Greetings neighbors, I hope you are enjoying 2011 and surviving a winter that has thus far been chock full of climate induced trials, tribulations and unseasonal warm spells. The first thing I want to bring to your attention is a reminder that the registration deadline for the February 26th LIVE WELL SYMPOSIUM is rapidly approaching, so if you want to attend this free event now is the time to visit www.avilabeachfoundation.org and sign up while seats are still available. You have probably read many of the educational columns written by local health and fitness expert Julian Varela that appear each month in the Avila Community News. Julian is heading up the Symposium and has developed an interesting list of topics and secured an impressive lineup of experts in the field as guest presenters. Don’t miss out on this event, which includes a delicious and healthy free lunch – yes, there is such thing as a free lunch.
On to other things – my wife and I recently returned from a trip to Maui. In addition to enjoying the mostly warm and sunny skies – save the occasional tropical storms that flooded parts of the island, we spent some quality time watching the PGA pros tee it up for their first event of the new season at the spectacular Kapalua Plantation Course. We were also treated to several breathtaking whale shows just a few hundred yards off the beach where we stayed in Napili. As I am inclined to do when visiting places away from home, comparing lifestyles was also on my vacation agenda. I like to read the local newspaper classifieds to learn about housing costs and employment opportunities, and I gain a bit of insight about these special destinations by reading commentaries and letters to the editor. You don’t have to dig much below the surface to discover a fair amount of controversy and unrest on the Hawaiian Islands. Most of that has to do with what appears to be an ongoing culture clash between island natives and those who have migrated to this lovely slice of paradise. The natives are intent on preserving their way of life and view the newcomers as a threat. It is easy to understand the clash, which sort of reminds me of the changes that have taken place in Avila over the past decade or so, where we have some of the “old guard” not willing to embrace the inevitable changes, and some of the “new guard” trying to promote conditions more in line with the metropolitan areas from which they came. No doubt that Hawaii and Avila aren’t the only two places experiencing these growing pains.
One of the things that concerned me most about the Maui experience was how poorly so many of the people employed in the hospitality or service industries treat the visitors. It is very unsettling to stand in line at the grocery store and see a checker be so friendly with the locals in front of us, then become cold and uncommunicative when we reach the check stand. The same thing happened at the neighborhood taco shack, and I can’t say that our resort desk staff was particularly friendly or helpful at all times. Overall I will say we felt welcome and appreciated as tourists spending our money in Maui, but I have to say that if I owned or managed a business that counts on tourism dollars, my staff would be well trained in treating the entire public as valued patrons, not aliens. It was also disheartening to read about the problems Maui police face when trying to enforce safety laws that are unpopular with a faction of the natives. Young people speeding on the highways and streets, ignoring safety belt requirements, no electronic devices while driving laws and a restriction on the use of fireworks have also become matters of cultural disagreement. Some common sense rules to benefit society are viewed as culturally insensitive or prohibitive. This may be as much a generational divide as it is cultural – just like most civilizations have experienced over the ages (SLOPD versus Cal Poly students as an example????) Bottom line – it’s great to be home among friends and neighbors.
Well, once again I have exhausted my allotted space so its time to sign off until next month. I hope to see a great many of you at the upcoming LIVE WELL SYMPOSIUM, and I welcome your comments or suggestions for all things Avila. Email us at [email protected].
On to other things – my wife and I recently returned from a trip to Maui. In addition to enjoying the mostly warm and sunny skies – save the occasional tropical storms that flooded parts of the island, we spent some quality time watching the PGA pros tee it up for their first event of the new season at the spectacular Kapalua Plantation Course. We were also treated to several breathtaking whale shows just a few hundred yards off the beach where we stayed in Napili. As I am inclined to do when visiting places away from home, comparing lifestyles was also on my vacation agenda. I like to read the local newspaper classifieds to learn about housing costs and employment opportunities, and I gain a bit of insight about these special destinations by reading commentaries and letters to the editor. You don’t have to dig much below the surface to discover a fair amount of controversy and unrest on the Hawaiian Islands. Most of that has to do with what appears to be an ongoing culture clash between island natives and those who have migrated to this lovely slice of paradise. The natives are intent on preserving their way of life and view the newcomers as a threat. It is easy to understand the clash, which sort of reminds me of the changes that have taken place in Avila over the past decade or so, where we have some of the “old guard” not willing to embrace the inevitable changes, and some of the “new guard” trying to promote conditions more in line with the metropolitan areas from which they came. No doubt that Hawaii and Avila aren’t the only two places experiencing these growing pains.
One of the things that concerned me most about the Maui experience was how poorly so many of the people employed in the hospitality or service industries treat the visitors. It is very unsettling to stand in line at the grocery store and see a checker be so friendly with the locals in front of us, then become cold and uncommunicative when we reach the check stand. The same thing happened at the neighborhood taco shack, and I can’t say that our resort desk staff was particularly friendly or helpful at all times. Overall I will say we felt welcome and appreciated as tourists spending our money in Maui, but I have to say that if I owned or managed a business that counts on tourism dollars, my staff would be well trained in treating the entire public as valued patrons, not aliens. It was also disheartening to read about the problems Maui police face when trying to enforce safety laws that are unpopular with a faction of the natives. Young people speeding on the highways and streets, ignoring safety belt requirements, no electronic devices while driving laws and a restriction on the use of fireworks have also become matters of cultural disagreement. Some common sense rules to benefit society are viewed as culturally insensitive or prohibitive. This may be as much a generational divide as it is cultural – just like most civilizations have experienced over the ages (SLOPD versus Cal Poly students as an example????) Bottom line – it’s great to be home among friends and neighbors.
Well, once again I have exhausted my allotted space so its time to sign off until next month. I hope to see a great many of you at the upcoming LIVE WELL SYMPOSIUM, and I welcome your comments or suggestions for all things Avila. Email us at [email protected].
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