First day on Maui
 

My wife and I will not be on Maui until around 3:30pm (Hawaii time) the first day. Any suggestions as to what we should do?

Depends on where you are headed, if going to Kaanapali hit happy hour at Whalers Village a couple oceanfront restaurants with hh specials. Check out the Whalers Museum while you are there, way cooler than expected. If Lahaina is destination some good hh spots also.

Go to Mama's Fish house from the airport and have a drink and something to eat at the bar (they have a decent bar menu). Then go to your room, get a cold drink, put on swimsuit, walk along beach and get in the water. Watch the sunset.

Mama's fish house would be an excellent way to begin or end your stay on Maui. It's very close to the airport, and it will probably be most convenient for you to go there either your first or last day. I didn't have the chance to sample any of the cocktails, but Mama's non-alcoholic fruit juice punches were out of this world. And I will never forget the beef poke with Maui onion appetizer I had.

I like to go to my hotel, get into a swimsuit and hit the pool or the beach as soon as possible, get in the water, get hydrated and *wash the flight* out of my system. Then come back, have a Mai Tai with an orchid floating in it, and pinch myself to make sure I'm really there. :-) I'm too tired to really sight-see on my first day in Hawaii ...

bonniebroad is right about being too tired for sightseeing. And there is all the hassle with car rentals at the airport, getting some provisions for your trip. Just get to the beach, soak in the beauty and relax. In reference to your other post: I just hope you aren't staying at the Maui Seaside in Kahalui. It is not a vacation type of hotel. It's cheap because it's in "downtown" Kahului and no where near the relaxing and scenic beauty of Maui. You can do much better in a condo in Kihei.

I always do exactly as bonniebroad suggested, I like to get into the hotel and into the water. The moment I'm submerged in the ocean or the pool, my vacation has started, and my blood pressure drops 30 points. However, if you don't feel you'll be too tired from the flight, or too eager to check in, Mama's is an excellent suggestion. Depending on where you're flying from, it will probably be dinner time for you, and Mamas cannot be beat. Aloha!

If you are going to Kaanapali, you could drive there along the west Maui mountains. This is the coast road (there's only one) that leads from near the ariport area to Kaanapali. You would take this route instead of taking the road that cuts through the middle of Maui between the two volcanos.

The west Maui drive is absolutely breathtaking and you may not "get around to it" if you don't just do it when you arrive. The sunset along the way could be amazing if you time it right.

If you do take the road through the middle of the island, you could swing by the Iao needle which is in a beautiful, cool, peaceful valley or even quickly visit the Sugar Museum (on the same road) if you're up for it.

A dive into the ocean, pool or a rum punch always works too (as these wise posters have already suggested!)

I would definitely <i>not</i> recommend driving on the Kahekili &quot;Highway&quot; on the way from the airport to Kaanapali/Lahaina. It may look like a &quot;shortcut,&quot; but it's most definitely not. It's a very narrow, very winding, very slow road that's challenging enough to drive when you're well-rested. When you're tired and jet-lagged, it would just be asking for disaster.

If you get to Maui at 3:30pm, it will be at least 6 before you get to your hotel (assuming you're staying in Kaanapali or thereabouts). Since it will be rush hour, you're likely to run into traffic jams in the various resort areas. So just bear with it and try to get checked in to your hotel or condo. Then you can start relaxing and enjoying Maui. Have a dip in the ocean and watch the sunset-- you've earned it after the ordeal of flying!

And once you are rested, definitely <i>do</i> drive the Kahekili &quot;Highway.&quot; The scenery is truly spectacular, and it's an <i>undeveloped</i> slice of Old Hawaii right there in traffic-jammed Maui. Many tourist-oriented maps show this road as unpaved (or they don't show it at all). But it's indeed paved all the way through, although in places it's so narrow that if you encounter another car coming in the opposite direction (or, worse, an SUV) one of you will have to back up to the nearest turnout. Just drive slowly and carefully and there will be no problem at all. Perhaps you could do it after your trip to Hana, which will give you all the practice with winding narrow roads and one-lane bridges you'll need for Kahekili.