Going local

Feb-March 2026, Maui

When travelling, we enjoy finding out what the locals do if they lived here.  We usually know we have it right if we find a group of school kids tagging along with us.  Like when we went to the snake venom center in Bangkok and watched with rapt attention along with thirty first graders as the clinical staff extracted venom from poisonous snakes. 

So we knew we maybe had it right when we showed up at the Kealia Pond National Marine Refuge nearby and saw junior high kids on a field trip taking field notes and helping the ranger plant Native species.  we knew we had started to find the local scene. We got some great bird shots too.  Our best ideas come from just asking someone who usually lives there.

Like our paddling captain Mike. Several days ago Siri signed us up for the canoe paddling class and learned how the club was created in the 1970’s by some locals to give the kids something to do.  Now there are several paddling clubs and it just became a high school sport.  We began our paddle with a traditional Hawaiian chant, blessings, and blowing of the conch shell.  While paddling, we saw a couple whales breach right in front of us!  At the wnd of the paddle we asked our captain Mike who has lived in Hawaii for over 20 years, for suggestions for activities. He recommended the ukelele jam on Thursday night at the nearby church (which we did and is an earlier post) and then he told us about ‘First Friday’ in historic Wailuku.

First Friday is a local street fair and this week they had the state falsetto champion and an emmy award winning Hawaiian singer on the main stage.  We arrived to people already staking out the best places with their folding chairs.  All of the stalls and tables as well as the shops were small mom & pop operations.  One shop owner said, “this is all made local and is not that touristy stuff.”

We joined in the free line dancing being  showcased on the first floor of the public garage.  After several songs, I asked the instructor if there were other dance nights we could attend and they invited us to join them for their intermediate class on Monday held in the shopping mall.  We must have made some impression!  (Note: we did go but got lost a bit and then found out it had been cancelled.)

While listening to the great music at the fair, we struck up a conversation with an artist and told her we were headed ‘up country.’  She suggested we go the Kula Farmer’s market where the farm she works at is selling their organic produce.  So we put that on the list (as we mentioned in an earlier post) and was a great find.

One question can lead to so much fun.

Another routine we enjoy doing is finding a ‘free walking tour’ to help us get oriented. We were suprised to find one in Kihei where we are staying.  Our guide, Keith, thought his hometown should have one just like other famous cities so he started his own tour just two years ago. We found out a whole lot of interesting history of Kihei – like who actually created that full-size humpback whale sculpture (we found out it is was supposed to be a fountain!)

Then, as we were headed home after sunset we came upon a group of bicyclist lit up for a night ride.  They were practically blinding with all their bling.  They handed us their card with their purpose “to spread aloha & cheer! (also excercise) ”  A ride that started during Covid and then just kept going.   They invited us to join them on their next ride, they even had bikes we could use.  We seriously considered it, but we had already made plans. Another activity to add to our list for next time.

We then both tried out water sports, which if you haven’t guessed it, is quite the thing in Hawaii.  I think kids born here learn to surf like other kids learn to swim or ride a bike.

I started with my first ever surf lesson.  The instructors with woman-owned “Maui Surfer girls” made it look easy.  They helped us get up to speed and hit the wave at just the right time.  I was able to get up to standing each time and even made the ‘hang loose’ schaka hand sign – just before wiping out.  I did find out a few new muscles I rarely used as my whole chest was sore from the paddling and the constant ‘up dog’ and ‘sphinx’ poses which are a critical part of surfing.

Then we both tried surfing with a standup paddleboard.  Again we had an experienced teacher this time with “Maui Wave Riders” who helped us and off we went.  A little easier to get up to speed than normal surfing, but harder to steer and stay upright once the wave hits.  We both also had some spectacular falls – too bad there isn’t any photgraphic evidence.

We also did a lot of snorkeling. Yesterday, we found ourselves sitting by a whole group of local families that were there for the whole day. They had a few coolers, tables, a BBQ, their fishing lines up, spear fishing gear, and they even brought their own kiddie pool for the youngest one and to clean their feet. We have a lot more to learn about how to really appreciate these Hawaiian beaches.

We have both enjoyed staying in one place this whole time.  It has allowed us too slow down and find activities that we would enjoy doing all the time. From paddling and surfing, to ukelele jam sessions to line dancing – all great ways to be active here in Maui.

And more importantly it provides us with a deeper understanding of how the locals create their own strong community.