Maui is one of my favourite places in the world. I have had the good fortune to visit there twice. A recent post from my good friend Lauren on Facebook reminded me of my least favourite event on my last visit there. It is pretty hard to find something bad about Maui. As far as tropical paradises go it has to be at the top of the list. It has sun and sand and beautiful crystal clear water as far as the eye can see.
There are rainbows and double rainbows every day, although for some reason I never did get a great picture of one.
You can take the “Road Trip” of a lifetime and survive The Road To Hana.
Aside from the breathtaking views and the death defying twists and turns you can have a swim at one of my favourite spots, The Black Beach.
You can watch whales, sunsets and whales and sunsets.
You can go sailing on a catamaran as long as you have your sea legs.
And if you happen to be there on St. Patricks Day celebrating someone’s birthday you can attend the absolute best St. Patrick’s Day Party … ever!
Now, I have to tell you I enjoyed all those adventures and more. The thing is I am a water girl. I love the water. I love the beach. I was born and raised in the Niagara Peninsula, surrounded by water. I had Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, The Niagara River, Niagara Falls, Sherkston Beaches and Crystal Beach as my playground growing up. So if there is a beach I’m there! This particular trip we stayed right on one of the beaches. It was pretty mild, not as sandy as I would like for swimming but the views were spectacular. He Who Shall Remain Nameless for his own protection is not a water person. He grew up in Winnipeg, often called Winterpeg (especially by me) one of the coldest places in Canada. He had a ball walking around in the water up to his ankles on “our” beach.
He is quite content to sit on the beach and watch me frolic in the water. I say frolic because, although I love the water, I am not a strong swimmer. I can swim. I’m just not very good at it. This has never hampered my spirits when jumping into “the deep end”. I heard about this beach called “Big Beach” on Maui that I had not seen on my previous visit. Once I knew about it I had to go. It was gorgeous! It was definitely “big”. This lovely sandy beach is almost 2/3 of a mile long and over 100 yards wide and the official name is Makena Beach. As we walked to the water we saw postings, warning signs if you will, with statements like this: “Cautions: Monitor ocean conditions closely. Strong currents and surf possible. Obey all postings and warnings.” There were a lot of people there and it was easy to see why it was considered “The” beach to go to. I have no clue how I missed it on my first trip. My little beach bunny set himself up on perch where he could watch me and wave. I was in my glory.
Is that not a beautiful thing to behold? I was having a great time. Not straying more than a yard from shore in what seemed extremely shallow water. It was even shallow enough for my fellow! I waved at him. He waved back. I laughed. I smiled. I got hit from behind!
I went face first, pushed right into the sandy floor. It definitely knocked the wind out of me. As I tried to right myself the undertow grabbed my feet and pulled them out from under me dragging me into the water. I couldn’t breath. I fought to surface, gasping for air. My fella smiled and waved. Another wave hit me pushing from behind, I had only made it to my knees and under I went again. My legs were like anchors holding me down in the undertow. I got my face up again and saw my fella, smiling and waving. I couldn’t understand how he couldn’t see I was in trouble! What was he thinking?! I heard a child’s voice right in front of me, screaming at me, “Lady, stand up! Stand up!”. What a great idea… but my legs are gone and I am being pushed down again. I gave up trying to stand up. I dug my hands in the sandy bottom and hung on so I wouldn’t be dragged further out again. Then little by little I crawled the few feet with my hands dug in for dear life until my face surfaced and as I sputtered and gasped I could see my wonderful fella smiling and waving. I felt strong hands grab me on either side as they dragged me further out of the water to safety. Of course as soon as two young, handsome, strong bucks approach me then my fella knows something is wrong and perhaps he should see what is up. As my rescuers were attending to me they looked up at this man grinning sheepishly wondering what he wanted. I followed their gaze and saw him standing there. I said, “That’s OK, he’s my husband”. They looked at him like he was from outer space. The grinning waving man.Of course, as soon as I was able I tore a strip off him up one side and down the other.
Me: What’s wrong with you?
Him: I thought you were just having fun!
Me: Having fun?! I was drowning! What’s wrong with you?
Him: You looked like you were having a great time just splashing around playing in the water.
Me: What’s wrong with you? I was drowning?
I’m pretty sure I was screaming at some octave that would do damage to a dogs hearing. This all came flashing back at me when I read my friend’s post Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning.
I have never been afraid of water in my life but I confess I was terrified that day. In fact I was terrified the next day. My biggest fear was that I would leave Maui with that terror of the water still hanging on to me. Ah, but my Knight in Shining Armour (not the guys on the beach – He Who Should Remain Nameless for his own protection) arranged for us to go to another beach before we left. We went by boat to the island of Lanai where there was a beautiful, pristine, quiet, calm beach. He also arranged for a water coach (for lack of a better word) who spent a great deal of time with me getting me back in the water and comfortable enough to have some fun. Of course my fella ventured in up to his knees and kept waving and hollering for me to come back in closer to shore. He watched me like a hawk. He was determined to not miss it if I was going to drown again.
I am a swimmer but I still give a strong tide a wide berth and deep respect. Glad it turned out okay. Maybe not so okay for he who was not named 🙂
I have great respect for water and am usually very cautious. It was all so deceiving. There were little kids playing in it, it seemed so calm. I am grateful I had the presence of mind to stay close to shore.
He still gets a bit sheepish when the topic comes up. I am sure he will have something to say here soon.
Oh my! I’ve learned something new about drowning (or the possibility of drowning and what it looks like). Thanks so much for this entertaining and educational post Michelle.
I wonder if your hubby will ever live this one down? LOL Probably not…. 😉
Probably not. We had words about it earlier when he started laughing while reading the post. 😉
Uh oh! 😉
I have never been to Hawaii. We started to go last year and went on a tour of the west instead. Still want to see the black beaches of Hawaii though. Yellowstone had a beach called ‘Ripple Beach’ where the lake water rolled like waves upon the black pebble ‘beach’. Geyser activity supposedly causes the ripples. It was interesting to say the least.
I’ve never been to Yellowstone. I will have to look up your “Ripple Beach”.
Hahaha! The sad part is I’m not surprised…lol. Any who….these photos are spectacular and honestly, if I were to drown that beach is beautiful place to do it.
The photos really could be better with such a spectacular subject. I’m not sure what I took them on but I was disappointed with them. These are better than not having any though. As far as drowning goes…I don’t want to go through that again no matter how pretty it is.
Oh, poor “he-who” (I can call him that because we’re on a first-name basis)! Poor you, more! I’m very glad those others recognized you were in a sticky situation (I know, I know, you were drowning!).
Thanks for sharing it and, as usual, thanks for sharing it with such great humour 🙂
Heheheheh … I love it! “he-who”. I think I will have to use that, as the other is always so long and right now we are still on a first name basis as well. Could change…you never know. 😉
Wow, what a story! Same thing happened to me when i was about 8 or 9 years old at Brighton (England) beach. One minute I was looking at barnacles on a rock pier, the next thing I knew I was looking at bubbles & the ocean floor. I got scooped up by observant family right away and no lasting psychological effects (except perhaps a lifelong addiction to chocolate).
Anyway a great story and a really well done blog -great pictures.
Jim
Thanks, Jim. I sure am glad that family was paying attention at Brighton Beach and I’m glad there were no lasting psychological effects. I suspect that didn’t happen until you ended up in Winterpeg. 😉 Someday you will have to tell me how that happened.
Cousin Ray, Michelle, as always you tell the best stories and whats more they’re all true!
Aw, thanks Cousin Ray. There are times I wish some of them weren’t true. But hey, that’s my life.
Wow…that does sounds like it was scary! It’s funny too…thinking of him standing, smiling and waving at you!!
Yeah. I still think it is scary. He still thinks it’s funny.
Congrats!!! Well deserved. Great pics and vid.
Thank you. I appreciate your kind words.
Aww, that sounded scarey Michelle! Glad you are ok. I remember one time in Brazil, I was standing facing the beach when a big wave hit me from the back and pulled the top of my bathing suit down exposing my top half for the local beach boys. Yikes! I was mortified. Stupid ocean wave!!
It was scary.
I’m afraid I have had more than my share of bathing suit mishaps in my time. Mortification then, now fond memories.
Great post (and no, I’m not biased just because I live there… but Maui truly is the top of the list, isn’t it?) 😉 Glad I found your blog through Middlest Sister and Byronic Man. Your ocean experience sounds scary Michelle, but you can be thankful that it wasn’t worse.
One of my friends recently came to visit me, and I took her snorkeling. She didn’t tell me that she didn’t know how to swim. She jumped off the boat, into the water, and then started sinking like a rock into the deep, blue ocean. A few of us had to dive in to rescue her. I think her experience was definitely worse than yours.
I still can’t quite wrap my mind around the whole thing and why my friend wouldn’t tell any of us that she couldn’t swim. That goes beyond ballsy! Jumping into the middle of the Pacific Ocean when you can’t swim… wow!
Yes, Silva Gang, Maui truly is the top of the list. I envy you living there.
I can’t believe your friend wouldn’t tell you she couldn’t swim! I’m not sure that jumping into the Pacific Ocean is ballsy…it is definitely crazy! I tried snorkeling the first time I was in Maui and it is still one of my favourite experiences. I’m sorry your friend missed that. I also tried scuba diving. That didn’t go so well. I bet the instructor still has the scars from me digging my nails into his hand as he tried to keep me calm. Turns out you aren’t suppose to scuba dive if you have asthma.
I have been enjoying exploring your blog. Thanks for stopping by, commenting and following. Thanks to Middlest Sister and Byronic Man as well for nudging you my way.
I agree! You tried scuba too, huh?! That is very adventurous! I haven’t done that yet. I think it’s the idea of getting right up into a shark’s grill… that pretty dissuades me from trying it. God, they have all those sharp teeth, and I’m kind of a small person that would probably fit perfectly inside the mouth of a 14 footer! 😉 I bet it was a cool experience, though!
Sharks!?! Nobody told me about any sharks! 😉
They actually gave us lessons in the shallow end of one of the hotel pools. I did OK in the pool. Then they took us out to that sanctuary where the volcano is submerged, I think it was called Molokini. This is the same spot we had snorkelled in. It was awesome, but I had some kind of panic attack supposedly linked to my asthma and they had to pull me out. But, at least I tried. That was my first trip to Maui and I thought I would never be able to go again so I wanted to try everything I could. It was also my first helicopter ride. The island was amazing from the air.
Are you from Maui originally?
Yes, I am. I lived in California for a while too, and now I’m back here. It’s definitely a beautiful place. If you ever need advice or recommendations on anything related to Hawaii, you know who to ask! 🙂
I know firsthand how wicked that undertow can be! Glad you were OK, and even happier you can joke about it now! Beautiful photos . . .
I bet you have some pretty stunning images from your many visits to Maui. With your “eye” for a photo I would think you have some masterpieces.
four times in my life I have been saved from drowning…water up to my ankles is fine, otherwise, I will take a pass on beaches, whitewater and unforseen dips.
Glad you made it all four times Bud. 🙂
Congratulations on Blogger of The Week Award!
Thank you.
I am sorry, but I had to laugh at the story – even though I am sure it wasn’t funny at all when it happened. Those under currents must have been really strong – and the nameless one I am sure didn’t know you were having trouble. Like you I love water, but so far I haven’t had any near drowning experience. Good that you got the confidence to jump into water back again. Besides the possibility to drown Maui sounds like a wonderful place. I might have to check it out. By the way, congratulations with the nomination for the blogger of the week (and I will check out The Byronic Man).
I’m glad you laughed Otto. I have found that life does tend to be messy and if you can laugh about it then you won’t cry. The nameless one insists he didn’t know I was having any trouble and he still giggle uncomfortably about it when it gets mentioned.
You absolutely have to visit Maui. It is one of God’s special places. Probably the only place I have ever been that I didn’t care if I ever went home again. Ah, to dream.
Thanks for the congrats, I hope you had a chance to check out The Byronic Man. He is truly a gifted writer and has me laughing all the time.
Thanks for backing up a bit and finding this.
M
[…] another in an effort to find the most powerful undertow and challenge it to a fight to the death. I think she found it at Big Beach. After a long, drawn out battle she won but it took two young fellows to pull her to […]
[…] was for Michelle, a water baby if there ever was one. When she almost drowned six feet off shore because the savage undertow kept sweeping her legs out from under her, I roared […]
Yikes. That paragraph describing how it happened is terrifying. I’ve been hit by big waves before as well, I know what you mean, but I’ve never had that kind of experience before. Absolutely horrifying. Glad you made it back.
It was quite the experience but also quite humorous…depending on if you were me or He-Who.
Well, I’m glad he was attentive after that.
Awesome! But we need a clear hand gesture for drowning… why do we not have one of those???
When I was a kid, I can remember when someone was drowning in cartoons they would put up one finger and then sink, they would come back up with 2 fingers and then sink, when they went down with 3 fingers in the air they always got rescued.
I never get past that one finger… HA!
Its not one finger , that would be rude. The international hand signal for drowning is 2 fingers, like this 🙂
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(.(….(….(…./.)..)..(..(.\….)….)….).)
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And if the universe lets you drown, that is a good way to express your displeasure!