Help with Maui lodging
 

We are planning our first trip to Hawaii. We will visit two islands: Maui for 5-6 nights and The Big Island for 5-6 nights. We will be celebrating our 25th anniversary when we begin our trip in Maui. I would like our accommodations here to be special. I do not want a big resort. I want to feel as if I'm in Hawaii, and not just a resort. So far, I have narrowed our search to the following places in Maui:

The Paia Inn
Mama's FIsh House Inn
The Hooilo House
The Makena Resort
The Royal Lahaina Resort

I prefer to at least have an ocean view, but would like to have beach access. I would also like the feel of a garden with a lanai or balcony.

I know the last two are resorts, but they are smaller. I have priced them all and can get rooms that are similar in price. We will be staying at this location for 3-4 nights and visiting much of Maui before we head to the Hana Highway and will stay in Hana for 2 nights then head to the airport for The Big Island.

In Hana, I am tentatively planning on staying at Hana Ocean front Cottages in the main house (cottage not available). Is this a good choice? Other recommendations?

Any information is appreciated. Thank you.

It's been years since we were there, but we loved the Makena Resort. Every room had a view of the water with private lania, the beach there was wonderful, and if you golf the golf course was absolutely gorgeous. We loved that the area was not busy (we moved up after a few days at the Hyatt). We loved the zen-like mood of the place.
http://mauiguidebook.com/beaches/mak...-beach-oneloa/

We always stay at the Royal Lahaina. While it may not be to everyone's liking, we enjoy the traditional feel and like being in Kaanapali. The tower rooms have been recently renovated and are quite nice. We always stay in one of the cottages even though they really need to be renovated.

I have looked at the accommodations at Mama's Fish House on line and they look really nice. But I don't know if I would want to stay in Paia. But that's just me. I do love to eat at Mama's though!

Thank you for the advice.

bettyk: I was just looking at reserving the ocean front cottage on The Royal Lahaina, and noticed others have mentioned about the mustiness of the room. What do you think? Newer tower room or older cottage?

Meant to mention, we love the grounds of the Royal Lahaina and you are right on the beach. If you plan to snorkel, the Royal Lahaina is right next to Black Rock.

This more moving around that I would prefer. While 10 nights is 'enough' for two of the smaller islands, it's very little to try to see both sides of the much larger Big Island. I count four lodgings and three interisland flights unless you're coming from the west coast. Each flight will eat up to half a day door to door.

Paia Inn is right ON the highway. (They provide 'white noise' machines.) Mama's cottages are cute. Either of these would give you a 'head start' on a single daytrip along RTH without staying overnight. You'd also be a bit close to Haleakala. Not great swimming beaches.

Staying in South Maui would put you on good snorkeling beaches. It's also a central location for touring the island. You'd add twenty minutes to your trips to Hana and Haleakala.

Makena Resort is being sold for timeshares or condos. (Don't know when you plan to visit.)

Royal Lahaina? Only in the tower. The cottages are headed for demolition whenever the the economy improves enough to build another tall elevator building in Kaanapali.

If you want to do these two islands, I'd plan a longer time in Hawaii, and I'd cut the number of moves. Think about flying into one side of Big Island and out of the opposite side; staying Kohala Coast and Volcano. Ten nights is about right for *just* Big Island.

Depending on your dates, I might suggest you scratch Maui, and combine the north shore of Kaua'i with the Big Island instead. Kauai's north shore is what most of us imagine Hawaii to be before set foot there. If you're set on Maui, and "want to feel as if" you're in Hawaii, consider Napili Kai Resort. Old school, low density "resort" set on one of the most beautiful beaches on the island. Whether you stay there or not, be sure to attend the weekly Slack Key Guitar show. More intimate than a luau, and you don't have to put up with bad food. :&

And I agree with ChiSue about too much moving around. If you're going to stay in more than one location on either island, it should be the Big Island, provided you want to see Volcano National Park. But maybe you don't. It took me a while to learn to say no to myself about doing things everyone else was recommending that didn't particularly interest me.

Thank you all for your suggestions. As of right now, our itinerary is as follows:

Fly into Maui
4 nights on either west of south side of Maui
2 nights in Hana
Fly to The Big Island
3 nights on the Hilo side
3 nights on the Kona side
Fly directly home from the Big island

I thought this was pretty doable, but no??? This is only one inter island traveling trip. I do want a true authentic Hawaiian feel to our trip, since this is our first time there. I thought I would get that at Maui, and especially in Hana??
While I realize we cannot do everything, I thought this was enough time to get a good overview without killing ourselves. Thoughts? Thank you in advance.

In our experience, outside of Honolulu/Waikiki, Maui is the most commercial and tourism driven of all the islands. For us that translates to less of an "authentic Hawaiian" experience. Which is one reason I suggested the lesser populated and commercial Kaua'i. Then there's that stunningly beautiful north shore, which you can access and enjoy without having to drive 620 curves and 59 bridges.

Is your itinerary doable? Sure! But besides losing precious time, changing lodging and islands every few nights somewhat limits your choices of accommodations, and potentially deters you from ever settling into "island time" which is when Hawai'i feels most "authentic".

"While I realize we cannot do everything...."

As I hinted at in my prior post, you may enjoy Hawai'i more when you realize you don't have to do ANYTHING.

Of course it is doable. I think many of the posters who are responding to you go to Hawaii often (including myself), and like to settle in one place and just relax and enjoy. I think it would be helpful for us if you let us know what you wanted to do when you were staying in each place you've indicated (allowing time for just vegging out--which is what gives you the true Hawaiian feel, IMHO.) For example, on the Big Island, you might decide that all you really want to see on the Hilo side is the volcano and three days there might be too much.

Very doable. Sounds like a great trip!

Oh Lordy, just when I thought I knew what I was doing, I'm confused again :) I'm second guessing myself now on our island choices.

I really, really, love anything that is natural and God made..I loathe touristy type places where I feel like I'm being drawn there just to shop and spend my money. This is why I chose Maui, because I really want to drive down The Hana Highway, and see all it's stops. And why I chose two nights in Hana just to "veg out". I also want to experience the beaches of Maui along the west and south sides, i.e., snorkel with the turtles, catamaran ride out to Molonki, etc. I want to see Haleakala at sunrise. And, I'm trying hard to find a place to stay where I don't feel as if I'm at any hotel/resort/condo just in any other city in Florida on the beach.

I chose the Big Island for all the same reasons...but mainly the plethora of waterfalls, and my husband wants to visit the volcano. I want to stay at the Volcano Villages Lodge and just enjoy the area.

BUT.....now I'm thinking I should switch to Kauai??? I will so disappointed if I get to Hawaii, and don't see the natural beauty of the what I have "envisioned" in my head :)

Sorry this is so long. I'm usually much better at planning trips, but I have found Hawaii to be very confusing.

We just returned from our first trip to Hawaii (two nights on Oahu and four nights on Maui), and your plan sounds good to me. I haven't written about it yet, but we went to Hana for the day, went snorkeling, etc. and had a great time.

Lee Ann

We love Maui and have been at least a half dozen times. Yes, there are lots of tourists, but it is stunningly beautiful and there are always places you can go where you won't see many people at all.

Also, there are lots of great restaurants, activities and places to snorkel.

There's a reason so many people go to Maui.

We were on a photo tour a couple years ago on Kaua'i, driving along the north shore. As we crossed a one-lane bridge, our guide asked if we knew why they'd built those bridges. Smart a** that I am, I replied, "So people can cross the stream." I was right of course, but the reason they were built with only one lane was primarily to curb development.

I'd presume the reasons for all those bridges on the Road to Hana are similar. But as for the rest of Maui.... We spent a week in Wailea earlier this month, and took walks most mornings, on the beach and/or the paved path along the shoreline. The continuous parade of others, going both directions, was a marked contrast to morning walks on Kauai's north shore beaches, where it wasn't unusual that we were the only ones on the beach.

Replies on this thread seem to evidence what I think is a different mindset between those who prefer Maui vs. Kaua'i vs. the Big Island, vs. O'ahu. No one opinion is better than the other, but the phrases you've used in describing your dream of Hawaii lead me to think Kaua'i would be the best fit. What resources have you used in making your decisions? Have you posted on other travel websites like TripAdvisor?

I think you should stick with your plan.

Everyone has their opinion, but part of the fun of traveling and planning travel is trusting in your research.

Spending a couple of nights in Hana would be a memorable part of your trip. I have spent lots of time in that area and can tell you that it is easily one of the most beautiful locations in all islands. Spending time there will allow you to do some exploring and see things the people over for the day will miss.

And BTW there are lots of us that prefer Kauai, Maui, the BI AND Oahu. For us it is not a "one or the other" decision.

My "mindset" allows me to see the good things in all the islands and to enjoy them all for what they are...different.

Have a great trip.

Are you coming from the west coast of the mainland and can fly direct into one island and home from another? WHEN?

If you want 'nature', and if you are NOT coming in winter, I'd suggest you stay a week in a condo on northern Kauai and three nights in Volcano on the Hilo side of Big Island.

ChiSue,

Kind-of funny you suggested this itinerary, because we have decided on something very similar. As of right now, we will:

Fly into Maui
6 nights at Maui Kai Condos (just do day trip to Hana)
Fly to Hilo
3 nights at The Volcano Village Lodges
3 nights at the Honu Kai B&B
Fly home from Kona

Trip will be July 13-25

How does this sound? Any experience with these lodgings? Thank you.

I think that's too much time on the Hilo side.

You'll get a better deal if you stay a full week in a condo. Maui Kai gets good reviews. Maybe scratch one night from Big Island?

Volcano Lodge is great; is that what you mean?

I don't know Honu Kai B&B. Where is it? Not Kona or south of Kona, I hope. Kohala Coast is out of the vog and has the beaches. I don't 'get' B&B's. One room, no kitchen or washer/dryer. I don't know about Big Island, but on Maui no B&B can serve hot food.

Glad you scratched the stay IN Hana. Hope you don't regret staying West Maui over the more convenient South Maui, since you want to do RTH, Haleakala and Iao Valley. Honokawai adds 40 minutes each way to each valley crossing, and it's only two-lane road between Maalaea and Lahaina. (Leave plenty of time to get to OGG on departure day.)

If ChiSue can say the she is "glad you scratched the stay IN Hana", then I can say that I think you are making a mistake not to follow your original plan and your gut and stay IN Hana.

The decision not to actually stay in Hana had more to do with making it back to the airport on time, since we had planned to leave from there and head to the airport for the Big Island.

The bed and breakfast I had hoped to stay at near Kona is now full so I'm looking for where to stay on the Kona side. Suggestions?

Thank you all for your input, and I hope I'm doing this right. I'm a little nervous.

IMHO, you are putting too much pressure on yourself. You're going to Hawaii for vacation and you will have a wonderful time, I'm sure.

A few years ago DH and I did a Maui and Big Island trip and we ended our Maui stay in Hana and drove back to the airport the day we were flying to the Big Island. As I recall, we left Hana after breakfast, had lunch in Paia at Mama's Fish House (much less expensive than dinner) and arrived at the airport in plenty of time for departure to Kona on an early/mid afternoon flight. So I'm just saying, depending on when your flight to Hilo departs, it would be possible to stay in Hana the night before you leave Maui.

We just returned from a 4 week trip to the Big Island (3 weeks in south Kona)and vog was not a problem and did not interfere with anything we wanted to do. In fact in our more than 20 trip to the BI, vog has not been a problem for us and we always stay in south Kona.

Here is a link to a place we stayed several years ago which we liked - great view of the coast and cooler because of the altitude--http://www.hawaii4two.com/

And here is another place we have stayed the last couple of years--it is a wonderful house and the estate is very private http://www.vrbo.com/343436
There is also a cottage on the same estate - with the same gorgeous view of the bay and the coast as the big house http://www.vrbo.com/141871

Some friends stayed at the Horizon Guest House last year and loved it http://www.horizonguesthouse.com/

Hope this has been helpful.

BTW-some of the best snorkeling on the BI is 5-10 minute drive away.

Like I have said, your original plane looked fine to me. Perhaps you were doing it right before you started asking questions. It wouldn't be the first time that has happened here. :)

On my first trip to Hawaii, with a small group (1980 - I was still single then), I zoomed around a lot, went on several half day tours, and saw lots of the recommended "tourist" things. So I learned a lot, quickly, about the islands, the culture, and what I preferred, and shared it with the others.
On several return trips since then, to all the islands, our pace is considerably slower, and we focus on what we want to do. But I still wouldn't change the way I did that first trip. I guess I caught enough of that magical Aloha spirit, that it keeps me coming back.... despite 12 hour plane rides!
I wish the same for you.

Thank you all for your suggestions and comments.

We are doing three islands in 14 days, so your original plan looked good to me also.