Together, we gathered all the equipment and made sure that the surfboard was held securely to Tyler’s motorcycle for the drive down to Ho’okipa beach. Although not a common sight on the mainland, this is a normal ritual for island motorcyclists. Since arriving in Maui, Hawaii, I had been hopping between Kahului and Lahaina where two different sets of my friends resided. This set is who I like to call “The Family” - which consists of Kurt, his brother Kevin, and his sister Kristy. During this trip out to see them, the family had grown with the addition of a wife (my sweet friend Gabby) and a boyfriend (Tyler). The house felt full and welcoming, a norm for this group of friends. I slept on the floor in the living area which felt much like old times where we would all cook large dinners together before crashing out on climbing pads after several hours of good conversation. See, we’ve known each other since our days running around hustling in Breckenridge, Colorado. Those days were spent with snowboarding, hiking, climbing, shooting guns, and catching many sunsets during our many adventures. Our lives have all changed quite a bit and we’ve become well traveled in our various pursuits. I still live in Colorado and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss The Family, but I’m also not too upset that traveling to see them means taking a trip out to Hawaii. Our time together today was to be spent by the ocean near Paia where, after photographing Kristy and Tyler, the boys were going to go surfing off the coast of Ho’okipa.
The day was beautiful - I mean, is there ever a truly bad day in Hawaii? Maybe when the vog from the volcano’s is drifting heavily in your territory. Today though, the sun was shining through scattered clouds and the air was warm and salty! We checked our packing job once more and started our drive out of Kahului towards Paia. Tyler and Kristy, who rode on the motorcycle, had began dating after moving to Hawaii. I had originally known these two through separate friends so it was really fun to get to photograph them together and to see their relationship grow! I encouraged Kurt to make several save passes and they drove their motorcycle beside Kurt’s car while I took a few photos of them along our route. The wind was whipping through Kristy’s hair and her arms were wrapped tightly around Tyler’s waist. With the loaded up motorcycle and the surfboard on the side, they looked pretty badass.
Before long, the beach rose up before us, the water below was glittering a deep turquoise blue. The waves of Ho’okipa were rolling in nicely and you could hear laughter as the ocean met the sand. Not far from where we had parked you could see this sand, scattered nicely into soft beaches. But we planned to head the opposite direction, towards the dark lava rock rising up from the sea. This volcanic rock can be sharp and certain areas shouldn’t be walked on with bare feet. The rock near the shore at Ho’okipa has been worn down by the tides. Their comings and goings, scouring the rock and smoothing it with the monotony of time. Kurt began to get the surfboards ready and Kristy, Tyler, and I skipped across the lava rock towards the waters edge. The black rock against the turquoise sea and the endless sky was a stark contrast. This island, Maui, has a way of making you feel so very small but captures your senses in its rapturous beauty.
Standing in front of me now, I could see that Tyler and Kristy were meant for each other - it’s funny how you can know each person separately and never think twice about them being together. Now that they had found each other, you could see it quite clearly. These two are sometimes quiet - at first you might think that they’re shy - but they both hold a resilient confidence that draws you towards them. Met together they support one another and are thoughtful, loving, and playful. Tyler is so sweet towards Kristy, and as we wandered across the rocks he held her closely in his arms and played with her hair. The waves crashed against the ancient rocks and sprayed ocean water high into the sky. At times we were met with a cold spritz from the sea, leaving work for the wind and the sun in the task of drying off our skin.
Kristy and Tyler talked, cuddled, laughed, and kissed as we explored the area. At one point we came quite close to the edge of the rocks near the water. Here, we had to watch our steps as the moss was wet and slick against the tide pulling in and over the smooth black surface. Getting wet was inevitable so we welcomed the chilly licks of the waves as reprieve from the warm temperature of the day! Kurt was ready to surf so we slowly made our way back towards the motorcycle and the gear. The boys ran back down across the lava rock and waited for the right moment to throw themselves off the land and into the ocean. Swimming quickly so as not to get pushed into the volcanic mass, they drew away from the shore of Ho’okipa. Kristy and I laid back and enjoyed the sunshine. When our skin dried off and we grew too warm to sit we walked along the beach and took a few more photos. Before long a lonely sea turtle came into view and popped his head out of the ocean. These turtles here are known as the “Honu” in Hawaii. There are several different species of sea turtles and some love the beaches while others love the deeper sea. The Honu are a thrill to see, whether you find one crawl onto the beach or catch sight of one swimming lazily in the ocean. They are a fascinating sea creature. Although these are gentle reptiles, the turtles, and more specifically the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles, are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. It’s very important to keep your distance for their safety and simply enjoy watching them as they come and go from the islands shores. We watched this turtle greet the rocky mass of land and dip back down to escape the push of the waves against the island. The honu disappeared from view and as we lifted our eyes we could see the surfers making their way back to Ho’okipa beach.
It was high time for lunch and once ashore, we quickly gathered together and hiked back towards the motorcycle. We restrapped the surfboard down to the bike and made plans for where to meet before driving in to the town of Paia. Acai bowls and other yummy treats were calling our names and my stomach growled ravenously! I smiled at the wind while my arm hung out the open window. My thoughts were on the salty sea and the sun on my skin. My senses felt more heightened here and my heart was filled with the magic that Maui holds.
