Sheryl

My husband and I will be going to Oahu and Maui next month, and I'm currently in the process of figuring out which excursions to book. I check this board often and have read a couple of guidebooks (still reading "Maui Revealed"). I've gotten a lot of good info, but I still have some questions.

1) Are there kayak rentals at Lanikai Beach? I read in a guidebook that I'd have to bring my own "beach toys," so I wasn't sure.

2) If you had a choice between taking a helicopter ride on Maui or going on a Molokini snorkeling trip, which would you choose? My husband is already leery of going on the ride, and the news of the recent BI crash didn't help matters. I know the risks and that the odds of a crash are slim, but we still have reservations. However, I've read so many different opinions about Molokini that I'm unsure of that, too. We plan on doing some offshore snorkeling at Makena Beach, the Fishbowl, and maybe La Perouse Bay, so is Molokini necesary?

3) Is a 4WD necessary on Maui? I'd like to drive through the entire route on the Road to Hana, and I've read that some people have done it without one, but is it easier to have one?

4) Do we need to bring hiking boots for the Road to Hana hikes or will tennis shoes suffice? We'd like to avoid bringing extra pairs of shoes if possible.

Thanks in advance!

puddy

I can answer the last three:

2. If you are a little hesitant abou the copter ride on Maui, skip it and take a snorkeling trip. While it would be nice, you can see much of the island closeup.

3. 4WD is not necessary. I drove a Grand Am all the way around the Hana Road. Jeep wouldn't make any difference... it's still going to be bumpy. And it was very dusty, especially if you are behind another car... something to consider. If you want to have openness, I would suggest a convertible over a jeep. More comfortable IMO.

4. Tennis shoes would be fine. Hiking shoes are not necessary, although Teva-like sandals are nice since they are pretty good for hiking and you don't have to worry about getting them wet. We bought a cheap pair at Kmart on the island for about $12.

Helen_in_Hawaii

Rental car liability, not the roughness of the road, is the biggest issue on taking the leeward side road back from Hana. If it is a dry day you'll generally be O.K. If it is rainy be warned that flash floods may roll over portions of the road. There is also a section of the road on the side of the cliff without any guard rail between you and the ocean.

Tennis shoes should be alright for light hiking. If it is a long hike you may appreciate the extra support that hiking shoes gives you.

Dave_Tiki

Go on a cruise!

I always take my friends and family on cruises when they visit. It's cheap, you get a great view of the islands, and they feed you.

I like the whale watching cruises when in season, afternoon snorkeling cruises and the sunset cruises the best

I have been on almost all of the main boats and the one that I like is the American Dream owned by Dream Cruises in Honolulu.

The boat is big enough to have a smooth ride but small enough to avoid the huge crowds and long lines. The food is good and everything is casual, they don't try to force you to do the Macarena or join a conga line.

It's usually the most memorable part of the trip.

islandmom

Kailua beach has rentals in the parking lot and you paddle to Lanikai. (Same beach, just down the way less than a mile.) The downer is you have to pull your kayak past Kailua beach parking lot down the road a block to return it to their store. There should be coupons in the entertainment book. I haven't checked this year though.

lahainaluna

These have all been good posts.

I loved the helicopter trip and thought it was the highlight of my first Maui trip. A couple of my friends were nervous and they did not really appreciate the views because of the fear factor. You need to consider the people you are traveling with to make that decision.

I did not think Molokini was all that fantastic. I have been several times and the fish are not so plentiful because the water is a little deep. New snorkelers had a problem because of the choppy water. I would ask the dive shop you rent your gear from for some suggestions for good snorkeling.

3)I don't think the 4wd is necessary. It is probably an insurance risk but I drove my Mustang convertible all the way around. Honestly though, the drive to Hana is the best of the trip. The 7 "sacred" pools are no big deal. They are not sacred to the Hawaiian people but only to some early 20th century tourist promoter. The drive beyond the pools is not all that great. I would recommend driving to Hana for the day and back on the same road.

4)Tennis shoes are fine for the average hike. If you want to take an aggressive hike on Haleakala you may want boots because the 10.000 ft elevation may cause the healthiest of feet to swell. If you just want to take a scenic hike up to 4 hours just take your sneakers. You will probably end up putting your feet in an amazingly beautiful stream to cool off and that could be your best vacation memory.

Have a good trip.

Sheryl

Thanks to everyone for your advice! Some more questions:

1) Is casual or "aloha" attire acceptable at even the nice restaurants (Nick's, Mama's Fish House, etc.)? Or should we wear more "casually dressy" clothes? I've read a couple posts on this, but they seemed to address the "jacket and tie" question, as opposed to the "shorts and t-shirt vs. polo and khakis" question.

2)Has anyone taken the Expeditions ferry to Lanai recently? Has anyone gone on their 4x4 Trekker tours? We're interested in the tours, but are leaning towards just taking the ferry and renting a 4WD to explore the island ourselves.

Helen_in_Hawaii

No jacket & tie. No shorts and t-shirt. For a nice restaurant wear an aloha shirt and khakis or an aloha shirt and dressy shorts.

Patty

1.) I would say khakis and collared shirt, either polo or aloha. But an aloha, especially the silk ones, is a little nicer.

2.) Lanai is easy to explore on your own. We took the ferry and rented a jeep. 4WD is a necessity and be sure to reserve in advance.

sail10

Hi , Sheryl. 1. The snorkle trip is really great, go on a big catamaran , like the- four winds, pacific whale foundation, etc. (2.On the road to hana , tennis shoes are ok, make sure you bring 2-3 meals and drinks. Like someone stated be carefull of heavy rain on the trip, but normally it is fine. And 4 wheel drive is to bumpy , i drove in a integra and it was fine.

I would do the snorkle trip instead of the helicopter but hey my choice would be both.

We really enjoyed the sunset dinner cruise on the catamaran ( not the large boat- the smaller one ). It was also the end of whale season and there were a couple of whales still arround.
And as far as snorkeling dont forget black rock in front of the sheraton , the area is very nice with many restaurants and a nice shopping area.

On oahu there is a free huls show most nights near the Duke surfer statue that starts at dusk. Then walk the beach in front of the hotels and there may be more hula shows along the way. Say aloha to paridise for me, and have a great trip. nick

Sheryl

Thanks again, everyone! Round three of questions:

Has anyone used Hawaiian Parasail in Honolulu?

MelissaHI

Ya know, I recall once I rented a kayak in Lanikai, but the store operator met us at the beach with it so we didn't have to lug it to & from the store (I assume it's safer for him too!).

Sheryl

Oops, I also forgot to add this questions: what is the best time of day to parasail? I've been looking on this board and the guidebooks for some help, but no luck.

bluefan

Generally, best time of day to do most activities, including parasailing, would be in the mornings before the Tradewinds kick up too harshly in the afternoon. Same thing for snorkeling, helicopter ride, etc. But it also depends on the area in which you're doing the activity since it can be calmer at Wailea and Kaanapali, just not as scenic.

I might not understand why you would have to choose between the two, but if I had to, I would choose the copter ride over Molokini. Best to do it early during your stay on Maui...you get the best possible overview of the land right from the get-go. And you're planning to do a lot of offshore snorkeling anyways. But I wouldn't go snorkeling off Makena (Big) Beach as you mentioned since it's not particularly calm there (great place to sunbathe though). Many places along the shorelines of the Wailea region would prove much better, and the snorkeling right off the Makena Prince Hotel is supposed to be quite good as well. Forget La Perouse Bay and go to the northern end of Ahihi Keanau Reserve. Since you're going in July when conditions should be OK, I would visit Honolua Bay...the colorful hard coral formations off to the right make for a wonderful area to snorkel.

4WD is not necessary, but that or a car with excellent suspension will make that back side much less of a pain in the butt!

Unless you plan on doing some serious hiking (10mi+) or traversing over raw lava fields, hiking boots are not necessary. Why even take tennis shoes? Get a good pair of sandals with heel support and nobby bottoms (e.g. Teva, Merrell) which will prove sufficient for short hikes as well as perfect for the beaches. One pair does all. Just have plenty of water in the trunk to wash off the mud if you plan on taking those short hikes along the Road to Hana.

Hope this helps!!!