Maui - Island off the Map
posted 2003-05-27
Latitude North 21:00:49
Longitude West 156:38:16
A few boys and girls wander down the little road and share some lunch they have spread out on the grass next to the beach.
Here there are sights and sounds like nothing else on earth. Breathtaking views, dramatic sky, towering cloud-like formations. The focus can be overwhelming as the daily, monthly, seasonally movement comes with whales, wind, and history all there splayed out in front of you in the Molokai Channel like so much food left out on the table to enjoy.
The sun drips into the horizon and the magic of day turns into the shadow of night. B smiles and laughs, "Tomorrow. Tomorrow there will be more waves."
Maui Is
Maui is a special spot on earth. Known affectionately as the Valley Isle, this strangely shaped island is the 2nd largest in the Hawaiian chain. 48 miles long, and 26 miles wide the volcanic outcropping is a mere 728 square miles. From the dripping rain forests of the east coast to the near desert like conditions of the Westside, there is something for everyone. You'll find over 90 inches of rain on the Hana side annually, while Kihei gets about 13 inches a year, and the mountain areas find over 400 inches. Whew!
Home of Haleakala Crater, or the House of the Sun, Maui has a long and rich history as a hallowed Hawaiian homeland. The people are proud and reflect a strong tradition dating back centuries.
But it is surfing that brings us here. The rumor of a wave has become a way of life. A cliff and a bay, an ancient spot where the sky and the sea meet and we are allowed to watch this interaction like paid admissions to a movie.
If the North Shore was surfing reality then the Island of Maui was always the dream. A tropical paradise, some found their nirvana others bailed. Maui sits under the umbrella of the Molokai wave shadow. That is why the tale is simple: Northwest's are always half the size of the North Shore. If Sunset is 10 foot solid then chances are Maui's premier winter spots are 5 feet. A beautiful spot to visit as a surfer but you wouldn't want to live there. Yeah Brah, maybe!
There is nothing like light trades on the Westside when the swell window opens ever so slightly and beacons in the perfect wave foils that can turn an ordinary surf session into something epic and life changing in a moments notice. Be careful not to wait too long or it'll be gone. It's that kind of place.
But today, they come in droves, hoping to find the Cave and the outright beauty. Sun, color, sky, emotion, all brought out into plain sight for the world to see. How can you take any of this for granted one asks? And few do. The crowds are fierce and competitive; the way surfing these types of waves should be. Only the strong are going to do it right. The way the ancients did it that way. The boys know this. That is why they hang out of the wind, ghosts on the rocks, watching for a moment when the crowd eases and they can slide a few without caring about who is watching and who isn't.
