October began with an unprompted weekend visit to Maui to spend time with my roommate and meet her family. This was my first venture to another island, and the rural atmosphere of Maui was incredibly refreshing after the city-life of Honolulu. The absence of skyscrapers and other large structures was immediately noticeable from my airplane window. Instead, the buildings seem to blend into the landscape, as the culture lives in harmony with nature to preserve the beauty of the island. I was even told that Maui county residents are working to regulate the use of plastic bags on the island, an important step forward for the local environment.