Maui Dixieland Band Mardi Gras Celebration in Kahului

The High Seas Dixieland Band will be performing at a three-day Mardi Gras celebration at Brigit and Bernard’s Garden Café, 225 Ho'ohana St., Kahului. Authentic New Orleans jazz will be featured on Fat Tuesday, 2/21, and the following weekend, Friday, 2/24, and Saturday, 2/25.

All three events start at 6 PM and include an all-you-can-eat southern buffet prepared by a well-known New Orleans chef.

The band boosts of having played together for over twenty years and has collected a varied repertoire of Dixieland jazz, including such favorites as When the Saints, Bill Bailey, Do you Know What it Means, South, and many more. The musicians are: Lisa Owen, tuba/leader; Jimmy C., drums/vocals; Steve Sargenti, harmonica/vocals, banjo; Phil Smith, saxophone/vocals; Jerry Eisenberg, clarinet; Mickey Felipe, banjo.

Left to Right: Mickey Felipe, Jerry Eisenberg, Jimmy C, Lisa Owen

Photo courtesy: Bruce Wheeler

We hope to see you there.

Lisa Owen

A Morning Kayak and Stand up Paddle off Waiohuli Beach, Kihei, Maui

The other morning my friend Julie and I went for an early morning paddle just off Waiohuli Beach in Central Kihei right across the road from where we live. We put the kayak on wheels and I pulled it while Julie carried her stand up paddle board to our launching place on the beach.

Julie putting the kayak on wheels

Ready to launch our vessels

It is quite shallow there for a long way out, so we had to keep a look out for coral heads as we tackled the relentless succession of waves to where the the ocean was flat and serene. Of course I couldn't take a photo of that part because I was too busy paddling for my life!

All around us were large turtles swimming and popping up for air sometimes right beside us.  I tried to get a photo of them, but wasn't quick enough.  Oh and the whales breaching and doing their thing in the distance. What a treat!!

As sat quietly and looked towards the pristine South Maui shoreline, I felt so grateful that this beautiful island is my second home!
I have to admit that I was a little nervous about the paddle back into shore, as this was only my second time in a kayak.  Julie instructed me to always go with the waves and to check behind me so I knew when they were coming. I was proud of myself that I made it to shore without tipping, but was I ever out of breath.  It was a good workout for sure!!!
I will look forward to my next kayaking adventure and welcome your comments about experiences kayaking or stand up paddle boarding.

Blue Aina Reef Clean Up with Trilogy II on Maui Hawaii

Last Sunday I was back on Trilogy II with my friends Julie and Lucy.  We were there to volunteer for the Blue'aina Reef Cleanup Campaign, Blue Aina meaning giving back to the ocean.
Trilogy Excursions teams up with the Surfrider Foundation and they are committed to cleaning up 12 reefs in 12 months. The wonderful thing about this event is that is that all the crew volunteer their time, on the first Sunday of every month. The cost is $20 for the morning and all proceeds go to non-profit organizations.

Julie having breakfast

On this particular Sunday, the non-profit group was the Human Dolphin Foundation, and Barbara was on board to tell us all about it.  The Human Dolphin Foundation was created in 1976 by Dr. John Lilly, a neuro physiologist studying the brain. He discovered that dolphins have large and highly complex brains and began studies of human/dolphin communication.  Barbara passed around pictures comparing the dolphin and human brains. The most fascinating thing was that under a project called Janus, Dr. Lilly and his team identified a 40 whistle/word vocabulary, that dolphins communicate with. You can read more about this fascinating research on the Human Dolphin Foundation website. Barbara also told us that we, as citizen scientists can help in dolphin research by reporting any sightings we have of dolphin pods. There is a link on their website called dolphin data base, which allows anyone to record sightings or encounters with wild dolphins.

Talk by Barbara from the Human Dolphin Foundation

Also on board were Jeep and Flo from the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale Natural Marine Sanctuary.  Jeep told us about the many volunteer programs that strive to educate both children and adults about our humpback whales and how we can protect our ocean resources. One of the things they do is take water samples to check for water quality in the ocean. I volunteered to take a water bottle with me on the snorkel and collect a sample.  Later back on board, Flo showed me how they do the test for water quality. It is called a Turbidity test which translated, means to find out what is floating in the water.

Flo and I with our sample bottles

Flo doing the turbidity test

 

Jeep with the fish count survey 

Jeep is holding a fish count survey sheet, which she will take with her when she snorkels.  The data she records about the type and numbers of fish,  is then transferred to an online reef survey form at Reef.org














Marine biologist Cynthia Matzke, a Trilogy crew member and strong supporter of the campaign, thanked us all for coming and reiterated the day's theme of how we as citizen scientists can do so much to help save our oceans.

On the way out to sea, Captain Chris asked us to look out for a whale which had been entangled with fishing line.  I had seen the photo in the Maui news and unfortunately attempts to free the whale had failed.
We saw lots of whales breaching and swimming, but did not find the one in trouble.
Finally the ship stopped in a little cove where we were to do the reef clean up. There were quite a few people fishing from the shore, and we just hoped that they were responsible citizens, especially after we were about to see for ourselves how careless humans are harming our oceans.

Some of the debris taken off the reef

We were appalled at the amount of fishing gear that was tangled around the coral. Julie was the one in our group who dove down to cut it off, while Lucy and I were in charge of spotting debris and holding the bag.

Julie cutting fishing wire from the reef

After an hour Captain Chris blew the conch to bring us back to the ship.  Lunch tasted so good after all that swimming and hard work.
The lunch was provided at no cost by Beach Bums Bar and Grill in Maalaea.  It was a delicious pulled pork on a bun, served with salad and a huge platter of fruit. Needless to say, when we came back into the harbor we shouted out a huge Mahalo in the direction of Beach Bums.

At the end of the trip Cynthia announced that our group of 50 plus had raised a whopping $1,331 cash which she presented to Barbara for the Human Dolphin Foundation.
I found the experience extremely educational, and I definitely will turn out again to help. It was heart warming to meet so many people who are concerned about saving our oceans and the animals that live there.
February is Humpback Whale Month and a great time to get involved and learn more about these magnificent mammals. If you are interested in taking in some of the talks and activities for both adults and kids go to the events calendar for dates and times.
If you want to be part of the Blue Aina Campaign you can reserve online at the Trilogy Website.  Trilogy II leaves Maalaea Harbor at 8:30 AM on the first Sunday of every month and comes back in around noon.

 

Hiking the Crater in Haleakala National Park, Maui, Hawaii

The following blog was written by Kay, a friend of ours who just spent 3 weeks on Maui. 

There are two trails entering the wilderness area of Haleakala National Park from the summit area. My brother, Andy, and I chose the lower trail, Halemaumau, which begins at 7990 feet. We set out just before 9:00 AM on Sunday January 22. It was 60 degrees. The cool air felt refreshing and perfect for hiking.

With over 30 miles of hiking trails we felt we picked the most picturesque trail. The vistas were spectacular. Here we could see the Pacific Ocean on one side and the crater on the other. The Halemaumau Trail winds down 1000 feet into the crater.

The barren landscape in the crater illustrates the diversity of Haleakala.. Few plant species establish seedlings in this harsh environment. We did admire the silversword (ahinahina), one of the hardy shrubs growing here.

Andy and I hiked past Holua where there is a cabin with bunks and a wood burning stove. There is also a primitive campsite. We spoke to some backpackers who stayed there the previous night. The stars were incredible, they told us. We continued on past the silversword loop for approximately another mile before turning around.

We saw a family of Nene (Hawaiian goose) near the cabin at Holua. They are a native species here. Inspite of the sign we had to wonder why these wild birds were hanging out around the cabin.

The family of Nene included a baby, hidden here in the grasses.

Just after this signpost we began our hike back up to the trailhead. We gained a little over 1000 feet to the parking lot at the trailhead. Near the end I was feeling the altitude change. I was glad that we decided to return the way we came rather than exiting via the Sliding Sands Trail. Andy had hiked there on a previous visit. Apparently it is tough slogging through the sand, not to mention another elevation gain to 9740 feet!

We hiked over 10 miles taking about 5 hours to do so.

Haleakala is one of the best of many hikes I have experienced throughout the world.

Many mahalos to Kay for a great post.  You may also like to read Day Trip to Haleakala

Trilogy II - Discover Molokini Snorkeling Tour

Kay and I waiting to board Trilogy II

Kay and I were up bright and early to catch the Trilogy II Discover Molokini Snorkeling Tour which was leaving Maalaea Harbor at 8:00 AM. Clear blue skies and calm waters were a welcoming sight as we pulled into the harbor at Buzz's Wharf and parked as close as we could to slip 62.
While we waited to board we met Eve, a woman from Tracy, California, who told us that it was not only her first trip to Maui, but that it also would be her first time snorkeling.
Captain Chris checked us in and we knew right away by his friendly and fun repartee, that this was to be an adventure to remember. Crew members Cynthia, Frank, Rebecca and second Captain Brett greeted us warmly as we boarded Trilogy II, a 55' sloop rigged Sailing Catamaran, custom built in 2010, especially for Molokini Tours.

A warm welcome from Marine Biologist Cynthia Matzke

After the captain had given us a short safety briefing, interrupted by friendly bantering between him and Brett, we left the harbor and our Molokini Snorkel Tour had begun.
The seating on the catamaran, was very thoughtfully designed so that everyone could face the water and experience the day's events in comfort. No sooner had Kay, Eve and I settled on a bench, when Brett offered us yummy warm home made cinnamon buns, followed closely behind by Rebecca, who offered us a wonderful assortment of tropical fruit. We were intermittently distracted from eating by many excited calls that whales had been sighted close by.

Captain Chris would stop the ship, the required 100 yards away, and we were treated with displays of breaching, fin slapping and awesome flukes disappearing below the surface of the water. Dec to April is the season for whale watching in Maui, because the humpbacks have made the 1500 mile journey down from Alaska to mate and have their babies.

Captain Chris at the helm

As we were to discover, Marine biologist Cynthia Matzke was unbelievably knowledgeable about every aspect of marine life native to the Hawaiian islands, and began by telling us fascinating information about the humpback whales. For example did you know that the design on the underside of a whale's flute is unique to each individual, kind of like our finger prints? This feature allows marine biologists to track them on their long journey back and forth to Alaska as well as helping them do an accurate count of the whale population, among other things. An astounding 8000 to 10,000 whales visit waters surrounding the Hawaiian islands each year. Another interesting fact we learned about the humpbacks is that they literally starve for the 5 or so months they are in Maui waters because there is no food for them here. Miraculously, the krill and small fish from their Alaska feeding grounds, converts into enough blubber, which allows them to survive the return trip, as well as mating and giving birth in the warm tropical waters of Hawaii.

A whale breaching

On one occasion the captain stopped the ship for another reason, which was to pick up garbage that was floating on the surface of the ocean. We found out that Trilogy is dedicated to cleaning up Maui's reefs and oceans and play a leading role in the Blue'aina Reef Clean up Campaign.

On board was a microphone system that was playing back the whales' songs from the ocean around us. Cynthia told us researchers have discovered that each song goes on for about 20 minutes, and the male singer is always close by to a mother and calf. The amazing thing is that whales do not have vocal chords so it is still a mystery as to just how they produce their plaintiff melodies.
On the way out to Molokini, Frank invited anyone who wanted to try "snuba" to go to the aft of the ship for a lesson. The crew made sure that everyone had snorkels, masks, fins and wet suits and before long we were approaching Molokini, our first snorkel site.

Rebecca handing out wet suits



Approaching Molokini

After Captain Chris had stopped the ship and lines had been secured, he gave a snorkel lesson to people who either had never snorkeled before, or needed a refresher course. I was impressed that snorkel equipment and wet suit jackets were supplied to everyone on board, and the staff were right there helping you if needed. By this time everyone felt special because the crew already knew each of us by name. I loved it that only 34 to 40 people could go on this tour because it was so much more personal than other larger vessels I have been on in the past.  Captain Chris told me that he has been with Trilogy since he was 16 years old, some 34 years ago, and that the first of the fleet, named Trilogy was built by two brothers from Alaska and christened in 1971. Are we ever glad that they settled in Maui. You can read more about this interesting history on the Trilogy website .  They now boast the largest fleet of catamarans in the Hawaiian Islands.

Captain Chris demonstrates how to put on your mask

Kay and Eve set to snorkel

The snorkeling at Molokini was excellent. To quote Eve: "I loved the contained crystal clear waters, pretty coral and the abundant variety of fish. I also appreciated the extra attention the staff gave me both in the water and out, as a first time snorkeler." As we swam over the reef we saw people doing snuba, and both agreed that next time we would give it a try. Snuba is a shallow water diving system which doesn't require certification, as does scuba. In snuba you breathe through a simple to use regulator while your air supply floats on a raft at the surface of the water.

Snuba

Cynthia gives us a talk about the marine life we were seeing

 Kay and I both felt a little chilly after the snorkel, and no sooner had we sat down when Rebecca came by and offered us hot chocolate, the perfect remedy for our shivers.
We were soon underway again to the second snorkeling site which was at Turtle Town just off from Makena Beach on Maui's south side.

Turtle Town - Our second snorkeling site

Here Kay and I snorkeled with a large turtle until it was time to go back to the ship. Honu, the hawaiian name for turtle means luck and we both were feeling very fortunate that we had chosen Trilogy II for our snorkeling adventure.
While we were swimming with the turtles, Captain Chris had been busy preparing BBQ'd teriyaki chicken for our lunch. It was served with rice, salad and a bun, along with a varity of choices of soft drinks, and juice, followed by delicious icecream and topping.

Captain Chris preparing lunch

Service with a smile from Captain Brett

On the way back to Maalaea harbor, the captain stopped the boat so that they could hoist the sails.

Hoisting the sails

Winds were perfect for the peaceful sail home and we were treated to the sight of some large sea turtles off the bow of the ship. What a lucky day this had been! Captain Chris even let me have a go at steering.

Me at the wheel

We also saw more whales and babies breaching off the Maui coast as we approached the harbor.

Back in Maalaea Harbor

It was a perfect Maui experience and we recommend the Trilogy II, Discover Molokini Tour for the following reasons.

1.  The staff was fun, friendly and extremely knowledgeable.
2.  Because numbers are limited we received personal attention both in the water and out.
3.  A delicious breakfast and lunch was served to us by the staff.
4.  The catamaran was comfortable and the seating gave everyone a great view of the ocean.
5.  The snorkeling was amazing, and the two sites offered a variety of marine life.
6.  A portion of your ticket goes to non profit programs such as the Blue Aina Reef Cleanup Program.
7.   It was a whale watch, sailing and snorkeling trip rolled into one.

Many Mahalos to the captain and crew of Trilogy II for giving us an unforttable Maui memory!!!!! Visit the website of Trilogy for more information on Maui Snorkeling Tours
We found out that Trilogy has a fleet of 8 catamarans offering many different tours that leave from both Maalaea Harbor, and the beach at Kaanapali.

New Years Eve with Joyce and Gord at Mulligans on the Blue - Wailea, Maui

New Years Eve at Mulligans on the Blue in Wailea was a treat for us because our favourite musicians Joyce and Gord provided the background music for the evening.
We decided to have the early bird special and watch the sunset. We weren't disappointed.  In fact the last sunset of 2011 was a brilliant ending to the year with promise of better things to come in 2012.

Shortly after being seated we were presented with leis, party hats and noise makers so we had all the props for a steller New Year's celebration.

We have been fans of Gord and Joyce now for 4 years, since we met them at the former Gian Don's restaurant. They both have so much talent it is hard to believe.  While Joyce masterfully accompanies her lovely voice on keyboard, Gord interchangeably plays a smooth sax, mean clarinet and mellow double bass. Read more about them here.

Their repertoire is huge as they take us on a jazz feel musical journey through the decades. No wonder so many local dancers have also become great followers of this husband and wife duo.
The menu for the evening was a three course meal with choices.  I chose seafood chowder as a starter followed by wonderful ribs that melted in your mouth.  For dessert I enjoyed a satisfying chocolate mousse to strains of "New York New York". Who could ask for more?
Even families got into the act and danced with their little kids. Our group of six were all sad when Joyce and Gord played Auld Lang Syne to wrap up the evening. We could have listened to them all night!
A good thing is that we know they will be at Mulligans on the Blue in Wailea every Monday evening from 6:30 to 8:30 at least until the end of April when they head back to their home in Canada.  We'll be there!!!

Live Music at The Wailea Shops - Maui

Christmas magic was in the air on Thursday evening at the Shops in Wailea on Maui.

A beautiful tree, palm trees circled with lights, and to top it off, a live band playing Christmas tunes.
The pace was mellow and relaxing as shoppers wandered by, some eating icecream out of paper cups, children with eyes aglow in anticipation of Santa Claus and those, like us, who just felt like relaxing and listening to the music.

 The four piece band consisted of a tuba, a trombone and two trumpets.

Afterwards we talked to the people behind the instruments. Tuba player Lisa Owen is the director of the Maui Brass Ensemble and we found out that she leads serveral other groups on Maui. Originally from Sweden she has been playing music on the island for 20 years. Sonny Gamponia was on trombone and trumpet players Julius Galanto and Martin Berinbaum completed the quartet. It turns out that Martin Berinbaum is from Canada and visits Maui every year to play music. We had also seen him playing at the Sing-It-Yourself Messiah a few weeks ago so he really gets into the Maui music scene.

In 2003 Lisa started the Maui Community Band. This band has grown from a small gathering to 50 members ranging in age from 12 to 74 years. Lisa is also a member of the Maui Pops Orchestra so she keeps pretty busy.
If you enjoy a brass ensemble playing Christmas music you aren't too late.
 Today, Christmas Eve, the Maui Brass Ensemble will be playing at the Westin in Kaanapali from 4:30 to 5:30 and they will also be playing at the midnight service at the Good Shepherd Church in Wailuku from 10:30 to 12:30.