Little Beach

Mark got stung by a jelly fish yesterday afternoon while swimming his laps.  He's fine, but it was a bit of a shock - both to him when he encountered the fish and me when he told me about it.  Fortunately, it was cocktail time, and the gin took a bit of the sting off the sting.

Little Beach at Makena State Park is where we spend most of our time.  It's about a 15-minute drive south of our condo, primarily through Wailea, through beautiful neighborhoods and past one resort and golf club after another.  Then, just before we reach Makena, the landscape abruptly changes to what it was before irrigation and developers arrived.  

Little Beach is accessible by crossing Big Beach, so we park near the latter, strap on our backpack beach chairs and our regular backpacks, grab our beach umbrella, and begin the short hike to our destination.

Once we hit Big Beach, we hang a right and head toward the volcanic passage to Little Beach, being treated to the magnificent view across the beach to the translucent turquoise water, the sun shining on Kaho'olawe in the distance.

To our right is a hill comprised of solid lava rock.  We walk along the base until we reach the lava rock "wall" that separates Big Beach from Little Beach.

Here we put our flip flops back on for the ascent up the "stairs" to the top of the wall.  I foolishly commented on our first day here that I was surprised the state hadn't actually constructed steps up the bath. Mark, looking almost offended, replied, "Joseph, Joseph, Joseph.  That would take away from the experienced - and make the beach on the other side far too accessible."  I considered myself duly chastened.

Once at the top, we have a beautiful view looking back over Big Beach.

And down toward Little Beach.

At this point in the narrative, I want to quote from an email that Mark wrote to a mutual friend and correspondent, as he describes Little Beach and our feelings upon our arrival on Monday afternoon:

"I can't begin to tell you how lovely this place is. The first day here we were a bit sleep deprived and it felt like a bit of a haze over everything. We'd been up for nearly 24 hours. However despite all that, we fell under the spell of the humidity, flowers blooming everywhere, waves crashing on the sand, and getting to run around naked. I'm now thinking what does that word spell mean. I'm thinking it's a euphoria. An intoxicant. Something that makes you feel that this is the way things should be. A mental calmness.

"Joseph made a comment on how natural it feels. I was thinking what an amazing experience he must be having. Allowing himself for the first time to be able to be authentic. No more pretending.

"I think you asked if we were at a boys only beach. Let me describe it for you. Little Beach is next to Big Beach. To get to little beach from Big Beach you have to crawl over a ridge of lava so it's nicely separated from Big Beach. The beach itself is probably about the length of a football field. It's a clothing optional beach. The first part is mostly straight people and the far end is almost exclusively gay. A majority, but certainly not all, are naked - and clearly a majority of people you would just as soon they had their clothes on.

The skyscapes add to the beauty of this place.

"We are going to try a variation in routine. The beach is always special first thing in the morning and again late afternoon to sunset. There are few people on the beach when we get here so it's nice to stake out a spot under the trees. We get all lathered in sunscreen and then play some paddle ball. It's a buddhist game because to make it fun you have to cooperate. There are no nets or lines just hitting the ball back and forth. It's only fun when you get the ball to the other player. The object is to sustain the rally. Then a little swimming followed by reading.

"By around 11 the beach has populated and from then until about 3 it's very hot and it feels like you imprisoned under the umbrella to save your hide. At 3 people start to leave and the sun lets up and the light turns soft again. We crawl out from under the umbrella and start playing.

"At 5 the drinks come out and the sun sets. I'm amazed but glad during that magical time of the day we have the beach to ourselves again."