The endless and mesmerizing march and variety of waves provoke thought.  These beach-side thoughts range from simplistic ("nice wave") to contemplative (or what passes for contemplative in Maui). The waves can also inspire action (take photographs, go swimming).

But mainly the waves inspire questions about origins, magnitude, variety, power, aesthetics.  A Pacific wave is the planet-based analogy for infinity, traveling unimpeded for thousands of miles.  And then, randomly, or perhaps through predestination, winding up on-shore exactly at one's feet.  A personal wave, sent by a distant messenger.   

Each wave is a data point, or more accurately, the mathematical product of many data points run through a complex (not yet understood by humans) formula.  Famously, it exemplifies chaos theory.  A planetary algorithm more complex than those in-the-know financial traders use on Wall Street in flash trades that potentially set off land-bound tsunamis, or than those political hopefuls use in estimating election odds.  

In a world that currently eschews data points and that doubts facts, science, and reality, waves offer an endless (we should all hope) source of here-and-now facts.  They are reminders that arrive ten times every fifty-seven seconds (at least they did today) that there really is a reality.  

Below: slow shutter speeds allow waves to fracture and flow

These are not wave-forms.  These are clouds, mid-Pacific.