Hi All,

Since we'll be staying in Wailea, I'd like to take a day to explore and drive all the way around West Maui mid-way through our trip. My boyfriend and I LOVE winding coastal drives. (We'll be ending our trip with the road to Hana, staying our last night at Hotel Hana, and spend our last day driving via the south shore back to the airport.)

My plan is to drive up in the AM past Lahaina and Ka'anapali making our first stop at Napili and Kapalua beaches, then continuing on to check out Honolua, Olivine Pools and Nakalele Blowhole. Then stop in Wailuku to pick up some food for a picnic lunch in the Iao Valley. Then circle back in the afternoon back to Ka'anapali for some boogieboarding (and my boyfriend wants to surf), catch the torch lighting ceremony at Black Rock, and finish with dinner at Hula Grill.

This sounds like A LOT to do in a single day, so can anyone tell me if this is doable? We don't necessarily need to spend a lot of time in any one place, but I also don't want to be rushing through places we're enjoying just so we can keep "on schedule." I'm wondering if Iao Valley is a must do?

Also, Maui Revealed recommends only doing the drive from west to east toward Wailuku. It looks like we could save a lot of time getting back to Ka'anapali in the afternoon if we just doubled-back, instead of having to drive back south through Ma'alaea and Lahaina. Is this really not advisable due to the one-lane section of the road?

Would really appreciate any input on this.

Thanks!!

I'll start at the end of your post and work my way back. Doubling back will take much longer than just driving Honoapi`ilani Hwy back. It should be about 45 minutes from Wailuku back to Ka`anapali, unless there is an accident. Honoapi`ilani is a two lane highway in unril you get past Ma`alaea, while the pali road is a cliff-hugging single lane road in places. It will take you two hours to get back on the pali.

You can make this trip an all-day trip or you can make it a couple of hours--it depends on how often and how long you stop along the way. I did it with my parents and we left in the morning around 9ish and had dinner at around 4 in Wailuku. But my neighbor just got as new Harley and he drove west maui AND up to the summit of Haleakala and was home washing the bike when I got home in the latre afternoon. I always suggest that you just head out and let the day take you. If you get back early, fine, but if you're having as good time, why rush back just to see somne tiki torches lit? They'll light them again every night you are here.

You can stick a boogie board in the car and hit some of the excellent surfing beaches on the way: Flemings, Mokule`ia (Slaughterhouse), Honolua.

`Iao Valley is a must see, but you can either spend the day there hiking, visit the Kepaniwai Heritage Garden and the Hawaii Nature Center, or you make it a quick stop. Sometimes I take people there and we are done in less than a half hour. Other people want to make an afternoon of it. I'd just let the day play out, but by all means, take a few minutes at the end of your drive to drive up and take a look, since you'll already be right there as you come around from Waiahu anyway.

I hope this helps.

Ooops, so sorry, I missed the "we'll be staying in Wailea" part until I hit "Post." Was thinking you were in west Maui.

You may not want to go all the way back to Ka`anapali after a full day. But to be honest, if I had to chose between an enjoyable day driving, exploring and swimming west Maui and the Hula Grill, I'd have to go with the the drive. I like the Hula Grill, but it't really nothing special and not anything to plan a day around. If you are in the mood to drive back up, great, but I'm thinking if you do west Maui right, and include some beach stops along the way, you'll be finishing up in the late afternoon.

You said BF wants to surf. Does he surf? Is he bringing his stick? Or is he looking to rent/take lessons?

Thanks Here2Day...you're my official Maui Advisor! (Have you ever consider going into the travel industry? : ) I think you're right about playing it by ear. I suppose we could always grab dinner somewhere in Wailuku or maybe Lahaina?

BF has only surfed a handful of times in SoCal, so he'll have to rent a board (we're from Chicago but have been planning to move to Cali and have been visiting his mom who moved to San Diego). I'm not sure if he'll need a "refresher" lesson or not, but if you have recommendations on any good "intro" level spots, that would probably help. I've been wanting to try surfing myself, and was thinking of maybe doing a lesson.

Here2Day - Oh, one other question - I know you like both I'O and Pacific'O, but if you had to pick just one, which would you go with?

We're having a tough time with that one two because the menus look great at both of them.

I like I`o, it's a bit more intimate and little funkier. DH likes Pacific`O cause he likes the wider lawn on the beach.

There are some good spots for beginning surfers from Cove Park in Kihei all the way up the pali towards Lahaina.