Maui

Here is a link to the old Maui page while I am doing the rebuild of the page. <click here>

This page is under construction. While I am doing the rebuild of this page, I have borrowed some images from Google - Images, and other sites until I get home and can work with my originals. Many of the links for larger pictures don't work and I have to retrieve previous pictures to help re-build this page. Enjoy what is here and stop back later to see the completed page - Mahalo.

PICTURE SETS/Web Albums: One feature of my travel site is "Web Albums" (just click on the album name) which allow you to click on a series of thumbnails and view larger pictures. Currently available for Maui is:
*Maui 2007

Many of my comments here are other than what you have already read in advertisements and travel brochures which highlight things to see and do. My purpose is to point out some things you might not have thought of.

In our travel year, Maui is usually the place where we spend the greatest amount of time in any single destination. With that in mind, my Maui page is the one with the greatest amount of information, including tips about staying here. You can continue to read more/learn more.

OR

<CLICK HERE> for Maui Travel pictures.

JUST SHOW ME THE PICTURES!

MORE ABOUT MAUI:
MAUI: "Maui No Ka 'Oi" (Maui is the best)
For over 10 years, Conde Nast Traveler magazine has rated Maui, "The best island in the world"

Coming to the islands for over 20 years, we still have only been on 4 of the islands. We "homed in" on Maui, like it the best, and now come for part of our winter. Maui seems to have the best overall combination of why you come to the islands even though each of the others offer you things you want to see and do.

Staying longer than 7-10 days is a entirely different experience. You feel no pressure to rush off to the next activity. If we want to sleep in or stay up late, that is fine too. It is more like living on the island. Each day I read the local paper, looking for coupons, discounts at the supermarket, and local events to attend. Maui is actually fairly small. It is only about 40 miles long counting the entire land mass and at its narrowest point is only about 12 miles across.

While some people get "island fever" and have to get off the island, we met a man who moved there and never left in 27 years. For us, 5+ weeks is long enough and we are usually ready to go home. Though it seems we start planning for a return trip about a month after we get home.

TIPPING ON MAUI: Maui is a very expensive place to live and especially difficult for wait staff who serve you when dining. If you can handle it, be a little extra generous when tipping - they sure can use it.

YOU NEED A CAR: Unless you are here for a week or less, staying at a hotel or resort, and mainly doing the resort/beach thing, you really need a car to get around.

For those without a car, Maui now does have another choice - MAUI BUS. Maui Bus can now allow the visitor without a car to get to most of the populated places they might visit. You may need to transfer multiple times. One example of a short trip using only one bus might be for those in Ka'anapali who might want to visit Lahaina.

Paia/Hookipa/Haiku and on the Road to Hana.

Lots of travel information will tell you about the road to Hana - no need for more here. BUT, along that journey as you leave Paia on the way to Hana you go past Mama's Fish House which is fairly expensive but has great fish. Just a bit further and you go past Ho‘okipa Beach Park where some of the best windsurfing in the world happens (especially good in the winter). This is a place for experienced surfers - beginners take in the view. We have been there when the waves were so high most could not ride them or they were of poor quality for surfing. Some days you will see helicopters filming the action (I took the shot above in January of 2007) - unfortunately I only had my little "beach" camera with, but you get a feel of what it was like. Further on, you can leave the road and head to Haiku (or stop there on your way back from Makawao or Haleakala). We like to stop at Colleens at the Cannery. They have their own web site where the pictures lead you to beleive the interior is much fancier than it really is. DON'T let this stop you. The people are nice and the food is great (save room for dessert). For lunch 2 people can have a sandwich and a soda for about $25 with tip (2012). The sandwiches are HUGE and really could be shared by two and, while I don't know for sure, it seemed to me that everything was fresh, flavorful, and top notch.

WAILUKU (or nearby):
Wailluku is the seat of Maui county and right next to Kahalui. There is not much going on here for tourists, but it is close to the Iao valley (Iao Valley State Park and the "Iao Needle") (highway 32, Wailuku), the Maui Tropical plantation (on highway 30 between Wailuku on your way to Lahaina or the north end of Kihei), and the Bailey Museum (2375-A Main Street Wailuku - not actually right in town, but not far from the Kaahumanu Church. You could easily combine all of these into a single visit.

A new twist is "Wailuku first Friday" which has become Wailuku Town's monthly street party with live music, sidewalk artisans, crafters, food vendors. Other towns around the island are now starting to do this on other Friday's. This is real "local" entertainment with lots of different foods to try. If you get there early check into the beer garden to get one of the few tables and then have some one sit at the table while others get there food. Try the malasadas (left) from the Portugese guy (who calls his "Maui sadas") at the end of market streets. The chocolate filled ones are great. FREE UP THE TABLE for others after you have had a chance to eat. Its fun to mill around in the crowd and listen to the different entertainment.

If you are heading to the Iao valey (right) you may want to stop at the Kepaniwai Park's Heritage Gardens (left) with an entrance on the left as you head from Wailuku into the valley. There is no charge and the gardens give you a feel for plantation life as it was experienced by various ethnic groups. While entrance to the valley is free, the parking was $5.00 in 2012 and a person will collect it from you. To be able to park next to the entrance is worth the $5.00

BATHROOMS: When you travel, it seems like you are always looking for one. If you go to Picnic with Poki (see below), there is a McDonalds only a couple of blocks away. If you are continuing on to the Maui Tropical Plantation, there are free bathrooms there as well.

PICNIC WITH POKI

The third Thursday of each month you can to go "Picnic with Poki"and enjoy free live Hawaiian entertainment under the monkey pod tree "next to the historic Kaahumanu Church in old Wailuku town". Bring your chair or blanket and something to eat and drink. The entertainers may be a local hula club using this a chance to practice their hula in front of an audience, a well known Hawaiian recording performer, or a person who is an "institution" known for their skill and art in Hawaiian culture - you never quite know what you will see. - Relax and enjoy yourself. You often can find parking directly across the street or very nearby.
Food (in Wailuku). If we are in the area we usually eat in Kahului, but there are lots of places to eat in Wailuku, we think a good place is "Stillwell's" bakery at 1740 Kaahumanu Ave between Kahului and Wailuku (on your right at near the top of the hill as you are driving from the Queen Kaahumanu mall to Wailuku. Nothing fancy here, but the food is good and the owner, Roy Stillwell, is friendly, helpful and accomodating. If you are not big eaters, 2 can share a sandwich and save room for one of of their great deserts. One day while we were having lunch, a couple came in, ordered a whole pie with two forks and went to one of the outside tables and started eating. Lots of "locals" were stopping in and getting sandwiches to go.

WAILEA
Wailea is very pricey and hard to find a one-bedroom condo for less than $1.5M. It has fantastic golf courses and high end resorts, but you don't have to stay there to enjoy them and many offer restaurants you may want to try. We enjoy going to the Emerald course and eating at GANNONS (it used to be the Sea Watch). Lunches are more reasonably priced. For supper - be prepared. I had a 4 oz. serving of fish for $46 served with a small portion of vegetable and potato. But the meal was fantastic, the service exceptional and the ocean view as the sun started to set one that created memories of its own. We go to Gannons at least once or twice each trip.

Shops at Wailea

or more a more modest experience, the Shops at Wailea (the premier shopping experience on the island) have "Wailea on Wednesdays" (WOW) where free musical entertainement is available each Wednesday night. We have seen hula, local singers, and even performers from "The Phantom of the Opera" who were performing on the island. Its a nice night to have an ice cream cone and Cheeseburger Island Style is more affordable. Higher end dining is available and we especially like Longhis for Italian.

All beach access on Maui is public but you have to find a way to get there. While there are access paths, the problem is parking. The beachwalk in Wailea going past the exclusive resorts is very nice and very scenic. One way to solve this is to park at the Shops of Wailea and walk to the Marriott through their property and down on to the beach. There are paths where you will not be bothering the people who have paid top dollar to be there. Once on the beach path you can walk for quite some time enjoying fantastic views. If you are there at lunch you may want to eat at the Kumu Bar and Grill for salads, fresh fish, sandwiches, burgers, steak and seafood. It is more affordable than the other restaurants.

Haleakala National Park:
No more to say here - you have read the brochures - here are some pictures and tips.

Even though you are on a tropical island, the temperature on Haleakala ranges from 30-50F and can be wet and windy. As you look into the crater, you can see "cinder cones" which are like small volcanoes within the main volcano. Hiking trails take you into the crater and some people hike for up to 3 days, actually camping in the crater. At 9,000 feet you can become light headed and at 10,000 feet you can really feel the difference. A simple hike up a short distance can seem like quite an effort. This is also a place where you can get a terrible sunburn. Use sunblock and wear a hat!

Bring a camera!. Photographs in the crater can be some of the most intere

sting in your travels

.

Other things you see: The crater, silversword (protected plant) - left, and "Science City" (a cluster of telescopes mainly for monitoring man-made objects in space. - right.

Biking:
You can even go on a tour, where you are taken to the top of Haleakla and bike down.

We have never serious considered this trip. We are told the sunrise version is magnificent, but who want's to get up at 3:00AM?

Volcanoes: Maui is actually made up of two volcanos (Today what is called the West Maui mountains, and Haleakla). The volcano that became the West Maui mountains is extinct but Haleakla, the largest dormant volcano in the world, is not. The last eruption was believed to be in 1790, but may be as far back as the 1600's. Lava from the 2 volcanoes flowed together to create the isthmus between them.

Haleakala

BATHROOMS: Stop at the visitor's center at about 9,000 feet, either on the way up or down the volcano.

LAHAINA:
The name means "merciless sun" and it is definitely sunny here even though Lahaina town is in West Mau. It is shielded from the rain by the West Maui mountains (really one of the 2 volcanoes that formed this island). Lahaina is very "touristy" with tons of t-shirt shops, "art galleries" and people hawking timeshare sales if you will sit through a high pressure sales meeting. They will also be clever in their pitch about cheap tourist activities almost making you feel that that timeshare sales is really not what they are pushing. Still, Lahaina is a fun place to visit.

Food (in Lahaina) : There are lots of good places to eat in Lahaina. Here are a couple that are moderately priced and have good food.
Burgers:
We used to like the burgers at "Cheeseburger in Paradise", but now think the ones at the "Cool Cat" just down the street are better. "Cheeseburger" has the better view if you can sit by the window and their french fries are pretty wicked. Lahaina is the 2nd most visited spot on Maui.
Italian:
"Penne Pasta": 180 Dickenson St, Lahaina.This little restaurant has good pasta and you can get a really nice flatbreat pizza for about $8.00. We always try to stop once or twice on a trip if we are in Lahaina or driving through. If you come in for lunch, you will usually find Juan at that counter where you order. They have their own web site.

Lahaina Banyan tree

The banyan tree in the courthouse square of town is huge and a good photo opportunity. If you are going to attend a Luau, "The Old Lahaina Luau" is a good one and rated "Best Luau" by several publications. Many of the luaus offered on the grounds of a hotel just don't compare, even though they can still be fun.
You never know what types of ships and boats will be moored in Lahaina harbor.

Many tourist activities that take you out on the water leave from Lahaina including submarine and semi-submersible tours.

*FREE HULA SHOW
*Friday night "ART NIGHT" (wander through galleries have a fee glass of wine)
*Sit under the banyan tree, which covers an entire block, and people watch.
* The old courthouse next to the banyan tree is a visitors and has memorbilia you can view.

The free hula show is at the Lahaina Cannery Mall.

Keiki Hula

While mainly a tourist activity, these free shows can be fun. Especially the Keiki (children's) show.

Since this is shopping center/mall, it is a good time for a between-meals snack, one of your meals for the day, a cold drink, or stopping into the Safeway to purchase non-perishable groceries before you head home.

Ka'anapali:

Whaler's Village Museum
Walk on the path along the beach.

Museum: OK, the museum is in a shopping center, but it is free and you can see examples of activities associated with whaling including antique ornaments and utensils made from whale ivory and bone, and one of the world’s largest scale models of a whaling ship. You have to pay to park in a parking ramp, but if you purchase something in the center and get your ticket stamped, your parking is free. This is not as good a deal as it used to be as many merchants now want a minimum (sometimes quite high) purchase. Other smaller business are refusing to stamp your ticket.

Beach Walk: This is one of the nicer ones on the island if you want to walk near the beach but not on the beach. Like Wailea, you walk near expensive hotels and a beautiful beach.

Activities: The center also has all sorts of demonstrations and presentations as well.

Molokini:

Molokini is a crescent-shaped volcanic crater which is a popular dive/snorkeling spot and seabird sanctuary. It is in the Alalakeiki Channel between the Maui and Kahoolawe. Not far from Molokini and Kahoolawe you can see whales curising in the channel.

Molokai:
"The Friendly Isle" located near Maui is 260 square miles and has about 7,500 people living there.

There has not been a lot of development on the island and many people like to experience that environment.

While many people may not know about Molokai they may have heard about "Father Damien", the Belgian priest who cared for sufferers of Hansen's Disease (leprosy) in a place called Kalaupapa. Many who still live there are descendants of those who had the disease.

You can take day trips from Lahaina or just go over by ferry to visit the island. In all the year's we have been coming to the islands, we still haven't been to Molokai.

Read more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molokai

Lānaʻi:
"The Pineapple Isle" located near Maui is 140 square miles and has 3,000 people living there.

There are 2 main "resorts" on the island and you can take day trips to the island.
In all the year's we have been coming to the islands, we still haven't been to Lanai.

Read more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lanai

Kahoʻolawe:
"The Target Isle" located near Maui is 45 square miles.

Uninhabited today, Kahoʻolawe was used for target practice during WWII,

Read more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kahoolawe

MAUI-The Valley Isle (travel page)

Main Pages

ISLAND FACTS:

FOOD (In General)