Wailea Blog - Pictor Campbell

Seven Wonders in Underwater Maui

May 18, 2013 by Pictor Campbell R(S)

It’s no secret that Maui has beautiful beaches and expansive ocean access. In fact, that’s a large part of the appeal of living here. Wailea has gorgeous white sand beaches, and every day they’re filled with people surfing, swimming, jogging, sunbathing, and enjoying life under the Hawaiian sun. But some people can live in Wailea for years without knowing what’s going on just under the surface of the water.

Take a look at these seven wonders in underwater Maui and let me know which one is your favorite.

1. The Turtles
http://wailealuxurylistings.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/turtle6
Who doesn't love to see a friendly honu swimming by? Turtles are fairly common here in Maui, and much larger than the ones you may have in an aquarium. It's illegal to touch them, but if you go to the right spots, you can swim with them.
2. Sea Urchins
http://wailealuxurylistings.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/seaurchin
There's no way around it: sea urchins look like they come from another world. In bright colors and random shapes, you'll find sea urchins all over Maui's many reefs.
3. Schools of Fish
http://wailealuxurylistings.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/fish4
There's safety in numbers. Smaller fish escape predators in Maui's balmy waters by teaming up in schools. It's common to see dozens or hundreds of fish go by, often all the colors of the rainbow.
4. Stingrays
http://wailealuxurylistings.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/stingray2
Stingrays have a reputation as aggressive, but these docile giants are actually shy. They hide along the sand on the bottom of the ocean floor, and usually only attack if stepped on. If you're lucky enough to see them out for a swim, you'll find out just how beautiful they are.
5. The Eels
http://wailealuxurylistings.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/eel
Don't worry, they aren't electric. Hawaii has a variety of eels of different shapes, sizes, colors and patterns. You'll often find them blending in among the rocks. While eels aren't aggressive, if you find one, it may be best to give it some space.
6. Dolphins
http://wailealuxurylistings.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/dolphin2
It's iconically Hawaiian to get in the water and swim with dolphins. These friendly, curious mammals are popular in Maui, and have been known to swim with people in some waters.
7. Sunsets
http://wailealuxurylistings.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/sunset
Technically you don't have the be underwater to see the sunset, but being at or in the ocean when it begins to go down is pure magic.

Thanks to Andy Law, my good friend, for allowing me to use these photos, taken off the coast of Maui during his latest visit to the valley isle.

Filed Under: Maui Must Sees, Things to do in Wailea, Wailea Tagged With: attractions, hobbies, life on maui, maui attractions, outdoors in Maui, tourism, Wailea

Four Changes to Expect When You’re Living in Maui

April 23, 2013 by Pictor Campbell R(S) 1 Comment

A view to get used to when you're living in Maui.

Thanks to Belindah

Maui has a lively, active culture. Surfing, swimming, jogging, walking – the activity depends on your tastes, but most people end up spending a lot more time outside than they would in other parts of the United States. Even otherwise

Maui is different, and life here reflects that. Whether it’s our rich culture, our varied history, or our unordinary amount of sunshine, life here isn’t comparable to life on the mainland. If you’re looking to move to Maui, you’ll need to know about some changes you can expect when you get here.

You’ll spend more time outside.

indoor things, like parties, end up moving outdoors here.

Your expenses will change.

When people talk about the cost of living in Maui, they often leave out an important budget item: tiki torches. Island living has its own peculiar demands, and you may find yourself investing in extra bathing suits, surf board racks, sunglasses, and maybe even a few Hawaiian shirts. In return, you can forget about buying heavy coats, mittens, space heaters, and vitamin D supplements ever again.

You’ll make new friends.

Maui is a place for community. Whether you meet on the golf course, during your morning jog on the beach, or at your favorite local restaurant, you’re bound to meet a lot of friendly people living in Maui. You can expect to meet new friends, get invited over to their homes for dinner, and be inviting them back a lot more than you would on the mainland.

You’ll start talking story.

Talking story, a term that references chit chatting, idle talk, or talking with old friends, is an important and enjoyable part of life here on the islands. From the dancing to the driving, the pace of life is simply slower on Maui. Over time you’ll find yourself matching it, taking time to ask your cashier about how her family is, or coming out to meet the mailman in the afternoon.

Things are different when you’re living in Maui, but if you like sunshine, friendly people, and living a life that makes you smile, you’re bound to find that the changes are all good ones.

Filed Under: Living In Maui, Maui News and Culture, Moving To Maui, Wailea Tagged With: life on maui, maui news and culture, moving to maui, talking story

The Meaning of Fee Simple

April 9, 2013 by Pictor Campbell R(S) Leave a Comment

Photo courtesy of Troy Gossman

If you’ve looked at a home listing recently, you may have noticed a few words right after the listing price – fee simple. Have you wondered about the meaning of fee simple? You aren’t alone; over 30,000 people search Google for answers about fee simple every month.

The Meaning of Fee Simple.

Fee simple is a way to say that when you buy a home, you’re also buying the land it sits on. That means you have the right to sell it, you have the right to divide it among multiple parties, and you have the right to leave it to someone in a will.

The Right to Sell

Fee Simple means that you can sell your home at any time you’d like. Some housing communities have guidelines on how to sell, but as far as governmental agencies go, you own your home, and so you can sell it when you want to.

The Right to Divide and Bequeath

Fee Simple means that you can give your home and land as an inheritance. It also means you have the right to divide your property between multiple parties in an estate. Fee simple gives you the freedom to leave your home as an inheritance, and to leave it to more than one person.

What Isn’t Fee Simple?

Click here to find out.

The opposite of fee simple is lease hold. Lease hold refers to a situation where you own a home or condo, but the land it sits on is owned by a third party, and the lease must be periodically renegotiated. This means that at the end of every leasing period, the price you pay in rent of the land is subject to change.

Both homes and condos can be either fee simple or lease hold. In a fee simple condo, you own the interior walls of your condominium, and a proportional share of the land, which is owned by the Home Owner’s Association. The majority of residential homes are fee simple. There are a handful of lease hold condominium complexes on Maui; Kamaole Nalu in Kihei is an example of one.

Implications For Buyers

Buying a Fee Simple home gives you greater freedom and flexibility. It also means that the care of the land is your responsibility, and many communities in Wailea-Makena have high standards for lawn care. When you live in a condo, monthly fees are often used towards landscaping and land maintenance.

It’s important to know whether a home you’re considering is fee simple or lease hold, and it should be declared on the listing. If you’d like more information, why not sign up for my free e-course, What Everyone Should Know About Wailea?

Filed Under: Living In Maui, Wailea, Wailea-Makena Condos, Wailea-Makena Luxury Homes Tagged With: wailea luxury homes, wailea real estate news, wailea-makena

Seven Wonders in Underwater Maui

1. The Turtles

2. Sea Urchins

3. Schools of Fish

4. Stingrays

5. The Eels

6. Dolphins

7. Sunsets