There is a saying on Maui, "Maui No Ka Oi," which means "Maui is the best." While there are proponents for each of the Hawaiian Islands, and all of the islands have their own special character, I have to admit Maui is still our favorite and the island on which we've spent the most time.
DH and I first went to Maui 25 years ago using frequent flier miles. We went to four islands, to get a taste of everything: Oahu (had to check out the Arizona Memorial), The Big Island of Hawaii (had to see a live volcano), Kauai, and Maui. We later did a day trip to Lanai, visited the Island of Molokai twice, and spent time again on Kauai. But it's Maui we've gone back to time and again, so that will be the featured island on this first posting. In fact, we've probably been there about 20 times...so far!
Maui has the perfect combination of great weather (constant temperature of around 82 degrees, trade winds that blow in the afternoon to keep you cool, lush tropical vegetation with more frequent rain on one side, dry sunny weather on the other; an enormous dormant volcano -Haleakala - and much more. There are plenty of excellent restaurants, an old whaling town (Lahaina) that now is a center of nightlife and entertainment, and plenty of green space as well.
It is a compact island so it is easy to make a day trip to anywhere on the island and get back to your hotel or condo in time for dinner. As you can see from the map, there are several major roads that circumnavigate the island. The center of the southeast portion of the island is taken up by the enormous Haleakala Crater. The western part also comprises a volcano - an older, extinct one. Haleakala is not officially extinct - it last erupted around 1790 and is thus only considered dormant in the grand scheme of things. Its lower slopes are dotted with houses and towns such as Makawao, Kula and Pukalani, which are considered part of "upcountry" - cooler at night and suitable for ranching and other activities. Upcountry also includes the Tedeschi Winery in Ulapalakua, where the Tedeschi family has been growing grapes and producing fine wines since 1974.
So much to see...but you'll need a home base to see it from while you're there.
Where should you stay?
We have stayed at fancy hotels in the past but in the more recent years we have stayed in condos. While it was great to splurge for our honeymoon (we stayed at what was then the Westin Wailea, which later became Stouffers, and is now a Renaissance hotel), we prefer to spend less on where we stay and be able to afford to go more often. Plus condos give you the opportunity to relax, have breakfast out on the balcony (called a lanai in Hawaii) and even grill fresh island fish down by the beach. This makes the trip both more affordable and more relaxing. And how can you beat sitting and watching the sun set over the ocean while the palms sway and you're enjoying the best fish you ever had?
Kealia is located in the "indent" in the middle of the island, which makes it a great central location from which to tour the rest of the island.
We prefer Kealia out of all of the other condominium complexes because Kealia's location is the last condo in Kihei and well away from all the strip malls and overdevelopment in Kihei. After Kealia is nothing but beach and natural vegetation all the way to the next town of Maaleaa. This situation is bound to remain that way because the remaining beach after Kealia is part of a nature preserve that has been set aside to protect the wildlife,including endangered sea turtles that nest on the beach and have to make their way back to the ocean after laying their eggs.
Kealia is right on the beach, and provides a built-in gas grill, picnic tables and lounge chairs for the guests. It also has a nice size pool surrounded by well manicured bushes and tropical plants and flowers. (Photo courtesy of the Keala Resort website cited above).
There are condos in the building with a garden view, ocean view, or ocean front setting; there are one-bedroom, two-bedroom and studio units. Depending on what the owners have done to their condos, some are more desirable than others, but all are nicely furnished, clean, and have the amenities you would want: fully outfitted kitchens (including dishwasher and microwave), washer and dryer, TV with cable, and a lanai. Most also have a stereo, radio and/or CD player. Towels and sheets are provided.
Although the rates have gone up somewhat in recent years as the real estate boom has taken off on Maui, they are still reasonable in comparison to hotel rates, and are even lower in the low season and if you reserve a week or more. A studio apartment is only $110 a night in the off season, for instance.
There are many other condos in the same general area. If you aren't able to get into Kealia, look for any others that are in North Kihei, which would mean they are on the last strip of beach before the nature preserve, rather than Kihei or South Kihei, which would be in the middle of the commercial area. Some that we are familiar with are Nani Kai Hale (we used to stay there about 15 years ago) and Sugar Beach, both of which are on the same stretch of beach as Kealia.
Sugar Beach has a few more amenities on its grounds - there is a little convenience store that sells the basics, including the all-important sunscreen you will need while you're here. There is also a cute little restaurant/bar called Dina's SandWitch, that is handy if you want to stroll over from Kealia in the afternoon and have some lunch or a beer.If you want to get away from it all and stay on the other side of the island, near the tropical area of Hana (more on Hana later) there is just one condominium complex there, the Hana Kai Maui Resort Condominiums. We stayed there for two nights many years ago and it was a very peaceful, pleasant location. We have driven past and seen them each time we've visited Hana. Their website shows that they are being nicely maintained and have been upgraded since our stay. There are very few choices of accommodations in or near Hana; the very exclusive Hana Hotel Maui is the one real hotel in the area.
There are many resorts on the western side of the island, past Lahaina. Ka'anapali is one of the major resort areas, followed by several other newer resort complexes, ending with Kapalua. Many people stay in this area every year and love it. However, we have not stayed there so have no recommendations for you here. One thing to keep in mind if you do decide to stay in this area is that it will rain more frequently than in the Wailea or Kihei areas on the sunny southern shore.
The Wailea/Makena section of Maui, even farther to the south of Kihei, is where we first stayed when we started coming to Maui. It consists of a development of major hotels and high-end condominium complexes, all surrounded by beautiful tropical vegetation that is kept beautiful and tropical by daily watering. It has a romantic and sheltered feel to it and is a great place for honeymooners. The beaches are beautiful and the weather is lovely. It does tend to be a little hotter here as the trade winds don't blow as much in this corner of the island as they do at Kealia.
There are many more hotels there now than when we first stayed there, and the prices have skyrocketed. However, nothing stops you from going to the hotels for dinner and enjoying the ambience. During the day if you want to check out what it would be like to stay at the previously mentioned Renaissance Hotel in Wailea, you can always take a drive to have a snack at their outdoor restaurant, the Maui Onion, which is poolside, surrounded by attractive landscaping, on the beach. Its name references the sweet Maui onions that are grown on the island and also the excellent onion rings they serve there. The Maui Onion also serves full lunches with dishes such as pesto fish and other delicacies.
Many of the restaurants on Maui, including some of the hotel restaurants in Wailea, take the Entertainment Card. It is worth buying the Hawaii version of the Entertainment book before coming to Maui as it can help you save money when you go out to splurge on dinner.
Speaking of dinner...
Where should you eat?
There are a myriad of excellent restaurants on Maui. You can read reviews and other sources to find all the really well-known ones. We tend to concentrate on places that offer a good value or something unique that other places do not have.
We like going upcountry to the town of Makawao for some of our dinners as we have several favorites there. There is a cute little Mexican place called Polli's, decorated cheerfully with all the usual accoutrements and offering good Mexican food and libations for a reasonable price. It's on Makawao Avenue at the intersection of Baldwin Avenue.
Another casual place to dine is the Stop Watch Sportsbar and Grill, also on Makawao Avenue not far down the road from Polli's. It's a great place to stop in for a beer or two and watch the baseball playoffs or the World Series (if you're there during the Fall Classic) or other sports at other times of the year. The bar is a light and airy place with an outdoor dining area where you can enjoy local fish, burgers, stir-fries, steaks, or sandwiches at reasonable prices. They often offer locally-brewed beer so it is definitely worth a stop.
For more upscale and trendy dining, there is Casanova's, on Makawao Avenue on the other side of the street from the Stop Watch. Called "Casanova's Italian Restaurant & Deli," this restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Dinner is excellent Italian food, expertly prepared, including pastas, wood-fired pizzas, and dishes featuring lamb, veal, beef and local fish. And, Casanova's is one of the restaurants included in the Entertainment Book, so you can get a discount!
After the dinner hour, on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights: Casanova's becomes "the" local place for entertainment and dancing - bands of various types, including contemporary Hawaiian bands and reggae groups perform here.
In nearby Kula, the Kula Lodge serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and provides spectacular views looking out over Maui from its spot on the side of Haleakala. They also have lodgings here if you are interested in staying in the Upcountry instead of on the beach.
For another fine dining experience, check out the Hali'imaile General Store, located in Hali'imaile, on the way from Kihei to Upcountry. Bev Gannon creates marvelous dishes using fresh local ingredients. The restaurant serves both lunch and dinner, and is housed in - you guessed it - an old building that used to be a general store. It retains its historic character and is a charming setting for your meal. The menu offers specialties such as Bev's Famous Crab Pizza (a great appetizer), Blackened Ahi (tuna), rack of lamb, macadamia crusted fish (whatever is the fresh catch of the day), duck, seafood curry and more.
If you're on Maui for your honeymoon, your anniversary, your birthday, or any other occasion you may want to celebrate, and you love French food, the place to go is Chez Paul. Chez Paul serves fine French food in a white-tablecloth, elegant but cozy atmosphere. It's in an unprepossessing little building along the road on the way to Lahaina, and it would be easy to miss if you aren't looking for it. The menu includes French-accented dishes of various types of fresh fish, as well as marvelous renditions of French classics such as coq au vin, canard au cassis, filet mignon au poivre, and more. This is a splurge, but one that is worth it.
There is plenty of good dining to be had in Kihei itself at reasonable prices. One place we've particularly enjoyed is Aroma D'Italia, located in the Kihei Town Center mall along South Kihei Road. Originally this restaurant, which serves hearty homemade Italian specialties, was located in a small storefront farther down the road toward Wailea, but moved a few years ago to this larger location. Although losing a little of the intimate atmosphere from the previous location, the food is as good as ever and it is still a warm and friendly place. For more information, see the link to the Best of Maui Guide.
Nearby Ma'alaea Harbor has a number of restaurants worth visiting. Buzz's Wharf was one of the first, but there are now a number of others to choose from.
For a great Thai meal in old Wailuku town (the Maui County Seat), visit Saeng's Thai Cuisine at 2119 Vineyard Street. Surrounded by a garden and a waterfall, the dining area is lovely, the servers are friendly and the Thai food is excellent. There is a lot to choose from, the prices are reasonable, and you can get your dishes at whatever degree of "heat" you desire. This restaurant is frequented by locals, always a good sign. We went back several times after discovering Saeng's because we liked it so much.
Another place in Wailuku is Cafe' Marc Aurel Bistro, which serves great espresso drinks, herbal teas, and gourmet meals (both lunch and dinner). After 4 p.m. they are also a wine bar, serving a variety of wines. They offer wine tastings, and there is entertainment almost every night, ranging from open mic nights to local musicians playing in a variety of different musical styles.
In the little town of Paia, on the Hana Highway en route to both the Upcountry and Hana, are a number of restaurants worth stopping for.
Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, Charley P. Woofer Restaurant and Saloon has been an institution in Paia for 37 years. The restaurant is a family-friendly restaurant serving reasonably-priced entrees and pizza. It's a good place to stop for breakfast on the road to Hana. It is also a favorite hangout of singer Willie Nelson, who plays here each year for a small crowd.
If you've been shopping or walking the beach and need a bit of respite, or you want a picnic lunch to take with you, Anthony's Coffee Company on the Hana Highway in the center of Paia is the place to stop. They offer a full espresso bar, ice cream, breakfast, lunch and pastries. Be sure to try the Roselani's ice cream, made on Maui. I love the mango flavor (also available in stores).
For a more elegant dining experience, drive past Paia to the well-known Mama's Fish House, located on the beach along the Hana Highway. Serving fresh island fish in a variety of innovative ways since 1973, Mama's continues to be a favorite destination for fine dining in a tropical atmosphere. Reservations are necessary so be sure to call ahead. You can also stay at Mama's - see their website for information about their luxury cottages.
If you're driving around in the Upcountry area around Kula, or you are on your way home from Haleakala Crater or Tedeschi Winery, you may want to stop at Grandma's Coffee House for a snack and some great espresso drinks. Grandma's sells their own coffee beans roasted on Maui; you can even buy them over the internet from their website. They also have light lunches and pastries. There is an unbeatable view from their deck, where you can sit and gaze out at the landscape as you enjoy your cappuccino. This is a view of Grandma's with me out front!
Where to stock up on groceries and other necessities
Part of the fun of staying in a condo is pretending you live on Maui while you're there. So as soon as you arrive and unpack you'll want to go shopping for groceries and stock up your kitchen. In Kihei there are three main grocery stores - Star Market, Safeway and Foodland, all located along South Kihei Road.
Star Market is an upscale grocery store in the heart of Kihei on South Kihei Road, which has excellent fish and produce, and they have a great selection overall. But it is not cheap.
Foodland, in the Kihei Town Center strip mall, is open 24 hours a day and is less expensive than Star Market. Safeway, also open day and night, is located off South Kihei Road on Piikea Avenue. It has a great selection and is our favorite overall. Sign up for a frequent shopper card while you're on the island to receive discounts when you shop in either Foodland or Safeway.
If you'll be stocking up on beer and wine as well, the grocery stores sell it. Long's Drugs, across the street from the Azeka Shopping Center on South Kihei Road, has excellent prices on wine (we've found Tedeschi champagne here for much less than it sells for at the winery) . Long's is also the place to go for your suntan lotion, your flip-flops, your macadamia nuts, and various other sundries. See the Maui Guide for more information about the "downtown Kihei" area.
If you like organic food and want to buy fresh produce grown on Maui, the place to go is Mana Foods in Paia. Just off the Hana Highway on Baldwin Avenue, the store has a wide variety of organic and natural foods, including grass-fed Hawaiian beef. It's an interesting store just to go in and browse, as they have a very eclectic selection of groceries, bulk foods and other interesting items. They also now offer pizza and hot foods to go, as they have recently expanded.
If you need to buy stamps and mail all your postcards home telling everyone you're having a great time, there is a post office in Kihei right in the Azeka Shopping Center; however, we prefer to go to the post office at Hansen and Helm Streets in Puunene. Puunene is a town that is not much more than a dot on the map on the way to Paia, so the post office is in a convenient location, and you won't have to battle the traffic in the center of town.
Here's a tip: When you're ready to head home, consider mailing home either your souvenirs or your summer clothes (especially if you came to Maui when it is winter at home). This way you won't be overloaded with luggage on your way back. We've done it almost every time, and usually the box arrives home within less than a week.
OK, you've found your condo, bought your necessities, had your first dinner, and gone to bed with the sound of the waves lulling you to sleep. You awake at around 4 a.m. because of the time difference and eventually give up on sleep and get up to enjoy your first full day in Maui. So...
What should you see while you're here?
No trip to Maui would be complete without a visit to the "House of the Sun," which is what Haleakala means in Hawaiian. The crater is enormous, big enough to fit the entire island of Manhattan within its borders. Even the drive to the crater is an experience in itself - the shortest distance from sea level to 10,000 feet anywhere in the world. Some people come here to just gaze at the crater in awe; others come to hike or camp in the crater.
There are guided horseback excursions into the crater; we went on one of these when we were on Maui for our honeymoon. Pony Express is the original horseback ride on Maui, founded in 1982. They offer horseback rides into the crater and elsewhere on its slopes.
There are also a number of outfits that offer bike trips down the road from the top of the crater. This site has a good overview of the bike tours available. We have never actually tried one of these trips (we are not that adventurous) but we see them riding down the volcano every time we're there, and the participants seem to be having a good time.
Since you're awake so early the first day or so of your trip, this might be the time to go to the top of the Haleakala volcano and see the sun rise over the crater, which is a traditional thing to do. It tends to be crowded at the top of the observatory at dawn because it is such a popular excursion for tourists. Be sure to bring a jacket and wear long pants, as it can be quite cold up at the crater, especially before the sun is up.
If you're not an early-morning kind of person, you can take a more leisurely trip to the crater, stopping for breakfast at the Kula Lodge on the way. As long as you get up to the top by about 11 a.m. you should be able to get a clear view of the crater before the clouds start creeping in.
On the way up to the crater, you should stop off at the visitors' center. Haleakala is a national park, and the visitors' center has a lot of interesting information about the volcano.
The crater is home to many species that exist nowhere else, including the Silversword plant. This picture shows one that is not in bloom. When they do bloom, it is not until they reach full maturity in 15-20 years after sprouting, and they only bloom once in their lifetime.
When you get to the summit you'll find there are two locations: the lower visitors' center and then the actual summit itself. Visit both, as the views from each are different. The amazing thing is how bleak the landscape is, almost like the surface of the moon. The summit is well above the timber line and very little other vegetation will grow at this altitude. Keep an eye out for the rare species that live here, such as the elusive Nene, a type of wild goose, the Hawaii State Bird.
Another must-do drive is the Road to Hana. Hana is known as "heavenly Hana" because of its tropical lushness. Many very wealthy people own property in Hana and enjoy its seclusion. It takes about three hours to drive from Paia on to Hana, on a winding, twisty road that wends its way through tropical vegetation with views of the ocean.
Paia is worth a visit before you continue onward - or save it for another day to really explore the area. There are a number of shops in Paia that are worth browsing in, including the Maui Crafts Guild, on the Hana Highway as you come into town. This store, which has been in Paia for 25 years, features artwork, crafts, jewelry, ceramics and sculpture by local artists and is definitely worth a stop.
Continuing down the road a bit, you'll come upon Hookipa Beach Park, renowned for its surfing and windsurfing. You'll want to stop and look at the surfers as they ride the waves into the shore here.
Continuing on the road to Hana, be sure to stop off at the Keanae Peninsula. It is a picturesque little village on the ocean where waves crash on the black volcanic rocks.
It is after the turnoff to Keanae that the road to Hana starts to get more winding and the vegetation more lush. This road was once a one-lane road that was barely paved, and was quite a challenge to navigate. It spawned a whole industry in T-shirts proclaiming "I survived the Road to Hana." Nowadays, although you can still buy the T-shirts, the road is quite navigable and unless you meet up with a tour bus coming in the opposite direction, you will likely have very little problem maneuvering. There are still one-lane bridges, but you have plenty of time to pull over as you will be able to see if anyone is coming.
Driving to Hana is more about the journey than the destination. The town of Hana itself is a simple place with a black sand beach, a general store (the well-known Hasegawa General Store), and some small restaurants, as well as the previously-mentioned Hotel Hana Maui. If you are staying in the area, you will be able to take the time to explore the local attractions more thoroughly, enjoy meals at the hotel or at less expensive local spots, and take advantage of the activities that are available here, such as horseback riding, hiking, and more. It is a lovely area and definitely worth staying for a couple of nights, as we once did at the Hana Kai Maui Resort.
But if you are only on a day trip, the destination you really want is several miles past Hana, at the Seven Sacred Pools (Ohe'o Gulch). This is a series of waterfalls that is a sight not to be missed. Although there is no evidence that these waterfalls were sacred to the early Hawaiians, the Hotel Hana named them that back in 1947 to attract tourists, and the name has stuck ever since.
At this point you have to make a decision. Either you travel back the way you came, on the winding road through the tropical scenery, or you can do something more adventurous: Continue on the road all the way around the other side of the volcano. If it is springtime and there has been a lot of rain, this may not be advisable, as the road can be washed out in places where there are fords that go over the road. If you are driving a Jeep or similar vehicle, there should be no problem. Technically you are not allowed to bring rental cars around the back of Haleakala but if you choose a fine day and there are no washouts, you will not run into any problems. Most of the road is paved now and it is not as rugged as it once was. It is worth the effort to make this trip.
As you leave Ohe'o Gulch and drive along, you can take a detour at milepost 41 and visit the church (Palapala Ho'omau Church) and cemetery where aviator Charles Lindbergh is buried. It is a peaceful spot right on the ocean. The turnoff is not marked so keep an eye out for the milepost sign and take the road leading down to the left.
As you continue onward, you'll see the rain forest give way to a less tropical environment, as you round the bend and reach the sunny southern side of the volcano. From far above, you'll see cinder cones from old eruptions poking up out of the glittering water. Eventually you will come to the Kaupo Store, which is a general store offering everything from food to clothing, and is worth stopping at for a break.
As you continue along, you'll see the remnants of the last eruption that took place on Haleakala around 1792. The dark streak of the lava flow meanders down the side of the volcano and into the Makena area, just beyond the last hotels in the Wailea/Makena resort area. (You can also take a drive to this lava flow by driving through Wailea and Makena and past picturesque La Perouse Bay.)
This website gives a great overview of all the things to see and do on the road to Hana and around the other side.
Eventually you'll come to Ulapalakua, where you can stop at Tedeschi Winery. As mentioned previously, Tedeschi was founded in 1974 and has been making excellent local wines ever since. They started with their famous Maui Blanc pineapple wine, and then branched out into champagne. Maui Brut-Blanc de Noirs champagne was one of their first and was served at President Reagan's inauguration. Next came their Nouveau and their Blush wines. In the 1990's they released Ulapalakua Red and Plantation Red. Stopping at the winery is relaxing and enjoyable.
Visit the tasting room and try the wines, check out the wine paraphernalia, the T-shirts, and some gourmet delicacies in the shop, and browse in the little museum that tells the history of the Ulapalakua Ranch and the property now belonging to Tedeschi. The ranch is still in operation and there is horseback riding in this area as well.
By now the afternoon will be waning and you'll want to continue onward and get back to your condo in Kihei before dinnertime.
For another great drive with amazing scenery, there is the lesser-known drive around the Napili Coast, on the West coast of Maui over to Wailuku. To get to this "road less traveled," you leave the condo and drive toward Lahaina - and just keep going. You will pass Lahaina, Kaanapali and Kapalua and then soon after the road will get narrower and the hotels and resorts will disappear and you'll be on a narrow winding road with spectacular views of the ocean and the cliffs.
There are a number of stopping places where you can take pictures, so be sure to bring your camera. The road is not for the faint of heart, as it narrows down to one lane for quite a stretch, during which time it wends its way around some cliffs, which can prove a bit daunting for less experienced drivers.
The road passes through some tiny villages with a few farms, a church, maybe a flower or fruit stand. But basically this road is not very inhabited, and that is part of the charm.
Eventually it will widen back out to a normal width and run down into Wailuku. While it is not as long a ride as the drive to Hana, it will still take you several hours from the time you leave the condo to when you return, so be sure to allow a whole afternoon for this drive.
The town of Lahaina is well worth visiting several times. It was originally an old whaling town, and ships came all the way from New Bedford, Massachusetts, to follow the whales. The Lahaina Heritage Museum in the old courthouse depicts the history of the town. The Pioneer Inn is a landmark in Lahaina. Built in 1901, it is now a Best Western Hotel but retains its charm. There is a huge banyan tre
e nearby, which is another important landmark in Lahaina.Photo courtesy of: http://psych.fullerton.edu/navarick/Banyan.jpg
Lahaina has a house museum, the Baldwin Home, which is interesting to explore. The house was occupied by Dr. Baldwin and his family in the mid 1800's and served as a mission and doctor's office.
Front Street, which stretches along the beach, is lined with old buildings with a western look to them. They now house a vast collection of shops and art galleries. You can easily spend a whole afternoon just browsing the shops and looking at artwork.
Lahaina also has many excellent restaurants, both reasonable and expensive. Some of them are in the Entertainment Book, so be sure to check your book before deciding where to eat in Lahaina.
The town of Wailuku has its attractions as well. The Bailey House Museum, run by the local historical society, has exhibits of paintings by Edward Bailey, Hawaiian artifacts and memorabilia, and old photographs. Once a Female Seminary until 1847, it was later occupied by Edward Bailey and his family.
Another local attraction is the Iao Theatre, a historic old theater that has been renovated and is being used by a local theater group. If you're on Maui when there is a show on, be sure to get tickets.
Wailuku has its share of antique stores and little shops that are fun to just browse through on a languid afternoon, as well as the previously mentioned Saeng restaurant and a number of other eating establishments. See the web link for other local entertainment and nearby sites, such as the Iao Valley.
Kahalui is a big sprawling town next to Wailuku. The airport is here, and a lot of shopping malls, including a Wal*Mart. The one place we always go to in Kahului is a thrift shop called Savers. Located at 380 Dairy Road, this large store has a wealth of secondhand clothing and other items. I have bought three cocktail dresses there that fit perfectly and looked great, and averaged about $15 apiece. There are, of course, many pairs of shorts, jeans, and other casual attire as well.
Not far from Kahului is the Sugar Museum. This little museum, right near the still-functioning sugar factory in Puunene, depicts the history of the sugar industry on Maui and has a lot of artifacts and pictures from the earlier era. The sugar cane is still grown in the central part of Maui and it is processed in the plant in Puunene. The "raw sugar" you find in brown packets in many restaurants comes directly from this plant.
If you are on Maui in October, be sure to go to the County Fair. Although it is similar to county fairs on the Mainland, it has a real Hawaiian touch to it. The food places serve an eclectic mix of Asian, Hawaiian and American foods, there is a Spam Recipe Contest along with the 4-H exhibits, and tropical flower exhibits along with local art, photography and sewing. There are plenty of animals, from cattle to bunnies, and of course, lots of fun rides and games of chance. It's definitely worth going to, and you will see very few tourists there.
Makawao is worth visiting during the day as well as for an evening meal. There are many little shops there, including Maui-made crafts and jewelry, clothing and more.
This is only a sampling of all there is to visit on Maui. Be sure to check the links for more information.
What should you do?
First of all, relax. Don't feel you have to rush out every day and do something adventurous - unless that's the only way you enjoy yourself. Staying in a condo lets you really appreciate the tropical surroundings and forget about your busy life back on the Mainland.
Start your day with breakfast on your lanai, overlooking your view of the garden or the beach. Then put on your bathing suit and wander down to the pool. You can leave your towel and flip flops here and take a walk on the beach. One day you can walk toward Ma'alaea Harbor, another day you can wander past the condos in the other direction. Then head back to Kealia and relax some more, either on the beach or by the pool.
You may want to have lunch at the condo, either by the beach or upstairs, and then go out for a ride; or you can meander over to the Sand Witch at Sugar Beach and have a lunch there. Or of course you can head out and have lunch elsewhere or skip it altogether.
You can only relax so long, so you will also want to know what other diversions Maui offers - and they are numerous. If you are lucky enough to be on Maui during the winter season (roughly November - March) you will be able to see the Humpback Whales that winter here. Not only will you see them frolicking in the water from your lanai, but you can also take whale watching tours out to see them more closely. The Pacific Whale Foundation offers some great eco-friendly cruises hosted by marine naturalists. They leave from both nearby Ma'alaea Harbor and from Lahaina, and are well worth the trip.
Other enjoyable cruises include snorkeling to Molokini, a half-submerged volcano that teems with tropical fish and other underwater life.
Ma'alaea Harbor is the most convenient location for leaving on any of the cruises that are offered. Pacific Whale Foundation offers a number of cruises that leave from here besides the whale watch, including a sunset dinner cruise; another is the Lani Kai Hawaii Activities, which offer a variety of types of cruises leaving from this location.
The sunset dinner cruises are a great way to relax and enjoy drinks and dinner with a view of the sunset and the shoreline. These cruises take place in the calm waters not far from shore so seasickness should not be a problem for most! For the more adventurous cruises, some Dramamine (TM) or similar medication may be needed for those who are very motion sensitive.
For the more adventurous, there are numerous helicopter tours of the island, focusing on various locations. Blue Hawaii is one company that offers these tours; there are many others. We have not personally been on one of these excursions but friends have and they showed us the video of their trip, which looked fantastic.
And, for the athletic (not us!), there are windsurfing lessons and many other activities to participate in. Just be sure to grab the tourist booklets that are available in most supermarkets and other locations, which are full of coupons and other advertisements for the many activities that are available on Maui.
What should you cook if you eat at "home"?
Fresh fish. No doubt about it. You'll never find fresher fish than here on Maui. Whether you buy it at Mana Foods or Star Market, get something native like Ono (meaning "delicious") or Ahi (tuna), or Opakapaka (snapper). Don't bother with something like salmon and be careful about mahi-mahi, which is not always native. You can prepare it by slathering a light coating of teriyaki sauce on the outside (especially good on tuna) or with some oil and lemon and spices such as dill, and just grill it lightly on each side until it's done but not dried out.
If you have had enough fish and want to go for some shrimp for a change, here is DH's recipe for barbecued shrimp:
Ingredients:
1 lb. fresh or frozen uncooked shrimp
For the Marinade:
1/4 cup cilantro flavored olive oil (plain will do)
1/2 bunch fresh cilantro coarsely chopped
1/2 small bottle of chopped garlic in oil or equivalent fresh garlic
3/4 cup white wine
A few drops of hot chili oil
Fresh ground pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt (sea salt if available)
For after cooking shrimp:
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
Fresh ground pepper to taste
1/2 bunch coarsely chopped cilantro
Juice of 3 limes
You can either peel the shrimp ahead of time or leave them in the shell, depending on how much trouble you want to go to afterward.
Mix the marinade ingredients. Put shrimp in a gallon size plastic Ziploc (TM) (or similar) bag and cover with marinade. Mix up thoroughly. Squeeze out the air so the shrimp are completely covered with marinade. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours, kneading the bag a few times to mix it up.
Pre-heat grill, place shrimp on the grill. Turn each shrimp after a few minutes when starting to turn pink. When pink all around and just beginning to lightly brown, remove from the grill and place in a large bowl. Add remaining chopped cilantro, sea salt, ground pepper, lime juice, and toss. Serve while hot, with lime wedges on the side.
Nice side dishes are cous-cous and salad.
The last time we were on Maui, on the last night we were there, we had this meal sitting at the picnic table by the beach watching the sun set over the West Maui mountains with the palm trees silhouetted against the red sky. It was a great way to remember our last night there.
This is the first real post on this site and may be edited as we find new places to go on Maui. If you have any suggestions for places we should check out, or want to tell us about something you recommend, please comment. We'd like this to be an interactive site. We are always looking for new recommendations to try and places to explore.
All pictures on the site were taken by DH or myself, except for those noted, and the map at the top of the post.
Mahalo (thank you) and Aloha!
