Maui newbie questions
Jun 28th, 2003, 07:32 PM
#1
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Maui newbie questions
Hello Folks, Hope to get all my answers on this vibrant community. We (4 of us) are travelling with 0 hawaii experience to Maui from 3-7th July. So will have simple questions for you:
1) None of us have done cycling in a long time(>=10 years). Is it worth to do the volcano sunrise downhill biking ? Will you suggest it or just take a van trip? What are the inexpensive companies for either? If we do the cycling, will the entire next day/evening be spoiled due to our jetlag and exhaustion?
2) All of us are pure veggies(no eggs , no fish, no meat!). Will we enjoy the food part of any Luau? I heard they dont have too much veggie cooked stuff (and since we are from India, cooked/fried food is our idea of a good dinner)
3) We have never snorkelled. Only 2 out of 4 of us know swimming. Will just renting snorkel gear and trying out different spots following what other people do, a good idea?
4) Would you suggest we drive the Hana road ourselves or leave it to
some tour company?
5) Any good veggie restaurants (Thai/Indian/Italian will do)
Thanks
Aakash
1) None of us have done cycling in a long time(>=10 years). Is it worth to do the volcano sunrise downhill biking ? Will you suggest it or just take a van trip? What are the inexpensive companies for either? If we do the cycling, will the entire next day/evening be spoiled due to our jetlag and exhaustion?
2) All of us are pure veggies(no eggs , no fish, no meat!). Will we enjoy the food part of any Luau? I heard they dont have too much veggie cooked stuff (and since we are from India, cooked/fried food is our idea of a good dinner)
3) We have never snorkelled. Only 2 out of 4 of us know swimming. Will just renting snorkel gear and trying out different spots following what other people do, a good idea?
4) Would you suggest we drive the Hana road ourselves or leave it to
some tour company?
5) Any good veggie restaurants (Thai/Indian/Italian will do)
Thanks
Aakash
Jun 28th, 2003, 09:14 PM
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Hi, well I'll try & get a thread going !
Re your #1, I'd say no. Many have said a morning drive on your own yields terrific views or even do a sunset drive up there, far fewer people.
For #2, really not sure tho' the great poi
would fit you OK, maybe some other salads on offer too.
#3 Again, I'm not an expert but if you're mostly non-swimmers etc I'd say don't do it ! Those pretty beaches can be hiding dangerous currents, undertows etc.Be very careful, people drown every year. Hopefully others here can point you at the known safer sites. Another possibility is with a guided trip off a boat i.e. someone to watch over you and who can supply buoyancy vests etc.
#4 Assuming you're arriving July 3 (evening) and departing July 7 (afternoon) a Hana trip will take most of a (precious) day so you must decide if you want to spend this amount of your time on it. If so, then the choice is a van or do it yourself. My wife & I did the van trip on our first visit in y2k, went with Ekahi Tours, did a good job. Of course driving yourselves will be more economical & it's no big deal, twisty road that gets a bit rough after Hana. In some ways driving around the west end of Maui from Kapalua to Wailuku is more exciting (road widths etc) tho' Hana drive is lovely (go early to beat van traffic).
#5. Can't help at all, sorry
Have a great trip and please post a report afterwards.
Paul
Re your #1, I'd say no. Many have said a morning drive on your own yields terrific views or even do a sunset drive up there, far fewer people.
For #2, really not sure tho' the great poi
would fit you OK, maybe some other salads on offer too.#3 Again, I'm not an expert but if you're mostly non-swimmers etc I'd say don't do it ! Those pretty beaches can be hiding dangerous currents, undertows etc.Be very careful, people drown every year. Hopefully others here can point you at the known safer sites. Another possibility is with a guided trip off a boat i.e. someone to watch over you and who can supply buoyancy vests etc.
#4 Assuming you're arriving July 3 (evening) and departing July 7 (afternoon) a Hana trip will take most of a (precious) day so you must decide if you want to spend this amount of your time on it. If so, then the choice is a van or do it yourself. My wife & I did the van trip on our first visit in y2k, went with Ekahi Tours, did a good job. Of course driving yourselves will be more economical & it's no big deal, twisty road that gets a bit rough after Hana. In some ways driving around the west end of Maui from Kapalua to Wailuku is more exciting (road widths etc) tho' Hana drive is lovely (go early to beat van traffic).
#5. Can't help at all, sorry
Have a great trip and please post a report afterwards.
Paul
Jun 29th, 2003, 07:22 AM
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3) if you can't swim, DON'T!
4) if you can book a decent group rate for all of you, go for the guided tour; if you can't, do it on your own but make sure to take a good guidebook like Maui Revealed or a touring CD.
5) can't think of any but there's a lot more diverse cuisine in Kahalui, the working city of Maui, rather than the resort locales; for example, even in the food courts of shopping centers in Kahalui, there's a variety of ethnic cuisines
Hope this helps!!!
4) if you can book a decent group rate for all of you, go for the guided tour; if you can't, do it on your own but make sure to take a good guidebook like Maui Revealed or a touring CD.
5) can't think of any but there's a lot more diverse cuisine in Kahalui, the working city of Maui, rather than the resort locales; for example, even in the food courts of shopping centers in Kahalui, there's a variety of ethnic cuisines
Hope this helps!!!
Jun 29th, 2003, 07:39 PM
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I don't know about finding vegan food at a luau in Hawaii--when we went there were some salads and fresh fruit. Luau's are a little pricey so you may want to see if there is one where you can see the show without paying for the dinner.
I would ask your hotel (or look in Maui Revealed) to see if there are any calm areas for beginner snorkelers. If the non swimmers wore a lifejacket (you can rent them) and stayed close to the shore I would say go for it! We took a non-swimmer snorkeing on a trip in the Philippines and we kept her close to the shore and stayed with her so she'd feel comfortable. It was VERY calm water (South China Sea) and I don't know if any of the water around Maui is that calm.
I would ask your hotel (or look in Maui Revealed) to see if there are any calm areas for beginner snorkelers. If the non swimmers wore a lifejacket (you can rent them) and stayed close to the shore I would say go for it! We took a non-swimmer snorkeing on a trip in the Philippines and we kept her close to the shore and stayed with her so she'd feel comfortable. It was VERY calm water (South China Sea) and I don't know if any of the water around Maui is that calm.
Jun 30th, 2003, 03:42 AM
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Response to Question #4: I believe the best way to experience the Road to Hana is by renting a convertible and go at your own pace with prior study of the aforementioned "Maui Revealed", and "CD" or cassette guided tour-widely available on Maui. Enjoy your stay in Paradise! 
