(by Luca Bravo)| Hawaii, US
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Maui, Hawaii: Discover the Magic of the Aloha Spirit
Exploring the Magic of Maui, Hawaii
Maui, the breathtaking island in Hawaii, beckons travellers with its stunning landscapes, vibrant culture, and the welcoming Aloha spirit. This paradise, known for its lush scenery and diverse activities, offers a treasure trove of attractions, adventures, and unique experiences that will leave you enchanted. Join us in exploring Maui’s unique charm and uncover…
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Iao Valley Maui Hawaii [OC][4016 x 6016]
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Papaya Tree-Iao Valley, Georgia O'Keeffe. https-//www.wikiart.org/en/georgia-o-keeffe/papaya-tree-iao-valley.jpg
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Iao Valley State Park
Named a “National Historic Landmark” in 1972, Iao Valley is rich with lush beauty and Hawaiian history. It’s easy to see why the ancient Hawaiians considered Iao Valley a place of “mana” (divine power and life force energy). This 4000-acre State Park is one of the most gorgeous and peaceful areas on Maui, hands down.
This is one of many sacred areas where one might commune with the ancients, but only after your heart and soul passes the test of honorable reverence.
One cannot just "walk" through without being humbled utterly silent. Feeling every blade and leaf of fauna as it fills the air with its broad multitude and spectrum of abundant flora. Areas here are deeply rooted to the indigenous. When walking through lush greenery it feels almost surrealistic like you've stepped into a completely new dimension and in many senses... you have.
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Iao Valley, Maui
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My Relationship with Nature
My relationship with nature has never been very clear to me. I was brought up in a family that normally gathered indoors, took vacations to major metropolitan cities, and never owned a cottage. As a child, any exposure to nature was acquired through school field trips or the occasional beach vacation. Being from Toronto, I grew up under the impression that in order to experience nature one must leave the city. However, through the pandemic I learned that there is more around me in my home than I ever realized. In the past few years not only have I gained a new appreciation for nature, but I have discovered that if I look for a place of peace I can find it in nature even when I am in the centre of the city.
As I stated, growing up my family was not very “outdoorsy”. However, it had been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember to visit Hawai’i. After enough begging, when I was ten years old my parents took my sister and I to Maui. While my mother and sister explored the towns around the island, my dad and I hiked to the Seven Sacred Pools, explored bamboo forests and snorkelled in a stunning crater off the island. With this trip being my first real exposure to nature, I discovered a love for it that I never had tapped into before. Since that trip, I have been lucky to go back to Hawai’i two more times. Not only did I immerse myself in the natural beauty of the state, I learned about the meaning of the landscape to the locals, which shifted my perspective yet again. After this series of trips, I began to view the person-nature interaction very differently. I understood the meaning of the land to those indigenous to it. I learned about native practices and land worships that carry throughout Hawaiian history. On a personal note, I discovered a new thing that brought my dad and I even closer.
When I think of my sense of peace, my initial thoughts go to my entire family spending time together at my grandparents home. This will always be my comfort place and the setting that brings me happiness and peace. But experiencing nature with my dad and learning about the meaning of the land to the native Hawaiian people, my heart also goes back there and I will always remember those trips as transformative and peaceful. Attached below is photo my dad took in Iao Valley, Maui.
Since then, I have been able to find places of peace in nature in my own home. Covid allowed me the time to explore my own neighbourhood and discover beautiful walking trails and ravines that I had no idea existed prior. My relationship with nature evolves and changes each time I discover a new place, learn about its history, and make new memories there. As life goes on and things change, so do places of peace. We no longer gather as a family in my grandparents home as family members pass on and individuals relocate. Homes change and people come and go, so developing my relationship with nature has been extremely grounding and peaceful.
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Haunted Hawaii
Finally reached Maui where I've found what I consider the most intriguing stories to write about in my quest to find first hand experiences in paranormal activities, being a foreigner (Hao'le) in these islands, getting the locals to talk you is a bit challenging, especially if it’s about beliefs and culture of these sacred islands, but my listings in the ads in local newspaper with the promise of cash incentive for their story got me some promising leads my name is Richard Jameson writer and author of many books of the paranormal but this will be my first which I will entitle "Haunted Hawaii".
Walking up Keoki's unpaved driveway in a place called Happy Valley felt eerie maybe it was my mixed emotions towards my phone call with before planning my visit, it was in his voice being that Keoki was a bit shaken up still from his encounter which was few weeks earlier. "White lady” he said it was name given by people who encountered her but it never restricted to Maui alone but throughout the Hawaiian island chain, she was never thought of a threat or harm to those met her but she gave a lasting impression to her stooges. It was a night no different from any other Keoki was driving home alone from Iao Valley around 11pm after dropping off a friend it was the usual being that he has done this countless times, till he saw her standing on the side of the road, kind of odd for a woman being out so late at night on a lonely road wearing a white dress or gown of all things with white hair and few strands of black mixed in, Keoki couldn't really see her face being her hair covered most of it, he slowly passed at first but being taught at young age to lend help to anyone who might need a hand especially a Kūpuna (elder) so he stop and circled back to asked if she was ok or needed a ride home, the nearest house in the area she was at least a ½ a mile away so it the logical thing to do for any concern citizen to another to give assistance. She got in the passenger seat, he tried to look at her face in subtle way maybe he would recognize her being that Maui is a small Island where locals tend to know one another, but to no avail so he tried to just focus on his driving, but she did ask for a cigarette which he gladly handed her one. The old lady lit her cigarette and began smoking but kept silent as if she savored every puff , Keoki tried to make small talk asking her name, family name , where she going? but still no answer, as Keoki paid more attention to road contemplating where to drop off his mysterious passenger, smoked filled the whole car she didn’t even bother in rolling her windows down and he was afraid of asking her to he didn’t want to offend her. But rolled the driver window side instead but as the smoke rushed out from the smoke filled car Keoki had felt a cold chill pass through him giving him (chicken skin) Goosebumps and as he thought to look back to talk more to her she was gone, vanished in thin air, she was gone! Keoiki tried to gather himself didn't know what to think of what he just experienced, was it a dream? Was she a figment of his imagination? Ghost? But one thing for sure he sped done out of there doing 90 miles per hour and he wished he could’ve gone faster if not for the winding roads.
The following morning he tried to forget what happened the night before but can't seem to let it pass so he said told some of his friends and most of them laughed made fun of him saying he was lucky, and best explanation of it all had a familiar tone to it all he encounter madam Pelé (Hawaiian Fire Goddess, White Lady, Old Lady) and he was fortunate he took the time to entertain her because those who didn't met some unfortunate demise like an accident, sickness or death. I thank Keoki for taking the time to tell me his story of the infamous character giving me my first entry to my book, and asked if he had any other scary stories to tell beside the one he had just given but ended it, he left me hanging out to dry and I wanted more. I reluctantly walked down the driveway but I felt hopeful that I will get to listen and write about more stories on my short stay here, I say short because it’s costing me a fortune being in paradise.
Two days went by without a hitch mainly because the next story I was getting was coming from a group of teenagers and they weren't allowed by their parents to meet me unless it's over the weekend, because they didn’t want my interview to interfere with school work, it was ironic because these boys didn’t look the type of students who made the honor roll. The incident happened on a school night while these boys took a short cut at a Heiau(sacred temple/site) above a community called Hawaiian homes and the only reason they put themselves it that predicament was they were somewhat delinquents so I was told by one of their hanai(foster) parent, I'll disclose giving out their names simply acknowledging them as the boys( Hawaiian names are long anyway). Well they finally made it to our meeting which was at a park right across from the home of one of the boys, with the watchful eye of some neighbors. The story goes, It began with a late afternoon walk going home after playing hookie (truancy) all day which they often did as a group and losing track of time and seeing street lights come on was a bad sign of being in trouble they were already late and due for lickens( spanking) in Hawaiian. Well someone had the brilliant idea of instead of walking the normal route suggested they do a short cut through the Heiau(sacred area) in which everyone reluctantly agreed, even though it was forbidden to do so and that it’s the worst place to be at night mainly because out of respect of Hawaiian culture don’t ever walk in sacred areas, you might trample or stumble on sacred bones of kings that might has been buried in that area. They weren't even in 100 yards into this place till they heard it, beating drums, than they saw it, what looked like fire torches cared by above average sized human figures, which stopped all of them in their tracks each boy froze because they heard about it before but never in a million dreams they thought they would encounter the Hawaiian Night Marchers and they all knew what to do. Lie down and not look upon their faces and stay still till they pass because to look at these warriors who protect sacred land meant death it seemed like hours pass till their ordeal was over, they laughed at the incident mainly because most of them peed in their pants. I'm glad these boys made it home safely to give account of their experience but repeating their actions to cross through sacred land is no more, lesson learned the hard way. I asked if they had nightmares because of the incident but they said “not da kine that would you shi-shi your pants” (wet) and the laughed some more. Well I thank them and off I went to find my next story, it’s hard to believe the story leaving me a little skeptical the account but because my respect towards culture and beliefs of this sacred island maybe just maybe it did really happened but its good writing material I plan to still used it in my book anyways.
The next day I met Dave, not a local but a (Haole) foreigner like me, he contacted me through a friend of a friend with have them in common, and we are both from the Bay area, San Francisco to be exact. We agreed to meet over coffee and I can say MacDonald’s has better drinks than the over price coffee shops around and near my hotel. Dave sat across me and we had a quick introduction before we got started and it all did when he placed a shoe size box on the table. I didn’t know what to think at first, I began to ask myself what’s with the box? Is there bones in it? Is it some kind of old relic? I gave him that impression of being little frustrated guessing what is in it talking to myself so he blurted out “it’s a lava rock” but not just any other rock this one was cursed he explained. Where did you get? “On a tour up Haleaakala” he said as He began to give an account of where and how it came to in his possession. Dave and his wife Brenda signed up to watch the sunrise above the largest (sea level wise) longest dormant volcano in Hawaii or world, and their experience was breathtaking to see the sunrise was one of highlights on their trip. They were also allowed to take some pictures along the crater of the volcano walking around the area Brenda picked up a lava rock with a lots of holes running through it, the natural formation of the rock designed by nature made it alluring to her and she wanted it, then she remembered the rules given by their guide before there tour and that was not take anything rocks, flowers or anything that the stumble upon on the Volcano because its considered sacred to the Hawaiians, so basically you can look but no touching for that matter. Going down the mountain and back to hotel is where she confessed what she did and to Dave he admitted at that time it was no big deal it’s just a rock and it made a decorative paper weight for her home office, but boy was they wrong. The following day the couple got into a freak accident with the rental car when it slammed into a guardrail on the Pali road and the cause according to Dave is it simply ran out brakes, he couldn’t stop so he ran the car through the rail. Because of the accident their vacation was cut short and they went back home. Back in San Francisco Brenda was home a lot her office was there which she placed her precious as an addition to decorate her desk area and immediately weird things started happening she hear strange noises like chanting of some sorts language she couldn’t understand, books would fall from the selves, she felt like someone is in the room with her, it happened so often that every time she’d tell Dave about he would just tease her about it saying her mind is playing tricks on her. Brenda was so traumatized that it drove mad even to the point her health deteriorated lack of sleep, not eating and depressed because no one believed her, than it went after Dave next he said one night he stayed up late and saw the light in his wife’s office flickering so he went to see what was going on and the moment he stepped near her desk some kind of entity picked him up by throat and threw him across the floor and he realized none of this happened before until that rock came into their lives.
The next morning he called the tour company and confessed to their sin about taking the rock when forbidden to do so and asked what to do and they advised to bring the lava rock back because maybe Madam Pele (fire goddess) wants it back. At that’s the reason he is sitting across me that day he flew thousand miles to bring the rock back with an offering so that the curse would be lifted, but Dave said the moment he took the rock out from his home it’s like something was lifted no more voices or weird events it all stopped since. I think this was the first story sent chills down my back and I hope my readers will have the same experience reading it, but the downside it came from a haole (foreigner) it might lose credibility I wish it came from a local, again with all I gathered so far none really stood out except Dave’s story because it’s the only story that someone actually got hurt, maybe Hawaii paranormal are friendly if you play by their rules, do this or don’t do this you’ll live, I’m becoming a little skeptical if I should write this book based on Hawaii ghosts let alone giving it the title “Haunted Hawaii” if there is no real haunting not just friendly who hitch rides and beat drums.
That night I went back to my room tired hoping there were more real stories like Dave’s, so I laid down slept early, than I woke up to the hotel room door opening I opened my eyes to look seeing it a jarred I told myself maybe I forgot close it and I’ll shut it later, but then I saw her silhouette a dark shadowy figure and what seems like she was floating towards me, I wanted to shout but I couldn’t, I wanted to get up and run but I couldn’t, I couldn’t even move, trying my best move an inch but it felt like I was pinned by a strong entity I was desperate and I didn’t where she went my eyes scanned the room it was the only thing that could move looking for her she was gone, (so I thought) till I look towards the ceiling there she was hovering over me, eyes bloody red, mouth opened and not only couldn’t I not move this time I felt like she was sucking the life out of me I was having a hard time breathing I asked myself is this how I’m going to die? Killed by a entity? Did I ask for this? Was it because I said I don’t believe in Hawaiian ghost? Was she here to make herself real to me? I screamed in my mind okay I believe now please let me live! And suddenly just when I was about to give in to my demise, she vanished and whatever feeling had before like being tied down by a supernatural force was a all gone, I didn't sleep well after my trauma I couldn't wait till the sun came up to haul my ass out of my hotel room, jump on a plane and go back home, which it did.
My conclusion to my whole trip was this, I believe when you go chasing after the supernatural looking for ways to entertain your readers be careful! not only are inviting them into your presence but its like you've become their connection to our world, door way so to speak and have then you have audacity to deny they even exist, well your asking for trouble. What happened to me in my last night in Maui is as example of just that, all the demons i made connection with came to my room to make it clear they do exit and they are not to be messed with.
#ghoststories #goosebumps #chickenskin #nightmarchers #whitelady #madampele
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iao valley, september 2022
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Iao Valley - Maui, Hawaii
Conquer the breathtaking Iao Valley in Maui, Hawaii, with unyielding confidence. Explore this natural wonder and be inspired by its beauty.
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Hawaiian Vacation: Mount Haleakala and Iao Valley
Continuing on the report of my trip to Maui, let’s talk about Mount Haleakala. Remember the big volcano I talked about yesterday? That’s Mount Haleakala. It’s also a National Park (so it costs $30 to visit). Now, when I hear “volcano,” I picture lava shooting into the air, with the occasional earthquake for good measure. This one doesn’t have that. In fact, it doesn’t even have a crater. If Frodo…
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Iao Valley Maui Hawaii [OC][3946 x 5912]
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Iao Valley - Maui, Hawaii
Conquer the breathtaking Iao Valley in Maui, Hawaii, with unyielding confidence. Explore this natural wonder and be inspired by its beauty.
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What's It Like To Be An Artist On Maui
What Its Like to be an Artist on Maui
Maui is a magical place where artist from all over the world come to visit and absorb the inspirational and creative energy. The Valley Isle offers everything a creative person needs to express theirselves through art. You will find every type of fine artist here on Maui from painters of all mediums, like myself, ceramics, glass, muralists, wood, traditional Hawaiian mediums, sculpture, photographers, reclaimed art, and so much more.
I want to dive into what its like to be an artist here on Maui and why so many artists choose Maui as their place of creativity and refuge. For myself, being an artist here on Maui is a relatively new experience. I spent all of my professional art career on Oahu, Hawaii, where I went to UH Manoa, started out in the art markets and developed my career with other amazing Oahu artists. In 2010 I had my first experience showing my work here on Maui and got a little glimpse into the Maui Art world. Read more about that experience here.
In June of 2019 we opened our first Maui art gallery at the Andaz Resort Wailea, The Welzie Art Gallery. This was a giant step for me as an artist and changed the course of my art career. After 3 months of being here on Maui, my wife and I fell in love with the slower pace and the bustling art scene. Running our gallery from Oahu just didn’t seem like the way to go. Once we found a warehouse space to create my studio, We were ready to make the move to an outer island.
Its been 4 years since making the transition to Maui and I have come to realize Maui is an amazing place to be an artist.
Here Are My 5 Reasons Why Being an Artist on Maui is Amazing
Reason 1
The pace of Maui is slow, which makes everything not stressful, but at the same time it is not so slow that time seems to stand still. For me, I need a little tempo to life and Maui Has the perfect balance. Its so convenient to be able to get to all the art stores, hardware stores, galleries and everything you need all within a short 20 min drive. With no traffic. The mellow pace of the island just reinforces a mellow and happy artist, which is exactly what I need to create my happy art.
Reason 2
There are so many galleries on the island with so many towns being little creative hot spots. This is great for any artist because it allows them to show their work in multiple areas close to home.
Hana, which is out on the east side of the island is very secluded and lush, where you will find the artists who need to get away from it all and create in their own little jungle world.
Paia is the small surf town on Maui’s north shore where you will find the surfing artist from all over the world who balance their creativity with their passion for riding waves in the world class surf surrounding the area. Yogis and hippies help contribute to the art scene in Paia, giving the area a very rootsy vibe.
Wailuku is getting brighter and brighter everyday as the small town nestled around Iao valley has created Small Town Big Art, an organized effort to seeing the community grow through art installations and outreach. STBA brings artist from around the islands and around the world to show their work and inspire the local community.
South Maui, where my studio and art gallery are, seems to be quickly becoming a major arts center on the island. In Kihei near my studio you will find artist, photographers, framers and creators starting to gather. There are now over 5 art galleries in South Maui, as well as a 3rd Friday event which shows artist works. The Four Seasons has artists showing their work daily in the lobby, The Andaz Wailea has created the Artist in Residence Program where I am the resident artist (I don’t live on site) It’s safe to say South Maui is definitely becoming another strong art hub in the Maui art community.
Makawow/Upcountry
In this upcountry town you will find a handfull of galleries with a country vibe. Nestled on the slopes of Haleakala, you can look out over the island while wearing a jacket and cowboy boots. You will find beautiful landscape painters such as Jordanne Gallery and others. It's such a different vibe up on the mountain and is a great example of the diversity in culture on Maui.
Lahaina,
The art Mecca of the Hawaiian islands, The gathering place for all Hawaii artists. With so many galleries and art culture in Lahaina, its hard to say there is a more artsy town than Lahaina. As Lahaina rebuilds I think and hope that all of us Maui artists know how important it will be to make sure the art scene of Lahaina town comes back and shows more local artists than ever before.
Reason 3
Like all the Hawaiian islands Maui is absolutely beautiful. If you’re an artist that gets a recharge from nature and getting away from it all, then Maui is like a constant reset button. Jumping into the clear, warm blue waters or looking out over the edge of a massive cliff on a hike, Maui can recharge your soul every single day. For myself as a creator, the ocean has always been a big source of inspiration. A good surf, snorkel or ocean swim would always get me in the right head space to create something happy and fun in the art studio.
Reason 4
Now this may be a controversial topic but one of the reasons why Maui is great to be an artist isa because so many people come to visit Maui every year and Maui is known for its art culture. As an artist you always want more people to see your artwork, and having new people come and visit every week allows for the artist to spend more time creating artwork and less time having to travel around showing their work. It is more like a “If you build it they will come” mentality. We as Maui artist get to make what we want to make then have the ability to show it to lots of new people right on our door step.
Reason 5
Maui has so many programs embedded into the Maui community to help facilitate the Arts. For example the Maui Arts and Cultural Center that shows artwork, theater and music. The Hui No'eau Visual Arts Center in Makawow which has art programs and gallery space. Maui Open Studios which organizes Maui artist to open their studios for art collectors to visit their creative space. Small Town Big Art, which I have mentioned before that brings artists of all kinds from all over the world to help bring creativity and inspiration to the Wailuku area. Maui truly is truly an art island paradise.
There are so many reason why Maui is an amazing place to be an artist. For myself, anywhere in the Hawaiian islands is an amazing place to be an artist. Hawaii breaths energy and mana and for someone who needs some creative energy, Hawaii is the place to thrive. Any artist in Hawaii with the ability to make a living here is truly fortunate. I am so fortunate to call Maui my home and to be a part of this Maui Art Community.
Aloha,
Welzie
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Iao Valley - Maui, Hawaii
Unleash your adventurous spirit in the captivating Iao Valley of Maui, Hawaii, where confidence meets tranquility. Let the breathtaking scenery leave you in awe.
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