Lahaina or Kapalua in March
 

We are two families with teenage girls. We are looking at two townhome type places one Lahaina and one in Kapalua. We will have a rental car and plan on picking a beach each day to visit. We are concerned about possible rain in Kapalua in March. Will it make much difference? It's our first time visiting. Which place would be better to stay?

Full disclosure: I've been to both areas, but don't consider myself and expert on them.

That said, I'd probably pick Lahaina because of its location. The town itself has enough shops, etc., to keep teens busy for a while, and you'll generally have easier access to other popular spots on Maui, other than the road to Hana. You'd be closer to it in Kapalua, but not so much closer that it would make a real difference -- if, in fact, the R-to-H is in your plans.

I think it would depend where in Lahaina. I would pick Kapalua, but I am old.

As Michelle opined, it may depend on where in Lahaina since all the hotels & condos along Ka'anapali Beach have a Lahaina address. Regardless though, you're likely to get more rain & wind in Kapalua in March than you are in Lahaina/Ka'anapali Beach. But I wouldn't necessarily let that be the deciding factor. From Kahana north to Kapalua is our favorite area of Maui to stay.

Vincenzo, Kapalua might be closer than Lahaina to Road to Hana, but I'd never recommend that route (hwy 340), especially at a time of year when weather is iffy.

I have only been to Lahaina. I loved it, and appreciated having an interesting town to walk around in (without having to get in the rental car every time). I'm guessing teenagers would enjoy it too.

The area in Lahaina where they have a townhouse for rent is Puamana Resort which is about 5 minutes south of the Pier.

With teenagers I would go with Lahaina for sure.

Face: >>Vincenzo, Kapalua might be closer than Lahaina to Road to Hana, but I'd never recommend that route (hwy 340), especially at a time of year when weather is iffy.<<

I'm not crazy about it, either, and I know a lot of people who wouldn't do the R-to-H then. But to each his own when it comes to the R-to-H.

I don't recall there being much of a beach there, if that's important, and it's probably about a mile from there to the part of downtown that will interest you and the girls. Safety shouldn't be an issue if you want to walk it, but heat might. ((#))

>>But to each his own when it comes to the R-to-H.<<

Oh I agree, Vincenzo, and am not crazy about RtoH myself. But it's hwy 340 from Kapalua to Kahului that I'm advising against. Very narrow, sometimes one-lane, cliff-side roads with no guard rails... Scares the bejeezus outta me.

Face: Been there. The odd thing is that (honest) some people think that's the coolest part of the R-to-H.

But not really the Road to Hana, is it? Gets you to Kahului and thence to 36, but not considered the route at all. However, there's often banana bread to buy, and the views are great, even though it may take longer in the long run.

Technically, it's the road to the road to Hana. But they might consider changing the name to the Banana Bread Route.