Top 10 in Maui
 

I would be interested in hearing people's top ten activities to do on Maui. It would help us set some priorities for our week there in mid November. Thanks.

1. Snorkeling at Black Rock
2. Snorkeling at Molokini
3. Boogie boarding at Kannapali
4. Eating at Maui Tacos

I know that is only four--we were only there a week and we spent most of the time on Kanapali. Sorry for my horrid spelling of Hawaiian words!!

Snorkel at Ulua Beach
Drink Mai Tais
Watch torch lighting at Sheraton at dusk
Mai Tais at sunset on the Beach

Snorkeling at Molokini
Snorkeling the coves above Kaanapali (names?)
Breakfast at the Grand Wailea
Drinks at Hula Grill
Mexican place with view by Kihei (names?)
View at Cheeseburgers in Paradise
Just laying by the pool
Beachside massage
Whale watching
Shopping

Biking down Haleakala after sunrise

Sitting at a table in the "Barefoot Bar" at Hula Grill (right in the sand) and eating their calamari with guava ketchup! (best calamari we've ever had)

Dinner at Pacific'O in Lahaina

Snorkeling Molokini

Swimming in the ocean

Walking the streets of Lahaina before or after dinner

Playing golf in Kapalua

Dinner at Cascades at the Hyatt on Kaanapali

Soaking up the atmosphere at Cheeseburger in Paradise

Fresh pineapple, papaya, or mango for breakfast.

1. Kayak trip through La Perouse Bay (swim with spinner dolphins and turtles and snorkel the awesome coves Aquarium and Fishbowl, 120' visibility) with Maui Kayaks, they take only 8 people at a time...people who have done this and Molokini swear by this instead!

2. Stay a night or two in Hana at the end of yr trip to really explore.

3. Get up at 5am and snorkel snorkel snorkel as many South Maui places as you can when it's super calm and there's no one out then dry out on the soft golden sand and do it all again...Palauea and Po'olenalena were two of our favorites south of Wailea...don't worry, neither the air nor water temps are much cooler that early, the water was very warm

4. Olivine Pools, it's like God's waterpark

5. Shaved ice with coconut ice cream on the bottom...we went to Local Boy in Kihei, it was incredible

6. Take the Pipiwai Trail (across the street from the Seven Deadly Pools) two miles out to Waimoku Falls...it follows the stream the whole way so it's constant waterfall/pool swim opporunities, gorgeous, easy hike, and the 400' Waimoku Falls at the end is breathtaking

7. To me a wonderful meal at a great restaurant right on the beach is way more worth yr time and money than a cheesy luau...we sat right at the edge of the sand on Keawakapu beach at Sarento's and wouldn't have traded it for a second for a night at a goofy luau

8. I have to agree, that even though the "sand" you eat with yr feet in at Hula Grill is like kitty litter, having drinks at their bar was a lot of fun, terrific ambience there and delicious drinks...avoid the Lahaina area as much as you can though, it's a real tourist trap and kind of a let down after a wonderful tropical day

9. Have some kids teach you how to really catch the waves on a boogie board...we had so much fun and it was even more fun surrounded by little kids who got a kick out of US

10. Catch the sunset, every night, from the beach...we watched it a few times on Black Sand beach in Makena, backed by a huge black cliff and totally empty except for the little crabs and the sea turtles floating near the shore

love
roxy

In no particular order:
Whale watching
go to Haleakala to watch the sunrise
cream puffs at komoda bakery (in Makawao town, which you do after Haleakala)
Explore Makawao & Paia
Iao Needle
Road to Hana
Visit Tedeschi Winery
Check out Kula: Strawberries, onions, lavender, and protea

This is in addition to the assumption you'll be playing the tourist and checking out Kaanapali & Lahaina, and taking a nap in a beachside hammock at your hotel!

ToryMan: Snorkeling at Molokini.

Biking down Haleakala.

Eating a tuna melt (not a burger!) at Cheeseburger in Paradise in Lahaina.

Road to Hana with picnic on the way.

Swimming in the Seven Sacred Pools outisde Hana.

Hike down Sliding Sands Trail at Haleakala

Breakfast at Swan Court Hyatt, Kaanapali Beach

Warren & Annabelle's magic/comedy show

Snorkel Honolua Bay

Take America II tradewind sail

Maui:
1. Road to Hana (dinner at Mama's Fish House)
2. Sunrise at Haleakala
3. Whalewatch from Lahaina, (or snorkeling trip if summer) :S-

IN no particular order
Blue Pool (on the road to Hana)
Sunrise at Haleakala
Warren and Annabelles
Saturday market in Kahului
Sunset with a Mai Tai (anywhere)
Macadamia Nut pancakes with coconut syrup
Custard apples
Aloha!

Haleakala--if you can't make it for
sunrise, go anyway.
Mama's Fish House for dinner--not to be missed.
Lahaina
Lie by the ocean, or better yet, swim in it.
Lie by the ocean
Lie by the ocean, etc.

1. Swim under the waterfall at Twin Falls (on the Road to Hana). Amazing!!

2. Take a helicopter tour of the island. Hovering next to cascading waterfalls at the south end of the island was breathtaking.

3. Snorkeling. Skip Molokini (too crowded) and find an quieter spot. Several boat companies will take you out to Lanai to snorkel. I also thought the giant sea turtles you see along the way were much more impressive than the fish underwater. Keep your eyes open for them!

4. Hike in the Iao Valley. It's quiet, green, lush and a totally different experience than the west side of Maui.

5. Find a great beach and lie on it. After a windy, overcrowded day in Ka'anapali, we set out to find the "best beach" on the island. Kehei has some nice, uncrowded stretches. Head north toward Kapalua for very scenic spots.

6. Watch the sun set as you eat dinner on the patio at Io in Lahaina. Amazing food, great service, beautiful view.

7. Hang out in Whaler's Village in Ka'anapali. Do some shopping. Eat at Leilani's. Then, wander down the path along the beach and check out the nearby resorts.

8. Take a sunset cruise out of Lahaina. Watch the sun set over the water and admire the mountains of Maui. While waiting for your boat, hang out under the old Banyan Tree at the harbor in Lahaina.

9. Go to The Garden of Eden (on The Road to Hana). Wander through the lush and colorful gardens. Admire the sweeping view of the sea.

10. Eat fresh-cut pineapple bought from roadside stands. Warm. In paper bags. Magnificent!

... and a bonus #11...

Order a "Lava Flow" every chance you get. They are SO good!

Yeah! The Lava Flows are the best! I drank mostly virgin ones and man are they good!!!!

TroyMan

I would be interested in hearing more about you and what you're looking for on your trip. I'd also love for you to make a topic Top 10 in Maui to Miss. Then I could come up with answers.

Okay, so give me your top ten in Maui to miss list. That certainly could be helpful.

The #1 thing in Maui to miss is the Road to Hana. Extremely overated (although many disagree).

The #2 thing to miss is Hana (even more overated).

OK TroyMan, I'll bite. The whole point of my post was that, and please let the attacks on me begin...

but....

My least favorite uses of my valuable time and money on Maui, after many trips are...

And again, I am ready to be trashed over the coals, but these are things I have done firsthand, in no particular order.

Molokini - I enjoyed a previous post about a pee place...saw very few fish, just lots of tourists, waste of time and money.

Sunrise at Haleakala - sorry but leaving the hotel at 3am to see a bunch of tourists huddled under hotel blankets....I keep thinking I missed something as I always try to watch the sunrise when on vacation. I just didn't feel like it was a magical experience to devote such valuable time to.

Cheeseburger in Paradise, nice location but McDonals, which I don't eat is better. Only go for the TUNA MELT!!!!

IAO Needle...took me 4 trips to the island to finally get there, busloads of people for very little. Although, if you see this place in an emotional frame of mind - the bloodshed etc, then it has its merits. I'm just not convinced that most tourists get the significance of this place.

I will check back with more...

As far as the top 10, they are highly regarded secret places, sorry!

also TroyMan....


Turniton - roxy has the island thing down. I'd follow her advice to the letter!