Earlier today, I had the pleasure of taking my son on his school’s whale watching tour. About 50 kids ranging in age from 2 to 5 boarded a Pacific Whale Foundation vessel and took to the sea. It turned out to be quite enjoyable and we saw more whales than we could count, including a pod less than 50 yards away from the boat. Regardless of how many times I see them, it is always humbling to see such magnificent mammals in their natural element.

The point of this post is not sell real estate or to feature a luxury listing, but rather to talk about the lifestyle that Maui has to offer. Today was a bit of whale watching, tomorrow will be an Aloha Friday full of work, this weekend perhaps some golfing or a lazy day at the beach, all while trying to raise two kids with the values that I hold dear. Truly, with a multitude of micro-climates, Maui has much to offer: its cowboy-rich history yet laid back way in Makawao, to resort living in Wailea and Kapalua, to Hawaiiana luxury estates in Makena, to Lahaina with its historic roots, to quiet gentleman estates in Kula. But it’s not for everyone. There isn’t a significant nightlife to speak of, shopping is not plentiful (I do quite a bit of my shopping online), and choices can sometimes be very limited (when I get hungry late at night for Chinese food, I don’t have much of a selection on South Maui). But for those to whom Maui is a good fit, it can become THE place to call home.

Effective 01/11/2011, Maui has banned the use of plastic bags

In an effort to lessen environmental impact and stay on the forefront of the green movement, Maui County has implemented a ban on plastic bags. As such, from this point forward businesses will not be allowed to provide customers with plastic bags at points of sale. Vendors will be required to provide recyclable paper bags or reusable bags, either for sale or free of charge. But not just any paper bag will do, they must be 100% recyclable and be labeled as ‘reusable’ and ‘recyclable’ on the outside of the bag.

There are a few, very limited uses in which plastic bags are allowed (i.e. selling meat), but it’s always best to err on the side of caution. So whether you a visitor, part-time resident, or a Maui lifer, make it a habit to take a reusable bag or two whenever running errands. Let’s keep Maui green so that future generations can enjoy the Valley Isle and discover what makes it the Best Island in the World, year after year.

As Maui prepares for future growth on the island, there are two camps of thought: no growth (keep our island for ourselves!) vs. pro-growth (embrace big business and all it brings).  However, we must face reality:  growth will happen and we would be better served by proactively planning for such, instead of implementing reactive measures that may be too little too late.  The Director of the Maui County Planning Department, Jeff Hunt, recently addressed the Realtor’s Association of Maui in which he discussed some key issues facing the county.  According to Mr. Hunt, the County’s plans are to anticipate population increases with ‘managed growth’, which will ensure that fundamental issues are addressed accordingly.  For example, with increases in population comes the need for the infrastructure (i.e schools, health care, transportation) to accommodate such additions, and Mr. Hunt’s plan takes into account the projected growth to provide for such (projections are for increases in older population, thereby the need for health care facilities is being anticipated and planned for).  Perhaps the plan can implement collaboration with other entities (such as the Department of Education) in educating/training the workforce that such growth will require, putting emphasis on health care, renewable energy, and technology-based services.   In addition, the housing needs for the coming decades is being met by thorough planning to ensure that values remain stable and there is sufficient housing for Maui citizens;  failure to prepare could result in a volatile real estate market (not enough housing would result in high-sky prices with the increased demand, yet uncontrolled growth would lead to sinking values as there would be too much inventory).  Furthermore, MCPD’s plan aims to preserve the Maui lifestyle and Hawaiian culture while protecting the environment.  The Valley Isle is known worldwide for its unique lifestyle and deep cultural roots, failure to preserve those would be a great disservice to future generations.    All in all, Mr. Hunt and his staff seem to have listened to constituents and came up with carefully-drafted strategy to address the collective voice of Maui.  I, for one, look forward to a lifetime of memories in Maui.

For additional information, visit the the Maui County Planning Department and download the Draft Maui Island Plan.

UPDATE:  Jeff Hunt resigned as Maui County Planning Department Director on April 28, 2010.  Deputy Directory Kathleen Ross Aiko will fill the Department’s top position.

On April 23rd and 24th, Jack Johnson, Ziggly Marley and other world-class artists will converge at the Waikiki Shell to celebrate Earth Day weekend and raise environmental awareness.  After a year hiatus, Hawaii’s most noted singer-songwriter is proudly hosting the 6th Kokua Fest, all proceeds of which benefit the Kokua Hawaii Foundation (a non-profit established by Jack and his wife, Kim, to support Hawaii-based environmental programs).  As anyone who has attended a previous Kokua Festival can attest, it is far more than a musical show; it is a heightened experience that will resonate in your memory for a lifetime.  From the phenomenal artists performing, to the delicious environmentally-grown food, to (most importantly) sharing a memorable time with great people, this is an event not to be missed.  This year’s line-up will include Maui-based singer/songwriter Anuhea and ukelele extraordinaire Jake Shimabukuro.   Ziggy is sure to put on a terrific show, coming off the release of his best albums, Family Time (for which Jack collaborated on the popular ‘Cry Cry Cry’).   Whether you enjoy the presence of other like-minded, environmentally-conscious citizens, or listening to the musical achievements of true artists, or just want to have a great time under the sun with a bunch of great people, Kokua Fest has raised the bar in how entertainers engage their audiences (specially with such a worthwhile message).   See you there (reduce, reuse, recycle).