Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Trip Report 4 nights (solo) in Maui

I was in Maui for 4 nights after 3 great nights visiting friends on Oahu. My original plan for my trip was to get my advanced scuba certification, but I ended up canceling my classes since I'm not sure when I'll be diving again this year.

I live in Seattle and travel to Hawaii (various islands) an average of twice per year, so this was not my first time and I didn't do most of the more popular tourist activities.

HOTEL
I have stayed in Ka'anapali, Kihei, and Wailea. I've grown to like Ka'anapali the most, as I like nice resorts and I also like the oceanfront boardwalk and being walking distance to so many bars/restaurants (especially when traveling solo). I really like the Hyatt but went with a more budget-friendly hotel this time: Ka'anapali Beach Hotel.

The pros: On great stretch of beach, super lively hotel, beautiful grounds, very clean room, Trilogy activity desk onsite, live music every night, and super close to Black Rock snorkeling and Whalers Village.

The cons: Hotel is a bit outdated, walls a bit thin, pool is just okay, and I had an issue with a light fixture that was shooting flames/sparks when I touched it (maintenance promptly fixed it). It was also a little annoying to pay for parking.

The hotel's only non-smoking wing is Molokai, and I was able to request that ahead of time (which was very important to me). Overall, I thought the hotel was a good value. It's not the Ritz, but it's clean, comfortable, and well located. I will say, though, that I felt like one of the youngest folks on the property (late 30s). I would recommend the hotel to anyone looking for a more budget friendly option in Ka'anapali.

FOOD
I ate breakfast in my room (or on the go) every day because I had several early morning activities. The hotel room had a fridge, so I had fresh fruit, yogurt, and granola bars stocked.

Mala Ocean Tavern: I ate here twice...once for dinner and once for lunch the following day. Several folks recommended this restaurant and I had never even heard of it. It's now my favorite place to eat! The bar is super friendly (though packed) and great for a single diner. The food is fabulous, especially the ahi bruschetta. They allow you to order half orders of several menu items which is a really nice touch. In addition to the bruschetta (which I ate twice - seriously awesome), I had the vegan gado gado and the onaga entree. All the food was fabulous here, but I was less impressed with the lychee martini.

Leilani's: I ate here twice also, as I love their ono fish tacos. I recommend adding the avocado.

Cane and Taro: Spicy tuna roll and the tomato/goat cheese salad were pretty good. But overall I think it's just an average place and wouldn't be high on my list for recommending to other folks.

Maui Brewing Company: I didn't eat here, but I did drink here twice. I'd been once before about 7 years ago, and I'm pleased to say it has been completely renovated since then. I am a beer nerd and really enjoyed the beer and atmosphere here. Easy to recommend, especially during downpours.

ACTIVITIES
Maui Eco Tours: Went sea kayaking with them, and it was a good but strenuous time. The original put-in was near Lahaina, but the waves were too rough and we ended up going to Makena instead. There ended up being only 3 in our group plus a guide, so it was a nice small trip with a lot of personal attention. We kayaked out into wide open ocean about 1.5 miles which I found very strenuous (especially since I was in a kayak by myself). We were rewarded with unbelievably loud whale songs (had no idea you could hear them above the water) as well as a whale playing only about 100 yards from us. On the way back we stopped at 2 snorkel spots, but by that time a storm had rolled in and it was absolutely exhausting work paddling that 1.5 mi back home. I was pretty happy to be done, though I do think it was a good experience if you're prepared for that level of activity. They provided some nice sandwiches for lunch after the paddle.

Extended Horizons Scuba: WOW. My new favorite dive shop on Maui. Great boat, great gear, fabulous dive guides, and really beautiful dive sites. We went diving off Lanai (First Cathedral and Sergeant Major). The pre- and post- dive briefings were some of the best I've had, and even their snacks were better than average...nice selection of bagels, cream cheese, and peanut butter plus fruit (most dive shops just throw cookies at you). I would dive again with them in a heartbeat.

Trilogy Activity desk - stand up paddleboard rental: I had taken a lesson last time I was in Maui in November, so felt confident going out on my own. Rented a board for $25 for one hour, and had a great time. Very calm water resulted in a very zen experience. I didn't even fall once, so I was pretty proud to emerge with completely dry hair. I think I must be a natural! :)

Trilogy Activity desk - cabana rental: Does renting a cabana and not moving for a few hours count as an activity? I rented a half day cabana and it was extremely reasonable (think it was under $30).

All in all, it was a great trip. I left Maui on March 10 before the tsunamis struck, and was thankful to have just missed it. Keeping all the folks in Hawaii in my thoughts and prayers for a quick recovery from the damage the tsunami caused. I'll be back soon to stimulate your economy!