ESSENTIALS - Maui: Including Molokai and Lanai - page 728

body, there will be a sudden onset of fever accompanied by chills, sweats, headache, and
sometimes vomiting and diarrhea. Preventive measures include staying out of freshwater
sources and mud where cattle and other animals wade and drink, not swimming in fresh-
water if you have an open cut, and not drinking stream water. Leptospirosis may be fatal
in some cases if left untreated.
SAFETY IN THE OUTDOORS
Hiking
Other than bodysurfing and swimming, the most common way that visitors end up hurt or
in trouble is taking unnecessary risks while hiking. Remember that wet rocks are slippery,
and that stream crossings can be dangerous since flash floods can occur without warning.
Stay away from the tops of waterfalls (where something as unpredictable as a gust of wind
can send you one step farther than you had originally planned). If you are doing any cliff
jumping, be sure you've scouted the landing zone for rocks and that it's been verified as
safe by someone in the know. When hiking along the sea, remember that large surf can un-
predictably crash onto the shoreline, so keep a safe distance from turbid seas and slippery
rocks. While ACE bandages and disinfectants are great for curing cuts and scrapes, the
most important thing to pack with you before heading out on an adventure is a healthy dose
of common sense; don't go out in conditions with which you're unfamiliar, and never push
yourself outside of your comfort zone when wandering off your own. As the motto says,
“If in doubt, don't go out.” Remember that the moment you set foot on a trail—whether
in the mountains, the rainforest, or along the shoreline—every action is a direct result of
choices you made. It isn't the fault of the landowner that wet rocks on his property are slip-
pery, so be prepared to accept the personal responsibility for keeping yourself safe while
exploring.
Sun
Many can't wait to strip down and lie on the sand like beached whales. But the tropical
sun will burn you to a cinder if you aren't diligent about sunscreen. Burning rays come
through more easily in Hawai'i because of the sun's angle and you don't feel them as much
because there's always a cool breeze. The worst part of the day is 11am-3pm. Even though
Maui lies about 21° north latitude and is not even close to the equator, it's still more than
1,000 miles south of sunny Southern California beaches. While spray-on sunscreens might
be convenient, they stain the decks of boats, end up in your neighbor's mouth, and can
ignite your skin if you stand next to an open flame (yikes!). The best—albeit most expens-