Maui
 

We are going to Maui in November. My wife and I have never been to Maui and was never in our radar and we decided we want to see it. Staying at the Fairmont Kea Lani or Four Seasons and arriving on a Sunday around dinner, Would 5 nights be sufficient for a first visit? we don't really hike or do water sports. we are resort creatures who probably rent a car and drive aimlessly around the area and hit the pool and beach. what do you guys think?

Four Seasons. Do as many days as you can afford.

Aim your car at upcountry and head to Makawao for a snoop around then aim it at Haliímaile General Store for some of Maui's most delicious eats.

thanks for that general store tip. love finding the local hangouts.

We've stayed in Wailea and Makena a gazillion times and have never noticed the cloud effect mentioned above. I wouldn't bother.

You will have a great time in the Wailea area. Five nights is definitely not too much time...would probably be too little for us, but we usually stay for 10 days or more and we snorkel almost every day. Ulua Beach, not far from where you are staying, has a great snorkeling area that is quite popular. We also like the Hailemaile General Store and Gannnon's, which is right in Wailea. There are several restaurants, casual and less so, in Kihei, and you will be near the Shops at Wailea, which has good retail options in addition to restaurants.

Consider a drive to the top of Haleakala. The views are great both along the way and at the top. Makena Beach (aka "Big Beach") is just a short drive away from where you are staying and is a nice place to view the sunset over Molokini and Lanai. If you go to Lahaina (which you should) a nice drive I discovered is continuing around the North side of the island (the road becomes quite narrow with some sharp blind curves but still easily passable) and there are some great places to stop and view and the area is quite undeveloped. Definitely a nice break from the more "touristy" areas. Continuing on that road will bring you back through Kahului.

thanks to all of you for taking the time to share your thoughts.

We've been flying to Hawaii from Chicago every winter for over 30 years, staying on each of the four major islands for two to four weeks. Now we stay South Maui for two months. It's a long flight, and your first day will be a bit of a blur as your body adjusts to the time change. (I wouldn't bother for a stay of less than a week.)

If you haven't visited Hawaii before, you may think Maui is more like resorts in other countries -- where you plop down at a single resort hotel or in a 'compound'. On Maui, you'll want a rental car for some DIY exploring. (Rent it NOW.) Drive up Haleakala: drive Road to Hana: see Iao Valley; drive up to Kapalua with a stop at Lahaina Town; do a luau; drive south past Makena to where the bare lava meets the blue sea. LOTS to see and do -- more than you can do in a week. DO NOT violate your rental car contract by driving 'over the top' between Kapalua and Wailuku on unimproved road -- as someone here has posted.)

Google "Maui Menu's". Consider Capische? at Hotel Wailea; Gannons above Wailea; Five Palms in the Mana Kai condo-tel, and Sarrento's -- both in South Kihei. If Willie K is performing at
Mulligan's on the Blue, go. (Not to mention all the restaurants in the posh Wailea hotels!)