Beating the Summer Heat

By Virginia Beck

Miloli‘i sunset. Photo by Léo Azambuja

Wow, everyone is turning out for summer! The heat is rising everywhere. Climate change is real. Our islands are both unique and fragile.

Around the planet, soaring temperatures are burning away crops, and urban residents have no escape. June is a hot month. We are lucky to have cooler temperatures in the evenings, and sometimes, they bring rain. Important, because we need fresh water.

Kids are out of school, one way or another. Some graduate, but everyone plays. Our families love the beach. Getting out of the house and lockdown are double joys. Summer vacation! I still miss it! The fun of surfing, camping picnics and the kids running free on the sand.

The gangbuster recovery of our visitor industry has returned simultaneously. We too, are getting out of jail. Therefore, beaches and recreational areas are very crowded. Roads are congested. As visitors begin to travel and fewer cars are available, consider buses and shuttles. From the County Bus service to the tour buses. There are many guided tours to local scenic spots.

Tour buses and shuttle buses can provide transportation throughout Po‘ipū and Princeville area. You will need to go beyond Princeville and down to Kēʻē beach and Hā’ena.

Landslides destroyed the road, and travel is very limited. Check if you can make a reservation, or you will be turned away beyond Princeville. A limited number of parking spaces are reserved for visitors. Overuse has required preservation of these limited opportunities.

Since we have a small population and a very small, heavily impacted tax base we cannot provide the same availability as larger places such as California. So, everything you can contribute helps to preserve and build our natural resources.

Kauaʻi is an environmental theme park, without the limitations or the funding of Disneyland. From the National Tropical Botanical Gardens to many volunteers who clean beaches and plant endangered species, nature is a work in progress.

Camping has always been a huge part of summer. The kids are off, and families long to get out of the house. We meet at the ocean’s edge, savoring coolness of the water, and the sandy beaches, especially toward sunset.

Or head to the hills to hike and enjoy Waimea Canyon. A fantastic park but a very narrow road. Be cautious, there are many curves and are few places to pass. The trip is worth it, even if you need to be alert for risky drivers.

Remember that all plastics and disposable will wind up in the ocean. Bring your own water bottles. Clever resorts and places such as Lāwa‘i Market have self-service filling stations.

The oceans are rising, and plastics are toxic. Even Paradise needs care, and prudent pruning and water recycling. You may even feel a deeper connection when you personally care for our island home.

Lastly, have a care for those around you. Tip freely. Get vaccinated. Have fun and a glorious adventure here!

Aloha always finds a way.

• Virginia Beck, NP and Certified Trager® Practitioner, offers Wellness Consultation, Trager Psychophysical Integration and teaches Malama Birth Training classes. She can be reached at 635-5618.