I woke up at 4:30 a.m. a few nights ago and decided to go for a walk along Keawakapu Beach. Predawn, as it turns out, is a great time to walk on Maui.
The ocean is always different. The mesmerizing flow of the waves is never, ever the same--as everyone who has lived here for any length of time knows.
I walked for about an hour, and on my way back, the sun was just coming up, revealing a typically beautiful Maui morning.
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Kayak Talkin': Charles Laquidara
At some point, I decided to move off the beach and walk along the road facing traffic, rather than having it behind me. That way, I get to see the person who's texting while driving and I have a chance to jump out of the way Also, if a bicycle rider is coming up behind me, I am afraid I won't hear or see them, so I always walk against oncoming traffic.
I do that when I ride my bike as well: I ride in the bicycle lane facing traffic. That way, I get advance warning should someone parked on the side of the road decide to open his or her car door without looking. Plus, I get an extra few seconds if something springs up in front of me--like a dog, a cat, another bike or a pothole.
Okay, brah--so if none of this is legal, please don't report me. I need my kama'aina license for the local happy hours.
Charles Laquidara has lived on Maui for over 11 years. He worked at WBCN radio in Boston for 30 years as the morning-drive host of a show called "The Big Mattress" and is occasionally heard on Mana'o Radio here on island.
