Ka'anapali Dreamin' Blog

Aloha Friday – July 3rd, 2009

2009-07-03T12:11:00.001-05:00

Aloha Friday Photo
Vivid red rocks at the base of a cliff at Koki Beach.

This week’s Aloha Friday photo was also featured in on the Koki Beach post of my new website, Maui by Photo. As always, our Aloha Friday photo is taken from today’s photo in the Maui Daily Photo Calendar, so if you’re a fan of Maui, you might have seen this shot a few times already ;).

With the shameless self promotion out of the way, I remember being really surprised when we saw these rocks at Koki Beach on our visit to Hana earlier this year. We were there relatively early in the morning, so the beach was empty and the sun was hidden behind a ton of clouds. Made for a nice stroll and listening to the waves hit the beach was very memorable.

Follow Friday
Well, with the launch of my new site, and trying to get back into the full-time Aloha Spirit, I’m back into the Twitter groove again! After a few weeks of skipping the Follow Friday part of the Aloha Friday post, here’s a few new folks to check out.

@GrandWailea – The Twitter account for the gorgeous luxury resort in South Maui with the same name.
@mauithing – Bio: “Maui Thing is a lifestyle company inspired by all “things good”on Maui”…
@flickr – Okay, nothing to do with Maui, but I love Flickr and can’t wait until this Twitter account picks up
@MauiPetTherapy - Dr. Shannon Dominguez from Friendly Tails – visiting up to 800 animals a month on Maui, including rescue animals
@PeterLiu47 – fellow blogger, photographer, social media fan. Calls Maui home.
@PacificWhale – new account for the Pacific Whale Foundation, although it’s still starting out

As always, you can find me on Twitter as @webnelly, and if you haven’t yet, help support my newest endeavor by following @MauiByPhoto.

Maui Tweetup – July 5th!!!
Wishing we could be there ourselves, @Ucsmiles and many other Maui tweeps are having a tweetup this Sunday, July 5th at Kalama Park in Kihei. Details can be found at http://twtvite.com/lgxgwx and if you make it out there, pass on a big ALOHA from Cindy and I, and take lots of photos. :)

Everyone should at least get to attend one of these Maui tweetups, especially if you’ve been lucky enough to get to know them on Twitter. Read more about the tweetups we’ve been to and how this all got started.

Mahalo, and have a good holiday!
- Kris

Related Links

Follow Friday Archives
Sunday Photo: Maui Tweetup
More Maui Tweetups
Our visit to Koki Beach – Come on in, the water’s fine

My Newest Maui Site: Maui by Photo

2009-06-30T07:59:00.002-05:00

As I started mentioning late last week, I have been working on a new Maui site and it officially launched yesterday. Yay!

About the Site
The new site is Maui by Photo, and its primary focus is to provide a place for those that have visited Maui to relive all their favorite memories without setting foot outside their front door. And while you have those special moments top of mind, you have a place where to share them with others, as well as read stories from other frequent Maui visitors and even local Maui residents.

Below are a few screenshots from the new site.

Site Home Page

Sample Post View

Talk Story with Comments

The new site, much like this one, is always a work in progress and there are still a ton of things I want to do with it. Plus, there are still many, many more places that will be added to the site, as I’ve only begun to scratch the surface with the dozen or so posts that were added for the initial launch.

So what are you waiting for, head on over to Maui by Photo and start talking about your favorite Maui memories from some of the best spots on the island. And if you like it, which I hope you will, help us spread the word by telling all those Maui lovers in your life. You can also show your support by following @MauiByPhoto on Twitter, and if Twitter’s not your thing, become a fan on our Facebook page.

I hope to see you there!

Mahalo,
- Kris

Sunday Photo: Cliff Dive Warrior

2009-06-28T17:06:00.001-05:00

Taken by Kris Nelson on September 17, 2007
Location: Black Rock, Ka’anapali

I stumbled across this photo from my archives while selecting photos for my new website (which I’m hoping to launch on Monday). The Black Rock Cliff Dive is certainly one of our favorite things to see while when we stay at the Sheraton, and in fact, it was a tough call whether it was my one favorite at this Facebook thread. Anyway, I was amazed with the detail in the lit torch, and even though the rest of the photo is mostly underexposed (aka dark), I chose it anyway. :)

This last week has been pretty busy with work on my new site, but I do have a few things I’ve been meaning to post here as well (which should have been up yesterday). Be sure to stay tuned Monday for some of the news.

Mahalo.

If you like this photo, you can see more in our Sunday Photos series here at the blog. Our website also features daily photos on the Today's Photos page, and you can also get a new photo from Maui everyday on your Google home page. Check out our Maui Photo Day Calendar for more details.

Aloha Friday – June 26th, 2009

2009-06-26T12:21:00.001-05:00

Aloha Friday
An old version of the sign out front of Whalers Village.

Back today with another Aloha Friday photo after missing the last few weeks. I like this photo, even though this sign has since replaced with a new one. It’s a reminder that even though all of our past trips have essentially centered out of the same spot in Ka’anapali, there is something always new and different to discover at Whalers Village. The second year we were there, they updated the sign and a few shops. This past February, there were even bigger changes with the Rusty Harpoon moving out and the edition of Cindy’s favorite, Swarovski, near where Tiffany’s used to be.

Our Aloha Friday photo each week is from our Maui Photo Day Calendar. Visit http://daily.kdmaui.com for more details on how to add a new Maui photo on your iGoogle page or your blog everyday, as well as how to subscribe via RSS.

In the News – Sheraton Working Giving Back
In addition to the Aloha Friday photo, I ran across this article in the Lahaina News this morning that I wanted to pass along:

School receives fresh coat of paint from Sheraton workers

You probably know by now that we’re fans of the Sheraton, so that’s one reason why it popped up on my radar (thanks to a Google News Search). It’s just one of many touching examples of how people from all over the islands regularly show off their Aloha Spirit and give back to the communities around them. I posted a link to another story back in December about members of the Ka’anapali Beach Resort Association joined to participate in a holiday drive that raised 30,000 pounds of food for families in need. You may only hear about these stories every now and then, but you can rest assured that this type of community sharing and commitment can be found somewhere on the islands just about every week, however large or small.

Follow Friday
So, I’ve been sort of absent from the Twitter seen for the last two weeks now, only jumping back in earlier this week. I don’t have a full Follow Friday list like before, and I actually wanted to take a moment for a shameless plug of the new Maui site I’m working on. :)

So, I’m inviting you to follow @MauiByPhoto on Twitter and help me spread the word. I’m targeting Monday for the initial launch of the new site, so be sure to look for an announcement soon.

As for the new site? It’s going to be mainly a blog format, but with a few slight twists. Relatively small in the grand scheme of things, it’s primary goal is to highlight the beauty and magic of Maui through some of my best photos, and be a place where fellow Maui fans and residents can talk story about some of the best places, and their favorite memories, on the island. It’s not a replacement for the site here or any other of the great Hawaii blogs out there, just a little place to stop along the way. :)

I’m pretty excited (and slightly nervous) about the concept, and here’s to hoping it’s well received. Hoping to see you there.

Mahalo,
- Kris

News: County Department Proposing New Beach Rules

2009-06-22T12:33:00.001-05:00

Came across this article from the Maui News this weekend and thought it would be something worth sharing.

Maui News Article: County ‘drawing a line’ in sand with park rules
Posted on: June 21st, 09

The short recap of the story and the issues at hand are new rules being proposed by the county’s Parks and Recreation department. The aim of the new rules is to limit the number of tour and activity operators that can function on certain beaches, as well as only during specified periods. The effort is being made to help reduce some of the crowding these tour operators are said to have on beaches around the island, both popular and small.

Please read the article for all the details, as well as good points on both side of the argument. Since our site here has a good mix of both Maui residents and frequent visitors to the Valley Isle, I thought there’d be a good range of opinions to talk story about. Cindy and I, personally, like to refrain from planning our beach trips on the weekends, mainly because we assume that’s when the island residents make their way to the beach to enjoy the paradise around them.

Talk Story
Tell us what you think. There are good arguments to be made on each side, particularly the point of “why now?” Also, if you’re a resident of Maui, have you seen some of these crowding scenarios first-hand? We’ve seen the usual surf schools and even a catamaran every now and then docking right on the sands of Ka’anapali Beach. For us, it’s not a major inconvenience, but that’s because we’re only visiting.

What do you think?

Sunday Photo: Inside the Lava Tube

2009-06-21T22:04:00.001-05:00

Taken by Kris Nelson on April 15th, 2008
Location: Waianapanapa State Park in East Maui

If I close my eyes and drown out all the noise around me, I can still hear the roaring sounds the waves at Waianapanapa State Park made as they violently crashed into the shore. Then, as the last wave recedes, the sizzle of the water filtering back through the below my feet fills the entire lava tube, as if I was surrounded by hundreds of rattlesnakes. Before long, the next wave crashes into the rocks just as hard as the last, and the cycle repeats again.

Rewind a few hundred years, and these very same lava tubes were used by women and children to provide shelter during times of war. And then, there are legends like that of Princess Popoalaea, who had been said to have used this cave to hide from her cruel husband, Chief Kakae. The story is captured in a nearby sign.

Further Back in Time
Rewind back millions of years, when the islands were still being formed. There was no one around to witness it, but rivers of lava were flowing freely around open cracks in the still hardening earth. Processes similar to those conditions constructed these tubes over time, leaving not just scars in the beautiful Hawaii landscapes, but direct connections to an ancient period. A time machine if you will.

Back to the near future, closer to the next time you get to walk through one of these geological gems. When you hear those waves crashing near the shore, and the rocks sizzling beneath your feet. Close your eyes, and drown out the sounds of the kids playing tag and climbing the rocks nearby. Picture what it would have been like to have seen your surroundings just a few hundred years ago. Wouldn’t look too much differently, would it?

Sunday Photo: West Maui Sunset

2009-06-07T09:30:00.001-05:00

Taken by Kris Nelson on February 17th, 2009
Location: Private lanai at the Sheraton Maui Resort, Ka’anapali

I was looking through the past editions of our Sunday Photo Series and noticed that I haven’t featured a beautiful Maui sunset in quite a long time. In fact, the last one was posted all the way back in September! I guess we’ve had a lot of other great things to share if we’ve gone that long here without featuring one of these beauties.

This photo was taken on our most recent trip to Maui and the day after we witnessed our first Haleakala sunrise. I guess maybe the Maui sunsets were getting a little jealous that their early early morning cousins were getting all our attention this trip, so it decided to puff up its chest and spread out its peacock feathers in all its glory. And I must say, while it’s not the most fiery and golden sunset we’ve seen on Maui, the blue skies added their own dramatic feel to the mix. The result was one of the best sunsets we’ve seen in our relatively short time on the islands.

I have already received a few compliments on this photo, but to be brutally honest, I’m not 100% happy with how it came out. When I see this photo, I still recall the anguish I was going through as I snapped away with photo after photo. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a beautiful image and certainly worthy enough of being shared with all of you. My angst at the time was that I couldn’t capture the actual beauty of the scene exactly the way I was experiencing it (which happens a lot on Maui, actually). To put it another way, I took about a dozen shots at this scene with various exposure settings, came away with this one as the best of the bunch, and in my opinion, it’s still probably only half as spectacular as it was in person. What does that tell you about these magical Maui sunsets, eh?

Talk Story
Since we’re back on the topic of Maui sunsets, a very popular one I might add, I thought I’d pose the question to everyone: Where is your favorite place to watch the sunset on Maui? I realize that’s a pretty tough question, but we’d love to hear your thoughts.

Not to introduce any bias of our own (cough, West Maui, cough), but I mentioned the above photo was taken from our private lanai of our room at the Sheraton Maui Resort. I only say that because as much as fun as it is to share a gorgeous sunset with a beach-full of strangers or with a handful of nearby tables at your favorite ocean view restaurant, there’s a lot that can be said when you and yours are able to bask in the beauty of one of these moments in private. It is definitely one of those moments where you feel like the only two people on the island, and that the sun is putting on this amazing show just for you.

Your turn, tell us your favorites, and don’t be afraid to link to some Maui sunset eye candy as well.

Mahalo,
- Kris

Related Posts and Links

Archives: Sunday Photo Series
Sunday Photo: Warm and Golden Maui Sunset
Time Lapse - Maui Sunset
My Flickr Photoset: Maui Sunsets

Aloha Friday - June 5th, 2009

2009-06-05T08:00:00.001-05:00

Aloha Friday
A car stopped near a one-lane bridge along the road to Hana.

So Much Aloha in a Time of Need
Earlier this week, I posted an update on Twitter that Cindy and I had to rush out to Des Moines (from Chicago) for a family emergency. Cindy’s younger sister, Jill, needed to have emergency heart surgery and actually had to be resuscitated twice on Tuesday during the entire ordeal (that morning and then again during pre-op).

It’s been a very difficult week to say the least. But the messages, prayers, and well wishes from my Twitter friends from Hawaii have been so supportive and heartfelt. There was so much Aloha from so many great people. I wanted to extended another huge Mahalo to @raatz, @AMauiBlog, @OahuAJ, @GoVisitHawaii, and @AngelaKeen for their thoughts and support, and to all the other friends and family members that have sent us messages, phone calls, and emails these passed few days.

Just a quick update, Jill remains in the Cardiac ICU unit at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, IA, in critical but stable condition. She continues to make small improvements each day, and Wednesday night she was able to open her eyes and acknowledge that we were all there by her side. Yesterday morning, Cindy and I got to meet the pastor at Jill’s church who drove down from Northern Iowa to see her. We said a pray with her and she knows she has God on her side, too.

Cindy and I had to return home late last night, but Jill is still on our minds and in our hearts. Her mom, husband, and his family will be back visiting her again tonight and staying over the weekend. Cindy and I are also trying to arrange another visit for the following weekend as well. It’s going to be a long road, but we’re all confident that with her strength and everyone’s support, she’s going to pull through.

Thank you again, everyone.

- Kris

More Blogger Aloha - A Maui Blog

2009-06-02T07:45:00.001-05:00

It was only a few months ago when I writing about how hard-working Hawaii blogger Sheila from GoVisitHawaii.com was nominated as a finalist in the Lonely Planet’s Best Travel Destination Blog of 2009. It was a rough battle with some other amazing blogs from across the globe, but GVH took home the top prize.

Over the weekend, another one of my favorite Hawaii bloggers, Liza from A Maui Blog, was featured on the new So Much More Hawaii site, which is put together by the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau. The piece is a Q&A style with Liza and she offers some very nice insight into the what/who/why of her blog and her Aloha for Hawaii. Be sure to read the entire post and leave your own comments.

I think it’s pretty cool that the HVCB has taken to blogging and social media (@hawaiihta) to help spread the beauty of Hawaii. It’s also fitting that they choose to feature Liza and A Maui Blog because she herself has been a big advocate of social media Aloha with her blog, via Twitter as @AMauiBlog, and by taking it one step forward by adding the “in real life” connections via her Maui Tweetups. Cindy and I had the great pleasure of meeting Liza and a few other Maui tweeps on our visit to Maui last February, and it was such an awesome part of what turned out to be an amazing two weeks in paradise. Having met her in person, I can say that everything that Liza exudes on her blog and via Twitter is 100% completely genuine, which is a very admirable trait in my book, and one of the big reasons you should be reading her blog.

Left to Right: Dave (@raatz), Liza (@AMauiBlog), me (@webnelly) – not my best shaka. :)

Be sure to check out the full article with Liza over at the So Much More Hawaii blog. Also, I featured A Maui Blog in our Weekly Website series back in January, so take a read there to see more of why I really enjoy her blog. And of course, if you’re not already subscribing to A Maui Blog or following @AMauiBlog on Twitter, you’re missing out.

Way to go Liza, and keep up the great work!

Related Posts

Sunday Photo: My First Maui Photo

2009-05-31T11:28:00.002-05:00

Taken by Kris Nelson on May 30th, 2006
Location: Sheraton Maui Resort, Ka’anapali

It’s really hard to believe that it was only 3 years ago yesterday that we set foot on the island of Maui for the very first time. It feels like we’ve had the Aloha Spirit and the magic of the Valley Isle in our hearts for so much longer than that, but alas the calendar doesn’t lie.

For our “Maui Anniversary”, as @Ucsmiles put it, I decided to hunt down and post the very first photo I ever took on Maui for our Sunday Photo this week. So, here it is. It may not be exuding Maui like a beautiful waterfall or a sandy beach would, but for Cindy and I, the view in this picture sparks the recollection of so many great moments and wonderful memories that keep us longing to return to our favorite island paradise. It’s the view from our lanai at the Sheraton on the very first evening of the very first day of the rest of our Maui-enriched lives.

The Story Behind the Photo
I’ve probably told parts of this story here and there through various blog posts in the past year and a half, but since I’m sharing this particular photo this week, I decided to throw it out there again in it’s entirety.

It was back in the early part of 2006, and we were planning and budgeting every nickel and dime we could afford to get us to Maui. At the time, we had no idea we were about to fall head-over-heels in love with Maui, and that it would change our lives forever. Cindy’s aunt and uncle were seasoned veterans with this heaven on Earth, and their own location of choice was the Royal Lahaina Resort just north of Black Rock in Ka’anapali. They were the ones that scoped out the Sheraton, among many others in the area, and made the recommendation that “this was the place for us.”

So it had been decided, the Sheraton it was. We made the reservations, and opted for the ocean front rooms in what we later found out to be called the “Hale O Ka Moana” building. With Hale, meaning ‘house’ and Moana, meaning ‘ocean’, you knew these views had to be good. Admittedly, we never did a lot of research into the grounds of the Sheraton prior to our trip, or about the Ka’anapali area as a whole. We didn’t know what Black Rock was, or about the cliff diving ceremony. We’d heard Cindy’s aunt and uncle talk about the walking path along the beach, but we weren’t expecting to find Whalers Village so close and to be such a great place to shop.

After all, it was only our second true vacation as husband and wife, so I never really thought to look into those types of things.

Our Arrival
So, after things were booked and the countdown to our vacation was over, we were on our way. I’d like to say that the direct flight to Kahului from Chicago just flew by, but those who have made similar flights know that’s just not the case. We were a little worn out from travelling all day, but that feeling didn’t last much longer. As soon as we started our final approach to the airport, the first visions of palm trees, those amazing mountains, and the sparkling ocean came into view through that little window. That was just the small start of a turnaround in our spirits that latest the rest of the evening.

We made our way off the plane, got our bags, and waited for the shuttle to take us to the car rental area. Feeling the trade winds rush by and watching all the palm trees sway above us around the airport parking area was the next part of magic that started infecting our spirits. We had a bit of a wait at the rental counter, but that didn’t dampen our mood at that point. With some sketchy directions from the nice man behind the counter, we had our car keys and a map and were on the road.

The First Drive
We’re veterans now of that drive from Kahului to Ka’anapali along Hwy 30, but I still remember the feeling of awe we had that first drive. The winding roads heading west towards Ma’alaea, those amazing views, the tunnel, seeing cars parked at the Papawai lookout, the view of the West Maui mountains towering into the sky right in front of you. It was starting to get to us, we couldn’t believe what we were seeing. After what had become a long and taxing travel day started to feel like a dream. Maybe it wasn’t real and we had dozed off on the plane and we really were just dreaming.

Closer to Lahaina, and even passed town, there are parts of Hwy 30 that literally go right up to the ocean. There are concrete dividers, much like those used in highway construction back home, that do their best to keep the water from the roads, but that’s really it. When we were passing those areas for the first time, we couldn’t believe our eyes. I, being focused on the road, was listening to Cindy’s cries of disbelief of what she was seeing, and I was hearing emotions in her voice that rivaled those of our wedding day.

Aloha, Sheraton
We made it to the Sheraton Maui Resort on the first try without getting lost (which is rare for me). As we pulled up to the front lobby for check-in, we were greeted with fresh flower leis that were so beautiful we wish we could have kept them forever. While we checked in, the bell hop took care of our bags by loading them up on a golf cart. We hadn’t thought much about it at the time, but it was because the Hale O Ka Moana building is actually on the other side of Black Rock. That meant driving to the back of the resort, to where we followed this nice fellow in the golf cart.

The bell hop unloaded our bags onto the luggage cart while we parked the car, and he led us up to our room. By know, we were just about speechless because we were starting to see some of the greenery and flowers around this part of the Sheraton for the first time. No kids running around, no crowds, everything was just so peaceful.

The Moment
We get to our room and the bell hop opens the door for us. The first thing we see is a view like the one to the right. The bright sunshine rushing through the curtains, the top of a giant palm tree, two chairs on the lanai, and nothing else but clear, blue ocean. That was pretty much it for us as far as holding back our emotions.

We raced towards the lanai while the kind bell hop started unloading the luggage cart and putting the bags on the bed for us. I think both of us completely forgot he was there, which I’m sure was a reaction he and the other staff got a lot from first time guests like ourselves. That first deep breath of the ocean air from our lanai was more intoxicating than the best Mai Tai’s on the island.

I turned around just in time to see that the bell hop was almost done, so I came back inside to give him his tip. He tried giving me directions on how to walk back to the lobby from this side of the resort, which I was barely able to focus on, and then he was off on his way. By the time I made it back on the lanai to rejoin Cindy, it was too late. Her eyes were welling up, so mine started right along with hers. We couldn’t believe how beautiful everything was, and that we had come so far that day, and in our lives, to be witnessing this magic for ourselves.

The Photo
So, after we had a moment to collect ourselves, it was time to freshen up after that long day of travelling, and to go find something to eat. Part of me thought a good, cool splash of water on the face might have awaken any bit of disbelief we might have been experiencing at that moment, but it was all real. While Cindy was getting ready, that’s when I tore open my luggage to get to my camera. I snapped what would end up being my first Maui photo ever, and although it’s not going to be hanging in any galleries anytime soon, it has all that special meaning for us as being the start of a beautiful love affair with Maui.

Talk Story
So that’s it, the story behind this photo. Our lives, much like the ones of many others before us and since then, were forever changed by the experiences of that first trip to Maui. Each time we arrive at Kahului airport, there is that sense of magic, but it’s never going to equal that feeling we had on our first trip.

Do you remember your reactions when visiting Maui for the first time? Silly question, I guess. Well, share them with us, as we know we’re not the only ones that have been struck hard by the magic of Maui over the years, and we’d love to hear your stories, too.

Mahalo,
- Kris

Related Posts

Maui Photo Festival Update – Classes Posted

2009-05-30T11:08:00.001-05:00

I’ve been following the news on the 1st Annual Maui Photo Festival and Workshops at the Hyatt Regency Maui since last February, and each time I read an update about it, I get more and more excited about going.

I just recently noticed that the folks putting this event together has updated their website with a list of the initial classes and sessions they’re putting together. The list is expected to grow as September approaches and as more professionals and instructors are added to the bill. But even looking at this starting list as it is today, it looks like it’s going to be a really great opportunity for me and other aspiring photographers out there. Here are some of the sessions I personally am thinking of attending.

General Sessions

Creative Synergy in Your Work and Vision
Creating Your Own Style
Awaken the Artist Within
The Traveling Photographer

Classroom Sessions

Getting Close
Comprehensive Workflow
Image Processing Techniques and Predictable Printing
What’s New in Adobe Photoshop CS4
Confessions of a Fine-Art Photographer
Photo Book Publishing

Afternoon Extended Sessions

Zen and the Art of Photographic Seeing
Fix It in Photoshop
Portfolio Review – Classroom Style
The Creative Composite

Pre-Conference Sessions

Around the World with a Digital Camera
Sweet Light Photo Safari

Phew, that’s a lot to be packed into just 4 days, and that’s only about half of what’s available so far! Be sure to visit their website and click on CLASSES at the top to see more details on these and the rest of the classes planned. Obviously I won’t be able to attend all of these in just four days, so I’ll be forced to make some tough choices. Regardless, I still think I’ll be leaving the workshops with more new knowledge in 4 days than I could have learned on my own in 2 years of practice.

The Digital Cafe
The festival organizers are also planning to have a Digital Cafe setup on the grounds of the Hyatt (where the event is being hosted) where you can have your personal portfolio critiqued by one of the professionals at the festivals and get one-on-one advice and direction. That sounds pretty sweet, considering I’ve just started to put together my own print portfolio. So far I’ve only made 14 prints (via my SmugMug account) and those are only from our first 2 trips. I need to get it in gear if I want to have a more complete portfolio to show up with in September since I’d like to think my photos have been getting better and better each trip to Maui.

As a side note, if you ever see a photo here that you’d like to have a print of, just checkout that SmugMug link above or send me a note if the photo is not featured there yet. :)

Trip Planning Update
I mentioned in a post earlier this month that I signed up for this festival and was 95% sure we’re be able to make it out for our second trip this year. Well, that number hasn’t changed, but with some of the budgeting we’re doing to accommodate this trip, it is looking like we’ll be able to pull it off and hope to have everything else booked and ready to go by the end of July. Once we get that finalized, we’ll know for sure what extra dates we’ll have for enjoying the island on our free time and, of course, meeting up with all our Maui friends.

Talk Story
As with the previous posts regarding this event, if you’re planning on attending or maybe volunteering, let me know. I’d love to trade notes and thoughts about this festival, and certainly meet up in real life while we’re in Maui. Also, if you know of anyone that might be interested in these workshops, please spread the word by sharing either these posts or the official festival website at www.mauiphotofestival.com. The more people that attend this event, the more successful it will be and the better chance it will become an annual event. Also, the folks at the Maui Visitors Bureau and the Hawaii Tourism Authority wouldn’t mind the extra visitors, either. :)

Mahalo,
- Kris

Related Posts:

Aloha Friday - May 29th, 2009

2009-05-29T17:53:00.002-05:00

Aloha Friday
A sunset view of the coast of Kahekili beach in West Maui.

Be sure to check out the preview editions of our Aloha Friday photo in our new Archives.

Mahalo.

Having Vacation Portraits Taken – Creating Personalized Memories

2009-05-28T07:45:00.003-05:00

Those following along on our blog during our trip to Maui last February know that Cindy and I were really excited about having professional portraits taken while on vacation. It was an amazing experience and something that gave us not only more wonderful memories of paradise, but special, personalized keepsakes that we will be enjoying forever.

Sure, you can buy postcards and posters of all the beautiful sights on Maui. You can also, like me, take a dozen memory cards full of photos yourself, capturing that same majesty of the Valley Isle forever. But when you can get that same surreal backdrop with both you and yours in the foreground, you have an instant memento. Now, do that almost 200 times over the course of an hour, and you’ll be able to fill a vacation album that will make your wedding album feel a little jealous.

The following post describes how this idea came to light for us, and details of just about everything that went into our little version of things. There are also notes about the wonderful photographer we hired for this, Natalie Brown, and some of the reasons why she helped make this experience so incredible. And of course, there are a few of our favorite photos from the shoot, too.

If you haven’t considered having vacation portraits taken while on vacation in Hawaii, I strongly urge you read the rest of this post. By sharing our experience, and how happy we were with the results and having such beautiful pictures of us in paradise, hopefully you’ll give it some serious consideration. If you have had vacation portraits taken, be sure to scope this out anyway and talk story with us at the end with thoughts and feedback from your experiences.

Introduction
Allow me to start with a short story. I really enjoy taking pictures of just about everything when we’re in Maui (I know, shocking). But for the literally thousands of shots I’ve taken, and the hundreds upon hundreds I’ve shared with family and friends, there are maybe two dozen or so that are of both Cindy and I together. For awhile there, it was sort of a joke that Cindy was vacationing without me because she was the only on in the photos. :)

So, last year as we toured the island with my mom and showed her all the wonderful reasons we love coming back to Maui each year, I noticed a portrait photography kiosk at Whalers Village in Ka’anapali. It was right along the beachwalk, so we must have passed it about a dozen times over the course of those two weeks. And although we didn’t stop at that particular booth, I kept the idea in the back of my mind as something I definitely wanted to do the following year. This February was that following year.

The Research
There are a lot of great posts already out there about how to find a wedding of portrait photographer for your Hawaii vacation, so I’m not going to re-invent that wheel. Sheila at GoVisitHawaii.com has a good one that I recommend to those interested in learning more about things to look for, what to ask, things like that.

My search actually started shortly after I signed up at the Hawaii Photography site and started sharing some of my own photos there. What I discovered was a lot of great Hawaii photographers sharing some of the most beautifully done couple and family portraits. That pretty much sealed the deal that we were going to do this. I followed a link from the HP site for the Maui Photographers Organization, which helped narrow my search down to two photographers: Natalie Brown and Karma Hill.

I considered them both as they each had wonderful portfolios and tons of experience. And it would have been a very difficult decision, had Karma not been planning to take a maternity leave at the time of our trip. Natalie it was!

The Preparation
After trading a few emails and a couple of phone calls with Natalie, we were booked for an hour-long sunset shoot at Keawakapu Beach down in South Maui. Most photographers recommend either early morning or sunset photo sessions (aka the “Golden Hours”) when there is enough natural light but not that glaring sunlight when the sun is directly overhead during most of the day. Anyway, just from talking with Natalie over the phone, I could tell she had a very cheerful and friendly personality, which really helped make the overall experience that much more enjoyable. More about that in a bit.

Our session was scheduled for Friday the 20th, which gave us an entire week to hunt for our portrait attire. It was kind of fun hopping from store to store looking for something we really liked, and by Wednesday, we were all set. The other part we were careful of was to not to get overly sunburned prior to the photo session. That was a tough one, because anyone that knows Cindy will tell you it’s very hard to keep her out of the sun, especially on Maui! Considering we landed on Sunday and had to wait the entire week before heading to the beach, Cindy was a real trooper about it.

The last part of our preparation was picking up fresh leis to wear for some of our photos, and also because we didn’t receive them while checking in at the Sheraton like we had received in the past. We found two beautiful, fragrant leis at Safeway (yes, Safeway) that we brought along with us. We were down at the beach about 45 minutes before our shoot started, so we walked around and enjoyed the incredible beach Natalie had recommended. I totally forgot the leis were in our tote bag. D’oh! It wasn’t until after we were back in the car and on the way to dinner that we realized we had forgotten to use them. Too funny, if you ask me.

The Photographer
The name Natalie Brown came up a lot during my initial research. I mentioned earlier that she has a profile on Hawaii Photography and the Maui Photographers Organization website, under both Weddings and Portraits. She is also featured on the new Art on Maui website, which I might add is a beautifully designed website. Based on all these samples of her work, and her own website, it became evident rather quickly that we were going to be getting some high quality photos that we would adore forever.

I noted that Cindy and I arrived about 45 minutes prior to our shoot, which gave us a chance to start walking off some of that nervous energy. After all, aside from our wedding and a view portraits on a cruise back in ‘07, we haven’t had a lot of exposure (pardon the pun) with getting professional photos taken. To this day, Cindy still reminds that our wedding photographer way back when was a little shady. :)

Even though we were nervous in the beginning, Natalie’s friendly and engaging personality made us feel very much at ease. She asked us a few questions on what we were looking for in terms of poses and shots, which we really hadn’t thought of up to that point. Natalie offered a few suggestions, explained the rest, and we were off and running. Before long, we were talking story about our trip and the island and sharing different ideas for photos and poses, and all those nerves were completely gone.

In fact, near the end of the hour when the sun was starting to set and the usual crowds began to gather on the beach, we noticed a few people watching us to see what all the camera flashes were about. Was it yet another celebrity couple vacationing in paradise, or the latest pair of Maui newlyweds? Or maybe they were watching that guy standing on his head doing beach yoga? (No, I’m not making that up.) Normally, all those eyes would have added some anxiety for us, but as you can see from the photos, we didn’t have a care in the world.

Natalie was a real pro, and not only could you tell she was really good at her job, but that she genuinely enjoys her work. Come to think of it, if I was a professional photographer, I’d have a hard time thinking of anywhere better than Maui to shoot. All told, it was an amazing experience, and one that was totally worth it. And thanks to Natalie, we have incredible photos to always remember it by.

The Photos
Okay, so if you’ve read the entire post up until now, a big Mahalo. If you’re just here to see the photos, that’s cool, too, but you don’t know what you’re missing (hint hint, scroll back up).

One short note. The reason I’m able to post these photos here are because (1) we purchased the duplication rights for all the photos Natalie took for us, and (2) I asked for Natalie’s permission to do so. Photos taken by professional photographers in these types of photo shoots are almost always still owned by the photographer unless arranged otherwise. Therefore, while I’m able to post these photos here, they are still owned by Natalie and I have to insist that you treat them as such. As an aspiring photographer myself, I wouldn’t want my photos to be stolen or otherwise misused without my permission, so please treat these the same way.

So, on to the pics.

Now, for that last photo, Natalie showed it to us on the LCD viewscreen right after she took it. She said the sunset and the sky in the background was so perfect, that people might think it’s just a fake backdrop. I totally agree, so it’s a good thing we have all these others to prove everything is real.

In all, we ended up with over 175 photos from the hour-long session with Natalie, 30 of which we ordered 4x6 prints for a little photo album. With that many great photos to have as keepsakes (or a brag book, if you will), I don’t know how the evening could have been more amazing.

Talk Story
Mahalo for reading, and hopefully these notes from our experience has left you considering to have your own vacation portraits taken. While I tried to add a lot of different details here, I did have to leave some of the lesser things out, so if you have any questions or what to hear even more about our experience, hit me up and let me know. Leave a comment, shoot me a note on Twitter (@webnelly), or via the Contact Us page. Just like everything else Maui, I could talk story about this evening for hours on end.

Also, please share your own experiences or thoughts on having portraits taken on your Hawaii vacation. We’d love to hear how things turned out for your portraits.

Mahalo,
- Kris

Updates to Trip Details, Future Plans, and Archives

2009-05-26T13:13:00.001-05:00

It’s been a while since our site has had any major changes to it other than the blog here, so I to mention a few things I have recently updated. If only I had the time to work on more of these sooner, a problem I’m sure many of you reading this share for sure.

Trip Details
While the full gamut of updates from our latest February trip our still being worked on (Details and Itineraries), I did update the Trip Details page with a quick note on our next trip, added a few notes to the previous ones, and updated our little fun facts at the bottom with travel info from this year. In terms of more details for our fourth trip, I’m looking to put together the same Details and Itineraries pages that I did for Trip 3 last year. To see what I mean, take a look at the Trip 3 Details page and the Trip 3 Itineraries section as an example.

In the meantime, if you’re still new here and weren’t following along with me on Twitter and our blog during our February trip, the Trip Journal page has links to all those blog entries for those two magical weeks on Maui this year. The Trip Journal page itself will be getting a makeover soon, but for now, you can still click your way down memory lane.

Future Plans
We have a running joke with one of our friends (and fellow Maui-loving couple) that we don’t get to talk to very often. When ever we do meet up, Cindy and I are either talking about a recent Maui trip or about an upcoming one. Well, that’s what the Future Plans page is for. I also just updated that with notes on our proposed trip this September for the Maui Photo Festival and Workshops, as well as sneaking in a possible week next February to revisit our favorite 40-ton mammals again.

At the moment, we have our plans tentatively sketched out until 2011, but things are always changing.

Blog Archives and Categories
The next two updates are related towards our blog, which believe it or not is closing in on 300 posts. That’s a lot of content and talking story, and certainly more than I could have dreamed about when I first started this site.

First up is an easier way to navigate through our Blog Archives. Instead of the default list of links to each month/year archive in the right sidebar, I have replaced that with it’s own, cleaner page and navigation. The new Blog Archives page breaks down each month and year a little cleaner (in my opinion), and by selecting a month to view, you get a faster and easier way to browse articles from that month. For example, take the March 2009 archive page. Here, you’ll see a list of articles with the date it was posted, and by selecting one of the articles, you can see a preview of it right there on the page with the option to read the entire post if you’d like or to leave a comment.

Easy, eh? I hope so, because the next update is the Blog Categories section with follows the same design. Here, you can see all the different categories (or labels or tags, depending on your naming preference) that our posts are filed under. So, if you wanted to see all of our posts for Aloha Friday or our Sunday Photos, you can do so quickly and easily. Maybe you want to see which posts where we’ve mentioned our favorite West Maui resort, the Sheraton Maui Resort, or when we’re talking about Heavenly Hana or those lovable whales. It’s all there now, just a click away.

Wider is Better
Maybe you’ve been reading our site for awhile now, or maybe you’re still new. Did you notice things got a little more roomier here last week? As a pre-cursor to a larger site redesign this summer, I decided to expand all the pages on the site and the blog by an extra 200 pixels (geek talk, I know). Just suffice it to say I know have more room to add larger photos and various features throughout the site that previously weren’t possible. Hopefully it makes the site easier to use and the extra little images of Maui everywhere will help bring that ocean breeze closer to your senses wherever you are.

More to Come
As always, this site and blog are a labour of love for the Valley Isle, and as I get more time to work on changes, I race through them as fast as I can. I’m still hoping to get back into a happy groove here with more frequent posts to the blog, but also to finish our Trip 4 details as mentioned earlier, expand our Music section with even more great artists that I’ve been listening to in the past year, as well as that site redesign I was mentioning for this summer.

If it sounds ambitious to you, you probably still only know that half of it. But alas, if it wasn’t for the magical grip that Maui has over Cindy’s and my heart, it wouldn’t be worth doing.

Aloha for now, and mahalo for stopping by.
- Kris

Sunday Photo: Vacation Portrait

2009-05-24T11:00:00.004-05:00

Taken by Natalie Brown – www.nataliebrownphotography.com on Feb. 20th, 2009
Location: Keawakapu Beach, South Maui
Posted here with written permission from Natalie Brown

As mentioned last week, Cindy and I just received the DVD of all of the photos from our amazing vacation portrait session with island photographer Natalie Brown (www.nataliebrownphotography.com) back in February. Having our portraits taken on the most beautiful island in the world was such a magical idea, and have given us some of the greatest keepsakes from our Maui trips that we’ll probably ever have.

I’ll be writing more later this week about how this idea came about and why it’s such a great idea to look into if you love the islands as much as we do and you want to bring home such a personalized memento. In the meantime, you can check out more of our portraits in our Photo Gallery or view them as a Flickr Slideshow.

Mahalo and Aloha,
- Kris

Aloha Friday - May 22nd, 2009

2009-05-22T22:51:00.002-05:00

Aloha Friday
An outrigger crew out for a little morning exercise in West Maui.

Follow Friday on Twitter
Unfortunately, I’ve been mainly AWOL on Twitter this week, so I don’t have a list of tweeps to provide for Follow Friday. If you’re new to the blog, check out my most recent Aloha Friday posts for Follow Friday recommendations.

Sunday Photo: Hamoa Beach

2009-05-17T19:16:00.003-05:00

Taken by Kris Nelson on February 23rd, 2009
Location: Hamoa Beach, East Maui

Another weekend has passed, and I’m inching along through sorting and uploading photos from our more recent Maui trip. Most recently, I managed to get a few photos from Hana Bay and a few from Hamoa Beach like the one pictured above. It’s photos like this that make me miss Maui the most. It just looks so serene and peaceful. Ahhhh.

Anyway, I hope to have a special treat for next Sunday, as I ordered the full DVD of photos from our vacation portrait session with island photographer Natalie Brown. I’m anticipating it to arrive sometime this week, and will pick a few to feature next Sunday. I’m also planning on having some our favorites available as a slideshow and yet another post on Natalie’s great work and how choosing to have professional portraits taken while vacationing in paradise was such a wonderful idea for us.

Stay tuned for that, and have a nice week.

Mahalo,
- Kris

Aloha Friday - May 15th, 2009

2009-05-15T07:13:00.002-05:00

Aloha Friday
Stunning views from the Kula Lodge in Upcountry Maui.

Follow Friday on Twitter
Here are a few new faces on Twitter that I’ve recently connected with that I wanted to pass on for this week’s edition of Follow Friday.

@anuheajams
Name: Anuhea
Location: Hawaii
Web: http://www.myspace.com/anuheajams
Twitter Bio: Maui born n bred singer/songwriter
* Quick note, I posted about Anuhea’s new album earlier this week if you’d like more info.
@JulieRoberts49
Name: Julie
Location: Canada & Maui
Web: http://www.idealvacationrentals.com
Twitter Bio: Owner of Ideal Vacation Rentals since 1999. Teacher for 30 years. I love to write articles about Maui and the Vacation Rental Industry.
@MauiHawaiiInfo
Name: Hawaii Web Group
Location: Maui
Web: http://www.hawaiiwebgroup.com
Twitter Bio: We build Hawaii websites, do SEO, online marketing, and help local businesses get off the ground.
@LahainaDotCom
Name: Conor
Location: Lahaina
Web: http://www.lahaina.com
Twitter Bio: Editor for Lahaina.com - Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, World. For tourists and locals, a guide to island paradise living

As always, you can find me on Twitter as @webnelly.

Friday Bonus Links
I’m still working on getting back on track with my Weekly Website series here at the blog because I’ve been finding some great sites and blogs I’ve been wanting to share with all of you. While I try to get caught up with those posts, here are links to a few of them I’m planning to feature soon.

As you can see, I have quite a list to go through, so once I get this series back on a roll, there will be more than enough entries to keep it going.

Mahalo, and have a great weekend,
- Kris

New Daily Maui Photo Feed

2009-05-12T07:49:00.001-05:00

If you’ve been following our blog for any length of time now, you might have noticed that the posts have sort of slowed down in the last few months since we’ve returned from Maui in February. It’s been pretty busy back home, to say the least, and I’m making a renewed effort to try and get back into the swing of things.

In the meantime, I’ve done my best to make sure there has been a little bit of Aloha throughout the week with my photos in the Sunday Photo and Aloha Friday series. Luckily for me in my current time shortage, those pictures have been worth 1,000 words or more, seeing as how Maui is such a picturesque place to visit.

New Daily Photos
Back in December, I kicked off my Maui Photo Day Calendar (http://daily.kdmaui.com), which is a gadget that you can add to your iGoogle page or even to your own blog or website. I’ve been having a lot of fun picking new photos from my trips for each day of the year. I do admit, however, that it’s been a little harder than I imagined, but still a labour of love.

I’ve also recently put together a new way to receive your daily dose of Aloha from Maui, with a new Daily Maui Photo RSS feed. Chances are, if you’re reading this blog, and some of the other great Hawaii blogs out there, you already use some form of RSS reader on a daily basis. Now with this new RSS feed, you can get the same daily photos from my photo calendar delivered right to your favorite reader.

And the best part is, the photos in the RSS feed are double the size of the ones in the calendar format, so it’s like getting twice as much Aloha! Just like the calendar, each photo links back to Flickr, where if you’re a member there, you can leave comments about any of the photos featured.

How to Subscribe
If you are already using an RSS reader, subscribing is easy. You can just click on this RSS feed link and you’ll be taken to the Feedburner page to choose your reader. You can even use that link to preview the 10 most recent entries in the feed, showing you just how much larger the version of these photos are compared to the calendar format.

If you don’t have an RSS reader or don’t know what one is, I’d recommending taking a look at Google Reader (assuming you have a Google Account or use Gmail). They have a few good Help and How-To articles and videos to get you started. If using RSS is not your thing, maybe start off the calendar gadget to begin with.

Spread the Word
If you know someone that might want a little Aloha each day, spread the word about this Daily Maui Photo feed. You can have them read up on it here, or tell them to visit http://daily.kdmaui.com for all the details. I added the Subscribe Feed information on the right-hand side of the page (below the calendar preview).

Also, feel free to leave your comments here letting me know what you think.

Mahalo,
- Kris

The Waikoloa Condominiums

2009-05-11T07:15:00.002-05:00

File this one under “If I had $1 Million Dollars.”

A little bit of a tangent here today. Back in the beginning of the year, I signed up for the Hotel Hana-Maui newsletter because we were visiting their lovely property for an overnight stay in February. For whatever reason, I hadn’t seen any activity from that newsletter until late last week.

So, what was the first update from the Hotel Hana-Maui newsletter that I received? It was details about a real-estate listing for two remaining cottages at the Waikoloa Condominiums on the grounds of the Hotel Hana-Maui. Now, some might have been thrown off by receiving a real estate solicitation from a resort newsletter, but I surprisingly didn’t mind as much. After all, we absolutely fell in love with the Hotel Hana-Maui when we stayed there for a night last February. Everything was so peaceful and quiet, relaxed and serene, we easily could have stayed there for an extra 3 nights had our schedule (and budget) allowed for it.

That said, I played along with the newsletter entry and clicked the link to check out more about these condo units. Wow! They obviously had to be bigger than the Sea Cottage we stayed in, which were absolutely gorgeous to start with. These condo units included full gourmet kitchen with appliances, fully furnished, bamboo floors, and a private, covered lanai just to rattle off some of the amenities listed.

Now, I’m not trying to turn this into a free promotion on behalf of the realtor selling these condos, but I really paused and pictured what it would be like living out there. Having a beautifully furnished townhome-style condo on the edge of Heavenly Hana. Literally on the tip of East Maui, watching the sunrise every morning, heading down to Hamoa Beach in the afternoon, or enjoying a horseback ride at the Hana Ranch before dinner. Sigh. That would be too perfect.

Flashing back to reality now, the price tag for one of these two units was an obvious splash of cold water on the face. The first unit rings up at $675,000 while the second trails behind at $725,000. Relative to some of the premier properties, and even some mid-range choices, in hot spots over in West Maui and South Maui, those prices seem rather attractive, don’t they?

But alas, way too rich for our blood. The little 5 minute virtual getaway, if anything, did let me relive some of the short moments we enjoyed staying at the Hotel Hana-Maui earlier this year. And it certainly left me wanting to plan for a longer stay at the resort on one of our upcoming trips back to the Valley Isle.

More Details
I would be amiss if I didn’t share the link to the details of these condominiums that I’ve been talking about here, so I’m posting it below. Again, not trying to be a sounding board for island real estate agents out there, just passing this along to all my fellow dreamers out there. :)

Visit http://www.uniquelyhana.com for more details and photos.

Mahalo,
- Kris

Sunday Photo: Luau Fire Dancer

2009-05-10T10:39:00.001-05:00

Taken by Kris Nelson on February 26, 2009
Location: Ka’anapali Sunset Luau, Sheraton Maui Resort

I’m turning up the heat a little bit with this week’s Sunday Photo. This shot was taken at the luau at the Sheraton Maui Resort during the second week of our trip last February. Although the weather forced the rest of the luau indoors, we were still treated to the fiery finale outside in the upstairs courtyard. Regardless of the weather, the luau was still lovely, and just another part of our travel traditions each year.

From a photography standpoint, this is the type of shot I really prepare for; doing researching, looking at samples, and a little bit of trial and error. Much like shooting the whales out on the water, there isn’t much you can do to practice for this type of shot (unless you know someone you plays with fire for a living). For all the anticipation and effort, I’m pretty happy with the end result.

A Small Bonus
As I put this post together, I’m listening to the latest release from the newest Maui-born artist in my Hawaiian music collection, Anuhea. It was @jalove that tipped me off to this CD with a post on Twitter. After firing up iTunes and listening to a few of the samples there, Anuhea just sold herself another copy of this self-titled record. :)

It’s not the type of Hawaiian music that fits into the same categories as HAPA or IZ, iTunes files it under R&B/Soul for what that’s worth. It does, however, have a subtle island feel to it that you might only pick up on if you’re a fan of Hawaii (hence reading this blog) and take a peek at her bio at Amazon.com. Some compare her music to that of Colbie Caillat, but I like to think each artist has his/her own sound and urge you to take a listen for yourself. You can also track what others on Twitter are saying about Anuhea here.

Head over to iTunes or Amazon (click the cover image above) to listen to samples, and if you like what you hear, be sure to grab a copy. Not into digital music yet? Shoot over to MELE.COM to order a CD and also check out some other Hawaiian artists while you’re there.

Mahalo,
- Kris

Cover Image from Amazon.com

Calling All Maui Photography Fans

2009-05-09T09:30:00.001-05:00

Calling out to all Maui photography fans that haven’t heard of the Maui Photo Festival & Workshops or might not have registered yet. The organizers have recently extended the previous Early Bird Registration discount of $100 through May 15th with the use of promotional code MauiPFKP09 at the time of registration. The festival and workshops are being held at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa from Sept. 16-20, and it’s looks like it’s going to be a lot of fun and a great chance to learn from the pros.

I picked up this little tidbit by subscribing to their newsletter, and it’s not listed on their site currently. So, if you visit their site and maybe aren’t sure about registering just quite yet (and have an extra $100 burn), at least hit up the newsletter so you can stay informed about the cool new excursions and hands-on lessons that are in the works. The February newsletter announced an open-doors helicopter excursion with a former Air Force aerial combat photographer. I mean, come on, how often are you gonna have a opportunity like that?!?!

See You There
I was totally excited about this festival and workshops when I first noticed it back in February. I’m still pretty psyched about it, and signed up shortly before the original Early Bird registration ended. At this point, we’re 95% sure we’re going in September, but haven’t booked the room at the Hyatt yet and we’re still watching out for airfare deals.

The Hyatt festival rate is a really great deal, so that’s not holding us up. The festival organizers mention it’s too low to publisher on their site (it’s in the newsletter, though) and it’s over a $100 lower than the Hyatt’s starting rate. Plus, you can extend it up to 3 days before and 3 days after the festival, so you can make a full trip out of it (although we’ll probably only be able to add 1 extra day).

Even though we still aren’t 100% sure we can make it this year, the cancellation policy on the registration site was a key selling point for me. It says that if you do have to cancel within 30 days of the event, you can transfer it to another person, or you can carry over that registration for next year’s festival. More than 30 days prior to the event is a full refund less $50.

Why Not Help Out?
The festival organizers are still looking for volunteers, and if you live on Maui or will be visiting and want to help out, they ask you contact them via their website and to sign up for their newsletter for details of their first volunteer meeting.

Talk Story
If you’re already registered or still thinking of attending, drop me a note here or on Twitter (@webnelly) so we can compare notes on the different workshops and excursions we’re interested in. Also, Cindy and I are trying to add an extra day or two open for another Maui Tweetup that week, so even if you’re on Maui and aren’t interested with the festival, keep an eye open for a little get together.

Mahalo,
- Kris

Aloha Friday – May 8th, 2009

2009-05-08T14:00:00.002-05:00

Aloha Friday
A rainbow seen off the coast of West Maui in Ka'anapali.

Our Aloha Friday photo each week is from our Maui Photo Day Calendar. Visit http://daily.kdmaui.com for more details on how to add a new Maui photo on your iGoogle page or your blog everyday.

For those experiencing a little déjà vu, this photo was also featured in our Sunday Photos Series back in March.

Follow Friday on Twitter
It’s been another busy week for me, and I haven’t had too much time to get through the great posts in my Google Reader, let alone spend more than 5 minutes on Twitter. Anyway, thanks to Evelyn’s latest edition of her Carnival of Aloha, titled Tweet, Tweet, Rockin’ Carnival!, I connected with two more tweeps online that I thought I’d pass on.

@puahawaii
Name: Pua Aloha
Location: The Big Island
Web: http://kohalacoastweb.blogspot.com
Twitter Bio: Pua is sharing her love of Hawaii and the Kohala Coast with everybody who is dreaming of their Best Hawaii Vacation. Get Best Hawaii Vacation Tweets DAILY
@KBordessa
Name: Kris Bordessa
Location: California
Web: http://bigislandonthecheap.com
Twitter Bio: Author, freelancer, content writer [KrisBordessa.com] partnering w/@LeslieLang on HonoluluOnTheCheap.com - BigIslandOnTheCheap.com. You should visit!

The weather’s finally looking up here in Chicago, emphasis on finally, which is good news for my photography trips and working off those winter pounds, but it also means less time at the keyboard and keeping the flow of Aloha running regularly here and on Twitter (as @webnelly).

Hoping my time management skills will kick in and I can start rolling out more frequent updates as soon as I can.

Mahalo, and enjoy the weekend, wherever you are.

Sunday Photo: Tall Palm Trees

2009-05-03T10:14:00.003-05:00

Taken by Kris Nelson on February 22nd, 2009
Location: Kama’ole Beach Park II, Kihei

Sure, you see these palm trees and blue sky photos all over the place from postcards to guide books and travel brochures. But for whatever reason, I still like capturing them all over the island, from practically every beach we’ve visited over the years.

This one was taken on our beach hopping day last February, at our first stop that afternoon. Kama’ole Beach Park II is one of three beach parks that together make up Kama’ole Beach. Numbered I, II, and III, we visited Kama’ole Beach Park I last year, and had just as perfect weather as we did this time around.

Beach Park III is still further south of where we stopped this time, and of the three, it is the most popular with the locals. Not only does it have a nice stretch of sand like the other two, it has a large lawn and park area, volleyball nets, and a picnic/pavilion area ideal for large group gatherings.

It wasn’t until last year’s trip did we really start venturing down towards South Maui to go beach hopping. Since then, it has become a favorite place to go hunting for new beaches to visit, which as you know is one of our travel traditions each year.

Talk Story
Is any of your favorite beaches in South Maui? I still have some work to do in updating our Beaches section here on the site, but until then, feel free to share your favorite South Maui beaches with us.

Mahalo.

Aloha Friday - May 1st, 2009

2009-05-01T21:05:00.002-05:00

Aloha Friday and Happy May Day!
A young whale calf practices breaching off the West coast of Maui.

Our Aloha Friday photo each week is from our Maui Photo Day Calendar. Visit http://daily.kdmaui.com for more details on how to add a new Maui photo on your iGoogle page or your blog everyday.

Follow Friday on Twitter
For my Twitter recommendations this week, how about a few great travel and destination resources offering some great deals and advise.

@SheratonMaui
Name: Sheraton Maui Resort
Location: Ka’anapali, Maui
Web: http://www.sheraton-maui.com
Twitter Bio: Where the legend of Ka‘anapali began...brought to you by Jocelyn
@starwoodhawaii
Name: starwoodhawaiiPR
Location: Hawaii
Web: http://www.starwoodhawaii.com
Twitter Bio: Starwood Hotels Resorts in Hawaii...Sheraton, Westin, Luxury Collection and St. Regis – Iconic resorts, beachfront enclaves and breathtaking locales
@WestinMaui
Name: The Westin Maui
Location: Ka’anapali, Maui
Web: http://westinmaui.com
Twitter Bio: The Westin Maui Resort & Spa is situated along a spectacular stretch of the famed Ka'anapali Beach
@kaanapaliresort
Name: Melissa
Location: Ka’anapali, Maui
Web: http://www.kaanapaligolfresort.com
Twitter Bio: Marketing Manager for Ka'anapali Golf Resort on the island of Maui
@KahanaSunset
Name: Kahana Sunset
Location: Kahana, Maui
Web: http://www.kahanasunset.com
Twitter Bio: Maui vacation condo rentals on secluded white sand beach.

If you have Maui or Hawaii tweeps that I haven’t featured yet here on our Aloha Friday posts, feel free to leave a note, or better yet, catch me on Twitter (@webnelly) if you haven’t already.

Have a great weekend everyone