Oprah Winfrey speaks live on Maui at the MACC - June 26, 2017

Living here on Maui, "Magic" just happens!

June 26, 2017, Oprah Winfrey, our celebrity resident on Maui, was called upon to give a speech at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center (MACC) to promote Maui living, good health, focused intention, gratitude, and talk story!  She is a wonderful motivational speaker and she knows how to entertain with her great sense of humor.   I really enjoyed the presentation.

Over 5,000 people attended

The event was advertised June 19th.  Eventually Maui’s coconut wireless reached my friend Rob who told me about the event with only 24 hours left to enter the sweepstakes.  I said, "YES let’s do it!"  It was not easy for him to enter, and I also tried with no success.  I however gave up, but pleaded and encouraged Rob to keep trying :).  And try he did for more than an hour until he finally got us entered.  He had to go as far as to make several telephone calls.  Mahalo mahalo Rob!  I spoke with other people who  also experienced technical difficulties and they gave up.  So we were lucky to get entered at the last minute and awarded two free tickets to the event sponsored by Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA) and its app called Sharecare.

Those who downloaded the app to their cell phone were entered to win tickets. Sharecare allows HMSA subscribers to track their health, fitness, level of happiness or stress etc.  Sharecare app goes beyond HMSA members, their goal is to have the app go statewide.

HMSA Chief Executive Officer Michael Gold called the event a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

"We know that her ability to inspire will be a huge boost to our efforts to advance health and well-being across Hawaii,” he said.

More than 5,000 people showed up for the free event.  There was a long line stretching out to Kahului Beach Road.  The mood was festive and positive.  The day was warm in the sun, but well worth attending to see Oprah speak in her first ever live appearance on Maui.  This was a dream come true for me and many others.

I created a 4 minute video with snippets from her speech that focused on the “why” she moved here and her take on the Maui Magic.  My visual quality is not very qood on the video, for that I apologize.  Take in the message the audio is good and her message profound.  She reveals the reason why she moved here.  I added some pictures of upcountry, Kula, the beautiful land she speaks of on Maui so you will get an idea that our island is more than just pretty beaches…We have forests and jungles too.

It is a great place to live for those brave enough to take the leap but if not, an annual visit to our lovely island will leave you rejuvenated and in awe.

For the full hour Oprah Winfrey speech click this link to see the video.

Remember bring the Aloha spirit and mindset with you and take it back to the mainland with a full heart.  Let us make this world a better place.

Kathy McCartney RS#77317
La Costa Realty Hawaii LLC
Maui Vision Rentals LLC
www.mauivision.com
www.mccartneyfineart.com
https://www.facebook.com/MauiVisionRentals

Maui Ocean Center: Hawaii's Premier Aquarium

The Maui Ocean Center allows you to explore Hawaii’s marine world up close and personal. With over 60 exhibits that include sharks, stingrays, turtles and a diverse collection of tropical fish, that reveal Maui’s colorful marine life.

With the world’s largest collection of live Pacific corals and breathtaking exhibits that capture the magnificence of the thriving marine ecosystems of Hawaii’s underwater world, it’s no wonder it was given the recognition as Top 25 Best Aquariums in the U.S. by Trip Advisor. Guests of all ages will enjoy discovering the beauty of Hawaii’s marine life as it unfolds in front of them in this intimate setting.


The Maui Ocean Center offers a mixture of interactive presentations, behind-the-scenes tours and indoor-outdoor exhibits, such as the 750,000 gallon shark tank, 360 degree glowing jellyfish tank, Marine Mammal Discovery Center, Living Reef and Turtle Lagoon. There are also multiple pools where you can touch and interact with the sea life. Most notably, the facility’s Shark Dive Maui® program is Maui’s only shark diving activity. This fascinating experience allows SCUBA certified individuals to enter the Open Ocean Exhibit and dive with sharks, stingrays and exotic fish.

Also known as the The Hawaiian Aquarium, the Center integrates Hawaii’s rich cultural history within its exhibits, defining the strong relationship of its people and the sea. This is beautifully captured in the Hawaiians and Sea Exhibit, which continues to be a highlight of the Aquarium. There’s no other place that provides such a unique learning experience and allows its guests close interaction with Hawaii’s marine life.

The Seascape Ma’alaea Restaurant is an ocean view dining option that is open 10:30 am-3 pm daily for the Center’s guests. There is also a gift shop (Maui Ocean Treasures) that is open 9 am – 5 pm daily where you can pick up souvenirs and locally made products.

For more information regarding ticket prices and hours of operation, visit the Center’s website: https://mauioceancenter.com/