Hello Friends and Family,

Maui on my Mind, Part 30

Link to the web version by clicking here.

Link to this year's index by clicking here.

As I continued my morning walk, now formally on the Kapalua Coastal Trail, I find so many spots that warm my heart. This is the far side of Kapalua Beach, the side that is supposed to be for the residents of The Montage. They even have a small beach concessions stand where those residents can obtain a beach umbrella or rent surf gear. The "everybody else" can purchase soft drinks and snacks.



Once you walk up the Coastal Trail to this point, you get a beautiful view of all of Kapalua Bay — Merriman's, the walkway from the parking lot, Coconut Grove as well as the beach itself.



If you walk a bit farther and turn around, you can get a good shot of the Montage. Reserve a room online and it will only set you back $1,780.85 per night (or more) for a two-bedroom ocean view residence. Hmm, I wonder if any are listed on Airbnb.



Here is one of my favorite shots — six palms with Moloka‘i in the background. You gotta stop and take it in before continuing the walk.



Well, the Kapalua Cliffhouse is still standing. The Montage website states, "Originally built in 1940, Kapalua’s Cliff House was once a facility for the managers of the historic Honolua Plantation. Now operated by Montage Kapalua Bay, Cliff House has been completely renovated and is now used as a historic and unparalleled venue for private events on Maui.

Offering breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, Molokai and Lanai. This intimate venue is nestled on the cliffs of Namalu Bay providing the perfect location for weddings, rehearsal dinners, wine dinners, corporate events or casual barbecues. The floor-to-ceiling windows frame the spectacular ocean views and sunsets."



Just belong the Cliffhouse, one can see a little finger of lava that is an interesting place for explorers to get a good view of the ocean waves. Let's hope that they don't meet one face-to-face.



The Montage has huge hedges of Naupaka — you may recall my previous pictures and description of this interesting flower — or should I say half-flower. Look carefully and you can see an ant on the flower on the left.

Hawaii.edu has a nice description of the legend of these flowers, "In ancient times, one version goes, there was a beautiful Hawaiian princess known as Naupaka. One day, the villagers noticed that Naupaka looked very sad. They told her parents, who approached Naupaka and asked her what was troubling her.

'I have fallen in love with a man named Kaui,' replied the princess. 'But Kaui is not of noble birth—he is a commoner.' According to Hawaiian tradition, it was strictly forbidden for members of royalty to marry people from the common ranks.

Distressed, Naupaka and Kaui traveled long and far, seeking a solution to their dilemma. They climbed up a mountain to see a kahuna who was staying at a heiau (temple). Alas, he had no clear answer for the young lovers. 'There is nothing I can do,' he told them, 'but you should pray. Pray at this heiau.'

So they did. And as they prayed, rain began to fall. Their hearts torn by sorrow, Naupaka and Kaui embraced for a final time. Then Naupaka took a flower from her ear and tore it in half, giving one half to Kaui. 'The gods won’t allow us to be together,' she said. 'You go live down by the water, while I will stay up here in the mountains.'

As the two lovers separated, the naupaka plants that grew nearby saw how sad they were. The very next day, they began to bloom in only half flowers."



Our next treat is a really fine Plumeria tree. Its fragrant flowers are loved for leis and for wearing behind the ear. I can smell them now.



This is a photo of natal plums, native to South Africa. The fruit is edible but all other parts of the plant are said to be poisonous.



More Natal Plum fruit and flowers. The flowers are wonderfully fragrant. There is a hedge on the lower road just mauka of this spot that exudes a heavy dose of Natal Plum perfume. I used to walk that route before the Coastal Trail was built — loved it! BTW, we have Natal Plum in Arizona, several plants in my landscaping just outside my dining room.



To be continued...

Life is good.

Aloha,
B. David

P. S., All photos and text © B. David Cathell Photography, Inc. — www.bdavidcathell.com