stellaluna

Going to Maui in December. Never been. Can't wait! We are staying at Outrigger Wailea. Renting a car. Planning on doing morning snorkel to Molokini with Four Winds, taking the ferry from Lahaina over to Lanai and looking around on our own, going on a sunset horseback ride with Makena Stables.....we were all set to do the drive to Hana one of the days until my friend started talking about doing a helicopter tour instead. we are not in complete agreement about this. she feels that a whole day spent primarily in the car (Hana and back) is less appealing than a helicopter tour of the same area. i think i still feel the exact opposite.
all opinions about any of the above welcome!

JohnD

I vote for doing the Road to Hana by car, there is a guided audiotour available on CD and cassette on Maui. Also recommend "Maui Revealed" guidebook, available at Barnes & Noble Bookstores etc. We took the helicopter tour with Alex-Air in 2001, it is good but by doing it by car you get much more up close and personal to the rain-forest and strikingly different beach settings.
Favorite Maui activities:
1. Road to Hana (dinner at Mama's Fish House)
2. Sunrise at Haleakala
3. Whalewatch from Lahaina
Aloha!

dwenviro

I agree with John, though on our first trip to Maui we did the Helicoptor ride (with Blue) in the morning and then drove to Hana afterwards (and ate at Mama's Fish House)...a very busy day. Helicoptor ride will last 1 1/2 - 2 hours, while Hana will easily take all day.

BTW, Maui Revealed is an excellant book!

I guess it depends on if you want to get out of the car and explore while driving to Hana...that is the best part traveling there...as there is nothing really to do once in Hana...just make sure to pack a lunch or snacks as there are no restaurants along the way.

We stayed at the Outrigger last March - nice hotel for the value...did explore the other hotels nearby (Grand, Kea Lani)and had a delicious birthday dinner at Humuhumunukunukuapuaa at the Grand Wailea. You eat outside and can watch/feed the fish

I know you'll enjoy your snorkeling trip...that is the best thing I like to do when in Hawaii.
We've used Pride of Maui and Pacific Whale Foundation (both a bit crowded) and the catamaran Rainbow Chaser (was our favorite).

Other things we've done and really enjoyed were Warren & Annabel's Magic Show and eating at Moose McGillicuddy's in Lahaina.

Also did the Old Lahaina Luau - can be a bit expensive, but the restuarant next door (Aloha Mixed Plate)is pretty good, cheaper and serves most of the same food as the Luau.

Saw the Sunrise over Haleakala, but did not do the bikes (too scary). Probably would not do again. Same with the Helicoptor ride and Luau...did it once, not again.

Other restaurants we liked:
Kimo's for sunset dinner and drinks
Eric's Seafood Grotto - 4 Early birds

Enjoy your trip and hope you get to see some whales...they are wonderful to watch! Since you didn't say how long you'd be on Maui...not sure if you can do everything that's been mentioned and you probably shouldn't...sometimes the best part of Hawaii is the time to relax and just enjoy the sunsets with some quiet time.

stellaluna

thanks JohnD and dwenviro for your responses/suggestions.
yes, i have the "Blue Bible" and have read it several times, highlighting and dog-earing page after page!
we will be at the Outrigger for 6 full days. i want to make sure that plenty of time is spent simply relaxing, but with all there is to do and see on Maui, want to make sure that we don't miss out too much either!
i would be happy just doing the snorkel tour and the horseback ride and the drive to Hana. the helicopter tour and visit to Lanai could wait til another time, but you know how it is when you are traveling with others: you must compromise!!

kikahead

We did the road to Hana last January and just be warned--if it hasn't rained a lot the waterfalls will be puny and/or dry. The Seven Sacred Pools looked more like the three cess pools--no waterfalls ran in between the pools and the water was stagnant. If Maui has had a good rainy season you should be okay.

Doug

I second kikahead's observation about the Road to Hana. My wife and I were somewhat disappointed when we were there in the middle of February because it was very, very dry. We were amazed looking at the photos in Maui Revealed....we didn't think we were looking at the same things.

And talk about poor timing, it deluged (about 5 inches) the day after we did the Road. Oh well....

stellaluna

kikahead and doug: interesting observation about rainfall vs the possible lack thereof. never considered this! i guess i figured the waterfalls performed on cue for all of us tourists!!

EmilySD

We drove part of the way to Hana, and had a great time. We stopped in a deli in Paia and got a box lunch for the drive then had breakfast on the beach in Hookipa and watched the windsurfers. We hiked a little bit to one waterfall, and climbed up the side of another to a swimming pool and a second waterfall and had lunch. After all that, we decided to just turn back for home. Some of the pull-outs already had cars taking up all the parking spots, so you just have to keep driving on. We had a wonderful day, without taking the entire day. You may consider renting a convertible, too.

Happy planning & Have a great vacation!