One of the things I’ve always loved most about Hawai`I is the abundance of ono grinds, aka delicious food. The problem for me is that if I don’t offset the ono-licious input with a little physical output, I quickly become a candidate for having ZIP Code 96777 assigned to my ever-increasing bulk.
At Kamaole Sands we have an exercise room complete with tread mills, but unless you’re one of those ditto-dolts who just can’t get enough Glenn Beck, I can’t for the life of me figure out why you’d want to be walking in place, in a smelly little building, when right outside the door you have the air, the birds, the pua, the beauty. You have the aina.
In lieu of pounding Nike’s on motorized rubber mats, here’s a daily walk I most enjoy:
- Lace up those PF Keds, head makai (toward the sea) to South Kihei Road and turn left.
- When you arrive at Kilohana Drive, turn left. It’s just before the public parking lot for Keawakapu beach. Pick your own speed for ascending Kilohana Drive. If you’re Lance Armstrong, it’s no Alpe D’huez, but for most of us mortals, it’s a nice little rise. I go to the top of the hill to the water treatment plant. If you wish, however, you can go all the way to Pi’ilani highway. At some point here, though, make U-turn and head back makai.
- Turn right on Kauhale St. Whistle to the birds in the cage on the lanai of the house on the corner. They’ll most likely whistle back.
- Go north on Kauhale until you hit Keonekai and turn left.
- You’re now heading makai on Keonekai. After a short walk you’ll be at the Keonekai entrance to Kamaole Sands. Enter through the gate, walk to the registration building, and pick your comp copy of the Maui Snews and head on home. Total route is about 2.3 statute miles, 12,144 feet, 3.7 kilometers or, if you’re equine inclined, 18.4 furlongs.
- At this point, I’ve been known to whip up a big ass Loco Moco with pine-stuffed papaya on the side and perhaps open a pleasant, albeit economical bottle of sparkling wine.
For your reference, here’s a map.