I have read on this board about all the wonderful things to do in both Maui and Kauai. I will be visiting both islands in July 2005 and would like to know things to avoid. Thanks so much for your input.

Avoid beached monk seals or pay a hefty fine....they beach themselves on purpose so stay clear! Have fun!

When I'm on Kauai, I always try to avoid going home.

Avoid matching aloha wear from places like Hilo Hattie's.

The Oki Diner in Lihue! amp;

Riptides, murky water, and on the West End of Maui in a valley past Kapalua...the yokals yelling buds....maui wowie??????////cowie wowie!!!

The Ahi sandwich at Lahaina Coolers restaurant.

Avoid Lahaina entirely unless you enjoy tacky tourist traps.

The bellstone and the poor town north of kapalua that gets inundated with tourists looking for Auntie's banana bread mentioned in Maui Revealed

Sharks !!

SUNBURN!!! And having to return home, as some wit above, mentioned...

Avoid thinking you can buy a well-made tourist T-shirt on Maui, as there aren't any, only cheaply made ones!

Avoid buying expensive Kona coffee in Hilo Hattie's, I bought a bag for $20 and it's just okay. I brought back some free coffee from our searanch cottage at the Hotel Hana maui, it's a "Maui" coffee blend, and it's superb gourmet coffee, nice dark oily-looking beans, the best!

Avoid ordering the overly rich banana and macadamia dessert at Mama's Fish House, it gave us both heartburn although it was delicious. The entrees are great though.

Avoid showing up at Mama's Fish House without a reservation...we arrived with a reservation and got a great table, the couple in front of us who didn't have a reservation had to sit at the bar with no view.

Avoid Kaanapali unless you like over-built, overcrowded places with lots of concrete spoiling your beach...

Avoid doing Hana as a day-tour, you should spend a night or 2 instead. Much better.

Sharks? Am I going to get bit or lose a limb while snorkeling?

Just kidding, but I'm serious.

Budman, definitely keep your eyes open for sharks!!!

Does your name refer to beer?

With apologies to Melissa5 there are very well made t-shirts available for purchase on Maui. Crazy Shirts, which has flourished since 1964, makes high quality t-shirts with imaginative artwork and dyes. It has retail locations throughout the Hawaiian Islands and several on the mainland. Also sells through catalog and internet. I own a dozen or so of their [former] shirts.

I AVOIDED buying a T-shirt at Crazy Shirts because they didn't have a wide selection of styles and didn't have my size, although it's true they were better quality than at other shops.

Melissa5's point about the limited avaialable of quality t-shirts is a good point. MOST t-shirst are low quality and high price. There is a void in the market for good quality t-shirts waiting to be filled by someone.

avoid turning your back to the ocean...it will knock you down and suck you out....back to riptides! Many disagree, but although I feel the need to spend an hour or two in Lahainous tops, I never return to Cheeseburger in Paradise....David Pauls is worth adding a couple of hours of good ole tourism..JMHO

With more apologies, Melissa5's stated "point" was there aren't "ANY" well-made t-shirts for sale on Maui, not there was "limited availability" of them. We receive several catalogs each year from Crazy Shirts, offering a large variety of designs and sizes of very well made t-shirts. They also maintain at least six retail shops on Maui. The business started in one Oahu location in 1964. It now has about 40 locations, as far away as Key West, FL and Guam. Looks like it's satisfying a demand. I recommend them as an alternative to cheaply made t-shirts.

I share her opinion of Ka`anapali.

Avoid hyperbole.

Who is Hyperbole ?