End Of An Era

Maui Land & Pineapple Company, one of the state's last & largest pineapple producers is the latest casualty of Hawaii's strapped economy. In an announcement made earlier this week, MLP said they would cease all pineapple operations by the end of this year. The plantation shutdown will further increase the growing number of unemployed workers here on the Valley Isle with layoffs numbering 285 employees. These unemployed will not only include the field workers, but also workers in the company's Kahului cannery and fresh fruit distribution operations, conservation and critical watershed management teams and office administrators. 

Earlier today, further information was released about the company's dire financial condition, claiming losses of $92.9 million this year alone. You can read the full story here.

During the past several years, plantation operations had already undergone severe cutbacks, especially in the West Maui/Honolua Plantations, where agricultural lands have been taken out of production and developed as luxury home sites. Further taxing the company's viability was the demolition of the old Kapalua Bay Hotel and the construction on that site of a luxury condominium project and spa, the condominium development a joint venture with Ritz Carlton Hotels.

Both Maui Land & Pineapple Company, and it's resort arm, Kapalua Land Company have been long-term, steady & loyal clients for the past 20 years. This week's news brings further cause for an increasing feeling of fear & loathing for the immediate future. 

Pineapple has long been identified with Hawaii and the Kapalua Resort has long been, in my opinion, the most beautiful of all of Maui's destination resort areas. Let's hope and pray they continue to exist.

Endangered Hawksbill Turtle Hatchlings Released To The Wild

On Saturday, I received an unexpected invite from ocean resource specialist and endangered turtle species protector Cheryl King. The invite was to witness & document the aided release of some 70-80 newly hatched Hawksbill Turtle hatchlings in the South Maui area. The nest, buried in approximately 20 inches of dry sand above the dune line, was originally laid in the Kealia/Mudflats area. According to Miz King, eggs from nests in that area have had a very low viability rate. So... in order to attempt to increase the numbers of surviving infant turtles, this nest was dug up and the eggs relocated to a new, man-made nest further south down the coastline. After the proper gestation period, watched very closely by Cheryl and a team of dedicated volunteers, the nest is gently dug up by hand over the course of several days to see exactly what was cooking beneath the sand. A few days prior to Saturday, Cheryl reports that approximately 40 newly hatched turtle infants were removed from the nest and deposited near the waters edge to ensure their safe passage from nest to sea. 

Late saturday evening, Miz King again dug her able hands deep into the warm sand and viola! Turtle hatchlings, some still trying to make it out of their soft, leathery shells. This time, I thing it was approximately 70 live hatchlings, a few rotten eggs and a few potentially still viable unhatched eggs were retrieved. These little critters were very lively and anxious to begin their new lives in the sea. The turtle were carefully extracted and then placed into a small plastic tub until the sun was below the horizon. At that point, all hatchlings were carefully deposited a few feet from water's edge. All made a rapid beeline for the brine. Let's hope a few of them survive to adulthood and return to lay their own nests in pursuit of replenishing their numbers.

Great job Cheryl, Skippy and all the volunteers on hand to aid in turtle midwifery.

New Tear Sheets

We almost lost her... the Maui Prince. Now renamed, re-branded, new ownership. The old Maui Prince Resort is now the Makena Beach & Golf Resort.

Bird's Eye View

Things have been quite a bit busier around here for the past week or so. A two day architectural shoot now completed & in the can, a potential holiday issue magazine cover shot today & yesterday and then best of all, a two hour helicopter flight to shoot images around Maui's south shore. The day could not have been better! The image above is Pu'u O Lai, an extinct volcanic cinder cone surrounded by two of Maui's nicest beaches... Big Beach/Makena State Park and the smaller "Little Beach", Maui's notorious clothing optional (unofficially) beach.

Irving Penn RIP 1917-2009

The photographic world lost one of it's most brilliant masters today. Irving Penn, 92, died today in his Manhattan home. 

He worked relentlessly right up to the end. His work was iconic. His work was some of the earliest that I stumbled upon and drew inspiration from. He will be greatly missed.

Another Victim Joins The Magazine Death Pool

Conde' Nast Publications announced this morning that Gourmet Magazine will cease to exist in the very near future.

Bad news all around for food photographers.

County Fair