Every Joseph Campbell fan knows that a proper mythic adventure begins when you cross the boundary line from the everyday world to the land of danger, mystery, and excitement. Often, this boundary line is marked by what Campbell called "threshold guardians"—forbidding or playful spirits.

The lush peninsula of Kalaupapa rolls out from the cliffs of north Moloka‘i like a soft, green carpet ready to soothe weary seafarers. But this serene welcome mat belies the profound tragedies suffered here by thousands of unfortunate Hawaiians.

A sinking ship isn’t always a bad thing, especially when its descent conjures up new powers of attraction and purpose. So when submarine tour operator Atlantis Adventures orchestrated the sinking of the Carthaginian a half-mile off Maui’s West coast, shore-bound crowds cheered.The longtime icon of Lahaina Harbor had traded its topside status for a more subtle position as Hawaii’s newest underwater attraction.

It’s not easy being green, as Kermit the Frog famously sang many years ago. But in the Hawaiian Islands, leading luxury resorts and cutting-edge home builders and suppliers are proving that you can be environmentally friendly without sacrificing style and comfort. In the Islands, as elsewhere around the world, more and more architects and designers are striving to be, -- and be seen as -- green. Interest in pro-conservation products and policies is shared by building professionals as well as governments, businesses, resorts, and homeowners, many of whom clamor for the latest green goods.

“Being an architect is a truly unique opportunity to shape a community and to influence the lives of people for the better.” So says Matt Gilbertson, AIA, NCARB. As a career architect (and principal with RIM Architects –Hawai‘i), he takes that community-shaping opportunity seriously…and he’s ever mindful of an architect’s responsibility to help preserve and protect Hawai‘i’s environment through eco-friendly design and building practices.

The crowds may roar at Monte Carlo’s Grand Prix and cheer at Boston’s Marathon, but moviegoers quietly delight each year in the heady tranquility of the Maui Film Festival, an adventure in film unlike any other on the planet. Here at the upscale Hawaiian enclave of Wailea, the stars have been coming out since the turn of the millennium to share unparalleled al fresco cinema amidst sumptuous feasts, paradisiacal parties and tropical Island living.

Timeless, Traditional Island Massage Therapies
Blend With Beauty And Contemporary Comforts
At The Four Seasons Resort Maui At Wailea

In a place where even the most relaxing hotels can seem stressed over efforts to modernize with WIFI, hi-speed, iPod docks and flat screen TVs, it’s refreshing to see one resort indulge in the simpler side of guest amenities. That’s exactly what the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea did recently, just months after its own major makeover when they quietly rolled out a trio of hand-made, open-air, thatched-roof massage huts known locally as “Hale Hau.” In the process they’ve shown how to balance high-tech upgrades with low-tech authenticity, all while breathing new life into ancient Hawaiian practices.