Hi everybody,

Looking for some advice on where to stay in Maui and must sees. My husband and I are going to Kauai for a trip I earned through work and only have two extra days and we decided to spend it in Maui. We will be staying at the Grand Hyatt in Kauai and feel we will have plenty of relaxing time there and probably want to be more active in Maui. We've heard the Road to Hana is a must-do and wondered if perhaps we should stay around there. Any itineraries, hotels, restaurants (I am a vegetarian) would be most helpful!! Both for Kauai and Maui.

Thanks so much!

With only 2 days, if you choose road to Hana, that's about all you'd be able to do (not good or bad, just a thought).

I would consider the crater at Haleakala a Maui "must do" but not necessarily for sunrise like some people insist, anytime mid-morning works nicely. I also very much enjoyed the town of Lahaina (but some find it "too touristy"). Great for restaurants, galleries, a self-guided historic walking map is available. I loved the show called U'lalena at Myth & Magic Theater.

The road to Hana is not a "must do" for me. It's ok, but If you only have two days, I would leave it out.
Make sure to go to a luau, if you get the chance. In my opinion, a great experience. In Maui, there are many to choose from, we went to the Royal Lahaina luau and it was superb. We brought along our camcorder, and were so glad we did. Leave time to do some shopping in Lahaina. Wonderful, quaint shopping town. There are so many places to stay in Maui, but I think my preference would be towards the Kaanapali, Lahaina, Napili, Kapalua areas.

A cross between dinner theater and a luau you might consider, Feast of Lele, in Lahaina.

The scenery in Kauai is spectacular, so the Highway to Hana will add little and will use up an entire day. The Aquarium in Maalea is well worth a visit. It includes a plexiglass tunnel in a large tank so that you can see the sea creatures all around you. If you are going May-October, any area is fine to stay in. If wintertime, stay in Wailea, which will be the warmest/driest area. A restaurant not to be missed is I'o at the south end of Lahaina. Very romantic, great food (mostly seafood), garden indoor-outdoor setting right on the edge of the beach, for sunset view. See www.iomaui.com

With only 2 days in Maui, I would stay in South Kihei or Wailea area. I would take a 4 hour kayak and snorkel tour with Maui Kayaks (www.mauikayaks.com). I'd rest a little in the afternoon, then get to the Four Seasons by 5-ish for a mojito and torch lighting ceremony in the bar overlooking the pool. Then have an early, long dinner at Spago's - fabulous food. Make reservations ahead of time on Open Table and note that you are a vegetarian. They have a wonderful veggie starter of roasted beets, warm goat cheese, and field greens. You may luck out with risotto as an entree -- I had it as a side and it was great.

The next day, take a surfing lesson with Goofy Foot surfing school. (www.goofyfootsurfschool.com) Maybe snorkel some more in La Perouse Bay. You could have lunch near Makena at "The Place" which has a really good vegetarian curry.

Here are some other veggie restaurants in Maui:
http://nwfolk.com/vegmaui.html

I would not do the Road to Hana in the short time you have...especially since you want to be more active. The Road is a lot of time spent in the car!

Correction..."The Place" is in Maalea and not Makena.

I also would not go on the Road to Hana, since you are going to Kaua'i as well and only have 2 days. Kaua'i is gorgeous, and much of it looks like the Road to Hana.

Definitely go to a luau! And definitely stay in Wailea. We loved the Fairmont Kea Lani, and would highly recommend their restaurant Nick's Fishmarket.

The Four Seasons would also be spetacular.

Thanks so much for all of the great tips! Please keep them coming! I believe we are doing a luau in Kauai, do you recommend also doing a luau in Maui? The surfing sounds like a blast!

Check out gourmet vegan place in Paia, now called Hocus Pocus I think. Paia is a great little town for shopping, sort of the hippie land of Maui. It is between Kahului and Hana, about 10 minutes from airport. Also Mana Foods in Paia - vegan buffet or buy groceries and make your own picnic basket; best health food store on Maui. Also Down to Earth in Kahului or Makawao have buffets with good vegan options.

Vegan picnic in hand, head either up to Haleakala for sunrise or sunset; or around Hana Highway - best reason for a rent car on Maui, esp. a convertible!!! Hana Hwy would be one very long day if you do it right.
Haleakala could be a 4 hour trek with time for other adventures, nice lunch or dinner in upcountry recommended.

If you like unusual and funky rather than 4 star lodging, you could try the guest house at Peace of Maui, up country near Makawao, in the cane fields - great views. They also have hostel type rooms where you share kitchen and bath - best lodging price on the island and you meet the most interesting people there. Very easy to go up to volcano or down to shore and Hana Hwy.

To feel more of the Aloha Spirit, would recommend Paia or Makawao lodging rather than Kahului [not much there], Kehei [condos and traffic] or Lahaina [main tourist trap]. Haiku in upcountry is very nice too and well on the way to Hana.

http://www.vrmaui.com/maui/paia.html

http://www.mauidiningguide.com/vegan.html
Mana Foods, 49 Baldwin Avenue. Paia, HI

Also for completely raw eating, check out http://www.lovingfoods.com/
P.O. Box 790358 Paia HI, 96779, 310.RAW.FOOD

I stayed at the Grand Hyatt in Kauai. It is beautiful, and the pool complexes are nice, but the beach is too rough for swimming. So, for your time on Maui, I would encourage you to stay on a beautiful swimming beach because you will miss that at the Grand Hyatt. Personally, I love Makena Beach and the Maui Prince Hotel, a the very south-west portion of Maui. However, Fleming Beach up in Kapalua is nice, Kapalua Bay is nice, many wonderful swimming beaches in Maui. I don't think the road to Hana is worth it for such a short stay. Instead, maybe a drive up to the sunrise at Haleakala and the volcano crater environment would be a different experience. I would also recommend you have a meal at Mama's Fish House in Paia, where you could have a fabulous salad.

Paia and Upcountry in general, would have a lot of Vegitarian choices. Although, I don't think there are lodging options in the upscale hotel type that you are looking for. I do like Lahaina, and would tend to stay on that area on the west side with just two days.