Every year since we have lived here the “Honu” triathlon has been hosted within the Mauna Lani Resort. The 2 hotels located within the resort have traded hosting the event and many of us volunteer for this race as well as the IRONMAN World Championship in October. In the early years it was an olympic distance event with 200+ local participants. Today it’s a half- Ironman distance and includes over 1500 participants. It’s also a qualifying event for the October IRONMAN World Championship in October so age group competitors and the world’s top pro triathletes are present to secure their slot in the big race. It was 77 degrees for the swim start at Hapuna Beach State Park and by 11:30 am when the first finishers started to appear within the Mauna Lani Resort, it was a smoking 94 degrees with bright blue, clear, skies above and no wind. Our friend Cindy who swims with our Mauna Lani Masters Swim Group represented the group well in the race! Congrats to Cindy! We welcome these events on the island as they bring the world�...

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It was the season opener for the Big Island, open water swim circuit and the first event of the island’s Triple Crown series-the Cinco De Mayo Splash! Most of our Mauna Lani Master’s swim group participated and Sue and Noe represented us very well. Noe was the first lady out of the water and Susan was close behind Noe and finished first in her age group. It was a perfect, windless morning with no swell present and pretty good water clarity for Anaehoomalu Bay in the Waikoloa Beach Resort. I’ve snorkeled at “A” Bay many times and know it’s pretty rocky close to shore so I was prepared for those conditions as well as exposed coral heads all over the swim course start. I was also mentally prepared for whatever creatures that might appear during the swim as I knew there had been several shark encounters by a kayaker and paddler in a OC-1 canoe as late as April 23 rd somewhere very close to our swim course. Check out these links for reference: April 23rd West Hawaii Today article: https://www.westhawaiitoday.c...

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On our morning runs we usually circle the ponds within the Mauna Lani beach club at Makaiwa Bay. We often see many forms of wildlife including the schools of milkfish and mullet that thrive in this protective environment. Every now and again we see the fish jump in unison without any apparent provocation but also know predators to these fish enter the ponds immature and small in size then gradually grow large enough to have a their very own buffet with no competitors to keep them in check. That’s where the Mauna Lani staff step in with bows and arrows as well as baited lines to catch barracudas where they can. Check out the pictures of Oscar’s catch above of a small barracuda. There is another very large one he caught in the Mauna Lani Sea Adventure’s Boat House that looks to be 30-40 pounds. I had always speculated on the presence of these predators but this was the first morning I actually observed one being caught!!

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It’s not often you see the delivery of a hand made, 40’, Hawaiian, Racing Canoe. In this case we were out for our morning run/walk and observed two trucks parked near the gate to our Beach Club at Makaiwa Bay in the Mauna Lani Resort. It was before 7:00 am and the gate was shut but I did check out this very sleek canoe on a trailer parked on the roadside when I ran past the gates. I saw Kawika Ruddle at the Boat House and motioned with my hands as I ran him that there was a large vehicle trying to gain access. He nodded like he knew what I was referring to and I kept going over the pond knowing I would be able to circle back and check out the canoe closer if it made it through the gate. Sure enough the trailer and canoe were at the boat house surrounded by the entire Mauna Lani Sea Adventures crew guiding it back toward the boat ramp. As I stood and watched, I saw one of the guys carefully unstrapping the canoe that still had the Ama’s and ‘iako’s tethered to the sides with canvas strips. I stepped forward to ask if ...

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This past Sunday Lissette and I paddled our kayak toward a group of paddle boarders and kayakers we could see a mile out or more out to sea hoping to catch a sighting of a whale or other sea-life on our journey. Little did we know that where we decided to stop and take a rest a baby Humpback whale would surface directly in front of us. I was taking a panoramic video of the surrounding mountains when a loud “poof” resonated so loud it actually startled us both-see the video! We could also see the much larger mother which was directly below nudging the baby to the surface. We have always been respectful of whales and the other beautiful sea-life we are surrounded by but in this case it was purely coincidental that we were blessed to be so close to a mother and calf. Whale sightings have been down this year at least for shoreline viewing but this day we were able to get an up close view! After I took this video, the calf surfaced and then submerged itself directly in front of another kayak broadsides. It’s wake caused...

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One of our favorite activities near the monthly full moon is to attend “Talk Story” or as it’s formally known-“Twilight at Kalahuipua’a”. The site of this no charge, almost monthly event is the Eva Parker Woods Cottage located ocean front on an island of grass between Makaiwa Bay and the historic Kalahuipua’a fishponds. The largest fishpond adjacent to the ocean was once part of the Makaiwa Bay until ancient Hawaiians built a wall into the water to block off the ocean and create a pond complex for aqua culture. The ponds are now a part of the Mauna Lani resort where the owners continue to maintain and preserve them to benefit the schools of mullet, milk fish and moi that inhabit and thrive with few predators other than the barracuda that make their way into the ponds when very small. Kalahuipua’a is translated to mean “the gathering of the pigs”. Since Hawaiians often expressed themselves allegorically it is speculated they were referring to the large fish in the fishponds as being the “pigs”. Th...

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Did you know that community members that do not own property in the incredible Mauna Kea Resort can buy Memberships that include golf discounts, beach access and privileges for yourself or your guests via the Club at Mauna Kea Resort? Please read on for information and links directly to details on this exclusive offering. Aloha from Mauna Kea Resort! Our 2019 Club offers four (4) levels of participation which provide members with the opportunity to choose the one that best meets the needs of their family and guests. The Platinum, Gold and Silver levels include preferred access to both of our beautiful oceanfront properties, while our new Hapuna Club provides an entry-level program for members to enjoy our newly renovated and branded Westin Hapuna Beach Resort. Looking back over the past three years at Mauna Kea Resort we’ve endeavored to both build on the legacy of Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and reimagine the possibilities at our Hapuna property with the recently completed renovation. This has resulted in an a...

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I was contacted by my neighbor, Mary Spears, to participate in Project Hawaii’s outreach to homeless children on our island via their Secret Santa program. I can not think of a better way to give back to those less fortunate than myself in a time the world remembers God’s ultimate gift. Please read on for opportunities to support this special organization. Contact Mary Spears directly as she is the Secret Santa coordinator for Hawaii Island and will forward to you the details regarding gifts and donations, maryannspears@earthlink.net. Project Hawaii, Inc. is a Volunteer Run non-profit organization solely supported by public donations.  100% of all donations directly benefit our homeless and poverty stricken children. Feel the love of saving a homeless child today! We are gearing up to provide over 350 homeless children with holiday cheer. From their visit with Santa, special gifts, a wholesome meal, games with useful prizes and take and make crafts. Children will also receive their Christmas stocking and a hygiene ba...

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Earl E. Bakken, who invented the first wearable, battery-powered pacemaker died last week at age 94. He also co-founded Medtronic, the giant medical-device company. I often saw Mr. Bakken at various places including the Twilight event that’s held monthly at the Eva Parker Woods cottage at the shoreline at Makaiwa Bay near our Mauna Lani Beach Club. I saw him several times in Waimea walking the isles of Safeway food market and once at the Farmer’s Market at Parker School on a typical Saturday morning. I knew of his accomplishments as many of us do here but he always seemed very approachable and kind at least from a distance. I learned from the property manager of his large, ocean front estate at Kiholo Bay that he loved ball room dance and that a large ballroom was constructed in his home specifically for this activity that he and his wife Doris really enjoyed. Most of us living here full time also know he gave generously to the North Hawaii Community Hospital where “locals” like Lissette and I, have visited many time...

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The majority of our masters swim group headed out early for the Kukio Blue Water Swim on the early morning of Saturday, September 22, 2018. The venue could not be better with a swim start from Kua Bay adjacent to the Pu’u Ku’illi cinder cone looming large in the background. This early morning included a gentle rain that produced an incredible rainbow above the beautiful and majestic cinder cone reminding of how blessed we are to be able to take part in these fun events. The Kukio community itself is situated on the shoreline including the Manini’owali Beach. The beach itself is secluded and small and has plenty of white sand extending into the water which forms the shoreline at Kua Bay. The water in the bay is crystal clear and the beach is more difficult to reach than other nearby white sand beaches as it’s entrance is unmarked and only accessible by either asking for shoreline public access at the guarded and gated Kukio community entrance or entering from the Queen “K” highway through the poorly marked entrance n...

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