Category Archives: 2 Activities

South Maui Snorkeling – Ahihi Kinau Natural Area Reserve

Posted on by Chris Murray
Ahihi Kinau Reserve with Steven Tyler's house in the background

Ahihi Kinau Reserve with Steven Tyler’s house in the background

As you continue past Big Beach the road becomes narrow and windy with dips and rises and lots of “limited sight distance” signs. Soon you are driving next to the ocean with spectacular views and the occasional spectacular house. About a mile after the first cut-off to Big Beach you’ll see a sign announcing the start of the Ahihi Kinau Natural Area Reserve. The Reserve includes about three miles of coastline as well as portions of the last lava flow on Maui (I think we’re safe – it was 1790). Not far into the Reserve you’ll come to Kanahena Cove. The cove is shown in the picture above. There’s no parking here, but this is the best place to put in for snorkeling. On a fine day you’ll see plenty of people in the water.

There is limited on-street parking just past the cove. A few hundred yards farther down the road there is a gravel (and rocky) parking lot. The only nearby facilities (a portable construction-type toilet) are here.

Some people just wade in and put their facemask in the water. You can do that if you’re not comfortable snorkeling. If so, you might want to bring some water shoes or strap-on sandals that will stay on your feet in the water. However, the real views are out past the mouth of the cove and along the rocky shoreline to the left as you swim out. The red line on the aerial photo to the left shows what are probably the best places to see good coral and lots of big fish.

On the downside, there is only a tiny sandy beach here. Almost as soon as you’re in the water you’re walking on rocks. Not to worry – you’ll soon be swimming and enjoying the views.

If you want to do the reverse swim, you can park in the lot past the cove and take the (long) trail out to the water and swim back to the cove. You’ll need shoes to take this trail. Not sure what you should do with them while you swim to the cove.

For those who care about such things, the house on the point at the west side of the cove belongs to Steven Tyler of Aerosmith and, more recently, judge on American Idol. According to the Wall Street Journal, the 3,000 sq ft house was listed for $6.5 million and Tyler picked it up for a mere $4.8. That should leave plenty of room for those necessary upgrades. Click on the picture at the top of this post to make it bigger and you’ll see his fence, private gate to the cove, and the peak of Tyler’s octagon shaped house.

Surfing the Big Water at Honolua Bay

Posted on by Chris Murray

When the surf is up the best surfers head for their favorite spots. In the winter months, Honolua Bay, past Kapalua at the northwest corner of Maui, can be one of the best. This picture was taken in December, a day before a women’s pro event sponsored by Billabong. The best vantage point is down the dirt road on the east side of the Bay. Unless there’s an event going on, there’s lots of parking available.

While you won’t always see great surfing at Honolua Bay, it’s well worth the trip. When the surf’s not running some of the West Maui snorkling boats stop there. But you don’t have to spend the big bucks to see the fish and fine coral of Honolua Bay. Take some beach chairs, towels and snorkle gear from our condo and head out. Past the paved view point overlooking Honolua Bay from the east, the road goes downhill and curves around the bay. Park at the bottom of the hill (you’ll see other cars) and take the trail to the beach. You can swim out from there.

Oh yes, the beach isn’t sandy – so take some water shoes or reliable sandals to protect your feet.

Paddle Board Dog at Charley Young Beach

Posted on by Chris Murray

Paddle boarding – it’s so easy your dog could do it.

Maybe you didn’t bring your dog, or your paddle board to Maui. You can rent a board at places all over the island. (Sorry, no surfing dogs for rent – at least that we know of.)

The closest place to Maui Vista for paddle board rental is Maui Wave Riders at the south end of Kalama Park. They give lessons too. Some people surf with paddle boards. You can watch them off the park – particularly in the morning. Others just paddle around – with or without their dog.

The best time to go is in the morning when there’s not much surf and the winds are calm. It’s not hard. But unless you really know what you’re doing, please don’t try to do what you see those little specks way out in the ocean do. That would be a bad place to be caught in a big wind. Use common sense and you’ll have lots of fun. If you’re lucky, you might even paddle with a turtle or two!

Castles in the Sand on Charley Young Beach

Posted on by Chris Murray

There’s a lot of construction down on Charley Young Beach. But don’t worry, the builders and their tools aren’t likely to disturb you. Most of the “projects” range from modest to completely random. But then, what can you expect from a six year old?

Occassionally, however, the inspiration and perspiration combine to make something memorable – albeit temporary. Here the whole family has gotten into the act. Pretty ambitious if you ask me!

While the construction noise probably won’t ruin your day, watch out for what creeps out of the deep!

Frank Lloyd Wright and the King Kamehameha Golf Club

Posted on by Chris Murray

As you approach the building on the slopes of the West Maui Mountains, the silhouette of the King Kamehameha Golf Club clubhouse might remind you of Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous Marin County (California) Courthouse. However, if you thought the clubhouse is a derivative of the Marin County design, you’d be mistaken. The clubhouse has an interesting history that long predates the Marin County building.

The 75,000 sq ft clubhouse evolved from unrealized plans for a 7,000 sq ft luxury home for a couple in Forth Worth Texas in 1949. Two years later, Wright enlarged and adapted the design for another client, this time in Mexico for a site on the cliffs above Acapulco. Again, the house was never built. In 1957, he once more adapted the design for none other than Marilyn Monroe and her third and final husband Arthur Miller. Because of this, the clubhouse is sometimes called the “the Marilyn Monroe house.” The next year, before the house could be built, Monroe’s marriage to Miller ended in divorce. Wright died in 1959 and never saw the building except on paper and in his fertile mind.

Of course there is a huge difference between a large house and a 75,000 sq ft clubhouse, so much of the design is actually by Taliesan Architects who inherited the original concept and drawings from Wright. Nonetheless, the much expanded building includes many elements by the master himself – including a lovely staircase, expansive art glass, and an amazing elevator door. The overall design concept was preserved by putting two thirds of the expansion underground.

Seen from the entry on the Mauka side (literally the “mountain side” or “toward the mountains”) all resemplance to the Marin County Courthouse falls away.

Outside the front entrance is a 7 foot bronze statue, The Conch Blower, by Maui artist Dale Zarrella. Legend has it that the Pu (shell) of Waikapu could only be blown by warriors of particular merit. They say the shell’s call could be heard in Hana, 50 miles away. Those warriors must have had some powerful lungs!

Additional works of art by Dale Zarrella and other Maui artists can be seen inside the clubhouse, elsewhere on the grounds, and by visiting the golf club’s website (see link below).

Oh yes – you can golf too. While King Kamehameha Golf Club is Maui’s only private 18-hole course, you can buy a “guest for the day” pass and enjoy a round of golf in a spectacular setting.

To learn more about the King Kamehameha Golf Club – the Frank Lloyd Wright design, the club’s art collection and golfing opportunities – visit their website at http://www.kamehamehagolf.com/ To see our other posts about Dale Zarella, click here or, for a little wimsy, here.

Free slack key guitar festival on Maui

Posted on by Chris Murray

Every June, the Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Kahalui hosts a free concert of slack key guitar. This year (2012) it’s on June 24. The event starts at 1:00 and goes until 7:00 in the evening. As the day goes on the performers get better and better. At the beginning you might hear school groups. Later there are talented young people perhaps performing with their teacher/mentor. By late afternoon/evening there are terrific professionals playing the finest classics of Hawaiian slack key.

Bring your lawn chair (there are 4 in our condo) and hang out. Limited beverages and snacks are available for sale but you can also bring a picnic basket (use our cooler!) and enjoy your own at no cost.

If you’re on the island at the right time, this is a MUST SEE.

There are lots more events and activities at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. Check out their website for additional information at http://www.mauiarts.org/

Saturday morning tennis social at Maui Vista

Posted on by Chris Murray

Maui Vista is a great place for tennis players of all ages and abilities. Here’s a picture from a Maui Vista “Tennis Social.” Loosely organized by Tennis Pro Ricardo every saturday morning, usually two or more tennis courts are filled with doubles teams playing abbreviated sets (best out of 4 games with a shortened tie-breaker if necessary). After a second round where winners play winners and losers play losers, Richardo mixes up partners to create new teams to play against one another. A great way to meet new people on your vacation while having fun playing tennis!

Our Maui Vista 2418 condo comes with four tennis rackets for guests to use. There are six courts that open at 8:00 am every day. No court reservations – it’s first come, first serve. If interested, you can check out a tennis court key at the front office. (NOTE: there’s a $20 refundable deposit for the key.)

Tennis Lessons at Maui Vista with Ricardo

Posted on by Chris Murray

With six beautiful championship courts, Maui Vista is a great place for tennis players of all abilities. Last year (2011) it got even better with the addition of Tennis Pro Ricardo. In addition to private and team lessons, Ricardo holds hour-and-a-half clinics almost every day (at $10 per person!). He is a GREAT tennis instructor. His teaching style is to feed you a number of balls – say to your forehand – and watch you very, very closely. At some point he’ll say STOP and come over to your side and show and tell you something he wants you to change. Usually it’s something quite small – like how you point your left toe or what your non-dominant hand does during the stroke. From my experience, he is always spot on. I was in a clinic once when a lady said she had been taking lessons for 20 years and no one every pointed out some little flaw that Ricardo saw in 5 minutes. Suddenly, her shots were better. Take a lesson, your shots will be better too!

Our Maui Vista 2418 condo comes with four tennis rackets for guests to use. The courts open at 8:00 am every day. No court reservations – it’s first come, first serve. If interested, you can check out a tennis court key at the front office. (NOTE: there’s a $20 refundable deposit for the key.)

Fish are plentiful at Charley Young Beach

Posted on by Chris Murray

Local families (even some tourists) fish almost every day by the rocks at the north end of Charley Young Beach across the street from our condo at Maui Vista 2418.

When people fish from the beach, as brother and sister Shelly and Rodney are getting ready to do in the picture to the right, the hook is baited, weighted, and cast far out in the surf. The fishing rod is then posted in the sand with a bell on the rod. Everybody sits back, relaxes, chats with friends, reads a book, catches some rays – whatever they want to do. When the bell rings, everybody jumps up to see what’s on the line. If it’s a big fish, a crowd will gather.

Want to try it? In Hawaii you don’t even need a license to fish!

Check out this beauty Shelly caught!