Don't forget...eat in the bar at the Hotel Hana Maui. Cheaper, plus the added bonus of entertainment. The ribs and fried chicken at the Hana Ranch Restaurant are very good too.
If there is banana cake or banana bread on the menu...order it!

Bill, are you still monitoring?

So since I'm at Hana Kai Maui for Fri, Sat, and Sun nights, are you thinking I should do the show and buffet at Hotel Hana on Fri? Then maybe the bar one night and the Hana Ranch one night? Other suggestion? I'll have a full kitchen, but let's pretend I won't.

go to red sands beach at sunrise and get nekid

PS. Driving down to Mama's for dinner my last night in Hawaii from Old Wailuku Inn.

Ah, that went fast! I'm thinking of you as I'm here in Hawi, and wondering whether I should go for the zipline!

As for me, I'm dining at the Bamboo tonight, Sushi Rock last night, Cafe Pesto the day before.

David Gomes and the Kupuka'as at the Kohala Country Fair today. Hapuna Beach yesterday.

Also, I'm counting bike riders practicing for Iron Man.

NeoPatrick, are you ready to decide which is the best island now?

I hope you had a wonderful time in Hawaii and met with a lot of aloha spirit!

Well, I still have Maui to go, but I don't think I'll decide on a "best". They're each a little different. I liked the buzz at Honolulu and Oahu. Kaui may be the "prettiest". And BI has so much variety and a lot to do.

Aloha, Patrick.
Sounds like you are having a great time.
I don't think I could handle 3 nights in Hana... Brad and I did the drive PAST Hana (a no-no for car rentals) and it was really a neat drive, but bumpy and at times pretty hairy. Would I do it again? Not so sure. "Been there, done that" seems to do it for me. Brad says he would do it again...

I liked the up country. I also enjoyed Tedeshi Winery in that area! Give it a look/taste.

I have to agree with you on your assessment of the islands so far. Oahu is my fave, just because of the buzz and all the options of eats/entertainment/drives/scenery. Kauaii, for me, is also the prettiest.

Carol

Hmmm. I thought it was now OK for car rentals on the south circle out from Hana? Another poster recently did it and loved that trip. Guess I'll ask today when I pick up my car on Maui. I was thinking of coming into Hana that way (I'll have all day to do it) then leaving by way of the Hana Highway. This is actually what was suggested by the gal at Hana Kai Maui. But even Mapquest shows one 33 mile segment as taking 2 hours and 3 minutes. That's something like an average of 16 miles an hour without stops.

I always say there are no mistakes on vacation -- only lessons. Well the lesson I learned this time is that Honokaa on the Big Island is NOT worth a stop, yet alone a two night stop. I did it because of the early AM horseride yesterday in the Waipio Valley. And I'm staying at what I thought was the "quirky and quaint" old Honokaa Club Hotel. Make that "dilapidated" instead. It's great place to stay though if you want a wake up call for 4. That's when the roosters start. They closed the dining room here completely, and I am not exaggerating to say that there is not a single place open for food in this town after 7 -- even on Friday or Saturday nights. I drove both nights about 15 miles to Waimea and ate at Daniel Thiebaut's and at Merriman's -- which were both good -- Merriman's really excellent!

When you ask them, I'm sure they will say "no"... but that said, many people do it anyway! IF you have any problems, your rental agreement is thrown out the window. My only warning would be to avoid the no-no road IF there has been a lot of rain. That could be a real problem.

Have fun on Maui!

C

We did the no-no road without problems - rough & long stretches of arid views of the ocean. It got tedious, but I'm glad we did it. We went the traditional route, not the one you've got planned. Let me know how it works out.

OK, here's the "official word" on driving "no-no" roads. I spoke with the manager at National here on Maui.

Certain roads -- including the stretch of the southern route below Hana is "restricted" as well as a section of road on the north end of West Maui. So I asked him exactly what that means. "If you get a flat tire or break down, you are totally on your own. We won't help you. And the tow companies will charge you up to $500 to start just to come get you there." Half jokingly I said, "isn't that what AAA is for?" and surprisingly he replied, "yes, AAA will come get you and pay for it in full if you have a problem."

"So, what about "canceling my contract" if I get stuck on that road?" I ask. "Well, I don't know what people mean by that", he said. "We don't fine you or take your car away or anything like that -- it just means that if you took our insurance then it is void on that road. But most people have other insurance that will cover them or if you don't take our insurance because you use your credit card or personal insurance, then it really makes no difference."

"So, you're saying it's OK to drive those roads?" "I can't tell you what to do. Hundreds of rental car drivers do take those roads. It's up to you if you want to risk breaking down."

So the bottom line? Sounds to me like the whole idea that you are "not allowed" to drive a rental car on those roads is totally bogus. You are simply risking not being insured if you are dependent on THEIR insurance (and I never am).

Meanwhile this morning I did drive the full route around the north end of West Maui. It's a spectacular drive, all paved. The guy at National said it is the worst and "trust me, you wouldn't want to drive it. You'll know driving up from Lahaina when you'll want to turn around and go back." Well, I DIDN'T know. I just kept going. Yes the road got narrower and narrower. There was almost no one else on it, so no problems with passing. Sure some of the road was right on the edge of the cliffs with no guardrail, but frankly I don't consider any of this half as frightening as driving the New Jersey Turnpike at 5 PM! I'm glad I did that road this morning, and I'm ready for the complete circle route to and from Hana.

I once, without thinking sent a friend on that drive in an 8 passenger SUV! It was lifechanging in a good way! Hana is easy compared to the narrows of the west end drive. Safe journey

I'm SO glad you did it & enjoyed it! It was one of the highlights of the trip for me. Did you see the white horse ( I petted his nose as we drove by). I hope you stopped & got shave ice at Auntie Ululani's stand @ Kahulua?
http://www.onmyplate.org/2003/12/treats_from_kah.html

>>>Another poster recently did it and loved that trip.

That would be me, I think. I did enjoy the drive. It is long stretches of lava with a view of the ocean as OSB said, but I liked it as a change in scenery from the north side. Full disclosure however...it was raining when we did the north side, so the sun was very welcome. Also, I felt like once we got past Kipahulu it would take us longer to go back around the north than keep going the south way.

We did read the rental contract and had some question about whether it was allowed. But I think you have it right about what "allowed" means, it means "drive at your own risk". And given AAA and your own insurance, there really isn't much exposure there.

We didn't drive the road around West Maui. I wanted to, but just didn't fit it in.

OSB, despite what I feel has been really healthy eating, my glucose has been sort of out of whack. So shaved ice, malasadas, MaiTais, banana bread, Lappert's ice cream and passionfruit sorbet, and various other goodies are currently on the "no-no" list. To be honest, it's not much of a sacrifice. Just don't take away my Ahi and Kalua Pig!!!

Oh, and yes, ChinaCat -- that poster would be you.

Neo, glad you're having a great time. Can't wait to read the trip report! :)

glad you had a great trip around the back west side..I love it more than the road to Hana..what did you have at Mama's?
Aloha

would you stay in Hana again..and how was the resort?
might be on the list

Too bad about the glucose, but the best is the feast for the eyes you are having!
One non-edible option would have been Auntie Ululanie's CD (they sell along with the shave ice). Nice Hawaiian flavor for the ears!

Info from good friend visiting who used to live in Kauai. If you want a change of scenery (didn't keep track of what you decided on this thread) stay at the Lodge on Lanai. It is a mountain resort, sister hotel to the Manale Bay Resort.

Patrick, another one here who is looking forward very much to your trip report ... :)