Hawaii - Trip report part IV - Maui (Wailea)
Oct 10th, 2004, 08:20 AM
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Hawaii - Trip report part IV - Maui (Wailea)
Part IV - the final report, finally - sorry it took so long,
Wailea was amazing, I loved the sunsets and the smell in the air....the shooting stars... the restaurants...the beaches....
Day 11
September 11th
We drove from Hotel Hana Maui to Wailea, fairly quickly, as I was used to driving those roads by this time?
We arrived at the Grand Wailea in the afternoon, and immediately loved it, we thought it was beautiful. We checked into our room in the Napua Tower, the room was nice, especially the bathroom, it was huge.
We explored a little and found ourselves at the Botero bar in the loby, what a great place, and the bartenders were so nice!
We went to dinner at Spago that noght at the Four Seasons, I was glad we stayed at the Grand Wailea , the Four Seasons is so small and has only one pool area, the cabanas are all right on top of one another, and there seems like there is no place to escape all the people. Spago was great!
We enjoyed the walk along the beach, so romantic!
Day 12
September 12th
We had breakfast in the Napua Tower lounge, very convenient. We spent most of the day in the pool, the adult pool is great, very quiet and a huge area of grass to also relax on, so you aren?t so close to all the other guests, you can actually have your own little area. We went in the Waimea Canyon pool also, it was awesome! So much fun with the waterfalls and slides, and especially the hidden hottub!
We had lunch at Bistro Molokini, which was very good and nice atmosphere and view.
That night we went to the Old Lahaina Luau, the drive was great, about 50 minutes, but who cares when the scenery is that awesome! We stopped in the town of Lahaina first to walk around and explore a little. We liked it, it was a cute town, but a little too many T-Shirt shops?lol. The Luau was pretty good, we liked the show, and the people we sat with were fun, and our servers were fantastic, however?.the food was downright terrible. I filled my plate with food to try everything, and they took my plate away full? I barely touched it, everything I took a bite of was pretty awful to be honest. My husband agreed fully. We left hungry, but that was okay.. after 12 days in Hawaii we could afford to skip a meal ..lol
Day 13 ? 17?..
Sept 13 ? 17th
I am abbreviationg the rest of the report, because we didn?t do too much other than hang out in the pools and the Beach at Wailea.
On day 13, we had lunch at Tommy Bahama café at the shops at Wailea, it was great! The Steak salad is incredible, the steak was filet an excellent cut of meat. The service was great, and the drinks strong! We went in the the Tommy Bahama shop also, DH loves Tommy Bahama shirts and bought 2 of them, the service in the store was just as good as in the restaurant.
That night dinner was at Humuhumunukunuku?. At the Grand Wailea, food was very good, the restaurant itself is the perfect setting, but the service just didn?t measure up to places like Spago and Nicks?. Service was good, but just not professional at all. We enjoyed it though, and would go back.
On day 14 we hung around the beach and pool again all day, it was just so perfect! In the morning, I got a lomi lomi massage at the Spa, the Spoa is awesome at the Grand, a fantastic experience, love those aromatherapy baths! That night was dinner at Nick?s Fishmarket at the Fairmount Kea Lani, WOW!!! The restaurant was incredible, ffod was awesome, I had Moi for the first time, it was prepared so incredibly yummy! But beyond the fact that the food was incredible, the service was 5 star! We had a team of 3 servers, our head servers name was Kaipo, he was awesome, he new the menu inside out, and was so attentive. They even give you a fresh water glass half way through the meal, I thought that was a great touch. Their crab cakes are too die for, and the banana dessert?.wow! Nick?s Mai Tais are incredibly strong, but the best Mai Tai I had anywhere! By the time we left Nick?s, we learned the hard way that the walkway on the beach closes by the condos, and you cant walk back that way, we had to walk all the way back through the Fairmount to the front of the hotel, and walk along the street, no biggie, we could use the walk after all that food consumption!
We went to the Botero bar that night, had a couple more Mai Tai?s yikes! Then we walked along the beach late at night and got soaked by the waves, what fun we had, it was so romantic! We even saw about 3 or 4 shooting stars
The next day, day 15, we did something great, we took a scuba diving lesson at the Grand Wailea, our instructor was great, we were the only 2 in the class that day, so it was like private lessons. We went in the scuba pool first, and then wanted to go in the ocean, for $99 a person, they?ll take you in the ocean.. We loved it, it was a great experience. We had the instructor taking pics of us under water also.
We ended up repeating a lot of restaurants, we had lunch at Bistro Molokini I think 3 times, and we went to Tommy Bahama for lunch a second time.
We also went to Spago for dinner a second time (on day 15) and we loved Nick?s so much, we had to go again! We went to Nick?s on our last night, and we requested Kaipo as our waiter again, what a great dinner for our last night.
We walked along the beach on our last night talking abut coming back soon?
And now?.we will be back much much sooner than we ever thought!!!!
My husband is making a career change and has a business plan in the works and we wil be moving to Maui in the Spring! Whoa!!!!! I cant believe it, we are so excited!
The good thing is that I work from home and can work from anywhere!
We re going back to Hawaii, (Maui) in December to finalize the arrangements for dh?s business and then we move in the Spring.
Thanks everyone for all your help with us planning our first trip, I?ll be sure to be around these boards now?.
Wailea was amazing, I loved the sunsets and the smell in the air....the shooting stars... the restaurants...the beaches....
Day 11
September 11th
We drove from Hotel Hana Maui to Wailea, fairly quickly, as I was used to driving those roads by this time?
We arrived at the Grand Wailea in the afternoon, and immediately loved it, we thought it was beautiful. We checked into our room in the Napua Tower, the room was nice, especially the bathroom, it was huge.
We explored a little and found ourselves at the Botero bar in the loby, what a great place, and the bartenders were so nice!
We went to dinner at Spago that noght at the Four Seasons, I was glad we stayed at the Grand Wailea , the Four Seasons is so small and has only one pool area, the cabanas are all right on top of one another, and there seems like there is no place to escape all the people. Spago was great!
We enjoyed the walk along the beach, so romantic!
Day 12
September 12th
We had breakfast in the Napua Tower lounge, very convenient. We spent most of the day in the pool, the adult pool is great, very quiet and a huge area of grass to also relax on, so you aren?t so close to all the other guests, you can actually have your own little area. We went in the Waimea Canyon pool also, it was awesome! So much fun with the waterfalls and slides, and especially the hidden hottub!
We had lunch at Bistro Molokini, which was very good and nice atmosphere and view.
That night we went to the Old Lahaina Luau, the drive was great, about 50 minutes, but who cares when the scenery is that awesome! We stopped in the town of Lahaina first to walk around and explore a little. We liked it, it was a cute town, but a little too many T-Shirt shops?lol. The Luau was pretty good, we liked the show, and the people we sat with were fun, and our servers were fantastic, however?.the food was downright terrible. I filled my plate with food to try everything, and they took my plate away full? I barely touched it, everything I took a bite of was pretty awful to be honest. My husband agreed fully. We left hungry, but that was okay.. after 12 days in Hawaii we could afford to skip a meal ..lol
Day 13 ? 17?..
Sept 13 ? 17th
I am abbreviationg the rest of the report, because we didn?t do too much other than hang out in the pools and the Beach at Wailea.
On day 13, we had lunch at Tommy Bahama café at the shops at Wailea, it was great! The Steak salad is incredible, the steak was filet an excellent cut of meat. The service was great, and the drinks strong! We went in the the Tommy Bahama shop also, DH loves Tommy Bahama shirts and bought 2 of them, the service in the store was just as good as in the restaurant.
That night dinner was at Humuhumunukunuku?. At the Grand Wailea, food was very good, the restaurant itself is the perfect setting, but the service just didn?t measure up to places like Spago and Nicks?. Service was good, but just not professional at all. We enjoyed it though, and would go back.
On day 14 we hung around the beach and pool again all day, it was just so perfect! In the morning, I got a lomi lomi massage at the Spa, the Spoa is awesome at the Grand, a fantastic experience, love those aromatherapy baths! That night was dinner at Nick?s Fishmarket at the Fairmount Kea Lani, WOW!!! The restaurant was incredible, ffod was awesome, I had Moi for the first time, it was prepared so incredibly yummy! But beyond the fact that the food was incredible, the service was 5 star! We had a team of 3 servers, our head servers name was Kaipo, he was awesome, he new the menu inside out, and was so attentive. They even give you a fresh water glass half way through the meal, I thought that was a great touch. Their crab cakes are too die for, and the banana dessert?.wow! Nick?s Mai Tais are incredibly strong, but the best Mai Tai I had anywhere! By the time we left Nick?s, we learned the hard way that the walkway on the beach closes by the condos, and you cant walk back that way, we had to walk all the way back through the Fairmount to the front of the hotel, and walk along the street, no biggie, we could use the walk after all that food consumption!
We went to the Botero bar that night, had a couple more Mai Tai?s yikes! Then we walked along the beach late at night and got soaked by the waves, what fun we had, it was so romantic! We even saw about 3 or 4 shooting stars
The next day, day 15, we did something great, we took a scuba diving lesson at the Grand Wailea, our instructor was great, we were the only 2 in the class that day, so it was like private lessons. We went in the scuba pool first, and then wanted to go in the ocean, for $99 a person, they?ll take you in the ocean.. We loved it, it was a great experience. We had the instructor taking pics of us under water also.
We ended up repeating a lot of restaurants, we had lunch at Bistro Molokini I think 3 times, and we went to Tommy Bahama for lunch a second time.
We also went to Spago for dinner a second time (on day 15) and we loved Nick?s so much, we had to go again! We went to Nick?s on our last night, and we requested Kaipo as our waiter again, what a great dinner for our last night.
We walked along the beach on our last night talking abut coming back soon?
And now?.we will be back much much sooner than we ever thought!!!!
My husband is making a career change and has a business plan in the works and we wil be moving to Maui in the Spring! Whoa!!!!! I cant believe it, we are so excited!
The good thing is that I work from home and can work from anywhere!
We re going back to Hawaii, (Maui) in December to finalize the arrangements for dh?s business and then we move in the Spring.
Thanks everyone for all your help with us planning our first trip, I?ll be sure to be around these boards now?.
Oct 10th, 2004, 10:09 AM
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You lucky dogs, moving to Paradise. Congrats. You deserve it. Great report. We WILL be staying at the FS next Sept so I hope you're kind of wrong about how "bad" it was there compared to the Grand Wailea. Hey, it's only money, right? 
We will certainly eat at Nicks, Spago and Tommy Bahama's as you suggested. Good stuff.
Cheers,
Steve
We will certainly eat at Nicks, Spago and Tommy Bahama's as you suggested. Good stuff.
Cheers,
Steve
Oct 10th, 2004, 10:27 AM
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stever - you're putting words in my mouth.. by no means did I think that the four seasons was "bad" in comparison to the Grand Wailea, I just prefer the option of an adut only pool and different areas to lounge out.
The four seasons was beautiful and a lot of people love it there, so I am sure you will be happy.
I dont think it's possible to not have a great time in Wailea...
The four seasons was beautiful and a lot of people love it there, so I am sure you will be happy.
I dont think it's possible to not have a great time in Wailea...
Oct 10th, 2004, 11:45 AM
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Wow! What a big move! Was your husband planning this before your trip or did you decide this while on vacation? A heads up: Hawaii is a good place for me to do business, as I have no employees, but things change dramatically when start adding employees to the mix. I have friends who are struggling everyday with the high cost of doing business here on the islands.
Do you have a copy of So You Want to Live in Hawaii? The edition available right now is few years old, but the new edition is being edited right now. While some of the info has changed and the new edition really elaborates on some of the finer points, the book is still a good source of info.
I just made the move from the mainland and moved a business here to Maui in the past year, and my in-laws are moving back here this month too, so if you have any questions I'd be glad to try to answer them. It is a big undertaking, and you can make the move simple or you can make it complex. We moved simple; my in-laws are moving complex.
Feel free to email me offlist at [email protected]
Do you have a copy of So You Want to Live in Hawaii? The edition available right now is few years old, but the new edition is being edited right now. While some of the info has changed and the new edition really elaborates on some of the finer points, the book is still a good source of info.
I just made the move from the mainland and moved a business here to Maui in the past year, and my in-laws are moving back here this month too, so if you have any questions I'd be glad to try to answer them. It is a big undertaking, and you can make the move simple or you can make it complex. We moved simple; my in-laws are moving complex.
Feel free to email me offlist at [email protected]
Oct 10th, 2004, 12:28 PM
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To lasjas: I didn't mean to put words in your mouth, and I'm glad to hear that the FS seemed to be decent overall. We just like a nice room and a great beach, so I'm sure we'll be happy.
Are you making the simple move to Maui or the complex one? How do you take all your stuff and move so far, or do you buy all new stuff when you move and sell all your old stuff? Seems like a tough move! Good luck,
Steve
Are you making the simple move to Maui or the complex one? How do you take all your stuff and move so far, or do you buy all new stuff when you move and sell all your old stuff? Seems like a tough move! Good luck,
Steve
Oct 10th, 2004, 08:20 PM
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thank you gone2maui, I appreciat the offer and most certainly will take you up on it, anything I can do to make this move as simple as possible will be great. We are moving from NY, so it's a huge move...
I'll be e-mailing you soon, thank you again, I truly truly appreciate you offering to help w/any questions I have.
and, I did order the book "so you want to live in Hawaii" but it's taking a while, hasnt been shipped yet, maybe I will get the new edition..
I'll be in touch via e-mail soon! mahalo!
I'll be e-mailing you soon, thank you again, I truly truly appreciate you offering to help w/any questions I have.
and, I did order the book "so you want to live in Hawaii" but it's taking a while, hasnt been shipped yet, maybe I will get the new edition..
I'll be in touch via e-mail soon!
mahalo!
Oct 10th, 2004, 08:22 PM
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oh.. I forgot to answer your question of if my husband was planning this before we vacationed in Hawaii last month, well, yes and no, we were in the process of planning a big move, and he had the plan in the works for a career change, but we were thinking more of Arizona or Florida, but then the opportunity arose to move to Maui, so it was perfect timimg, we said definitely!!!
Oct 11th, 2004, 02:30 AM
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The 4 Seasons has TWO pools, and there was plenty of room to spread out if you wanted to. Steve, you will LOVE it at the 4 Seasons! Beautiful rooms, beach, and awesome service! You won't regret one moment of it!
