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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Team “Mauna Lani-3 Fast, 3 Furious” made our way to the Kona airport to take the Mokulele flight to the Kapalua airport on Maui early Saturday morning before 7:00 am of Labor Day Weekend. Months before we had all decided to participate in the 47th annual Maui Channel Crossing Race from Club Lanai to the Ka’anapali Beach Resort where we would also stay and enjoy the pre and post race festivities. We were all anxious for the experience as our group likes open water racing but this was going to be a far different experience swimming involving an escort boat and swimming as much as 5 miles offshore from either island. The swim race is one of the most well known masters swimming events in the nation even though most open water swimmers are never able to participate due to Hawaii’s unique and isolated location in the middle of the Pacific. The fortunate participants came from all over the mainland US, as well as Australia, and beyond to compete. The race is composed of teams of six swimmers in various configurations and a few...

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Hurricane “Lane" started life as most storms do heading this direction off the coast of Mexico and began it’s general march westward toward the Hawaii islands the week of August 12th. The local news updated the storm’s progress and Lissette and I noted the location and general trajectory westward and toward our island nightly. I have come to doubt the meteorological community when it comes to hurricane predictions as they seem to cry “wolf” too often in order to bring our eyes and minds back to their news stations nightly it seems. In this case my attention quickly became more acute when I saw the storm was predicted to develop into a category 5 storm with 180 mph winds and the predicted path could possibly take it under our southern tip then “hook” upward and charge the western coastline where we live. Potentially, this major hurricane could have affected the eastern side then travel up the western side of Hawaii island then damage the other major Hawaiian islands in it’s path. In my 17 years on Hawaii ...

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Lissette and I left at 5:30 am from Mauna Lani to make the long trek over Saddle Road to the Hilo side for the Richardson Rough Water Swim this past Sunday at Richardson’s Ocean Park. I’ve never been to this park nor participated in this race before but several of my masters swim teammates had raced in past events and said the course was beautiful and the setting was really special. When we arrived I could see why they liked the area as it was a slice of old Hawaii in a County of Hawaii beach park. Richardson’s has the only black-sand beach in the Hilo area and provides multiple tide pools and protected swimming areas including sheltered rock pools where children can swim and play. It has an excellent surf break also as I noticed several surfers catching some nice waves very near our start area. The Richardson Ocean Center is located in a building that once was the Richardson family’s home that dates back to the 1920s. Today visitors to the Ocean Park can visit the house to learn more about the marine life in the are...

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