Whale Aware | Pacific Whale Foundation

Secondly, support and go with operators like the Pacific Whale Foundation where their mission is to protect, advocate, and educate - https://www.pacificwhale.org/

Finally, if you do see humpbacks, dolphins or wildlife harassment or suspected violation, immediately report it to the 24-hour DLNR tip line at 1-808-643-DLNR or via the DLNRTip app. 

This disruption to their normal behavior causes unnecessary stress that will ultimately drive them away in the future by making these waters no longer hospitable. 

No Instagram post will ever be worth that. 

Maui Fair

I admit that I rarely go to the County or State Fairs in California but will always make an effort for the Mau`i Fair if I am on island.  Formerly known as the Maui County Fair that is generally kicked off with a parade on Thursday evening and spans the first weekend in October, the island is gearing up for its 94^th annual fair at the War Memorial October 6-9.  Last year it was a week earlier than normal giving me a chance to finally experience a Sunday at the fair, when I would normally be leaving the islands and this year it is a week later than normal, missing it by 4 days. 

Rides, food booths that are fundraisers, contests, produce and services tent, livestock, arts and crafts, and first rate entertainment makes this a great local experience that brings the community together for this annual event. 

 

 

The main initial draw for us was originally the entertainment as they always had first rate Hawaiian musicians performing and if we are lucky, in the audience. 

 

 

 

The Makaha Sons, Ekolu, and Mark Yamanaka who braved the tropical storm on a flight from Hilo last year to perform for us are just a sample of the talent we were treated to in the past years. 

 

 

 

After the entertainment, the ono grindz for a good cause comes in a close second.  Poi mochi and Hawaiian plates are my must have with the poi mochi line boasting one of the longest lines, so go during peak lunch/dinner time when most people are buying their other food. 

 

 

There are free shuttles from a few satellite parking lots in Wailuku and the Queen K Center but check shuttle hours as they do not necessarily run until the end of the fair especially on Sundays which we discovered last year so we parked closer to the War Memorial for $5. 

Pre-sale tickets are $5, $7 at the door Th-Sat and Discount Sunday with $5 admission and rides for about 3 tickets or less. 

 

Check back on their website for updates on vendors and entertainment - https://www.mauifair.com/.  If rumors are true, you may be lucky enough to hear the sounds of Keali`i Reichel, making me wish I was lucky enough to live Hawai`i. 

Maui Marathon and Half Marathon

We are almost always on island the weekend of the Mau`i Marathon/Half Marathon and have always had such admiration for the participants.  Never in a million years thinking I would ever be one of them since running for long periods is hard on my knees.  One year, friends we have met over the years signed up for it, with one mentioning he was walking it.  What?  Walk a half marathon?  You can do that?  Ding, there goes the light bulb moment giving me that “bright idea” that I was going to walk one. 

Fast forward a year later to 2013 and what better place for my first Half Marathon than where the idea started.  After months building up my endurance and speed by literally walking around in circles at the nearby Marina Park with the Bay View, I was speed walking for 3+ hours along one of the most scenic routes with an ocean view. 

 

 

The full marathon starts in Kahului and ends at Whaler’s Village while the half starts and ends at the Whaler’s Village on Sunday while the 5K, 10K, and Front Street Mile is the day before on Saturday.  For the ambitious, the Warrior Challege of a full marathon + 10K + front street mile or half marathon + 5K + front street mile will really test your endurance - http://mauimarathonhawaii.com/

Although I arrived about a week before to acclimate to the weather as tropical conditions can vary greatly from what you are use to training in, it was still a challenge once the sun came out.  However, I am grateful to have completed it the year I did since the last two years sported unusual conditions, the lack of tradewinds last year and record breaking temperatures the year before that presenting an additional challenge even for the winners.  Hope this year the weather God’s will be on the side of the participants as I go back to cheering from the sidelines and/or my lanai next door this weekend!!