I checked out a couple of nature refuges today. One was the Kealia Coastal Boardwalk near Maalaea based on a wetland area behind the coastal dunes. The other was the Kanaha Pond Wildlife Sanctuary which is a great pond and wetland right on the edge of the CBD in Kahului.

Impromptu whale watching is more fun however. There really are lots of humpbacks around here at the moment. A popular lookout is Papawai Point, also near Maalaea. I kept watch here for a while and scarcely a few minutes goes by before another one or two can be seen either blowing spray or leaping about, sometimes close in and sometimes further out. This particular lookout's carpark seemed to be constantly full as people came and went all day, for a glimpse of the whales.

Back closer to home, I walked along the beach walk at Kihei, and enjoyed the sunset again with lots of other folk hoping to see more whales as the sun went down. There were plenty of whales again, but none in close. There were however lots of big turtles in close, apparently feeding actively on the rising tide.

The turtle is an important symbol in Hawaii being a good sign of some sort. It is protected by law now. The original inhabitants placed religious significance upon it, but also ate them.

Today is Dad's birthday. I'm thinking of you old mate.