Great Photographs Touched Up to Be Even Greater

About a month ago, my Maui bed and breakfast friend Cherie sent some pictures from a friend of hers, Mike Eilers, so I posted a few of them. Great shots of whales, dolphins, and this sea turtle.

But this isn't the original photo. This picture was retouched by Mike's friend, Carl Bringas, who has a great photography site full of his work--photographs retouched to become very web-ready works of art.

These artistically retouched photographs make great desktop wallpaper, and I've added them to a Carl Bringas Gallery of retouched photographs (both his and Mike Eilers's) over at the computer backgrounds blog.

Solar Powered Maui Hawaii Vacation Rental

An old client is back in the higher search engine ranks program, this time with a state-of-the-art, solar-powered vacation rental house in Hawaii.

A lot of people visit Hawaii and never get out of the touristy resort scenes, or just hit the hot spots, like Haleakala National Park. But Hawaii's a lot bigger than it seems, and even on a relatively little island like Maui, a hurried vacationer might miss some of the best the island has to offer.

Like Hana. Hana, on the east side of Maui, is famous for the road getting there, the red and black sand beaches, Oheo gulch and the seven sacred pools for swimming and great hiking to beautiful waterfalls and more hidden swimming pools.

Hana even has a beach that has been consistently voted one of the best beaches on earth. There are all kinds cool things to do near Hana that this vacation rental house is near.

The house itself boasts incredible views, 3 beds, two baths, 2600 square feet, a warm country feel and decor, the great location (as noted), and a tiny little carbon foot print, thanks to the solar power and other state-of-the-art features.

If you visit Maui, don't miss Hana. And if you're with a group or family, do yourself a favor and check out the Hana Country Cottage.

Volunteer Vacations in Hawaii: Do the Right Thing

One odd thing that I came to realize after 8 years of a fascist Junta controlling the White House was that the right's criticism of the left as ethical relativists was, like so much else from the right for a long time now, complete bullshit. The ethical relativists now defending torture, illegal spying on Americans, and other unitary executive adventures in totalitarianism have made it quite clear that on issue after issue, it is the left that stands up for some absolutist ethical or moral standard, while the right argues that it's OK, for example, to pollute and degrade the environment in some situations (when jobs might be lost, or when God said it was OK).

You're either doing the right thing or your not. Of course there are shades of gray on some issues (for all you philosophical mucker-uppers). But when it comes to things like torture, the world community long ago decided on a basis for what constitutes that definition, and even the Obama administration, much to my continued disapointment, seems to want to stretch that definition too far.

When it comes to the environment, the choices are just as stark. It's a huge, multi-faceted problem, and the best each of us can do is try to live a lifestyle that reduces our impact on the environment. Every little thing counts.

So it is in that spirit of environmental ethical absolutism that I am happy to announce today that, along with my friend Cherie Attix (owner/operator of the Hale Hookipa Inn Maui Bed and Breakfast, and author of the Maui Hawaii Blog Hookipa Aikane (home sharing friend)), all you Hawaii vacationers who would like to do a little to help the Hawaiian environment, culture, and community can now sort through our list of Hawaii organizations that have ongoing volunteer opportunities at Volunteer on Vacation in Hawaii.

Volunteering is one of the cornerstones of American culture. The recent push for more National Service, which includes many enticements for young people to volunteer (like help with money for education), led Cherie to come up with the idea of making a web site with information about volunteering in her community (Maui). Most of the vacationing volunteer opportunities are environmental in nature, like eradicating invasive plant species, planting native species, clearing trails, and cleaning beaches. As we continue to build the site, we will add other cultural and community volunteer opportunities.

Cherie is offering a 5% discount to any guests of her B&B who volunteer for one of the listed groups. She will also donate 5% to the organization for which you volunteer. Nothing like a little incentive.

The idea of voluntourism is not new to Cherie, who was recently recognized by O Magazine for her efforts to get vacationers to Maui to volunteer while they're there. Her guests have all praised the projects for which they volunteered as fun, educational, and worthwhile. After all, if you really want to get a feel for the place you're vacationing in, what better way than to lace up your boots, pull on some gloves, and get out there and make it a better place?

The Current Best Littlest Known Secret in Hawaii

The secret is that if you really want to get a feeling for Hawaii without actually going there, you should read Cherie's Maui Hawaii blog: Hookipa Aikane (home sharing friend). Longtime Hawaii resident and Innkeeper Cherie (you can also check her out on facebook) runs the historic Hale Hookipa Inn Maui Bed and Breakfast in Makawao, Maui, Hawaii. Makawao is home to the Hawaiian Rodeo, and their Independence Day parade is the subject of Cherie's latest post. Cherie doesn't write her blog so much as talk story. I edit the blog, but the language (and photography) is all hers, and it is distinctly upcountry Maui...

If you like to keep up with all things Hawaiian, and especially Maui, no matter where you are, Cherie's blog is definitely worth subscribing to.

Maui Hawaii Home Sharing Friend

My friend Cherie is the owner and operator of the Hale Hookipa Inn Maui Bed and Breakfast. She was one of my first internet marketing clients. When she told me she wanted to start a blog, I was happy to hear it. Not only could I use the work right now, but I look forward to reading what she has to say. She has been deeply involved in the Maui community for years. She is a business owner who works hard to keep her head above water. She is an environmentalist. I'm sure she has a lot to say.

Her new blog is Ho'okipa Aikane, or, roughly, home sharing friend. I asked her to explain who she is and why she's doing this. Here's her reply:

I am a long time resident of Hawaii, I moved here as a teenager who loved the ocean and warm weather.

After raising my family, I found myself on my own on the island of Maui. In 1994, I purchased an old run down Portuguese family home in Upcountry Maui. This gem was built in 1924, and I cried when I first saw it. I wondered what happened to the original family....? It was a beautiful craftsman style home in some MAJOR disrepair, but the bones were good. In my usual optimistic approach, I figured, why not? I can do this.

It's been an amazing journey...with a laughable budget, I have managed to restore and give new life to my home. It is now Hale Ho'okipa Inn.

I hope to share stories, and life in upcountry Maui and Hawaii Nei with anyone who wants to peek in.

A hui ho...until later!!

Be sure to subscribe to her feed. It will be worth it.

Maui Vacation Rentals from Olinda Country Cottages, Maui, Hawaii

Olinda Country Cottages recently updated their Maui vacation rentals web site. Included are new pictures of the Maui vacation rental estate in upcountry Olinda Maui. The views are spectacular from up there at 5000 feet, on the slopes of Mount Haleakala. The air is clear. There are no mosquitoes at that elevation. Haleakala National Park is minutes away, as is Hookipa State Beach Park, the windsurfing beach of Maui.

Olinda Maui is up the road from Makawao (home of the famous steak house), a funky art colony meets rodeo town in upcountry. The area features the famous rodeo, great art galleries, restaurants, hiking trails, horseback riding, and many other outdoor activities like golf, hang gliding, surfing, camping, and sight seeing.

Olinda Country's vacation rental cottages, cabins, and rooms are affordable and comfortable. The vacation rental estate is a great place for weddings, corporate retreats, and parties.