Sentimental Journey

Island hopping California style took me out to Catalina Island as well as on a nostalgic sentimental journey. Sentimental also since this California trip was the beginning of the month.

The Catalina Express ferry departed from Fisherman's Village in Marina del Rey, one of my childhood haunts within biking distance from my Playa del Rey home (translated as Beach of the King). We floated out the channel as memories floated into mind.... where our afternoon Hobie sail ended with a surprise dump in the chilly waters only to get our mast stuck in the mucky bottom, views of my old neighborhood, my street up on the hill, my shortcut walk to the beach behind houses, the park lagoon where I spent summer camps making daisy chains, local "Toes" aka "10 Toes Over" Beach where I learned to surf in the days girls didn't surf, volleyball courts where I was recruited to play NCAA college ball, bike path to meander to adjacent beaches, vb courts, vb tournaments and piers, bonfires on the beach, grunion hunting.....

Catalina holds memories as well, and here I am making the adventure with the same grammar school friends whom we used to camp, volleyball and swim away summer vacation days on the island. Next years were the sailing adventures to Catalina making the channel crossing at night in the shipping lane dwarfed by the massive barges, and our boat loosing it's mooring at night to drift away as we slept on board. What a great childhood Southern California life provided. Thus, this slide show with vintage surf music apropos of the times.

It is very refreshing to see Catalina literally unspoiled, still like the days of old and quaint as can be! There remains much open land on the hillsides with houses renovated instead of spreading. Golf carts are still preferred mode of transportation, although our feet gets us where we prefer to go.

The ocean water is healthy, clear and warm with an abundance of fish and kelp. The orange Garibaldi fish are a proud display of the CA state fish.

California Escapades

Michael and Dana's wedding drew me to California for celebration of young love and reunion of my "other" family which I grew up with. The "next generation" of weddings has evolved to reception entry of bridal party with sassy dancing, hip hop groomsmen and lots of creativity. Wishing Michael and Dana growing love and happiness which they already exude.

I spent 2 1/2 weeks while in California the beginning of the month.

Celebrating niece Kara's birthday lasted all weekend, along with a visit from her sister Amie from Berkeley. Maggie, Kara's new puppy entertained us with taunts to old dog Marley and Gizmo the cat.

My sister Karen, Mom and I road tripped to Mammoth Lakes in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. I had lived a decade in the Sierras before moving to Maui, and have been away for too long. I love the beauty, tranquility, and fresh air of the mountains. This video capsules our adventure staying in the log cabin built in the '20's near the waterfall going into Twin Lakes below, across from Lake Maime, hike to view of Lake Mary, our hike around Lake George, hike to Heart Lake, Mom plopped in chair with a view guarding off mosquitoes while we hiked, old gold mining camp with mine and equipment, and Horseshoe Lake. Afternoon thunder clouds built up with loud claps of thunder and huge drops of rain.



Yes, the sound of the thunder drums still has its power. No need to wonder.

Next escapade report will be Catalina Island.

Green Sea vs. Hawksbill Turtle

Warm summer waters welcomed our Sunday swimmers for a fun, luxurious, playful swim. Fun, because our world travelers, Patti and Janet, part of the fun faction of the swim gang have returned. Luxurious, because the waters have warmed up with no need to keep moving in order to keep warm, allowing us to follow fun creatures, stop to carry on a full conversation and play in each of our water amusement features. Playful, because we now have the players, the creatures and the features for play and fun. Love Maui waters with friends!!!

This Green Sea Turtle was strutting his stuff with such a gorgeous, clean shell. Those cleaner wrasse at the cleaning stations have been so busy. And this turtle has spent much time there.

This juvenile Hawksbill Turtle is the future of the generation. He/she will propagate this endangered species. Let's hope this young, ambitious turtle finds a mate.

Maui Magic!

It has been days of dolphin extravaganzas! The dolphins are ever so playful and happy! Playing, laughing, dancing, singing and cackling with each other and me. We are playing the fun old games of leaf drop with some dolphins so proud of swimming with multiple leaves on nose, both pec fins and or tail at the same time. They love making me do silly human tricks by leading me on underwater spins, corkscrews and curls. They get such a kick out of me! I love their interactions and tricks. It is mutual love.

I am seeing more and more of dolphins playing with bubbles. When one blows a cloud of bubbles, another will come and splash through them! I observed a dolphin following a golf ball size bubble up from the depths toward the surface. He was "holding" the bubble on his nose as it rose, and then opened his mouth and gently held the bubble inside his open mouth. He then let it out and followed the bubble up to the surface. It was a display of finesse, gentleness and precise vision.

My friend Sarah is newly enjoying being playful in the ocean as her childhood swim skills return.The dolphins are teaching her to dive. She will soon be dancing with the dolphins with spins and corkscrews underwater!

One day I played with the dolphins for hours until utterly exhausted, completely famished and full pruneiness of fingers, palms and back of hands. I reluctantly left the dolphins to swim to shore, food, relaxation and a towel. I encountered two manta rays on the inside reef. Well, of course I had to give them equal time of following and observing their antics.

Blue Day

Blue waters, blue sky and blue basketball teams fill the Sunday fun.

Surrounded In Bubbles

Announcing the opening of Kapalua Spa! This is my new second massage job!

The Spa is designed as a luxury beach house; to bring the ocean in. Products are ocean based and treatments are named accordingly, decor is bubbles, beach glass, coral and shells, with the sound of water throughout. Bubbles on walls as lights, chandelier bubbles, bubbles in the carpet. This brings in to my work my joy of playing in bubbles of ocean swims. My love of bamboo forest is reflected on the light treatments over the massage tables. Lobby pool is cornered by fire pots with a waterfall which flows to pool below. Those on exercise equipment downstairs gaze through waterfall, forgetting they are sweating on a machine.

With the time consumption of a second job, at least I will be surrounded by my favorite things... bubbles, bamboo, fire and water!

Local news is getting out the word for us! Click here to view news segments.

In this news clip, Lani, my long time buddy is giving the facial. Bo, our lead therapist is giving the yummy Awa Cacoa Lomi Wrap. Try that one when you come in, it is one of our best treatments!

Hi'iwai Blessing

The Hi'iwai Blessing commences in the darkness of pre dawn, as we gather at Kapalua Bay to cleanse and clear ourselves in the womb of the ocean, then up the hill to bless our newborn baby, Kapalua Spa.

As the sky lightened, we begin with a circle on the beach to speak of those whom inspire us and why. As we enter the dark waters of the bay, we reflect and release all the stresses, impure thoughts, words and deeds of our lives, especially during the process of opening the Spa. As we submerge under the water and float in the womb, we are cleansed and cleared of these impurities, we emerge from the water toward the lightness of those whom inspire us, as we face the rising sun to start fresh and new. We chant E' Ala E' (Arise! Sun) with hand claps to cast our cares to the rising sun.

We walk in silence up the hill to the spa entrance, which is draped with a fragrant Maile leaf lei to symbolize the umbilical cord. Water and salt are united in a koa bowl, and sprinkled with Ti leaf at and on the Spa entrance and toward all four corners of the spa, as the chanting of the Kahuna echoes through the foyer. Spa Directors Crystal and Natalia cut the Maile lei of our new born baby, we all enter the new spa!

What a celebration! Representing eight weeks of dedication and hard work, and the bonding of a new 'ohana (family). Now, the Spa is open! Our baby is born!

We have worked eight long weeks on this project. Our 'ohana of massage therapist learned 13 treatments in 4 weeks, as the 'ohana of facialists did the same. Week 5 the entire staff all came together to physically move and unpack boxes, arrange furniture and equipment. Week 6 was organizing rooms, shelves and cabinets, unloading, folding, stocking, folding and arranging stacks and folding stacks and stacks of linens. Did I say folding? Week 7 we got to "play" Spa as we all practiced our expertise and we all sampled each others tricks and trades. I drank fresh vegetable juices from juice bar, rejuvenated in yoga and Somatics classes in ocean view yoga room, worked out on innovative Kenisis cable machines, received facial and gave numerous treatments to Kapalua staff who will promote our Spa.

Now, week 8, we are fine tuning each element and open the door to the public on Thursday! Yeah! I will give real treatments to real bodies and receive a real commission! Ah! My bank account is awaiting the deposit of a real paycheck! It needs to be fed!

This explains where I've been the past 8 weeks.... the hour commute each way sucks out my time and energy of blog time. Now, I will be at the spa only (!) 2 shifts a week, so into the ocean I swim and onto the blog I will report!