Kwento Kwentuhan

Be Safe, Not Sorry

Liza of “A Maui Blog”

Better safe than sorry” is a reminder that my parents ingrained in me. Now that I am a parent, I find myself saying this cliché to my kids, often.

As a blogger at A Maui Blog, I feel obligated to remind my readers to “be safe” when visiting Maui.

The following safety tips was first written for the visitors on Maui. However, with many recent news about accidents on Maui, I thought these reminders are not just for tourists but also good for locals and kama‘aina as well. Let’s “talk story” about them here at Fil-Am Voice:

Always exercise copious amounts of common sense while you are enjoying Maui!
  1. Don’t drink and drive. Hire an Uber or Lyft Driver to take you home. You are on vacation and we understand that some of you would like to “drink and be merry.” That is fine. That is great. But here is a friendly reminder: Don’t drink and drive! I can’t tell you enough how important this is. Do yourself and your family a favor—when you “partied,” just take an Uber or Lyft going back to your hotel or condo. Avoiding a vehicular accident during your vacation is worth paying the Uber Driver.

2. Check the weather report before hiking. Avoid the danger of flash floods by not hiking when rain is in the forecast. Never attempt to cross a flooded stream. Keep on the designated paths to prevent getting lost and stranded. It is important to stay on the marked paths at all times; when hiking, bring water to drink, wear good footwear and apply mosquito repellent.

3. Don’t turn your back to the ocean. While walking the shoreline or standing there watching, you never know when a strong wave might sneak up on you. It can knock you off and can hurt your neck or back. In places like Nakalele Blow Hole, you might get knocked off into the ocean and get sucked far away. You really don’t want your fun Maui vacation to become a tragedy for you and your family.

Beach Warning Signs are liberally placed on Maui beaches. Please do not ignore them, and review them until you understand them before you take that first step into the water.

4. Don’t swim in the murky water especially after the rain. This is the condition when “shark attacks” usually happen. Also stay out of the water at dawn, dusk, and night, when some species of sharks may move inshore to feed. But be aware that tiger sharks are known to bite people at all times of the day.

5. Don’t leave your car with all your valuables inside. Maui has a relatively low crime rate but I hear stories of families losing all their baggage because they left them in the car, in the parking lot at grocery stores, because they decided to stop by the grocery store from the airport on their way to their hotel. If you must stop and buy something, make sure one of you stays in the car.

Any other safety reminders you want to add? I am sure there are many more. The ones I mentioned are just examples of the precaution we can take to “be safe” on Maui and avoid being sorry in the end. A hui hou!

Liza Pierce of A Maui Blog is an Interactive Media Strategist in Hawai‘i. She started blogging in 2006 and she loves talking story online and spreading aloha around the world. She’s been living on Maui since 1994 and considers Maui her home. A wife, a mother, a friend…and so much more. She loves Jesus; Maui Sunsets Catcher; Crazy About Rainbow; End Alzheimer’s Advocate. Her life is full and exciting here on the island of Maui. Liza is currently the Interactive Media Strategist with Wailea Realty Corp.