The Pacific Whale Foundation offers free snorkeling instruction at Ulua Beach in South Maui two mornings a week. Also consider Black Rock in West Maui and Honolua Bay or Kapalua Bay further up the west coast. Other more advanced snorkelers can offer other suggestions I'm sure. Our trip to Lanai with Trilogy Tours was just not that impressive - no instruction, rough murky waters, and a ROUGH ride back. My daughter did not have that great of a time. All in all, I'd say that offshore snorkeling is just as good, or better, than the expensive
time-consuming tours.

Canoes is in Lahaina at the north end of Front Street, but they also own a restaurant with a similar menu and similar twilight specials in Wailea/Kihei called Five Palms. Canoes has the killer 25 foot salad bar, though, that Five Palms does not have. On the other hand, Five Palms is beach front. Both have lanai dining with great sunset view.

25 foot salad bar! wow, my mom would love that..lol But Since we're in Kihei Five Palms sounds like it may be a good choice for dinner our first night, after all I think we may be too pooped to go grocery shopping that day.

Thanks!