TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS FAR AND WIDE - HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM MAUI, HAWAII

Photo: Stephan Boeker

Flashback: Maui Sunrise, Summit Hut, Haleakala National Park, February 2007

I've decided to dip into the archives and post a few images worthy of another look (hopefully). Here's #1:

I reckon there will be others from time to time. And not just of Hawaii....

Getting out of the office...

A solid afternoon of flat water/ bump and jump sailing at Kanaha. 5.4, JP 105.






Followed by a 12'' Mopsy and a Big Swell at Flatbread...




... and a pretty good "I Am Legend" to finish off another Maui day.

The "East Coast" Home

Old Greenwich was base camp for this trip out "East". The photos are from the beach preserve a few minutes from the house. The family has been walking these trails since 1980 when we first moved here.

Sitting in on a bocce tournament at Floyd in Brooklyn

From Maui to New York City in less than 9 hours.

These images were taken during my first 24 hours back in the city since moving to Hawaii 6 months ago. Verdict: still love it.

Not your traditional Thanksgiving dinner...

.... and it came a few days early. However, it did contain turkey (meatballs).

Sugar Beach Walk

Rain bands over Kaho' olawe

Sugar Beach Sunset, Kihei

Totem Pole near Sugar Beach

HOOKIPA, OCTOBER 24, 2007

Bjorn

Jason Polakow (KA-1111)

Naish soars above...

Rider: unknown

Marie Reichman (H-98)

Marie Reichman (H-98) and Robby Naish (US-1111)

Kevin Pritchard (Us-3)

In the trough... mast high?

A pretty sweet day at Ho'okipa, with a bunch of big names out on the water. I spent a few hours here documenting the action and then headed down to Kanaha for some late afternoon sailing closer to my own skill level. Grin....

Secluded North Shore Spot

A new favorite place on the North Shore... slightly off the main drag... no crowds... nice beach...

Recent Hookipa Afternoon

The winter swell has not really arrived, but Ho'okipa is one of the places on the North Shore where it will make its presence felt.

I have never really seen it go off big time, but who knows, this winter there will be plenty of opportunities to see that happen - now that I live here.

Evening Hours at Big Beach, Maui, Hawaii

Big Island Scenes

From September 2007. Four Seasons Hualalai. Big Island.

Waihee Ridge Hike, West Maui, September 6, 2007. As is often the case here, it pays to get started early. I was a little late on the draw (arrived at the trailhead at 8:15 AM) and was robbed of some visibility. Still, the clouds all around you with no sound save the wind and birds is reward enough for reaching the trail's end at 2500 feet. 5 mile round trip is moderately strenuous with some slippery conditions along the way. While the crowds are stuck in traffic on the way to Hana, you can be here.... Grin.

Same location... different sky...

Rustic Paia Real Estate

A former General Store of some sort (note the vintage Coca Cola sign), this buiding is now a laundromat. I was struck by the rust like colors of the roof and dirt... the image doesn't really convey what it actually looked like, but it's close enough.

I've been on island for more than a month. Time has flown by, but the charm has not worn off (not that I expected it to).

Thought I would share tonight's sunset since I haven't posted for a while. This beach is a few minutes from where I live in North Kihei (which is on the southern side of the island). Just your average, early evening scene on Maui. No quarrels with that.

Will see if I can dig up the NYC equivalent ... I spent many evenings after work, watching the sun set over the Hudson River from a waterfront bar at 105th Street and Riverside Drive, down in Riverside Park. Sure, a whole 4 lane highway separates you from the water there, but it's a nice spot nevertheless. I recall my thoughts travelling to far western destinations (Hawaii???) as I sat there - usually with a cold beer and a book.

Some time later and thousands of miles West, I am starting to adjust well to the island cycle of rising early, with the sun and hitting the sack just as early. Definitely a more natural rhythm than the city's nocturnal tendencies/ seductions.

On the water at last!

Three weeks on the island and not one day logged on the water. Today was the day - could not let another one pass without getting out there. What did I move here for anyway? Not to sit on the sidelines.

The guys at Neil Pryde let me demo some gear (JP Free Wave 109; Alpha 5.4 - for those who care about the technical details) and SB and I went to the spot near Camp One.

For my first day, things felt dialed in fairy quickly and I found the zone in no time at all. Jibes were non existent, but hey... it's the first day.

Conditions were not over-powering; just right for me - 5.4 sail kept me nicely powered.

More to come...

It feels good when you earn your food.

Tasting Menu

Some images from a tasty meal at a premier Maui sushi restaurant.

Windsurfing at Camp One

Photos from Camp One, North Shore, Maui, Hawaii. Sunday, July 22, 2007.

Good evening from Maui

I've been delinquent since that last post from Salt Lake City. Because, predictably, things have been busy. I've been on Maui for a little over 10 days now and I am loving it here. Can hardly believe that I'm not on vacation and that I will NOT be leaving again in a few days. Thought I would just post an image or two from the Four Seasons Maui. Nothing spectacular, but evocative of my night: a nice dinner from Duo (one of the restaurants at the resort) and some palm tree tops in the setting sun.