All comments, advice and opinions re: the following loose schedule for our June trip would be highly appreciated. Please also note that my husband and I will be traveling with our 14-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son.

Day 1:
Arrive at 8:30 p.m.; drive down to Wailea & check in to Fairmont Kea Lani; have a drink and head to bed

Day 2:
Morning - Snorkel and explore So. Maui beaches
Afternoon - Relax at hotel pools; visit shops in Wailea; walk beachside path
Evening - Sunset dinner at Nick's Fishmarket

Day 3:
Morning - Snorkel So. Maui beaches
Afternoon - Explore Central Maui (Ia'o Valley, Pai'ia, etc.)
Evening - Sunset at Mama's Fish House

Day 4:
Morning - Sunday brunch at Prince Court
Afternoon - Explore Upcountry; late lunch/early dinner at Kula Lodge? (or should we do later dinner there after sunset at Haleakala?); walk partly down Sliding Sands trail
Evening - Sunset/stargazing at Haleakala (The sunrise seemed too early for us with the kids, but hubby is also worried about navigating the road back down after dark.)

Day 5:
Morning - Explore Lahaina and West Maui; snorkel Honolua Bay and Black Rock; check out Kapalua and Ka'anapali Beaches
Afternoon/Evening - Lunch in West and head back to Kea Lani pools/Wailea beaches - OR - stay in West for sunset dinner at Pacific O's, Roy's or David Paul's - OR - potential luau/show. (Still trying to talk hubbie into this one. He has nixed the Old Lahaina Luau as being too expensive for the four of us since we've already been to a luau in Kauai, so I'm looking at the Hyatt Regency Drums of the Pacific luau as 2nd choice with teens being cheaper and kids free. Any comments on this are VERY welcome. 'Ulalena show might also be a possibility that night.)

Day 6:
All Day: Road to Hana - leave by 5 a.m.; have water, snacks and picnic lunch already packed; grab breakfast at Anthony's or Charley's in Pa'ia and be on road by 6:30/7 a.m.

Day 7:
Morning - Sleep in!
Afternoon - Spa Day for me; children's program for son; hotel pools for daughter and hubby
Evening - Dinner at Sarento's or Roy's

Day 8:
Morning - Check out of hotel; visit favorite spots or catch up on places missed in So. and West
Afternoon - MAYBE drive around Northwest head of island and check out blowhole, olivine pools (Hubby thinks this might be too much driving on the last day.)
Evening - Early dinner at Manana Garage and get to airport by 7 p.m. for 9:30 departure.

I am concerned that this may be too much driving time. (The family complained that I ran them ragged in Kauai two years ago; but I hate to miss Lahaina, Hana or Haleakala. I'm a sightseer, but they just want to hang out on the beaches, so I'm doing my best to compromise this time. I figure since we live in the SF Bay Area, we can go to the beach anytime - although snorkeling is definitely a special treat.)

We have decided not to do any boat trips this time around 'cause of cost and me & the little guy tending toward motion sickness (which might also be an issue on Hana Highway, hmmm?)

Also, maybe I've scheduled too many expensive restaurants for dinners and am worried about that adding up, but narrowing them down is tough. Hubby is, uh...frugal...yeah, that's it. I've already accomplished a minor miracle by nabbing the Kea Lani (booked the package right when tax refund came in and he was in a generous mood). With that in mind, any recommendations for cheap/simple/good breakfasts and lunches in Wailea?

Thank you, Oh Wise and Trusty Fodorites for your time and attention. Your previous posts alone have been invaluable. I AM THOROUGHLY EXCITED and Way Overdue for a Great Getaway. -- Shari

Sap, let me congratulate you on a really nice and relaxing plan. Not too much. The road to Hana yes may be alot of driving but if you stop often and get the tape that you can listen to on the way that narrates the drive, that may help.

Maybe on your last day ask for late check out or a day rate and just hang out by the pool. It's great for the kids to remember their last few days as just being with mom and dad in a great environment. We took our kids to I'oa and around the north shore and then another day to Wailea and Makena and they felt that was enough driving. You've got a great mix of lounging and siteseeing. Have a great vacation.

I stayed at the Kea Lani and also had a late flight. We checked out on time, but had the hotel store our luggage while we hung out on the beach. When we were ready to leave, they let use use a room to get showered and change. This may be a better option on your last day.

Inexpensive/less expensive places for lunch and dinner in and around Wailea: (1)In: Shops at Wailea-Tommy Bahama's and Cheeseburger, Mai Tais; (2) around, Kihei: Peggy Sue's, Alexander's Fish, Maui Tacos, Bada Bing and Stella Blues. You pack a lot into day 5. Suggest you stay out west all day. Plenty of modest priced restaurants in Lahaina, including Cheeseburger, BJ's Pizza, Hop Tomato Bistro, all on Front Street. Children will enjoy Front St., including Hard Rock and a bevy of kitsch and t-shirt emporiums. Nice string of "moderate" restaurants in Ka'anapali, including Kimo's, Leilani's, Hula Grill. Day 4: you will drive in the dark whether you view sunset (down) or sunrise (up) at Haleakala. Usually not a problem, as long as the weather cooperates. Hana Highway may be a problem if you suffer from motion sickness. Parts are perched drives with hairpin turns. Parts like driving through a canopy of trees-dark. Take the [motion sickness] drugs and go. It's real Hawaii almost frozen in time. Do buy and read Maui Revealed.

Charley's doesn't open until 7, so if you want to be on the road by 6:30 - 7, it will have to be Anthony's. They open at 5:30.

I think your itinerary sounds great! I would hate to leave out any of the sightseeing you have planned, and it doesn't sound like TOO much. There will be those who disagree, but my least favorite of those driving itineraries was the road to Hana. I ended up with a bored, nauseated little girl! I will not do this trip again until she's grown and then I'll spend a night in Hana to break it up. To me that trip is one of those "rites of passage" that everyone insists you do at least once when traveling to Maui BUT is lots of effort for the amount of pleasure you derive. If you get to the island and start feeling like you've planned too much, you can always go into flexible mode and chuck some of it out for another trip. Although you've listed some expensive restaurants they are also fabulous restaurants and I would hate to cross any of them off! My take on it is that trips like these are rare indeed and should be enjoyed to the FULLEST even if you have to torture a credit card or two. I'll save my money somewhere other than on my dream vacation to Hawaii! One of the other posters had some excellent inexpensive choices that you can alternate in with those pricey ones. You go, girl! You're my kind of traveler!!!

Oh, and just in case you didn't already know, you can make your frugal hubby happy by ordering between 5 and 5:30 at Mañana Garage and getting half off on all your entrées!

Suzie and srj9920: Relaxing at pool/beach the last day probably is a better idea. Maybe I will ask for a late check out.

hmmm and gone2maui: Thanks for all the cheap eats tips and other restaurant info. I bet my teen will love Front Street. I have already devoured Maui Revealed and plan to keep it clutched in my hand during much of the trip; reading pertinent passages out loud to my family until they hide it from me.

And Crazy4Hawaii: Thanks for your support. I'll play it by ear re: Hana and if I go I'll load up with ginger & Dramamine. I do wish I'd read MR and known about spending the night in Hana BEFORE I'd booked the package. Maybe next time.

Thank you all for your notes. I love reading everyone's trip reports (it's like a vicarious vacation) and promise to post one too upon return. -- Shari

We just returned from our stay at the Kea Lani- wonderful place for children. Not quite as elegant as Four Season's
but lots of room, more "barefoot elegance" then "posh". This was our second trip to Maui and we love the Wailea area. Cafe Ciao Deli is great stop for breakfast or pick up pinic fixing.
Nick's and Sarento's are both amazing places and great with kids. We liked Sarrento's just a bit better- right on the beach, bit more relaxed but can't
go wrong with either. They are the same owner so the menu is very similar but so wonderful. If you are trying to cut back a bit on fine dining might just select one. The snorkeling in Wailea is terrific, have been snorkeling both south and West Maui and would not go back to Black Rock although Kapulau and Honolua are nice- still think the snorkeling is better in South Maui (will cut driving time too) You can drive a bit down road from Kea Lani and find amazing snorkeling (Polo Beach right in front of hotel is good too- we saw turtles and eels). We really liked Po'olenalena Beach in front of the Makena Surf condos , you can drift south with current then get out at Chang's Beach and walk back if not up to swimming against current. The Fishbowl is also wonderful snorkeling for kids, huge variety of fish. The best investment we made was a shortie wet suit for our 8 year old, he lived in it for snorkeling and for boogie boarding. You might consider sailing with Paragon- we (and our 8 year old) love them. They really sail, they are terrific with kids and you can go to Lana'i for a day trip or
just mornings to Molokini. The wind does really pick up in the afternoon in the south so get out early if going snorkeling. Driving up to Pa'ia and to Haliimaile can be a one day trip. Mama's does lunch too. Since the airport luggage check in is such a mess if you have an evening flight might consider checking out of hotel- going to airport to check luggage then driving up to Pa'ia and then dinner at Mama's before gettng on plan. Lahaina is a zoo- parking is impossible but everyone should see it at least once. We found David Paul's a bit over rated- excellent food, so, so service, no view and very expensive. If in Lahaina for the day might drive up to Ka'anapali and have lunch or dinner at Hula Grill in Whalers's Village. Less expensive (but everything on Maui is expensive) and great view, plus you can then walk down the beach walk to check out the beach. Hope this was helpful-the Fodor's Forum has always been a great resource for me as was the Fodor's GuideBook but if you don't have a copy of Maui Revealed be sure to get one- we found it to very useful for maps and for less expensive dining options. Have a wonderful trip!

Your itinerary sounds great. Make sure to allow plenty of time when you are trying to drive places from the Wailea area. I was there last week and the traffic was bad at times -- not so much in Wailea, but on the highways leading to Lahaina and Kahului. Parking is a challenge in and around Lahaina.

I would recommend eating at Kula Lodge when you can take in the view. We had lunch there on a very clear day last week, and the view was stunning.

I stayed at the Kea Lani on a previous trip but visited last week. You will like it.