The Editor ’ s Desk
Kiawah , naturally …
Time on Kiawah perfectly reflects the idea that days pass slowly but years fly by . From a historical perspective , we are a very young place .
The 40 years since the Royal family sold the Island to the Kuwaitis have passed in the blink of an eye . It was only yesterday that Kiawah Island consisted of a few dozen vacation houses and very little else . Today , we are rapidly approaching build-out on a place that 60 years ago could only be reached by boat .
Each year thousands of visitors enjoy the beauty of Kiawah ’ s beaches , world-class accommodations , and internationally known golf courses . Despite the swiftness of its development , the Island continues to stand as an outstanding example of what can be achieved when natural habitat and wildlife are preserved even as humans claim much of the space to enjoy their days . These are the reasons we came and the same reasons that keep us here year after year .
We witness the years hurrying past , but when we spend our days on Kiawah , we have the incredible privilege of taking time to notice . We may be visitors , families who enjoy the Island as a second home , or residents who have chosen to live on Kiawah . No matter how we arrive or how long we are here , we enjoy a pace that slows the minute we round the causeway .
We pause on a leisurely bike ride to watch a mother bobcat carry a kitten to a safe place in the understory . We sit on the beach and watch as a pod of dolphins meanders by a few yards out on the ocean or a shrimp boat steers past with its nets outstretched and a flock of hopeful birds following close behind . Late in the day , no matter where we are on the Island , we have but to look a little right or left to witness yet another magnificent sunset .
In this issue , we hope you will find lots of reasons to take the time to notice as the days progress . This slower pace is a gift not to be wasted . Our writers and photographers offer you valuable hints about where to find the best shows of
the day on Kiawah Island :
••
Follow Tina Schell as she photographs the effect of the day ’ s changing light on our incredible vistas .
••
Watch with Whit Gibbons as he shows us the speedy little reptiles that race across every area of the Island .
••
Walk with Paul Roberts as he shows you where to find our wildlife in action .
••
Listen to our caddies and landscapers as they tell us of the creatures who come to visit them in the early hours of the morning .
••
Learn about the joys of seeing the night sky from a place where vision is extraordinarily clear because we have less ambient light than our big-city neighbors .
Go find the special joys of morning , noon , and night on Kiawah Island ! NK
Spring 2017
5