Finished reading: A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers 📚
☔ It’s pouring here in Haiku.
☔ It’s pouring here in Haiku.
As Maui Breathes
Tuesday, August 22, 2023
As Maui cycles through the year, I can feel as the island breathes its way through the ebb and flow of visitors. There are deep intakes of breath as the island fills up during the seasonal holidays, and then exhales as visitors leave and Maui quietens down during those in between times when kids are back at school. Right now it feels as though the island has taken a huge exhale.
Rain is pouring outside as I type this. Grey clouds hang low. The ocean, in the distance, is obscured from view. The clouds might lift briefly revealing all that is currently hidden from view, including the blue sky and sun, but this wet weather feels like it is the dominant feature of today. And right now, that is welcome. Stay at home, quiet. No sense of being pulled outside.
Yesterday afternoon I just wanted to breathe some fresh tree air, and headed up to the Каhаkарао Loop Trail. Two and half hours later, and just over six and a quarter miles under the belt, I was back at the truck. A beautiful and welcome hike.
I am hearing of a lot of grass roots relief efforts that just came together following the wild fires that hit Maui just under two weeks ago. The wife, Jen, of a good friend of mine normally leads snorkeling tours. Just after the fires company used their boat to ferry supplies to those still in and to the north of Lahaina. NPR covered the story twice.
The first time contains pictures of their efforts.
A few days later they published the story again, this time just words, and no pictures.
Allowing people to tell their stories, enables them to release the pressure that they hold.
I’m not long back from my weekly men’s group. I am so grateful for this group, especially at this time here on Maui. A group of men who I get to know that little bit more each week. A group of men with whom I can sit and be honest and real with. A place for accountability, vulnerability. For listening, support, maybe challenged at times….but never judgement.
In the presence of giants. Driving through a forest of Red Woods last week in Northern California.
I always say that I will make a Mana Foods' cookie last, but never succeed. They are so good.
I returned home yesterday to rental cars parked up in the fields around the airport here on Maui. I hadn’t seen that since height of COVID. Then, with no visitors on the island, there was nowhere (apart from the fields around the airport) to park up the huge excess of unwanted rental cars.
This time, with so many visitors leaving in the wake of the devastating wild fires, there is again no room in the garages for the unwanted rental cars.
🏝️ I’m starting the journey back to Maui. I’m both wanting to be back home and anxious as to what I am returning to (though very gratefully, my home is safe).
🏝️ I’m starting the journey back to Maui. I’m both wanting to be back home and anxious as to what I am returning to (though very gratefully, my home is safe).
I’m missing Sea Ranch already, but I’m also missing home given what has happened in Maui. I’m heading back there tomorrow.
🐳 More whales swimming past Sea Ranch this afternoon. We can see their spouts way out in the ocean.
🐳 More whales swimming past Sea Ranch this afternoon. We can see their spouts way out in the ocean.
As the day ends here, I find myself still thinking over what has happened in Maui in the last 24 hours. Disbelief at the level of destruction, especially in Lahaina as it looks as though it has been raised to the ground, but also to those who have lost homes in Upcountry Maui. Sadness accompanying that disbelief with the realization that fellow islanders have lost all of their possessions.
I have picked up various stories from family and friends throughout the day. Fires continue to burn, though weakening winds have allowed helicopters to move in and drop water, assisting the fire fighters below (that was not possible yesterday due to the high winds).
This will be a long game. Buildings and towns need to be rebuilt, jobs and businesses put back together, communities rebuilt. The efforts are starting.
While this story has been forefront in my mind through today, I don’t think that the full reality will hit me until I am back on island this coming weekend.
Sunset this evening from Sea Ranch. We also saw some whale spouts and splashes, maybe from their flukes, way off shore, and were wondering if they were making their way to Hawaii? What a beautiful evening.
Walking through the fields, by the coast, at Sea Ranch.
