Return of the BLOG...ALOHA MAUI!! - PART 1
In August 2012, my man and I visited Maui for the last time and January 4th, 2013, we made Maui our new home.
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| 35th Birthday at Flatbread Paia |
The decision to move to Maui was based on several island
vacations over the last 12 years in which I felt positive changes in my
physical and mental health. I
visited Maui several times and Jamaica as well and found that the temperature,
sunshine, salty air, and slower lifestyle of the islands were positive factors
in my health. Stepping off of the
plane into the warm air immediately put my muscles at ease and calmed my
mind. It was like a natural
sedative. The more time I spent
the better I would feel. January
2012 I decided it was time to make a long-term commitment and find out which
factors were truly helping and which were “vacation” relaxation.
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| ALL PACKED UP! |
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| VOG Day |
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| Cane burning |
The 3 possibly negative factors about Maui were the absence of
care for Cystic Fibrosis, VOG, and sugar cane burning. I wasn’t too concerned about a CF
specialist because I hardly went to the Western Dr. in California. I focused my healing on natural
remedies, holistic health care and Chinese medicine. If I did have some major issues, I figured I could always
see a pulmonologist and go from there.
The VOG is basically volcanic air pollution that stems from the Big
Islands Madam Pele. The volcano sends sulfur dioxide into the air, which reacts
with other gases, moisture, dust and sunlight to form VOG. “VOG exposure reduces the bodies
natural abilities to expel toxins.”
The sugar cane burning is of most concern to the residents, which can
create or exacerbate respiratory issues like asthma. I’d experienced the air changes from the burning but not in
the long term. I was willing to
take the chance to find out.
Unlike people imagine, we don’t live on the beach and watch
palm trees sway in our front yard or spend all of our time surfing, although we
should! We live UPCOUNTRY! Upcountry is a lifestyle as well as a part of Maui that is covered in lush green farmland with horses,
chickens, goats, a plethora of bright colored birds and the occasional peacock. We live on a large plantation property in
Makawao about 20 minutes to the beach in Paia.It’s truly magical but
not the traditional image of Maui.
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| Makawao Estate |
Living upcountry means we are in a completely separate
micro-climate than that of the beach towns of West side Lahaina, South Kihei or
East side Hana. Makawao sits
between 2000 and 4000 feet on the West side of Haleakala overlooking the ocean
on both sides of the isthmus with views of the sugar cane fields, north shore
and the West Maui mountains. Although
it is cooler and rains more often, we chose this area for it’s non-city culture
and country lifestyle. Lucky for
us, I have friends in “high” places on the mountain who were able to hook us up
with a beautiful home!
