Native Intelligence – Maui’s best shopping for Hawai’ian cultural gifts.
Shopping for and bringing home gifts and souvenirs for friends and family members is often one of the best parts of a vacation. Your vacation to Maui is no exception!
But when you’ve seen all the run of the mill t-shirts, hats, and plastic tchotchkes (made in China) the idea of bringing home gifts not made in the Hawai’ian islands can lose it’s appeal.
That’s when a visit to Native Intelligence will inspire you! Native Intelligence is filled to the brim with authentic Hawai’ian culture, local artisan crafted goods and authentic Hawai’ian souvenirs you will be proud to own. Located in the quaint town of Wailuku, this one of a kind shop offers clothing, stationary, jewelry
From the owner’s website:
“About Native Intelligence (NI)
Based in Wailuku, Maui – Native Intelligence is more than a traditional retail establishment. The goal of Native Intelligence is to champion cultural traditions, craftsmanship and good designs while perpetuating Hawaiian values. By showcasing local artisans and creatives who strive to protect and evolve the culture, Native Intelligence is an advocate for both culture and community.
Our mission is to create a retail environment allowing customers to experience a wide selection of merchandise that is Hawaiian by definition. Neither a museum nor gallery, Native Intelligence strives to be a constantly evolving retail space that has something for everyone.
Through the various practitioners who try to perfect ancient skills; to new businesses that reflect a contemporary sensibility, Native Intelligence will present the spectrum of what is good in Hawaiian design. Working with community leaders and neighborhood schools, we hope to extend the educational programs and resources beyond our doors. As our name infers, Native Intelligence encourages the efforts of those who exemplify the best and brightest in Hawaii and Polynesia.”
NI is more than just a store filled with unique and locally made gifts, it’s a treasure and source of culturally inspired supplies used by the local community. Items such as Hula supplies, Kapa and fresh flower leis like no others!
Examples of Leis sold by Native Intelligence!
From L to R Kukunaokalā, Sea grape, Heʻe, and Kukui, Blue Jade Vine (center) and Kukunaokalā, Heʻe berry, Sea Grape, and Waimaka Gula (photos via NI Facebook)
Engage, enjoy and discover with the first ever NI ʻIke film featuring Kumu Kaponoʻai Molitau, as he discusses the sacredness of hula pahu and the profound meaning behind the mele ʻAuʻa ʻIa.
Artful Living!
Be sure to check out their Ni’ihau shell necklaces. These are genuinely one of a kind pieces of art. If you’re not familiar with Ni’ihau shell jewelry then you are in for a treat. According to Ni’ihau Cultural Heritage Foundation’s website; “Legally, this term refers only to shells actually gathered on the shores of the Forbidden Island. However, the term generally refers to three different shells that are commonly used to make Ni‘ihau shell lei: kahelelani, momi, and lāiki, as well as a fourth one, kāmoa, which is frequently used to add contrasting color.” (p.s. you might have also recently seen actor and native Hawai’ian Jason Momoa wearing a Ni’ihau shell necklace during the week of his Aquaman premier – on the Jimmy Fallon show!)
I think my favorite purchase was this NI Designs Island Chain T-Shirt with the design in the form of a molecular structure. “Based off of a molecular structure, the design of “Island Chain” is united and bonded. Each island is unique, but Hawaiʻi is only Hawaiʻi when all the islands are connected. “All Hawaiʻi stand together.” -Mele by Liko Martin”
My other unique purchases include a gorgeous Koa wood hair stick and Breadfruit (or Ulu) block print note cards by Kanaka Prints. But there were so many wonderful items, it was hard to choose.
Visit The Store
Plan your visit to Native Intelligence while visiting Maui, but if you cannot, then be sure to visit their website. There you’ll find an assortment of items for sale as well as more information about their wonderful business. Wailuku is a sweet town in Maui that is worth strolling around. You’ll love getting out of the ‘busy’ towns of Kihei and Lahaina to enjoy the quieter life in Wailuku!
If you love regular doses of eye candy, then make sure and follow Native Intelligence on Instagram and Facebook!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BqvaOLmgk3V/
Address: 1980 Main St #2 Wailuku, HI 96793
Phone: (808) 249-2421
Store Hours: Monday-Friday: 10:00-5:00, Saturday: 10:00-4:00, Sunday: Closed
Subscribe to our Maui Travel Guide to receive the latest travel tips, special events and to find out what's happening in our Island Paradise! * Your privacy is paramount to us. We will never share or sell your information! *
One of ways to get out and live like a local is to discover South Maui by bicycle. You’ll be having a great adventure and getting to visit spots that you might not necessarily see if you’re in your car.
Bike rentals are available all over South Maui from north Kihei to south Kihei and the types of bikes range from beach cruiser style to electric bikes to road bikes.
For the casual rider, a beach cruiser would be the way to go. For as little as $20 a day, you can pedal your way around Kihei and really live like a local.
Photo by Auntie Snorkel
If you’re an experienced cyclist you may want to look into renting a full performance road bike and take your adventure upcountry or to the west side.
Map of South Maui Bike Rental Shops
Resources
South Maui Bicycleshttp://www.southmauibicycles.com Monday – Saturday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm, CLOSED SUNDAYS. 1993 South Kihei Road #5, Kihei, Hi 96753 Phone: 808.874.0068
Hawaiian Cruisershttp://www.hawaiiancruisers.com Monday – Saturday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. CLOSED SUNDAYS. 1280 South Kihei Road, Kihei HI 96753. Phone: 808.446.1111
Bike Ohana HawaiiLink Monday – Saturday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. CLOSED SUNDAYS. 1777 Piilani Hwy, Kihei, HI 96753 Phone: 808.463.8369
Boss Frogs Adventure Rentalshttps://bossfrog.com/ Monday – Sunday 8:00 am – 6:00 pm 2463 S Kihei Rd., Ste A-15, Kihei, HI 96753< Phone: 808.874.5577
Auntie Snorkelhttp://www.auntiesnorkel.com/ Monday – Sunday 7:45 am – 6:00 pm 2439 S Kihei Rd., Ste 101-A, Kihei, HI 96753 Phone: 808.298.3021
Maui Electric Bike Rentalhttp://www.mauielectricbikerental.com/ Hours Vary Located in Haiku, but they deliver to Kihei. Hana Hwy, Haiku, HI 96708 Phone: 808.250.8447
Pay close attention to your environment and heed local laws and etiquette. According to West Maui Cycles the following are best practices while riding in Maui.
When riding on Maui it is always wise to assume that you don’t always have the right of way on the roads. This doesn’t mean it is not safe, just ride with more awareness of your space. When out on some of the roads with little to no shoulder it is good practice to:
• Always move over as far as safely possible • Ride single file unless the shoulder provides enough safe space • Use hand signals especially when riding with someone behind you (sometimes it is hard to hear with the wind in your ears) • Most importantly wave on cars that hesitate to pass, this will help alleviate traffic on narrow winding roads • Always wave or “shaka” kindness goes a long way
Throw a ‘Shaka’ to share Aloha!
Other helpful tips from West Maui Cycles include;
• Expect to be hot (being in the equatorial zone it tends to feel warmer than it is) • Expect to have some wind from every direction (you’re on an island and your direction changes) • Expect to have some climbs (you’re on the side of a volcano) • Expect to go home with a tan or a sunburn if you didn’t protect yourself • Expect to see a rainbow • Expect to take a lot of good pictures (both mentally and digitally) • Expect see amazing sunsets/sunrises • Expect to end your ride with a big smile on your face
Make sure to take plenty of water in a reusable water bottle. Make sure to stop along the way and try out local food trucks, shave ice spots or ice cream.
Respect local property owners and heed all ‘No Tresspassing’ signs.
Download a copy of the Maui County Bicycle Map from MauiBike.org
Michele Shapiro, a travel writer for the San Francisco Chronicle shares 3 epic rides to try in Maui, one of which is heading south from Kihei to La Perouse bay. According to Shapiro;
“Ride 1: South Maui Bicycles (Kihei) to La Perouse Lava Fields (Wailea-Makena)< How far: 21 miles round-trip, about 1.5 hours. What bike: A hybrid (or electric) Route: Want to know what it’s like to cycle on Mars? After passing numerous resorts along Wailea’s coast, follow the bike lane south to enter a dramatically different world of dark, jagged rock — the lava deposits from the East Mountain Volcano (a.k.a. Haleakala) — that has remained unchanged for hundreds of years. The bike lane ends past Makena Resort, making the final stretch of the ride a little bumpy. But it’s worth the saddle sores to catch a glimpse of a dolphin pod around La Perouse Bay.
Bike Safety
According to MauiBike.org; “…bicyclists are required to ride on the right side of the road in single file. A bicyclist is allowed to ride in the center of the travel lane when the lane is too narrow for both car and bicycle to travel safely side by side. This rules applies even when the bicycle is moving slower than traffic.”
and
Hawaii’s bicyclists are considered drivers of vehicles. Bicyclists have most of the same rights and responsibilities as motorists.
According to HRS 291C-145(a)(2): Bicyclists should not be expected to move off the road whenever a car is behind them. It is legal for the bicyclist to remain in the lane, even if they are slowing down or impeding traffic. Maui Bicycling League encourages bicyclists to think courteously of other road users, including pulling over occasionally when traffic is backed up behind them (when it is safe and convenient to do so, at the discretion of the bicyclist).
Motorists should pass bicycles with the same precautions used when passing other slower motorists. They should pass only in zones where there are no double yellow lines, and should wait until they can see that the oncoming lane is clear of approaching cars. The motorist should signal, then move cautiously into the oncoming lane (left of center) to pass the bicyclist. Motorists should give bicycles at least 3 feet of space between their vehicle and the bicycle. Let’s keep everyone safe!
Auntie Snorkel is just a 5 minute walk from our condo!
Maui cycling helmet law.
In Maui County, all juveniles under the age of 16 years old MUST wear helmets while riding a bicycle. Helmets are recommended for adults at all times but are not mandatory. Bicycle lights and bike reflectors are required by law for all riders at night including 30 minutes before and after sunset or sunrise.
Remember to share the road, spread ALOHA and be safe!
Looking for more Maui vacation ideas? Lots of things to see and do,
Subscribe to our Maui Travel Guide to receive the latest travel tips, special events and to find out what's happening in our Island Paradise! * Your privacy is paramount to us. We will never share or sell your information! *
We’ve got you covered for special events and what’s happening on Maui for the
Month of August.
Thursday August 2, 2018
•Free Tahitian Dance Show – Lahaina. This ongoing event happens every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday from 6-7pm. More info here.
Friday – August 3, 2018
• Wailuku First Friday. We’ve blogged more about this town party here. You’ll find live street entertainment, amazing food truck food, souvinirs, local hand-made goods and more. Each Friday Town Party is hosted in a different city. Click the link above to find more info.
• Maui’s Finest Craft Fair – Free Craft Fair at the Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort. This free even showcases crafts, artists and more. This is an Ongoing Event occurring on Tuesday & Friday of every week.
• Lahaina Art Night – Friday Night is Art Night in Lahaina Town. Stroll through dozens of art galleries in LahainaTown each Friday from 7 to 10 pm for special gallery shows, featured artists-in-action, and refreshments, all free and open to the public! Lahaina has earned its nick-name of “The Art Capital of the Pacific,” due to more art galleries per capita than any other American town. A walking map of participating galleries is available in Lahaina Visitor Center (open daily from 9 am to 5 pm) This is an Ongoing Event occurring on Friday of every week.
• Candlelit Tours at the Baldwin Home – Step back in time and visit the Baldwin Home Museum with a tour by candle light. Tours are held every Friday from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The Baldwin Home Museum is located on the corner of Front and Dickenson Street in the heart of historic Lahaina. $8 – Adults 13yrs +, $6 – Kama’aina, Senior Citizens (65+), Military, Children 12 years and under are FREE. Please note that admission also allows entry to the Wo Hing Museum on Front Street.
The tours are led by experienced docents with refreshments following on the front lanai. For more information here or call 808.661.3262.
Saturday – August 4, 2018
• Seed To Cup Coffee Festival At Maui Tropical Plantation. – The Maui Coffee Association will present their 11th Annual Seed to Cup Coffee Festival, Saturday, August 4, 2018 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Maui Tropical Plantation in Waikapu. This event is FREE and open to the public!
Coffee Brewing and Roasting will be demonstrated throughout the day and the talented Chef’s at Mill House Restaurant will be serving up coffee inspired food for sale from 11:30 am – 2:00pm. Kohola Brewery will also be selling their Mean Bean Brew – Beer made with 100% Maui Coffee!
There will be displays and demonstrations of coffee processing equipment and many award-winning coffee farmers selling their coffees.
You don’t want to miss the Barista Throw-down competition, sponsored this year by Maui Coffee Roasters. The Throw-down takes place from 1:30 – 3:00 pm at Chef’s Table. Local baristas from across the state challenge one another in a head to head, free-pour latte art competition. Lots of prizes and action!
The newest lineup of activities includes “Taste the Roast.” This interactive event was created to shed light on the many talented coffee roasters of Maui. Attendees will gather to taste several roast profiles and vote for their favorite coffee. All of the roasters will use the same coffee origin, just various roast profiles.
The finale is the popular Coffee Fashion Show, showcasing hand made coffee themed costumes.
• Maui Swap Meet –Head to Kahului for the weekly Maui Swap Meet. 7 a.m. – 1 p.m. Get there early! This fantastic shopping market has everything under the Maui sun. Event is ongoing, this and every Saturday. More info here.
• Leilani Farm Sanctuary Tours – (this and all Saturdays) Explore the farm and visit rescued animals. Kiss a Donkey, cuddle a chicken or feed the bunnies. Donation is $10. Starts at 10am More info here. Additional tours Mondays & Wednesdays at 4pm.
Sunday August 5, 2018
• Lahaina Craft Fair. Sundays. This weekly free event showcases artists, jewelry makers and local crafts people. Located at the Lahaina Gateway Center. More info here.
Friday August 10, 2018
• Albatross – A One-Man Play – McCoy Studio Theater/Maui Arts & Cultural Center; times vary. Friday August 10-12, 2018
Written and performed as a rollicking sea yarn, Albatross is a fast-paced stage show that explores themes of regret, isolation, and the interconnected relationship between humans and the natural world. Taking inspiration from Coleridge’s “Mariner,” an 18th century sailor who is cursed with immortality and thrust into the modern world, the play delivers a profound message about the effect of our thoughtless actions on all living things. Tickets: $25 (plus applicable fees)
• Lahaina Second Friday. Head to the Lahaina Town Party – more info here. You’ll find live street entertainment, amazing food truck food, souvinirs, local hand-made goods and more. Each Friday Town Party is hosted in a different city. Click the link above to find more info.
• Keiki Hula Performance – Everyone loves a keiki (child) hula halau performance! And The Outlets of Maui is pleased to present our keiki hula show every 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month. The children of the Na Pua O Kapi`olani perform traditional hula. Accompanied by a live band and led by Kumu Hula Kathy Ralar, the keiki performers share their Hula as they dance their way into our hearts with the memorable stories and songs of Hawaii. More info here.
Image via Maui News
Sunday – August 12, 2018
• Storm Drain Stenciling in Ma’alaea 9:00 am to 12:00 pm – Another opportunity for Eco-Tourism. Maui Ocean Center is gathering a volunteer team to spray paint informational stencils on storm drains surrounding the aquarium. The simple message lets people know that anything put down the drains goes straight into the ocean, while also highlighting the dangers of runoff on coral reefs. Teams of three or four will paint the stencils along the roads and around the harbor.
All are welcome! Snacks, water refills, and supplies will be provided, so bring your reusable water bottle. Children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult. We will meet in the Maui Ocean Center parking lot nearest Hauoli Street. FREE event. More info here.
Friday – August 17, 2018
• Makawao Third Friday – See listing above for Friday Town Parties
Saturday – August 18, 2018
• 3rd Annual Kite Festival – KAHULUI, Hawaii – The public is invited to the third annual Kite Festival hosted by the Japanese Cultural Society of Maui on Saturday, Starting at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Keopuolani Park Field #8, located right below the Maui Arts and Cultural Center.
This event is Free. Kite kits to decorate with colored markers will be available for a $5 donation to JCSM. Prizes will be given to the best decorated kites and best kite fliers at 12 noon. Water will be provided. Attendees may also bring their own materials, chairs and snacks.
Anyone may bring their own kites – big or small, traditional or modern, and see them in action at the festival.
The mission of the Japanese Cultural Society of Maui is to perpetuate the Japanese culture in the community. Kite flying in Japan dates back in the 16th century as a custom to pray for good health and a bright future.
For questions about the event, call Deron at (808) 298-3352 or email jcsmhawaii@gmail.com.
• Maui Calls 2018 – Annual Gala Fundraiser – In Celebration of Hula MACC 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM.
Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s signature gala event begins with a fresh flower lei greeting and Hawaiian music serenade. Mix, mingle, and taste delectable pūpū created by chefs from stellar Maui restaurants and specialty food purveyors.
Enjoy premium wines served by vintners from boutique wineries around the world and dance the night away to live music. Silent and live auctions offer the chance to bid on hundreds of items, from fabulous Hawaii staycations to “uniquely Maui” items, such as special house parties and “uniquely MACC” items, like autographed music instruments & more!
Wrap up the evening with music & dancing under the glowing roof of the MACC’s Yokouchi Pavilion.
• Beach Clean Up – Malama Land & Sea: Join Maui Ocean Center, The Aquarium of Hawaii and MOC Marine Institute to help up clean trash and litter from one of Maui’s beaches. The day may also include a volunteer snorkeling cleanup targeting marine debris such as discarded fishing line and weights, conditions permitting.
Questions/RSVP: afonarow@mauioceancenter.com or 808.270.7059 For beach location info visit their website
Help them make this cleanup a zero-waste event! Bring your own reusable coffee mug and water bottle to enjoy free coffee and water refills. Hearty snacks will be provided. Please bring your own bucket for trash, along with a pair of reusable gloves. Wear sturdy shoes, sun-protective clothing, and a hat. Children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult.
More information on participating in a Maui beach clean up, read our blog post here.
Friday – August 24, 2018
• Into The Woods Musical presented by MAPA LIVE. at the MACC. August 24 – September 02, 2018A story filled to the brim with a feast of fabled characters … a little mystery, a lot of irreverent humor, and touch of seduction. A journey into the woods — and into our hearts.
Edgy, whimsical, and wickedly funny, Into the Woods is an enchanting musical adventure that goes beyond “happily ever after.” Parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children under 10.
Event info here.
• Kihei 4th Friday – We’ve blogged more about this town party here. You’ll find live street entertainment, amazing food truck food, souvinirs, local hand-made goods and more. Each Friday Town Party is hosted in a different city. Click the link above to find more info.
Sunday – August 26, 2018
• Henry Kapono & Friends at the MACC – A&B Amphitheater, 5:00 pm show; 4:00 pm gates open.
Henry Kapono and a star-studded line up of Hawai‘i’s most popular entertainers will come together with an evening of music, laughter, and stories as they share the hit songs and celebrate the soundtrack of Hawaii. The evening features and epic lineup of Hawai‘i’s top entertainers: Kalapana, Jerry Santos of Olomana, Keola Beamer, Na Leo Pilimehana, John Cruz, Brother Noland, Robi Kahakalau, Alx Kawakami, Blayne Asing, Josh Tatofi, Kalani Pe`a, Kimie Miner, Landon McNamara, Mike Love, Paula Fuga, and Starr Kalahiki.
• Traveling Plate Maui “In the Kitchen” – Guests will get to work side-by-side Maui’s favorite chefs as they help create a locally sourced dish. Guests will travel from chef station to chef station learning skills and having fun along the way. While the chefs put the final touch on their dishes guests will then enjoy a mixology demonstration. We will end the night savoring the fruit of their labor by sample each dish created alongside adult libations and a silent auction. For those who only want to join as “taste testers” we will offer a limited amount of “Taster” tickets that will include arrival at 5pm for the Mixology Demo and entry to the reception.
• Monthly Beach/Marine Debris clean up at Ka’ehu beach. Wailuku, 9 a.m. to noon.. Join the SHARKastics for a memorable day of learning, sharing and cleaning up the island we love so much.
SHARKastics has been spearheading cleanups at Ka’ehu on the 4th Sunday of every month since July, 2012. This bay and coastline are important for many species including nesting sea turtles! More and more debris is always washing ashore, so we need your help. It’s heaps of fun! FREE event.
Read about our adventures volunteering with SHARKastics here. For more info check out their webpage.
Looking for more Maui vacation ideas? Lots of things to see and do,
Subscribe to our Maui Travel Guide to receive the latest travel tips, special events and to find out what's happening in our Island Paradise! * Your privacy is paramount to us. We will never share or sell your information! *
Fresh baked deliciousness from Maui Bread Company, a fabulous bakery in Kihei
While walking down the South Kihei promenade you might find yourself following your nose to the delicious aroma of fresh baked bread and pastries. And if you were to follow your nose you’d find yourself across from Kamaole I beach in the Dolphin Plaza where you’d find Maui Bread Company, Kihei’s own bakery churning out delicious baked goods.
Image by James M. via yelp
Get ready to carb load because Kihei’s newest bakery is dishing up a scrumptious ‘homemade’ cornucopia of baked goods including breads with flavors like Passion-Orange-Guava (Pog), Pineapple, Banana and ‘Hawaiian’ (coconut, macadamia nut, pineapple carrot).
But the menu doesn’t stop there. Be on the look out for Peanut Butter & Bacon cookies, Piña Colada sweet buns, chocolate croissants, Ube mochi (purple yam), savory rolls and more.
Cookies the size of your head! – Doreen B. via Yelp
Maui Bread Co. arguably has the best selection of Gluten Free baked goods on Maui. And not just hockey puck style gluten free baked goods. Delicious, ‘come back for more’ type of GF goods! Gluten Free is a hard sell, but their items just can’t be beat.
Stop in and follow your nose to delectable baked good and give their coconut coffee a try too!
Visited three times in a week! This place was amazing. The breads were fantastic. My picky husband loved the cookies. We tried all kinds of things, and everything we ate was amazing. – TripAdvisor Review
Image by Hamby A via Yelp
Where: 2395 S Kihei Rd, Ste 117, Dolphin Plaza, Kihei, HI 96753
Subscribe to our Maui Travel Guide to receive the latest travel tips, special events and to find out what's happening in our Island Paradise! * Your privacy is paramount to us. We will never share or sell your information! *
Eco-tourism is alive and well on Maui. On my most recent trip I found myself wanting to give back to the island that gives me so much. How does an island ‘give’ me anything? Well, all you have to do is visit Maui and then you’ll know.
From the moment I step off the plane, my heart swells with the love I have for Maui. I hear the palm trees rustling in the island breeze, I see locals in flip flops, shorts and Hawaiian shirts (the only state in our country where you’ll find this kind of attire.) I hear Hawaiian music on the rental car radio. I ‘feel’ the Aloha Spirit embrace me from not just the land but the locals that call Maui their home. And then, my first step on the sandy beach puts me instantly into a state of ‘Island Time’, the kind of relaxation we all hope for when we visit Maui, I exhale and feel my sense of place on this magical bit of land in the center of the great Pacific Ocean.
It’s just hard to explain. Those who’ve had the privilege to visit or live there know exactly what I’m talking about, those who haven’t will know when they step off the plane.
How do you go about ‘giving’ back to theʻāina (earth or land, and pronounced eye-na) in a way that is meaningful? For me it was easy. Volunteer on vacation.
Photo by Cheryl King, Ocean Warrior!
Volunteer On Vacation
Maui has a multitude of volunteer opportunities for those that seek them out. It wasn’t difficult to pick my activity as I walked on ‘our‘ beach, Kamaole II, each day and saw bits and pieces of trash. Trash on ‘OUR‘ beach! Who does this? So I started picking up cigarette butts, band-aids (yuck), empty plastic beverage bottles, kids sand toys, a snorkel flipper missing it’s mate, bottle caps, micro plastics (bits of plastic that have broken down over years and years), sparkling wine cage, food wrappers and more. Well, just have a look for yourself. The photo below shows what I gathered in 5 minutes of walking on the beach.
Each day I found more and more. On days when we’d have a good ocean swell, more flotsam and jetsam would wash up and I could just walk the high tide line and find things like this.
I’m not oblivious to the ‘Great Pacific Garbage Patch‘ but it has always seemed so obscure to me. I have trouble fathoming a gyre of garbage – somewhere, out ‘there’. But seeing this trash on the beaches of Maui that I’ve been visiting for well over 20 years and seeing the increase in the volume of garbage polluting what was once so pristine really punctuated what I needed to do to give back.
Inspired and motivated to keep Maui as free of marine debris as I could, I began searching online for locally organized beach clean-ups. Sadly beach clean-ups happen often and by various environmental and volunteer groups. I say ‘sadly’ because I find it terribly sad that beach clean-up are part of our vernacular. These beach clean-ups happen for a variety of reasons. The majority of what I picked was deposited on the beach by careless visitors both local and non-local alike. But depending on what part of the island you are on, much of it washes ashore with the tides and currents.
I found one particular beach clean up happening on the last Sunday of each month and it luckily coincide with my visit. So at 8:15 a.m. I left Kihei and headed to the Ka’ehu Beach on the North Shore to meet with the group called SHARKastics to join in their monthly clean up effort.
I really had no idea what to expect. I brought a hat, backpack, my reef-safe sunscreen, sturdy shoes and sunglasses. But darn! Halfway there I realized that I forgot my water. No worries, I just stopped and bought two bottles of water at a gas station on the way. Little did I know what a faux pas I was committing. Bringing single use plastic bottles to a beach clean up where we’d be cleaning up –you guessed it-single-use plastics of all kinds. Oh the irony of it all and yes, I felt like a dork doing that but embraced it as a learning moment and as a personal reminder why I needed to ALWAYS bring my own reusable water bottle. Of course there was no judgement passed by our group (they were filled with the Aloha spirit!) and there was a water station available to refill reusable water bottles when needed!
As I arrived at Ka’ehu beach, I was a little unsure that I was in the right place – this isn’t a beach that looks to be popular with visitors, but I was met at the county gate and let in by a cheerful Sharkastic crew member. I drove over to the beach and met up with over two dozen other volunteers, half a dozen Sharkastics crew plus one amazing Honu (sea turtle) sniffing pup! But more about Tauzer the Honu Houndin just a bit.
Ka’ehu Beach image by Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii, via Facebook
Volunteers are given gloves, 5-gallon buckets and an introduction to the day’s tasks. Ka’ehu beach is long stretch of black lava rock and black sand beach located to the north-west of Kahului Airport and to the east of Waihee/Waiehu area. According to www.wildhawaii.org “Waiehu’s Ka’ehu Beach on the northwest coastline of Maui is one of the few nesting beaches for green turtles. It also happens to be one of the major marine debris collections zones of Maui.”
According to our fearless leader for the day, Cheryl King, the ocean swells and currents make Ka’ehu beach a plastic magnet and the local dumping zone for the flotsam and jetsam of the ocean. Marine debris is deposited daily in vast amounts.
Due to consistent trade winds and currents plus the close proximity of a bustling human population, Ka’ehu collects local land-based plus foreign marine debris. – C. King via Facebook
Cheryl King, a woman of many talents and one that wears many hats including Marine Biologist, spearheads the Sharkastics.org group of like minded volunteers. Their mission, to clean up Maui beaches, provide safe turtle nesting habitat and to educate the public on the threat that Marine Debris has on our oceans, beaches, marine wildlife and human health. But what the heck is a Sharkastic anyway?
Glad you asked! Sharkastics are animal-bitten plastic, a phenomenon and are commonly found during their marine debris cleanups in Hawai’i. Many animals make these marks, not just sharks.
The very recognizable bite marks can be seen here in this flip flop. (image below via CRE8 Magazine, Issue No. 4, an article about Sharkastics, and can be found here.)
The Beach Clean Up
On to the beach clean up. We were instructed to start at the far, north end of the beach and work our way back so as to not have to carry debris to the end and back. And so we eagerly set off with our buckets. Within literally seconds, I found bits and pieces of plastic, garbage of all kinds. I looked around, bewildered. Where does it all come from? How did it find it’s way to beautiful Maui? It pained me to walk past it and toward the piles and piles that lay ahead so I stayed in the same general area and found more than I cared to see.
A few hundred yards down the beach I find Lauren and her husband Kyle (two amazing and local volunteers, Lauren also happens to be a marine biologist and ecologist) feverishly working with another Sharkastic crew member to dislodge an enormous ghost net that was well embedded into the sand bank. I put down my bucket that was nearly full and began to dig and tug and dig and tug. But this huge net was not giving up it’s grip. We worked for over an hour and a half to remove just a portion. Sadly, it was so deeply embedded into the sand and rocks that we were only able to retrieve part of it. But I’m hopeful that the next batch of beach cleaners were able to retrieve the rest.
Ghost nets like these ensnare marine life such as sea turtles, sharks, whales and dolphins, seals and so much more. One might think that fishing boats would be more responsible and remove their own debris rather than leave these nets to float and entangle marine animals. But as Cheryl explained to us, it is not uncommon for fishermen to put location devices on ghost nets like these to track them at a later date. You see, small fish and marine life congregate under these floating nets for protection. The small fish attract big fish and so on down the line. The fishermen locate the floating net using GPS and then fish nearby to catch the larger fish. Sadly, the ‘bycatch’ gets innocently tangled in the mess.
‘Honu’ Sea Turtle caught in derelict fishing net
And
Hawaiian Monk Seal caught in marine debris. Photo by Michael Pitts
Moving Forward
All of this debris, trash and waste, where does it originate? Well, we can point fingers at our consumption of single use plastics, or we can blame third world countries for not having the infrastructure to process their waste, or we can look at events such as the Fukushima disaster and recall all of the debris washed out to sea by the tsunami.
And the truth is it’s all of the above and at least one other critical factor. Manufacturers and lobbyist protect the industries that produce much of the items that are soon to become waste. As Matt Wilkins points out in his article in Scientific American entitled ‘More Recycling Won’t Solve Plastic Pollution‘, “Because of a legal system that favors corporate generation of plastic, plus public acceptance of single-use items as part of the modern economy, consumers who want to reduce their plastic footprint are faced with a host of challenges.”
Those challenges include confusing recycling rules, lack of infrastructure to recycle waste appropriately and the shear volume of single use plastics that abound.
Maui has an especially large challenge, this small island lacks the proper recycling facilities needed to process all the waste. In January of 2018, China halted all shipments of recyclables being imported. Most of Maui’s and west coast states sent their waste to China for processing. (More here.)
Now, I can’t say I completely agree with the title and subtitle of Wilkins’ article because I believe we can, as consumers, both change our habits and vote with our dollars to stop the flow of single use plastics into and out of our homes. Corporations begin to notice when their bottom line is threatened.
One example of a corporation paying attention to consumer pressure, Starbucks just announced that they will be “removing plastic straws in our stores globally by 2020—reducing more than 1 billion plastic straws per year.”
In addition, Seattle has banned plastic drinking straws and plastic utensils by next year. Both California and Hawaii have banned plastic shopping bags which often end up in the ocean. And California has just announced that it is banning plastic straws in restaurants. All great steps forward.
Image via Greenpeace UK Twitter
And in April of 2018, the Minister of the Environment and Housing of The Bahamas, Romauld Ferreira has announced that in an effort to simultaneously address marine pollution and waste management, single-use plastics – such as shopping bags, food utensils, straws and Styrofoam food containers – will be banned by 2020. [They] will also move to make the release of balloons into the air illegal, as they end up in the oceans, releasing toxins and injuring marine life.
I felt incredibly inspired by the Sharkastics crew who were so optimistic despite the incredible volume of marine debris we gathered. Their outlook was positive and inspiring and they’re using this ‘opportunity’ for lack of a better word to educate and bring people together to tackle a global problem.
There are numerous groups that do beach and ocean clean-up throughout Hawaii.
It’s going to take more than banning straws to fix this one! -Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii
It isn’t just Maui that is being inundated with ocean trash and marine debris. Just recently, a clean-up was underway on the island of Molokai.
And on the Big Island, Kamilo Beach is a marine debris magnet. Regular beach clean-ups occur and are ongoing.
Kamilo Beach on the Big Island of Hawaii. Photo by Jen Miller via Facebook
At the end of our beach clean up our group was invited to a free screening of ‘Albatross, The Film’ at the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. This poetic documentary tells the story of the majestic Albatross on Midway Island. Midway island is at the far end of the Hawaiian Island archipelago. Seeing the devastation caused by marine debris is a tragic eye opener. There was not a dry eye in the house. And all of this information is not to shame or guilt us, it’s to bring awareness to a global issue that has had a profound impact on the island that we all love so dearly, Maui.
‘Albatross, The Film’ is now free to watch for all. I cannot recommend it enough!
Images like the one below, of the stomach contents of an albatross drive home the fact that trash and plastic doesn’t really ever get thrown ‘away’. There is no ‘away’, it ends up in landfill, in our waterways, and for a small percentage, recycled.
We removed, sorted and counted 8,274 pieces of marine debris. Here are the broad category results:⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ *Plastic: 7,048 (85.2%)⠀⠀ *Polystyrene foam: 429 (5.2%)⠀⠀ *Rubber: 180 (2.2%)⠀ *Fabric/clothing: 286 (3.5%) ⠀⠀ *Processed wood: 93 (1.1%)⠀ *Metal: 193 (2.3%)⠀ *Glass: 45 (0.5%)⠀
For this particular clean up, the items were trucked to Maui Ocean Center for their new marine debris exhibit. But most often, the crew sorts and recycles as much as can be, some gets stored until enough is gathered to ship to Parley For The Ocean, for ‘reinvention’ into items such as ADIDAS sneakers.
Amazingly, this beach that we cleaned had been cleaned the day before by another group of volunteers! Imagine that.
Take Action – Volunteer Opportunities
In reflection of this amazing adventure and educational day I had, I’ve made some positive changes here at home and when I’m on Maui visiting.
4Oceans has a great list of things we can all do to reduce our plastic waste. All of these ideas are easy enough to implement and the fact is we can no longer wait for ‘someone’ to clean up this pollution, we must end it before it even gets started!
If you’d like to take part in a Volunteer On Vacation trash clean up then join the SHARKastics group the 4th Sunday of each month at 9 a.m. at Ke’ahu Beach in Waihee.
What: Ka’ehu Beach Cleanups
When: 4th Sunday of Each Month
Details: Meet at the beach at the end of Kukona Place in Wailuku. All supplies provided
Where: Ka’ehu Beach
More information: visit the Sharkastics web page or find them on Facebook
If you’re unable to make their once a month clean up, you can participate in your own self-guided clean up by working with The Pacific Whale Foundation’sVolunteers On Vacation
Volunteers on Vacation is a free program offered by Pacific Whale Foundation to help you easily find meaningful service projects to benefit Maui’s environment. Visitors and residents can spend a few hours giving back to the local community while enjoying access to “off the beaten trail” places and learning about the history and natural ecosystem of the area. Plus, you’ll receive a free tote bag made of recycled materials when you volunteer for 3 hours or more.
Participate in Pacific Whale Foundation’s marine debris citizen science project when you select a beach of your choosing to clean up and fill out a data sheet recording what debris items are present. This allows our researchers to expand their data set and analyze the trends and patterns of debris on Maui’s beaches and shores as part of our Coastal Marine Debris Monitoring Program. Pick up your supplies (gloves, recycled bag, datasheet) at Pacific Whale Foundation in either Lahaina or Ma’alaea.
Signing up is easy. Just call Pacific Whale Foundation at least 24 hours in advance at (808) 249-8811 ext. 1 between 6am and 9pm (HST).
Volunteer with Mālama Maui Nui – Mālama Maui Nui is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to educate, inspire, and empower individuals and communities to beautify and maintain Maui Nui’s environment, thereby supporting its economy, quality of life, and unique Hawaiian culture. Through litter pickups, marine debris cleanups, recycling events, and more, MMN brings individual volunteers, local businesses, community organizations, and government agencies together to promote the environmental health of Maui County.
Check out their ongoing list of volunteer opportunities here.
Volunteer with NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program.
NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program does not offer any established, regular volunteer opportunities. However, many of their sister programs do. Explore some of those below.
Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Volunteer Program: Volunteers help ensure national marine sanctuaries remain America’s underwater treasures for future generations. Volunteers participate in a wide variety of activities including diving, whale identification, beach cleanups, water quality monitoring, collecting field observations and surveys, acting as visitor center docents and wildlife monitoring. Five sanctuaries in the U.S. contain coral reefs and several others contain deep-sea coral. See what’s available in your area. Protected Resources Volunteer Opportunities: Help protect sea turtles, monk seals and other protected resources by volunteering with NOAA offices in Hawaii. Volunteer to Clear Marine Debris: Start your own volunteer beach clean up group, or find a local beach or neighborhood cleanup group. Track your trash using the Marine Debris Tracker app.
Volunteer on your own with the Ocean Conservancy. Join the wave. Next time you’re headed out to the beach or a nearby park, download Ocean Conservancy’s app, Clean Swell and take along a trash bag to collect and document the debris you find.
Volunteer with Maui Ocean Center for their monthly beach clean up. An example is the clean-up which happened July 21, 2018 “Join Maui Ocean Center and Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute to help care for the longest stretch of sandy coastline on Maui – Oneloa (a.k.a. Big Beach). After the cleanup, learn about the rich history of Makena State Park with Lucienne de Naie – President of the Maui Tomorrow Foundation and a Founding Member of Maui Cultural Lands, Inc.”
More info here. Or contact for Questions/RSVP: afonarow@mauioceancenter.com or 808.270.7059
Take The Pledge! Maybe your Maui vacation schedule doesn’t allow enough time to do a full day of volunteering. One option is to take the pledge. National Geographic encourages each one of us to take the pledge. The plastic pollution problem is in plain sight. It affects us all. Together we can reduce single-use plastics and make a lasting impact. Take the pledge here.
Surfing in a wave of trash, Photo by Zak Noyle
Super Pup
Oh, and what about Tauzer The Honu Hound? ‘Tau’, an Australian Cattle dog has been specially trained on the Mainland to detect endangered Sea Turtle nesting sites like those found on Ke’ahu beach. Tau helps Cheryl locate sea turtle eggs on the beaches in Maui. You can read more about Tau’s amazing story on here ! Tau’s partner is none other than Cheryl King, who aside from being our fearless beach clean-up leader wears the hat of Hawaii Program Director for the Turtle Island Restoration Network. Read more about Cheryl here.
Image via Tauzer’s Facebook page
Gallery
Want to see all the marine debris & garbage we picked up? View the gallery of photos taken on my beach clean-up day.
SHARKastics!
Volunteer instructions
Volunteer instructions
Staging canopy for sorting marine debris
Staging canopy for sorting marine debris
Volunteer orientation
Volunteer orientation
Clean up crew work to free the net
Manly men cutting and digging the ghost net
Where the net *was*
Hauling the net away
Volunteers working hard!
Dragging the net off the beach
Ke'ahu Beach Clean up in action
Marine Debris
Trash!
Bits of fishing nets
Lots of lumber, both man-made(milled) and natural
Tires, Dog Crate, Jugs, Ghost Nets
Carpet (yuck!)
SHARKastics
Volunteers sort marine debris
Volunteers sort marine debris
Fishing line
Lighters/Plastic Straws/Plastic Utensils
Garden Trimmer Line
Zip Ties
Metal/Electrical Wire
Toys
Golf Balls
Golf Balls, Rubber Balls, Pens, Duct Tape
Drugs/Pharmaceutical
Clothing and Fabric
Personal grooming items
Rubber
Fast Food (single use) Containers
Shoes & Flip Flops (Slippers)
Fish Traps
Cardboard & Paper
Aluminum & Metal scraps
Plastic Jugs or Containers
Plastic Bottles
Oyster spacers
Melted plastics
Linoleum & Vinyl bits
Irrigation Tubes/Pipes (PVC)
Hard plastics including half a cooler
SHARKastics
Tauzer The Honu Hound
Q & A with Cheryl King
Cheryl King Q & A
Cheryl King explains the journey plastic takes
Tau The Honu Hound
This adventure has taught me so much. I’ve taken away so much information and learning about the global garbage and plastic crisis. I cannot emphasize enough just how fulfilling it was to participate in a local beach clean-up.
I also never leave home without my reusable water bottle, complete with my very own SHARKastics sticker! Thank you Cheryl!!!!!
Have you participated in a beach clean up in Maui or elsewhere? Or, do you have another Maui Eco-Tourism volunteer opportunity that you want to share? Leave us a comment below and let us know.
Subscribe to our Maui Travel Guide to receive the latest travel tips, special events and to find out what's happening in our Island Paradise! * Your privacy is paramount to us. We will never share or sell your information! *
We’ve got you covered for special events and what’s happening on Maui for the Month of July
Wednesday, July 4th
•Celebrate in Lahaina – with fireworks in this historic town. The fireworks will begin at 8pm. The event is FREE. Bring lawn chairs. More info here.
•Pride of Maui offers a 4th of July Cruise. Pride of Maui offers their ‘Fireworks over the Pacific’ boat cruise, hosted aboard Maui’s famous Maxi-power Catamaran. Offering 1500 square feet of unobstructed viewing from the sprawling upper deck. Delicious entrees, Pupus, beer and cocktails. For details and reservations visit www.prideofmaui.com
• Party down at the Lahaina Loft. Live DJ music , dancing, light pups, a photo booth and more. Tickets are $25-50 per person.
•Get your Jazz on at the Lahaina Library. Jazz Maui presents this FREE music extravaganza.
Thursday, July 5
•Free Tahitian Dance Show – Lahaina. This ongoing event happens every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday from 6-7pm.
Friday, July 6th
• Makawao Rodeo – (July 6 to July 8) A rodeo in Maui? You bet! Maui has a rich Paniolo history and you can celebrate this long history at the Makawao Rodeo.
• Wailuku First Friday. We’ve blogged more about this town party here. You’ll find live street entertainment, amazing food truck food, souvinirs, local hand-made goods and more. Each Friday Town Party is hosted in a different city. Click the link above to find more info.
• Maui’s Finest Craft Fair – Free Craft Fair at the Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort. This free even showcases crafts, artists and more. This is an Ongoing Event occurring on Tuesday Friday of every week. More info here.
Saturday, July 7
•Head to Kahului for the weekly Maui Swap Meet. This fantastic shopping market has everything under the Maui sun. Event is ongoing, this and every Saturday. More info here.
• Lanai Pineapple Festival. Catch a ride on the ferry to Lanai and celebrate the Lanai Pineapple Festival. Enjoy crafts, games, food booths, prizes and more. The parade begins at 2pm and ends at 9pm with a crescendo of fireworks. A special 9:30 pm return to Maui ferry will be offered. Book in advance. More info here.
• Makawao Parade Get there early for the parade that starts at 9am down Baldwin Avenue. Bring lawn chairs.
• Leilani Farm Sanctuary Tours – (this and all Saturdays) Explore the farm and visit rescued animals. Kiss a Donkey, cuddle a chicken or feed the bunnies. Donation is $10. Starts at 10am More info here. Additional tours Mondays & Wednesdays at 4pm.
Sunday, July 8
• Lahaina Craft Fair. Sundays. This weekly free event showcases artists, jewelry makers and local crafts people. Located at the Lahaina Gateway Center. More info here.
• Makawao Rodeo continues. See above.
Tuesday, July 10
• Maui’s Finest Craft Fair – Free Craft Fair at the Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort. This free even showcases crafts, artists and more. This is an Ongoing Event occurring on Tuesday Friday of every week. More info above.
Friday, July 13
• Lahaina First Friday. Head to the Lahaina Town Party – more info here. You’ll find live street entertainment, amazing food truck food, souvinirs, local hand-made goods and more. Each Friday Town Party is hosted in a different city. Click the link above to find more info.
• Hawai‘i’s force of Creation, Stories, Chants, Songs & Hula with George Kahumoku Jr. Join Hawaiian Cultural Practitioner George Kahumoku Jr. for this special event in Paia at Island Fresh Maui.
Thursday, July 19
•Free Tahitian Dance Show – Lahaina. This ongoing event happens every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday from 6-7pm. More info here.
Friday, July 20
• Lahaina Art Night – Friday Night is Art Night in Lahaina Town. Stroll through dozens of art galleries in LahainaTown each Friday from 7 to 10 pm for special gallery shows, featured artists-in-action, and refreshments, all free and open to the public! Lahaina has earned its nick-name of “The Art Capital of the Pacific,” due to more art galleries per capita than any other American town. A walking map of participating galleries is available in Lahaina Visitor Center (open daily from 9 am to 5 pm) This is an Ongoing Event occurring on Friday of every week.
• Candlelit Tours at the Baldwin Home – Step back in time and visit the Baldwin Home Museum with a tour by candle light. Tours are held every Friday from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The Baldwin Home Museum is located on the corner of Front and Dickenson Street in the heart of historic Lahaina. $8 – Adults 13yrs +, $6 – Kama’aina, Senior Citizens (65+), Military, Children 12 years and under are FREE. Please note that admission also allows entry to the Wo Hing Museum on Front Street.
The tours are led by experienced docents with refreshments following on the front lanai. For more information here or call 808.661.3262.
• Makawao Third Friday – See listing above for Friday Town Parties
Saturday, July 21
•Head to Kahului for the weekly Maui Swap Meet. This fantastic shopping market has everything under the Maui sun. Event is ongoing, this and every Saturday.Link for more info above.
• Keiki Hula Performance – Everyone loves a keiki (child) hula halau performance! And The Outlets of Maui is pleased to present our keiki hula show every 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month. The children of the Na Pua O Kapi`olani perform traditional hula. Accompanied by a live band and led by Kumu Hula Kathy Ralar, the keiki performers share their Hula as they dance their way into our hearts with the memorable stories and songs of Hawaii. More info here.
Image via Maui News
Saturday, July 28
• MayJah RayJah – The annual “must experience” reggae music festival returns with an all-star lineup. Established in 2009, The MayJah RayJah music festival has become a true staple in Hawaii’s island music scene. Since its inception, this annual festival has delivered over 30 festivals on four different islands attracting tens of thousands of loyal island music fans! This year they are taking it up a notch with the biggest line-up in its 9-year history. Featuring one super solid night of premiere island entertainment with New Zealand’s reggae heavyweights, Katchafire, reggae fusion sensation Magic!, and American reggae singer/songwriter Josh Heinrichs and more surprise guests to be announced for one amazing night!! More info and tickets here.
Have a safe and fun 4th of July and every day while in Maui!
Looking for more Maui vacation ideas? Lots of things to see and do,
Subscribe to our Maui Travel Guide to receive the latest travel tips, special events and to find out what's happening in our Island Paradise! * Your privacy is paramount to us. We will never share or sell your information! *
Get ready for an all-star slack key guitar festival on Maui at the MACC, Maui Arts & Cultural Center.
FREE ADMISSION
A&B Amphitheater – Maui Arts & Cultural Center Sunday, June 24, 2018 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM Gates open at 12:30 pm
Photo by Maui Magazine
Join the MACC for one of Maui’s favorite family events! Some of Hawai‘i’s best slack key guitar players will perform a full afternoon of melodious Hawaiian music.
Artists performing in the festival this year include Makana, Ola Hou (Kevin Brown & Friends), Ho‘okena, Brother Noland, Stephen Inglis, George Kahumoku & Friends, Sonny Lim, Paul Togioka, Ian O’Sullivan, Kamuela Kahoano, Donald Kaulia, Dwight Kanae, George Kuo, Aja Gample, Jim West & Ken Emerson, and Emma Rose.
Kī Hō`alu, translating literally from the Hawaiian as “loosen the key,” indicating the tuning in slack key guitar technique, is a musical tradition dating back to 19th century paniolo who played around the campfire after completing a day of ranch work.
Photo by Maui Arts & Cultural Center
Slack key has become known as one of the world’s great acoustic guitar methods, especially since the Grammy Awards recognized Hawaiian music as a category all its own.
An abundance of relaxed lawn seating gives the event an informal, local-style atmosphere, making it easy to lounge all afternoon. Festival-goers are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs, blankets, or lauhala mats and relax on the grassy lawn to fully enjoy the laid-back music by famed guitar players.
Photo by MACC
This is a family-friendly event: All generations can enjoy the slack key guitar tradition, with both new music and classic favorites. Island crafters and merchants will be on site with displays of local arts & crafts for purchase, and food trucks will serve a variety of tasty lunch and dessert options.
More info:
Maui Arts & Cultural Center Box Office: 808-242-SHOW (7469) One Cameron Way Kahului, HI 96732
Subscribe to our Maui Travel Guide to receive the latest travel tips, special events and to find out what's happening in our Island Paradise! * Your privacy is paramount to us. We will never share or sell your information! *
Hawaiʻi recently became the first of the United States to pass legislation prohibiting the sale of sunscreen containing oxybenzone and octinoxate, two common chemical ingredients known to harm coral reefs.
The law, if signed by Gov. David Ige, is slated to go into effect in January of 2021, giving manufacturers and retailers time to transition to reef-safer sunscreen options.
EDITED: On July 3, 2018 Hawaii Governor David Ige signed this bill into law making history and moving toward saving our Hawaiian reefs!
Savvy Hawai’i travelers don’t need to wait to start making a difference. We recently posted a snorkel & scuba guide about the fact that worldwide, coral reefs are in danger and switching to a reef-friendly sunscreen option is one way you can help.
Studies have shown that the two banned chemicals do cause damage to coral reefs. Craig Downs, a scientist whose 2015 peer-reviewed study found oxybenzone was a threat to coral reefs. “Lots of things kill coral reefs, but we know oxybenzone prevents them from coming back.” It also affects sea urchins and kills algae, a source of food for sea turtles, he said.
He found as much as 14,000 tons of sunscreen lotion ends up in coral reefs annually. Other ingredients often found in sunscreen, and after-sun lotions also contain mineral oil or petrolatum products. These are both also implicated in coral death and damage.
In addition to protecting sea creatures, the Smithsonian said, the reefs provide food, medication and tourism jobs, among other things — at a value of $30 billion to $172 billion per year.
Don’t be fooled by misleading advertising. Many companies will claim that their product is ‘Reef Safe’ when in fact it contains one of the chemicals listed above or mineral oil, another coral reef toxin. Perfect example – Sun Bum promotes their sunscreen as ‘Reef Friendly’ yet the first four ingredients (Avobenzone 3.00%, Homosalate 5.00%, Octisalate 3.00%, Octocrylene 10.00%) are from the list of reef killing chemicals above. Granted it does not contain Oxybenzone or Octinoxate, but the ingredients list leaves me dubious. This is where you, as a consumer must do your due diligence and read the ingredients labels.
Our friends over at EcoWatch have a wonderful post on the ‘Greenwashing’ of sunscreen products. According to their article;
Unfortunately, people also pose the greatest threat to coral reefs,” according to the Smithsonian. “Over-fishing and destructive fishing, pollution, warming, changing ocean chemistry, and invasive species are all taking a huge toll. In some places, reefs have been entirely destroyed, and in many places reefs today are a pale shadow of what they once were.” ” (Washington Post)
Coral reefs occupy less than 1% of the ocean floor, yet are home to more than 25% of the ocean’s marine life.
In an effort to protect Hawaii’s reefs, Hawaiian Airlines last month began offering passengers free samples of natural sunscreens without those ingredients. The airline is also encouraging its passengers to learn more about Hawaii by showing an 11-minute documentary on each flight about the environmental challenges affecting reefs. (CNN)
Did you know Sunscreen chemicals can also be found in your urine within 20 minutes of application, which is why sewage is a leading carrier of these chemicals. So be sunscreen smart wherever you live, to do your part to protect your skin and coral reefs. (EWG)
Take ACTION!
Here’s what YOU can do when visiting Maui and the surrounding Hawai’ian Islands (and of course anywhere you travel.)
READ THE LABEL. Look at the ingredients list and avoid buying or using sunscreen and personal products that contain Oxybenzone and octinoxate, avobenzone, avobenzine, octinoxate, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, homosalate or oxtisalate/octocrylene.
Avoid sunscreens containing petrolatum, commonly known as mineral oil, which takes years to biodegrade, and are known to be harmful or fatal to aquatic life and waterfowl.
Avoid sunscreens with high content of Titanium Dioxide. This mineral does not biodegrade and is found to react in warm seawater to form hydrogen peroxide which is harmful to all sea life.
Skip the spray on sunscreens that rely on the ingredients listed above. Their spray carries in the wind landing in the ocean nearby and on unsuspecting sunbathers.
Seek out mineral based sunscreen. Non-nano zinc oxide (zinc oxide is the only single active ingredient that protects against UVA and UVB rays) and low content titanium dioxide are the preferred mineral based sunscreens. (titanium dioxide mineral does not biodegrade and is found to react in warm seawater to form hydrogen peroxide which is harmful to all sea life.
Be a smart shopper. Many companies and retailers are beginning to make the transition and are selling ‘Reef Safe’ sunscreens, and many can be found in Maui already. If you’re concerned shop online and bring with you on your trip. Otherwise shop the natural food markets of Maui, they carry a large selection.
Don’t always Trust labels. Many sunscreens claim to be reef safe yet contain toxic chemicals. Essentially the only safe sunscreen is non-nano zinc or non-nano titanium dioxide.
Ghostest with the mostest. Many don’t like the white that is cast on skin with the use of mineral sunscreens, not to worry, several companies make tinted reef safe sunscreen (see our resource list) that help prevent the ghost-with-the-most look. BUT, if it’s cool for our local surfers, it’s good enough for me! Or do as the Maui Nui Marine Resource Council says and wear your white as a badge of honor, knowing you’re a reef and marine life protector!!
Wear a rash guard and hat. These provide sun protection and you’ll use less sunscreen.
Beware of products claiming to be ‘Reef Safe’ yet still have one of the active ingredients listed above (I’m looking at you Alba Botanica, which lists their Coconut Clear Spray SPF 50 as ‘Reef Safe’ yet contains Avobenzone – 3.0%, Homosalate – 15.0%, Octocrylene – 8.0% and Octyl Salicylate – 5.0% plus a whole host of other unpronounceable inactive ingredients. Their mineral sunscreen is reef safe)
Think Eco-Friendly. Even if you live away for the ocean, keep in mind that the chemicals you wash off your body eventually find their way into the water table and ultimately into the ocean.
TIP-The FDA recommends not using aerosol sprays on children because they are more likely to inhale the product into their lungs.
If you can’t say it, don’t spray it!
TIP-Be sure to inspect the label to make sure the mineral says that it is “NON-NANO.” Although these products may rub on a bit whiter, they do not penetrate the skin, placenta or blood brain barrier. Many brands also make tinted versions!
One other very important thing to also consider is the effect these chemicals have on our bodies. According to the Environmental Working Group’s piece on The Trouble With Ingredients in Sunscreens, many of the chemical sunscreens adversely effect our hormone and endocrine systems. If these chemicals are killing entire ecosystems, what must they be doing to our body?
We know that oxybenzone acts like estrogen in the body, alters sperm production in animals and is associated with endometriosis in women. It’s also implicated in relatively high rates of skin allergy.
Here again, you can be your own best advocate as well as ocean hero by reading the list of ingredients. It’s not just the ‘active ingredient’ that you’ll want to be on the look out for, take a look at the Inactive ingredients as well. Many sunscreens have chemical based inactive ingredients. According to the EWG;
‘One ingredient in particular is a cause for concern: methylisothiazolinone, a preservative. This year, EWG has found methylisothiazolinone is listed on the labels of 94 sunscreens including six marketed to children. Methylisothiazolinone is used alone or in mixtures with a related chemical preservative called methylchloroisothiazolinone. Laboratory studies indicate that methylisothiazolinone is a skin sensitizer or allergen. Over the past several years, physicians have reported serious cases of serious skin allergies, most notably in children exposed to methylisothiazolinone, from baby wipes and other products meant to be left on the skin (Chang 2014).
Oxybenzone damaged reef polyp
Do we really want this on our skin or in our environment?
On a very personal note, I’ve used sunscreen religiously on my trips to Maui over the last 25 plus years. I’ve used all the name brands containing a plethora of chemical ingredients, and without fail every year I would break out in a ‘sun rash’ if I exposed my skin too long while wearing chemical sunscreens.
Finally, about 5 years ago, I switched to a zinc based natural sunscreen. I bought one made specifically for babies as they have such tender skin, my reasoning was that it had to be better and more gentle than what I could (at the time) find in Maui. I’ve since found several others that I really like.
Resources
Here’s a list of truly ‘Reef Safe’ sunscreen companies you can try with some notes about each. In no particular order.
Stream2Sea. Personal favorite, sells a tinted version that I like.
Here’s a list of truly ‘Reef Safe’ sunscreen companies you can try with some notes about each. In no particular order. But the first one listed is our personal favorite. We are not affiliated with and receive no benefit from listing any of the brands below.
Maui Surfer HoneyOur all-time favorite. TIP – lightly pre-moisten your skin with coconut oil, then apply Maui Surfer Honey. It helps it go on smoothly and leave less of that ‘ghost’ look that zinc based sunscreens tend to provide. Personally, I don’t feel that this brand leaves much of it all but a little coconut oil really helps!
Stream2Sea. Excellent choice, they also sell a tinted version that I like.
Subscribe to our Maui Travel Guide to receive the latest travel tips, special events and to find out what's happening in our Island Paradise! * Your privacy is paramount to us. We will never share or sell your information! *
7 Of The Best Maui Adventures You’ve Never Heard About
All the guide books tell us about the most popular Maui activities such as the Road to Hana, Snorkel Tours, Whale Watching and Biking Down A Volcano but have you heard that you can be a Mermaid For A Day? How about Rappelling down a Waterfall or Jungle Wall?
Today we explore 7 Of The Best Maui Adventures You’ve Never Heard About.
1. Rappel A Waterfall!
Get your helmet on and be brave! Take a tour with Rappel Maui and see what it’s like to “walk down walls of water and rock on Maui, one of the most remote places on Earth, it’s an activity that engages all the senses.”
From their website;
About Rappel Maui Imagine the beauty, the wonder, the magic of Hawaii’s tropical rainforest and waterfalls. Now you can experience it all in the most intimate, thrilling way: Cruising down jungle canyon cliffs and natural waterfalls by way of rappelling. What is rappelling? It’s a practice used in the outdoor adventure sport of canyoneering to explore vertical terrain using fixed or anchored ropes and other equipment.
2. Make your own souvenir at Moana Glass Blowing. Imagine making and taking home your own hand blown glass starfish, bowl, ornament or fish! This is truly a great (5 Yelp Stars) and unique activity!
Kihei Canoe Club offers a visitor paddling program which includes an introduction to Hawaiian Culture, instruction in outrigger canoe paddling, and discussion of the local sea life. Paddling sessions usually begin with E Ala E, a traditional chant to welcome the rising sun. This is followed by paddling instruction. Canoes launch about 8:00am and return approximately 9:00am. Depending on conditions, we may paddle to an outer reef to see large sea turtles, venture out to observe whales or head north toward Kealia Pond and Sugar Beach. After returning we end the program with a Mahalo chant to give thanks to the land, the sea and to Hawaiian deities such as na kupuna (ancestors) and na aumakua (family gods.)
The visitor program is offered on Tuesday and Thursday year round, conditions permitting. Adults and children over the age of 9 are welcome to paddle with experienced club members in single or double hull outrigger canoes. We do not take reservations, so plan to be at the club early. Sign-in begins at 7:00am. This is a very popular activity and is strictly first-come, first-served. No previous experience required.
A tax deductible donation of $40 per adult is suggested and is used to support the various education and paddling programs the club offers.
Mermaid tails are all the rage and for good reason- they are a fun and exciting way to explore the ocean! With Hawaii Mermaid Adventures, learn to swim like a mermaid while creating great memories on your Maui vacation.
Your swim instructors are certified lifeguards with years of experience. They will keep everyone safe while capturing great web-quality photos too. No extra charge!
5. Track the stars on a Volcano Summit. “Guided Sunset & Stargazing Tours at Haleakala Summit. Join Maui Stargazing for a stunning sunset at Haleakala Summit followed by a science-based, 60 to 90-minute guided telescope tour of the cosmos. Observe the most deep-sky objects through the largest portable telescope on Haleakala. Stay warm in our winter jacket and snowboard pants in sizes from toddler to 4-XL. This Haleakala National Park astronomy tour spans five hours.”
“Start with a breathtaking sunset at the summit of Haleakala, Maui’s 10,000′ dormant volcano. Before darkness settles, we move to a family-friendly observing site for a fascinating laser-guided tour of the constellations and unparalleled views in the field setting. You’re treated to telescope views of the visible planets and deep-sky objects of the Milky Way, including nebulae, star clusters, and the galaxies beyond through a 12-inch aperture Dobsonian telescope! Maui Stargazing supplies all the necessary warm clothing to keep you comfortable throughout the stargazing session.”
6. Learn to play the Ukulele with Locals! Ever wanted to learn to play the Ukulele? It’s one of the top items in our Maui Bucket List. So why not take a free class with 808UkuJams?
We’ve covered this adventure in another blog post here, on Thursday evenings the Keolahou Hawaiian Congregational Church hosts 808Uke Jam, a wonderful class of ukulele enthusiast of all different levels hosted and taught by Jared Delos Santos. It begins promptly at 7pm and ends at 9pm. This is open to those who love the ukulele and want to learn (or even if you just want to check it out). Ukulele’s are available to rent – arrive early (give yourself at least 20 minutes to get a Ukulele, song book and music stand.)
Check out Google for some basic chords before arriving – it helps if you familiarize yourself a little.
7. Learn about exotic fruits on a local Farm Tour. Maui has numerous farms and many give tours. Here’s a list of Maui’s farms that showcase exotic and tropical fruits, nuts and vegetables that you might not ever find on the US Mainland.
Our Seed to Cup tour beings in the misting forest of Waipoli in Upcountry Maui where you will find O’o Farm. You’ll be greeted with french press coffee to start your day up on top of our farm. You will also discover with us as we take an inside look at the transformation from the fruit of a scraggly bush into the World’s second most sought after commodity. Participants connect with both agriculture history of coffee and the “seed to cup” process by strolling through our orchard and experiencing sight, sounds and smells a real roasting operation.
Made in Hana, Maui – from branch to bar. Ideally situated on the Hana Coast of Maui, Hana Gold is one of Hawaii’s first cacao plantations. The unique climate and fertile volcanic soil of Hawaii gives Hana Gold Cacao a rich and complex flavor that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Call ahead and take our plantation tour! $25 per adult, kids 14 and under are free when accompanied by a paying adult. Tour Time Is 2pm.
Ono Organic Exotic Tropical Fruit, Coffee and Chocolate Tasting Adventure – website link
Enjoy a fruit-filled “Garden of Eden.” Our Exotic Tropical Fruit Tasting Adventure includes samples of ten to twelve in-season fruits, our “ONO-licious” home grown coffee and home grown and roasted chocolate beans. Tours take place every Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. Same day reservations may be available if reserved prior to 12:30 p.m. HST.
Guided Farm Tours – “Our family friendly guided walking farm tour takes about one hour. You begin with a fruit tasting in the bamboo gazebo where you will taste exotic fresh picked fruit as seasonally available. Our main dragon fruit season is July to November. Our main pineapple season is June to July. Dragon fruit, pineapple, banana, papaya, sugar cane, passion fruit and more all grow at the Maui Dragon Fruit Farm.
After the tasting, our knowledgeable guides will take you on a stroll. You will get a closer look at the plants producing this excellent fruit. See first hand how dragon fruit, pineapple, sugar cane and papaya are grown here in Hawaii and learn about the organic practices that help the fruit taste so delicious! Discover some of the plants the Hawaiian people brought with them when they first came to these islands. All this while enjoying breath-taking views of the Pacific Ocean and the West Maui Mountains.”
Punakea Palms Working Coconut farm tours -website link
Check out our blog post about Punakea Palms to read more. Coconut Farm Tasting Tour – With Aloha we welcome you to tour our farm. Experience the sights and tastes of a working coconut farm. Learn the usefulness of the coconut tree and discover how to extract its bounty. Participate in all the stages of coconut cultivation and consumption, all while basking in the natural beauty of our farm. Take home fresh, hand-made coconut products from a truly authentic experience. Pre-Booked Reservations Required
Have a great, yet hardly known Maui activity or adventure? Let us know in the comments below so we can share with our readers! Mahalo!
Looking for more Maui vacation ideas? Lots of things to see and do,
Subscribe to our Maui Travel Guide to receive the latest travel tips, special events and to find out what's happening in our Island Paradise! * Your privacy is paramount to us. We will never share or sell your information! *
Check out Punakea Palms, and visit a working coconut farm on Maui. Head to Lahaina and learn everything you ever wanted to know about this amazing nut. Tours run by appointment only and can accommodate up to 10 guests. Morning tours start at 9 am and run approximately 2.5 hours. Private tours can be arranged at custom times. Visit their website for available dates and tour times.
From their website;
“Coconut Farm Tasting Tour With Aloha we welcome you to tour our farm. Experience the sights and tastes of a working coconut farm. Learn the usefulness of the coconut tree and discover how to extract its bounty. Participate in all the stages of coconut cultivation and consumption, all while basking in the natural beauty of our farm. Take home fresh, hand-made coconut products from a truly authentic experience.Pre-Booked Reservations Required
“Cultural Significance The coconut is iconic throughout Hawaiian history. We have been very connected to this miraculous tree in many aspects of life, from building and shelter material, to textile and weaving, to sport and entertainment. We promote coconut awareness and hope to share this connection with you. Our goal is to teach, inspire, create lasting memories, and share a deep passion for what this earth can provide.”
“Natural Farming Plantation Style. Our tasting tour starts where everything on our farm starts, in the dirt! The most intriguing aspect of natural farming is how simple it is. We will show you how we make our own farming inputs to amend and maintain healthy living soil throughout our farm. You will also discover the life cycle of coconut trees and their unique evolution to become the most productive food crop on earth.”
“Bottoms Up! Besides sitting on a beach underneath a palm, there isn’t a better way to taste the freshness of a Hawaiian coconut than straight from our farm. You will learn how to open and taste coconuts at varying stages of maturity, as well as numerous health benefits and creative culinary applications. We will also offer seasonally fresh native fruits that grow across the property.”
Our favorite moment of our trip to Maui was at Punakea Farms. Kai is one of the most generous hosts we have encountered and want to thank him for the information as well as the experience we had on his farm. – Blake K. via Yelp
More information about Punakea Palms;
“Our Family Coconut Farm Growing in our community since 2005.Punakea Palms is a family operated coconut farm in the foothills of the West Maui mountains.We promote natural farming and coconut information through educational and interactive tours of our daily operations. Our efforts are focused toward cultivating and promoting community awareness of this miracle plant.
Twelve years ago we planted over 250 sprouted coconuts that have now become fully mature fruit bearing trees. Maui’s climate hosts some of the most ideal growing conditions for coconut trees in the world with over 300 days of sunshine annually. Coconut trees produce fruit continuously year-round and these conditions bless our farm with a potential yield of over 10,000 nuts per year.
In addition to the coconut trees, we propagate many native tropical plants and fruits. Bananas, papayas, avocados, mangos, pineapples, and sugar cane are just some varieties that thrive across the property as well as an exotic citrus orchard.”
FAQ-
Will I get to climb a coconut tree? There is only one way to harvest coconuts and that is to shimmy your way up to the top and claim your bounty. That being said, no, sorry. We will be doing all the climbing, but don’t worry the coconuts taste just as good on the ground.
What time of year are coconuts in season? Now! A mature coconut tree flowers continuously throughout the year with the potential to produce hundreds of coconuts. There is always a fresh harvest to be found.
Is it possible to take coconuts back home on the plane? Yes, it’s not a hassle at all. Just be sure to declare them when you arrive at the airport and a quick inspection will clear them for travel.
This is agro tourism at its finest. Not only was it a wonderful educational experience but it was a soulful one too. – Marie W. via Yelp
Travel Tip- Book this tour at the beginning of your trip so that you can enjoy the coconut milk you receive on the tour throughout your stay.
Subscribe to our Maui Travel Guide to receive the latest travel tips, special events and to find out what's happening in our Island Paradise! * Your privacy is paramount to us. We will never share or sell your information! *
Here’s a unique thing to do while visiting Maui. Visit Maui’s only organic Dragon Fruit Farm.
Located just up the road from Lahaina town, you’ll find the only farm that grows organic dragon fruit. What’s a dragon fruit you ask? Well according to Maui Dragon Fruit;
“Native to South and Central America, where it is called Pitahaya, dragon fruit is cultivated in tropical and sub-tropical regions around the world. Currently most dragon fruit are commercially grown in Vietnam, Thailand, and south China. However, production is rapidly increasing with dragon fruit being grown in the Philippines, Micronesia, Israel, Australia and also in Hawaii which has an ideal climate for dragon fruit production.”
“Dragon fruit is beautiful, delicious and nutritious. Its juicy pulp is refreshing and ranges from subtly sweet to tart. It is rich in fiber, antioxidants and vitamins. The health benefits of eating dragon fruit are many and varied. It is believed to prevent colon cancer and diabetes, neutralize toxic substances such as heavy metals, reduce cholesterol and high blood pressure. It is also reported to control high blood sugar levels, prevent bleeding and promote dental health. It is high in vitamin C, phosphorus and calcium, and so helps to develop strong bones, teeth and skin. It is a true “health fruit”.”
Maui Dragon Fruit farm tours run daily from 10a.m. to 3 p.m. daily with extend hours on Friday and Saturday (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
Guided Farm Tours “Our family friendly guided walking farm tour takes about one hour. You begin with a fruit tasting in the bamboo gazebo where you will taste exotic fresh picked fruit as seasonally available. Our main dragon fruit season is July to November. Our main pineapple season is June to July. Dragon fruit, pineapple, banana, papaya, sugar cane, passion fruit and more all grow at the Maui Dragon Fruit Farm.
After the tasting, our knowledgeable guides will take you on a stroll. You will get a closer look at the plants producing this excellent fruit. See first hand how dragon fruit, pineapple, sugar cane and papaya are grown here in Hawaii and learn about the organic practices that help the fruit taste so delicious! Discover some of the plants the Hawaiian people brought with them when they first came to these islands. All this while enjoying breath-taking views of the Pacific Ocean and the West Maui Mountains.”
Prices: $15.00 per person
Tour Includes:
Fruit tasting
Dragon fruit season is July to November
Guided farm tour
Bottled water provided
What to bring:
Close toed shoes
Sunscreen
Camera
In addition to the farm tour – which is unique in and of itself, Maui Dragon Fruit also offers several adventure tours including the giant Aqua Ball which is way kooky and a Zipline.
Subscribe to our Maui Travel Guide to receive the latest travel tips, special events and to find out what's happening in our Island Paradise! * Your privacy is paramount to us. We will never share or sell your information! *
Maui’s top star-studded summer event! Come enjoy the Star Studded Maui Film Festival 2018 taking place this year on June 13 – June 17, 2018 in Wailea, Maui. Three glorious celestial filled nights of cinematic wonder.
“The Maui Film Festival at Wailea is a ‘jewel-box’ festival — able to handle anything without becoming unwieldy or impersonal. Flawlessly planned. The national press is taking notice and reporting on its goings-on. Watch for even greater things to come.” —indieWire
Toes in the sand cinema! Wailea Beach
One of a Kind, Under-the-Stars, Lit by the Moon and Powered by the Sun Open Air Venues. Plus Amazing Nightly Festivities- Film Premieres. A-List Tributes. Hula. Live Music.
“Since Year One, the Maui Film Festival’s Always used the word “Luminaries” to describe the Talented Artists who have been its Honorees. Why? Silver Screens Love Them. That’s for Sure. But On-Screen they become Alchemists Revealing the Human Condition with Empathy, Wisdom and Depth. In Short, They Light Us Up!” —Festival Honoree Selection ‘Ohana
Passionately Created. Intelligently Designed and Endlessly Inspiring, The Maui Film Festival Believes In the Power of Original Cinema.
Regardless of Genre or Screen Size, Original Cinema Shifts Paradigms, Seeds the Planet with New Ideas, Moves Culture and Rocks the World!
For the Maui Film Festival, Original Cinema Is the Rocket Fuel that Propels Us to Reveal New Worlds and Fire Up Our Passions, Vision and Soul.
Subscribe to our Maui Travel Guide to receive the latest travel tips, special events and to find out what's happening in our Island Paradise! * Your privacy is paramount to us. We will never share or sell your information! *