Maui -Where should I propose?
 

Hi everyone, <BR>My girlfriend and I will be going to Maui in the next month. We will be staying on Kaanapali beach. I plan to propose to her on the first full day of the trip and would like to hear any suggestions for the proposal location, since I won't have an opportunity to scope things out by myself without arousing suspicion. <BR> <BR>I am thinking of a beautiful beach location...preferably more secluded. Does anyone have any ideas? If so, could you pinpoint the location? <BR> <BR>Thanks in advance for your assistance! <BR> <BR>Dan <BR> <BR>

Hi Dan <BR> <BR>My sentiments exactly. How Romantic! Maui is a perfect place to propose!!I was also thinking the beach. We went last year in October and we stayed on Kaanapali beach at the Aston Kaanapali Shores. I think right before sunset or early in the morning while the rainbows and the sun is shining. Do you have a oceanview room?

We stayed in Maui last summer and went to Kaanapali beach area to take family photos. It is so beautiful! The beach in front of your hotel would probably be ideal-as it is one of the better beach areas on that side of Maui. It was the best beach that I went to at least during my stay. Good luck and I hope it turns out even better than you imagine!!

Hey Dan- <BR> <BR>The beaches up in the Kaanapali area are generally more crowded. If you want a more isolated beach, I would suggest heading to Wailea (south of Kihea). <BR>Something else kinda fun, if you want to be totally alone, is go parasailing behind a boat. You'll be up in the air, with no one around to hear you. Just don't drop the ring. :)

Jan, Rebecca, and Caitlin- <BR>Thank you for your suggestions and support. <BR> <BR>Jan, I wish I had an oceanview room, but I ended up buying a much more expensive diamond than anticipated...taking some of the allocated Maui budget! We'll have to settle for a Garden View...oh well. I do like the idea of being able to just walk out of the hotel onto a beautiful beach area. So I think I may propose on Kaanapali beach at sunset. <BR> <BR>Caitlin, I like the creativity and seclusion of the parasailing idea, but I know my girlfriend well-enough to know that wouldn't be her 'ideal' proposal. Thanks for the suggestion though! <BR> <BR>Dan <BR>

Dan, <BR>It's obvious. <BR>You propose on your knees. <BR>Linda

Blue Pool in Hana early a.m. would be my choice although you can't beat a Maui sunset for romance. Just returned from a Big Island trip and saw a cute proposal at the Hilton Waikoloa. A couple was taking part in the Dolphin Encounter at the hotel and a young man proposed to his girlfriend by having one of the trainers attach the engagement ring to a plastic ring that the dolphins would catch. The trainer threw the ring out and the dolphin brought it to the woman. Pretty sweet. Lots of "aaahhhh's!"

Aloha Dan, you're the man. All the postings are great ideas, but one place that I think is tranquil and breathtaking is Mt Haleakala at sunrise. The only drawback would be a 2+ hour drive to the top (10,000 feet above the clouds). Its well worth the effort and has awesome views and out-of-this-world skyline. You could hike up a small lava-rock trail away from the groups of mountain bikers and propose to her as the sun rises. Its very cold at the top so pack jackets/jeans to fully enjoy the event. I too was proposed to in Maui and its an experience she'll never forget. FYI: If you mention ahead of time to the hotels its your honeymoon, they may upgrade your room for free, or offer a split of champagne and hawaiian chocolates (Aston properties do, check out their website). Good luck and enjoy your stay on Maui. Ü

Dan, even though you're staying in the Kaanapali area, I would suggest a proposal at or near the Four Seasons Resort Wailea. It is a beautiful resort, and many people even get married on the property. Make dinner reservations in advance and watch the sunset there - it is spectacular and was the most romantice time we had in Maui on our last trip there a few months ago. Or, if you didn't want to propose at "dinner", take a sunset walk along the path that goes from the Four Seasons over toward the Rennaissance, there are several lovely spots to stop, throw a blanket or towel on the ground (grass or beach) and watch the sun set beautifully over the water/beach. We stayed at Elua Village, some condos not too far from the Four Seasons and found that the grouds of our place (Elua) was one of the best places to watch the sun set. If you would like to check out what the sunset looks like from there, and what the grounds of the condo I was talking about, check out the pictures from our trip at http://photos.yahoo.com/haynesml and look at the Maui photo album. Have fun!

During a cool evening walk on the beach.

We went there last summer on our honeymoon. My suggestion is to buy the road to Hana tape and do it during this day trip. The tape will tell you exactly where to pull over and enjoy the nature. It has everything from rain forests to swimming under waterfalls. E-mail me if you need more details!!! [email protected]

Secluded beach? Go to Big Beach in South Maui. It's past Makena. It's quiet and doesn't get much rain. The sunset was beatiful there. The sun set right behind Kahoolawe. Want to see it? Here are a few pics we took. They are about 40k each (I hope this site allows URLs to be posted. If not, you won't see the links): http://www.orhspioneers.com/Images/B...South-Maui.jpg <BR>http://www.orhspioneers.com/Images/B...uth-Maui-1.jpg <BR>http://www.orhspioneers.com/Images/B...South-Maui.jpg <BR> <BR>It's a big enough beach to give you some privacy. Yet easy to get to. Pack a picnic dinner (or see if you can buy one at your hotel) with champagne and candles. You're all set! <BR>

I like the Big Beach idea. Even if you don't do it there, you should spend a few hours on the beach. <BR> <BR>Another spot, that is more secluded, on the coast past Hana is the so-called "seven sacred pools". This is a beautiful vastly open spot with an approximately 1000' drop to the ocean. I was there in late May and there were about 5 people scattered around the area. This was a very spiritual spot to me and is forever burnt into my memory, as are many from Hawaii. Congratulations on your up coming nuptials. How will you top Hawaii for your honeymoon? <BR>

If you want to make it a very special event, then go to Hana and propose there and book a room at the Hana resort for that evening. It's very expensive ($400 a night?), but you get a private sea cottage with your own jacuzzi out of the secluded deck. Absolutely beautiful resort with handmade quilts and tranquil setting. Most romantic place I've ever stayed.

In the Maui Revealed book they mention a service where you can have a romantic dinner for two right on the beach. Sunset would be an amazing time to propose. Good luck!

My husband proposed at the top of Haleakala. I am a beach devotee but this blew me away; standing atop this volcano that is large enough to fit Manhattan inside. I thought he was bending down to tie his shoe so I yelled at him to get away from the edge. Little did I know...and yes, it was 7am and I had the blanket from the hotel draped around me. Not a pretty picture but a moment I'll never forget.

Probably no location on Kaanapali Beach will be deserted of people at sunset. If you're an early bird, right after sunrise, the neighbor islands of Lanai and Molokai are beautifully lit in a reddish-golden hue, it is very quiet, and few if any people will be on the beach. Kaanapali Beach is at its widest near Black Rock, where the Sheraton is located. Right before that, the Kaanapali Beach Hotel has a wide beach backed by a huge lovely lawn area [think: buffer zone], usually no people, lots of plumeria trees in fragrant bloom, peace and quiet. <BR>A wonderful touch would be to arrange to have a special engagement lei delivered to the hotel to drape around her neck right before presenting the ring. This website: <BR> <BR>http://www.mauigoose.com/lei.htm <BR> <BR>has some beautiful lei photos online. Email and ask them what a traditional engagement lei would look like, choose a color and style, and they'll do the rest. <BR>A less secluded but wonderful location is out on the Lahaina seawall as the sun sets behind the island of Lanai. A few surfers will be catching the last waves, a few boats will be coming and going...it's quite beautiful and peaceful, and unforgettably Hawaiian. Walk to the end of the harbor, to your left as you face the water, then out on the very wide seawall. This is also a superb time and place for photos, so bring the camera. It might be cool if you have a videocam to set it on a tripod, frame her in the shot with the gorgeous background and very flattering sunset/sunrise lighting, then sit in the shot and propose on tape. <BR>We have photos of many Maui beaches on our website if the above suggestions aren't exactly "right": <BR>http://www.discoveringhawaii.com <BR>Good luck!

Just so you all know, Dan already got his answer. The information provided will have to be useful for the next romantic!