Destination - The Island of Maui

Iao Needle, Maui

"I love Maui so much. I would rather live one day in Maui than one month in New York." ~ Charles Lindbergh

Maui is probably my favorite of the islands. I have heard that it is considered the most “Hawaiian” of the islands. It is certainly less commercial then Oahu and has more things to do and see then either Kauai or the Big Island. It is very tropical and it even has a rain forest and a volcano. As a snorkeler I found the snorkeling better there than any of the other islands. You will definitely need a rental car to get around.

The main town on the island is Lahaina. It has lots of cute shops and good restaurants. North of Lahaina is the Kaanapali area where many of the resorts are located. The beaches here are great for snorkeling. The other main resort area is Wailea, which also has some good beaches for swimming or snorkeling.

The volcano is Haleakala, and it is dormant. You can actually book a trip to ride a bicycle down the inside of the crater. There is a road to the summit, and a very popular thing to do is to drive up there to watch the sunrise. You should plan to get there a half hour before sunrise, and be careful on the winding road in the dark. Cattle sometimes are on the road. Also, dress warmly, it's chilly up there. There are also hiking trails into the crater.

Falls at Pha Kaa Kaa park, Hana

One of the days you are there you should drive the “road to Hana.” Hana is a small town on the far side of the island. You should plan on being gone all day, as there are many stops, and you cannot drive fast on the road, it is very curvy and in some spots you have to stop to wait for traffic coming the other way, as there is only room for one car. I suggest you pick up sandwiches and drinks before you go, because there are not a lot of places to stop for lunch along the way. If you pick up the CD “The Road to Hana” at the local ABC store before you go, it will help you with where to stop and what to see. Just pop it into the CD player of the car and it will be your guide for the day. There are many places where you can pull over and with a short hike into the rain forest you will find a waterfall and pond to stop and swim in. When we were there in September we were eating ripe guava's right off the trees. Then, sticky with juice, we took a swim in the pond. The town is small, with not a lot to see. The Hasegawa General Store is worth a stop, and the Hana Cultural Center displays quilts and Hawaiian artifacts. There is a black sand beach at  Hana, but currents can be strong there, so beware.  There are also seven pools, some say they are sacred pools, although I thought they were a bit over-rated.  I liked some of the other waterfalls and pools better, they were less crowded.

Beach at Hana

If you have rented a car, the rental company will tell you that you cannot continue on around the island, but that you have to drive back the way you came, because there are roads ahead that are not paved. Ask the locals how the roads are. We had a rental car but we continued around the island, and the roads were fine, and much less curvy and faster because of less traffic. But be aware that if you break down, the rental company will hold you responible. 

Molikini Crater off coast of Maui

Maui is an island that has a little bit of everything. There are cattle ranches and cowboys on horseback. There are great restaurants, with just about any kind of food you are looking for, and lots of sightseeing, and activities that you can book. They also do the mountain-tubing on Maui, and you can book a catamaran/snorkeling trip that will take you over to the island of Lanai, or you can do the Molikini trip. Molokini is a few miles off the coast and is one of the most popular snorkeling sites.  It is a submerged volcano whose crater walls partially appear above water in the shape of a crescent moon. The fish are tame and you will see a large variety of marine life. Usually a tour here will also take you to a second location which is known for its sea turtles.