April 11, 2013
By Alan Dickeson
(Photo copyright by University of Hawaii) Source »
When I got off the plane in February of 1975, I wasn’t sure exactly what kind of Maui weather conditions I would encounter during my first Hawaii vacation. I had heard that Maui weather would lull me into a fugue of ambient bliss, which it thankfully did soon with balmy breezes and abundant sunshine.
I remember thinking way back then, Maui was like heaven. But the real surprise about Maui’s climate didn’t sink in fully until a few years later.
While my first Maui vacation only lasted about a week, I would’ve never guessed I would move back to Maui 21 years later in 1996. After living on Maui constantly since then, I’ve come to understand and love the many variable weather conditions that help define Maui as a top-rated, resort destination.
1996 was the year my landlady in upper Kula, Maui, spoke words I’ll never forget (written here exactly as she spoke, omissions and misspellings are intentional), “It nevuh rain anymo. When I was a girl growin’ up in da 30s, Kihei lush green all year. Da Makena rain cloud always der and went from Kula to Molokini, evee day. Almost evee single day. Kula had streams wit fresh watuh all da time.”
(Photo copyright by Ron Dahlquist) Source »
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March 28, 2013
By Steve Lawrence
Surfing in Hawaii
The sport of surfing is a cherished pastime for the people of Hawaii and has a rich history that is fascinating enough to fire the imagination of everyone.
Surfing has been labeled as “the sport of Kings.” You might be surprised to learn that surfing may not have begun in the Hawaiian Islands but it is certainly the place we think of when we think of surfing. The sport of riding waves is believed to have first occurred in Polynesia near Tahiti. It had been around long before Duke Kahanamoku helped introduce surfing to the world in the early 1900s and has come a long way since.
From the 150-pound wooden boards of Hawaii’s yesteryear, to the ultra-light foam boards we surf today, and back to big heavy boards that are now popular for a new style called “stand up paddle” surfing.
In ancient Hawaiian tradition surfing was a privilege reserved especially for Hawaiian royalty or Ali’i. Commoners were restricted to certain surf breaks and could only use certain types of wood for their boards.
Hawaiian Surfing Traditions
The Ali’i used wood from the Wili-Wili tree or Hawaiian Balsa. This wood was lighter and faster in the waves. Other woods that were used for fashioning surfboards were Koa (Hawaiian Mahogany) and Ulu (Bread-fruit tree).
As a ceremonial ritual of respect, the craftsman would offer a sacrifice at the roots of the tree before cutting it down. Construction of one of these boards was done using ancient tools made from bones or stones.
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