I have cancer and stayed there Oct, Nov. 2007

Posted by BBBvistor from Redondo Beach, California on 5/7/08

I lived in Maui before. And I am terminally ill. I was suppose to go to all the Islands but when I landed at the Banana Bungalow, I stayed 2 months, and was only suppose to be there a couple of weeks. But I found the place and the staff to be wild and fun. The owner is soooo fun, and he has two beautiful daughters, and happily married to woman who is an attorney. I am almost 50 years old, and everyone treated me like I was in my twenties, which was fun. I was treated with respect and don't know what the previous posts bad press stuff is about. The manager is amazing, to be able to run a staff, and handle 88 guests, in Maui the most traveled place. I personally would go back if I make it another year. Everywhere you go, no matter at work, or your neighbors there is difference of opinion. I suggest Maui Bungalow to anyone. Young, old, middle aged, because no one is too old or too sick to have fun there. I was unable to make the tours as I stated I in 3rd stage liver cancer, however, I know of the Simon that they speak of and he was so sweet, Hans was there but not a tour leader yet. Oh, I have awesome photographs of Veronica who worked there. If anybody wants a copy, e-mail me: Anyway that is enough from debbieyates@hotmail.com

Worth the money

Posted by Alicias_Aunt_Janet from California on 4/19/08

If I go back to Maui I'll be staying at the hostel. I met people from all over the world, Gregg, if you see this e-mail me, it wasn't the same without you. Thank you for the party. You were missed. I wish we had had the moment.

viva!

Posted by jamminlife from San Diego on 3/28/08

this hostel was so much fun to be at! we stayed here in march 2008, and it is not horrible like the previous comments have explained. I'm pretty sure that it is a competely different staff now because everyone was so cool and friendly, and I don't recognize those names from above at all. They told me that there are about 16 staff memebers that live there now(so of course they are probably somewhat tight knit because they see each other every day). This is a party hostel, so don't go there if you are planning to just keep to yourself the whole time and never meet people... the social aspect is one of the best things that this hostel has to offer, as well as the free tours - which are amazing, lead by Hans and Isaac a couple of the coolest guys you could meet. Mostly younger folks stay here, but I did meet a few older folks who were enjoying the experience as well. It's not really a place to bring young kids to though....well, maybe... if you don't mind them being around beer. The kitchen is pretty large,good for making anyting you want really, and there is a small market right across the street from the hostel. very convenient. It is located in the town of Wailuku which is a pretty close ride from the airport. Yes, it is a poorer part of Maui, but I never felt unsafe at all there. I liked this town, because it had personality unlike all the sickeningly perfect grooming of all the new development and resort areas. There were cafes, some little shops, a music store right around the corner. Wailuku reminds me a bit of the town of Katoomba in the Blue Mountains of Australia. The atmosphere is nice. pool table, hot tub, big tv, video games, hammocks, foreigners, parking can get crowded sometimes, when you first get there the front office might be hard to find... you have to go through the back door of the front building unless they have the door on the front street open. (you'll see what I mean), none of the chairs match in the common room, and the one bathroom on the bottom floor kind of sucks if you have to use the toilet (again, you will see what I mean). I don't know how the dorm rooms are, because we stayed in a double private... but our room was really great... clean, spacious. This place was so down to earth and awesome! I will stay at the Banana Bungalow EVERY time I come to Maui! I recommend it to anyone who has an adventerous spirit and wants to meet people from around the world. viva!

Maui Banana Bungalow, Not a safe place to stay!

Posted by Annmoss from UK on 3/18/08

Ok...FIRST of all Maui is expensive. The cheapest hotel is not for the budget traveler. But BB still isn't worth staying at. The BB, has four very distinct problems. The biggest problem is that the STAFF are leeches. If you have money, cigaretes, alcohol or anything of value don't go there. One staff member female oriental, one tried to scam me, and a my younger friend out of a over a thousand of dollars, by stating she had a house that we could stay at for the same price as the two us was paying there. The house did not exist as she never would showed it to us, she wanted the money really bad, and then when we decided to leave. She stole my friends, cash of $500, and her some of personal effects while we out on a tour. One staff member (Hiedi) called us a Bxxxh, because she wanted a ride to the nude beach, and we said we going to Lahina, and then she continued to talk about us right in front of our faces to another staff member, a bloak. Stating, what couple selfish Bxxxhes we were. I told her, we are not here to accomodate you. Which seems to be the whole staff attitude. We are there for them, apparently. SECOND BB BIGGEST PROBLEM. LOCATION. It is the slums, projects of Maui. The locals are very hostile to any travelers, but right in the heart of worst part of Maui, and you have to a rent a car to go to the MAUI YOU WANTED TO VISIT. No decent public transportation on Maui. IF YOU STAYED AT THE BB, AND THAT WAS ONLY EXPERIENCE WITH MAUI. I AM SORRY that wasn't Maui. On the positive side. The tours are nice, and the only gentleman there "Simon" he alone was worth the money. I would take his tours and not stay there. Only problem you are on their schedule. Some of the tours are to rigourous. 12 mile hikes up a to the crater. THIRD BB PROBLEM...IT is filthy. My friend had planned on staying 2 1/2 weeks, we only stayed one week and of course they would not refund. Toilets always had feeces, clogged, and or someone just peed on the seats. FOURTH PROBLEM: The male staff upon arriving were all over us. I would walk out all the time and see someone having sex out in the hammocks. The staff kind of insist that it is ok that we go naked, always saying it is alright. Staff is a lot naked in hot tub and running around. I saw staff members having sex on 8 different occassions and like I said I was only there a week. If you would have sex with them they would cook, and party with you and the other girls that would not have sex with them or was too ugly for them, they totally ignore them, except for that one male that never gave up. My friend was was attacked and I believe he was begining to force to have sex when I walked into the room. She was drunk, at their Friday night keg party. So, we left. I have been to a lot of hostels around the world and was trying to show my friend a good way to travel and meet interesting people. This place Banana Bungalow well, it is the worst place I have ever been. Mostly I think why it is the way it is that the owner is never there. He lives in another state, and the staff is manager is only 23 years old. Good luck in your travels, Maui, has a Hostel Lahina. Try that.

Real Maui

Posted by Ryan_Ambrose from Chicago on 1/14/08

I arrived at the Banana Bungalow on Friday Jan. 9th at night, with no reservations, and they had no problem providing me with accommodations. I have never stayed at a hostel before the BB and any expectations I had of hostels were completely blown away. My plan was to stay here for a couple of days then travel to other hostels to get the full Maui experience. However, the BB provides free tours to all the corners of the island. The real draw hear are the free tours. Monday is a hike through the Iao Valley. Simon is the greatest guide, he fed us all with the wild fruits of the jungle along the way. Tuesday is the road to Hana, this is a very long and winding drive with the most amazing views of the ocean, jungle and dozens of water falls. There are stops along the way for local foods and fresh produce, both a red and black sand beach, a hike into a cave, and the greatest hike through a bamboo forest to a 300ft waterfall for a swim. Wednesday is a snorkeling trip to Black Rock in Kaanapali. I swam with hundreds of fish and followed a sea turtle over a beautiful coral reef. After we went to see the largest Buddha statue in the U.S. and then a trip into Lahaina for some shopping, food and drinks. Thursday is another snorkeling trip to Turtle Town, there is a lot of great reef to see here. Buy a waterproof camera, it is well worth it. After swimming and some sun the tour goes to Big Beach in Makena for some volleyball and more sun,..... Bring sun screen. Friday is a whale watching tour that I have yet to experience for myself, but I hear it is quite amazing. Saturday is a hike through the Haleakala crater. This is by far the most breathtaking place I have ever seen. To my knowledge, there is no other company on the island you can hire to guide you through the Volcano. It is truly one of those places in the world that words can not describe, you have to see it for yourself. It is well worth the stay at the BB to see this awesome place. Sunday is an incredibly relaxing day in Makena at Big Beach/Little Beach. Little beach, also my favorite beach, is clothing optional and the weeks events culminate with the most fabulous sunset over the island Kahoolawe with fire dancers feed primitive rhythms by a 20 piece drum circle. The beds here are very comfortable but sleeping street side can get noisy in the early morning, however the BB provides ear plugs which does alleviate the problem. They use a white power called Diatomaceous earth in the beds which helps prevent a bed bug infestation, as of yet I have not seen a single bed bug or anyone with bites, this is good because hostels usually have problems with bed bugs. The neighborhood is a pretty cool place with a bunch of cafes and art dealers. It can be a bit sketchy at night so if you need a midnight stroll use some common sense and walk in a group. The Banana Bungalow is a very interesting place. The atmosphere is here is very conducive to the social environment. I have had many fascinating philosophical conversation here. People travel here from all over the world for the Real Maui experience. The common area is the focal point of the BB. There is a 52in HD TV with satellite, free Wi-Fi, pool table, foosball, full kitchen, and a hot tub outside that is great to soak in after a long day of hiking. Friday there is a free keg and Chuck is here providing some great island tacos. I think the BB is a great place for the budget traveler. Young and old, couples and families, or just single this place will be able to accommodate anybody. I have been here for little over a month, met so many interesting people, and had the opportunity to see many of the less touristy areas of the island. I hope to stay here for a bit longer and see more of non resort Maui. The Banana Bungalow is centrally located on the island and is in my opinion perfect for taking in the Real Maui experience.

Don't want to think about what disease I contracted

Posted by Gormetta from Santa Barbara on 11/20/07

I wish I would have read the previous review before making the terrible mistake of giving this place a chance. We reserved a double room which I thought would offer at least a little privacy but with the thin walls and constant "kegger" outside we were surrounded. Our room looked like someone had just done some plastering repairs and vaccuumed all around except for right next to the bed. There was white powder everywhere and one of our pillows even fell into a powdery abyss between the bed and the wall. Even the bedsheets felt like they had powder on them. We got out of there as soon as the sun rose, but again, no refund for the 2 remaining days which I had pre-paid. It completely ruined my outlook on Maui.

I would rather sleep on the street than even look at this hostel again.

Posted by Jessie from USA on 9/23/05

Let me tell you why to avoid this pit at all costs. I walked into the hostel and was immeadiately put off by the less than stellar condition of the building and the surrounding neighborhood and my unease grew when the young lady had trouble checking me in due to the facts that someone had forgotten to write down my reservation and that she couldn't count past 30. I finally get my key and set off to find my room. I signed up for a dorm room and when I opened the door the room is not only a pit but a pit infested with males. Pyramids of beer, dirty underwear hanging from doornobs, and various trash was littered about. I set my bag on the only free bed, a top bunk, and set off for the bathroom to wash my hands( the room was that distrubing). The bathroom- the tiles are gone in the shower and the toilet is barely functional. I find one of the males and quickly inquire if he or another might be willing to switch beds with me so I might get the bottem (my left leg had recently been severly injured and there was no way I could get up what they playfully called a ladder) and he rudely informed me that 'no, he liked his bed and so did the other male'. I left the room and a staff member told me that there were hammocks outside that I might avail myself of, so I set off to find them. While I was outside, I not only found a large group of people 'getting to know one another' in the hot tub but several individuals doing some 'recreational drugs'. I turned around gathered my bags and found another hotel for the night. I went back to the hotel the next morning and asked for a refund since I spent less than an hour at the hostel - they told me no. They very snidely told me that they were a party hostel and there were a lot more hostels that were worse than them. They didn't refund a single cent, $400 dollars gone. I changed my plane ticket to leave as soon as possible and found another hotel for my remaining time. So to be perfectly frank, DO NOT STAY AT THIS HOSTEL.