I have a timeshare n Maui so I go there every other year for about the last 12 years. You should have a great time. UNless you are into horseback riding I would skip it. Check out a little beach called Napili. It is between kaanapali and kapula. It is a nice little cove that seems to have some larger waves, nothing to crazy. Kapula has some very nice beaches. Up by Kihea where you are are very nice beaches too. It does seem to be a bit windy in KIhea, not too bad. If you plan on snorkeling at molakini only agree to the morning tour, if you take the afternoon tour chances are that it will be too windy and you won't get to go to the actual molikini but they take you to a place caled coral gardens which is nice, but it is not as nice as moliki. Sorry for the spelling, too many vowels to get correct. For a cheap lunch try the Maui taco chain, the mango salsa is very good.
Buy your snorkel gear and stock up on beverages/snacks at costco first thing when you land. We found that just buying them instead of renting was roughly the same cost, plus we've used them 3-4 more times since. We bought an underwater camera there as well, a Fuji, but after 3 returns due to water leakage we elected to get our money back. Still kind of fun taking video/pics of encounters with critters. My wife and I drove around the entire island but I can't say it was entirely worth it. The southern portion really isn't all that picturesque, nor was the road even moderately improved, I seem to recall it being a 1 lane dirt road, but our rental car did make it without any issues. I'd recommend just heading back the same way you came once the road gets to that point, you really wouldn't be missing anything and it'd save you time. On your way to Keopuke Rock Puohokamoa Valley (featured in the opening of Jurassic Park) there is a botanical garden- TOTAL RIP OFF.
I love Maui. I've never been to any other island in Hawaii, though. So I can't really compare. I just like how its not too commercialized. Its small enough that you can get everywhere in a reasonable time. Last time I was there I went to a place called Moose McGillicudies that had great food and atmosphere. I also had great tuna and other seafood at a place that used to be owned by Don Nelson. Supposedly it folded shortly after. Get the fresh fruit the island has to offer, I know there's a couple little farmers markets. Best to stock up on shit when you get off the plane as there's a Costco nearby. I liked hanging in Wialea side of the island more than the Lahaina part. But, if your looking to score some Maui Wowie its all over the place in Lahaina. Last time I was there I saw Arnold and his family hanging out on the beach in Wailea. Which was pretty cool. This makes me want to go back, its been a couple years.
Thanks guys for all the info. It seems like most of you are down on the horseback riding thing....ive never done it, neither has my wife, but i think she would really like to do it and what better place than in maui....you guys are really talking me out of it though....
Don't take that trip "Road to Hana". The road is lame and the falls are really dirty with litter. I would try and do some snorkling.
If you are dying to spend money and "do things", get a couple's massage with your wife at one of the fancy ocean-view resort spas. Take her on romantic sunset walks on the oceanfront path at the beach in Wailea (in front of the Grand Wailea Resort and the others nearby). Your list is full of the stuff the tourist industry wants you to do. Forget all that brochure crap. Maui is a beautiful place with great beaches and mountains. Go hiking/biking/exploring and all the water activities. Go to the beaches. Hang out and chill. It is supposed to be a vacation, not a let's stuff our week with scheduled activities event. Instead of brouchure tours, spend the money on bike/kayak/surfboard/windboard/etc. rentals. If you are a golfer, you have to golf in Hawaii, some of the course are incredibly beautiful. If you are a bike rider, rent road or mountain bikes. Ask the bike shop where to ride. http://www.westmauicycles.com/ You can find good food on Maui, but it is expensive. So, it is best not to try to have high quality food experiences every day there. Just ratchet down expectations and eat where the locals eat at surf shacks and casual Asian places. I just hope you are not on a low carb diet. A lot of locals find that the happy hour deals at some resorts are a good deal. Find a gorgeous, oceanfront lounge that serves "free" appetizers as long as you order drinks. Maui Prince on Makena Bay used to be a good example of this, but I haven't been there in years.
Lots of good information here. I forgot to add: if you like Poke, try Eskimo Candy (reasonably priced, fresh and delicious)
you have a waterproof digital cam right? I recommend a Kodak Playsport...pretty awesome. takes crappy photos but great for snorkeling and video.
Go on the sugar cane train if you want to remember a nice joke on how you blew $50 (actually skip it, it sucks). Definitely take the road to Hana, but take a pill for car sickness. You'll definitely want to see the tropical garden on the road to Hana, and stop at the various trails. The Luau's can be spendy, and were only mildly entertaining, but the woman will probably insist on that. I didn't see what the big deal was about the crater, we got up early in the am and drove up there where it was freezing cold and watched the same sunrise that we could have seen from the beach. We really enjoyed para-sailing though, and if you listen to some timeshare asshole for 2 hours, you'll get a free dinner cruise, which was really nice! Keep in mind that you can really blow a ton of cash on different activites. Just relax and enjoy the beach....
Funny that you start by pushing romance, then tell him to take her to some dive for snacks rather than a nice restaurant. The food is priced pretty much like it is in Portland or Bend, with good food costing more than bad food and being well worth the difference. The biggest difference is the fish is FRESH, they know how to cook it, and the tropical fruits are addictive. 3 years after my trip I can still taste the food, see the colors, and hear the slack key guitars.
in addition to what was already mentioned Pipiwai trail on the road to Hana was pretty fun for us in 2010 - multiple waterfalls through awesome bamboo forest, ending at 400 ft falls. obviously need to leave really early and allow time for it.
Where do you come up with this stuff? No, I did not tell him to eat EVERY meal at a shack. Read. Then post. Wrong. Cost of living is much higher in Hawaii and food costs more there. LOL. Yeah, fresh seafood is SOOOOO hard to find in Oregon. "They know how to cook it" Whatever you say.
Untrue. Maui food costs are comparable to those in Portland and Bend. The housing costs are comparable to a nice suburb of Portland. Dairy and gas are higher, but are a tiny part of the budget on an island with very little distance to be travelled daily. http://www.mauirealestate.net/GetSe...Order1=ASC&SortField2=C_L_Area&SortOrder2=ASC Portland and Bend (read, then post) never have seafood as fresh as Lahaina has, and the chefs there were clearly superior to anywhere I've eaten in the NW when it came to seafood.
We did not do the road to hana for 2 reasons. Every traveller we met at the hotel told us it was the most overrated thing on Maui, and we grew up in Oregon which has more spectacular and beautiful waterfalls. I later watched a video of it online that confirmed our decision to go snorkeling instead was the correct one. Spend some time on a beach every day. There are no bad beaches on Maui, but don't leave anything valuable in your car, not even locked in the trunk. The parking areas are all littered with broken auto glass and if you have a rental you will be an obvious mark.
What is that link to? Some sort of joke listing properties for sale? I see your real estate link and raise you this one: http://www.adrhi.com/articles/cost-of-living/ http://www.alternative-hawaii.com/overpop.htm
