Maui Wedding, Perfect Weather, Love and… Death?

You come here to Paradise to get married to the person you love more than anything. Intoxicating scent of flowers, romantic beach walks, perfect sunny weather, Mai Tais and love love love is what you have on your mind and in your heart. A Maui wedding is why you come here.

But did you know that every year, visitors actually die here in Paradise?

After your Maui wedding, go explore the island!

Recent drownings of two San Francisco Bay area residents, one at Nakalele Point blowhole on the west side of Maui and another falling from an oceanside cliff on the Big Island reminds us, that – posted warning sign or no posted warning sign- nature can seriously injure or take away life with one fell swoop. One step too close to the edge, one foolhardy jump in to a shorebreak, one scamper across wet rocks on a stream bed, or one dive down a waterfall can all end up in a Hawaiian nightmare.

It’s understandable that we have our guard down when we travel. Some people see locals hike with slippers, jump into the shallowest of waters, head out in what looks like manageable surf and feel empowered to emulate them. Much like a tourist in the urban jungle on the streets of New York or LA or anywhere in the world, walking around with a loose purse dangling or a wallet in an easily picked pocket is vulnerable to theft and assault, so too are unsuspecting visitors lulled into a false sense of security by the seemingly docile and Paradise-like island elements.

But it is imperative to remember — especially during a dreamy, stary-eyed Maui wedding trip — that nature is inherently unpredictable and dangerous. It cannot be sued or held liable for negligence.

So, just be aware of some of the following dangers when you are here for your Maui wedding:

• ocean currents can tire a person and cause them to drown (if you are caught in a rip current, you should swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the rip, THEN in; keep CALM; frequent beaches with lifeguards);
• afternoon tradewinds can blow you far out to sea (if you’re kayaking in the morning and see the wind line out at sea, return to shore immediately);
• shore break and waves in general can break your neck (certain beaches like Big Beach in Makena can have vicious shore break that should be avoided unless you are very comfortable in the ocean and have experience);
• waterfalls are slippery and pools shallow (do not jump);
• flash floods happen in an instant (keep your eye on the weather and have an escape route to higher ground planned);
• distracted drivers gawking at the beautiful scenery are a hazard (keep your eyes on the road);
• do NOT EXPECT warning signage to be posted in potentially dangerous areas (just like you do not see “do not flaunt your valuables in the  city” signs everywhere you go in urban jungles);
• and many more…

This is not to scare you or keep you from enjoying your Maui wedding vacation. It’s merely aimed at sparking awareness that you are entering a new, possibly unfamiliar world that has real dangers and can make for real nightmares.

Live the Maui Wedding Dream, not the Maui Wedding Nightmare.

Stephan writes for Live Maui Webcasts blog to pass along pertinent information on all things weddings, Maui and Hawaii. Read more about him here.

 

Big Beach in the Winter

Many people ask me whether there are seasons on Maui and my answer is always an emphatic YES!

The whales arrive.
The air gets nippy (ok, I’m exaggerating… HAha).
The sun sets way farther south.

In the picture below you can see the Maui sunset behind Kahoolave. That’s very far south. On December 21st, the sun will be at it’s farthest point south.

The other pictures were taken a bit earlier. Big Beach is a must-see when you come to Maui for your wedding.

Aloha from the beach on my iPhone
Stephan

Coming to Maui and Love Tennis?

Are you coming to Maui to get married and you just happen to love tennis?

Along with several top notch tennis clubs for private lessons and clinics, Maui also has a great variety of municipal courts to play on for free!

Just bring your racket, some sneaks and your game.

The pictures below were taken in Wailuku at Wells park.

Other great courts are in Kahului at War Memorial Stadium and in Kihei at Maui Sunset condo. My favorite tennis club is in Makena.

What better way to get active after your wedding than to hit some balls with your new spouse!?!

Alooooha,
Stephan

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What Maui Vibe Suits You?

Aloha from the North Shore Maui.

Today, my Saturday, I decided to have a relaxing day on the beach, reading a book (Eat, Pray, Love). I was just sitting here when the thought occured to me:

Do prospective wedding couples like you really know what’s out here on Maui, or are you set in your ways to stay at a Wailea or Kaanapali Resort and leave it at that? Of course there are nice resorts (my ex employer Four Seasons comes to mind), but for highly authentic, off-the-predictable trail, there are little B&B type places on the north shore or up country that might provide a more peaceful and rejuivinating experience. Far from the shops, the Hard Rock Cafe’s and turn key resort activities lay little nooks like the one in the pictures below.

I whipped out my Blackberry, took the pictures and am now uploading them to you. Modern technology is amazing!

Seriously though, if your style is more laid back than a tourist resort, look to smaller Inns and B&B’s. Craigslist, VBOR.com, and tripadvisor.com might be a good place to start looking.

Aloha (and now back to my book)

Stephan

Maui Rainbows at Your Wedding?

This is one of those times when I wished I had my nice camera with me. But alas, I only had me my trusty, yet rusty Blackberry with me and that meager camera was all I had to capture the absolutely amazing double rainbows.

This happened to me on a spontaneous camping trip out to Kipahulu. I drove the backside through Kaupo and the rain squall to the east combined with the sun to the west made for one of the most intense rainbows I had ever seen.

If you’re coming to Maui and are the adventurous type, heading out to Hana side and spending the night in any one of the B&B’s or the Hotel Hana Maui, or — heaven forbid — even went camping, you would probably encounter a rain shower and therefore also, quite likely a rainbow. These ones may be hard to beat, but you never know!

Line at Charley’s is LOOONG

I just got to Paia for the free Willie Nelson concert at Charley’s. The line is already long and packed.

If you’re not here already, you probably won’t get in.

Arrrgh… Bummer.