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!

Gyppielou,

Haha, awesome, thanks! Maui LOVED me!

love
roxy

Thanks everyone, great list and very helpful.

yeah!!! Maui and Kauai LOVED me too!!! Both islands opened there arms and said Hey!!!

I am heading out for trip # 5 since 2001 so here are my top 10. It really depends on the individual - I don't go in for "tourist stuff". I have been to Hawaii 6 times and have never gone to a luau. That said:
Snorkel: Honolua area/Kihei(Kamaole III)
Eat local food: Saigon Cafe/Da Kitchen/Sansei for sushi/wei wei noodle house!
Shop for junk to bring home
Catch plenty of sunsets
Eat lots of fresh fruit
RELAX
Snoop around Paia and the upcounty art galleries
If this is your first trip go ahead and do sunrise on Haleakala/road to Hana or better yet be brave and drive around the west. Don't bother with boat trips for snorkeling.
Buy a grass mat at ABC and hang loose on the beach.

Anyone have any additions to this list?

Since I wrote my last post I've returned to Maui and have a few new items...

Found a GREAT snorkeling trip to Lanai. We took a tour with the Pacific Whale Foundation (they have amazing, uncrowded eco-tours) out to Lanai. The trip we took was called the "Lanai Wild Dolphin & Snorkel Eco-Adventure." We saw tons of dolphins (they swim right up to the boat and jump around in the water-- it was wonderful!). Then, we were the ONLY boat snorkeling off the coast of Lanai that day. What a change from super-crowded Molokini. It was great!

If you're staying at one of the resorts, check out the spa there. We stayed at the Hyatt and had lomi lomi style massages at Spa Moana. It was so relaxing!

I still think that the Road to Hana is a can't-miss activity. Be sure to stop at Waikamoi Ridge Trail (a gorgeous area that features a half-mile walk through trees, bamboo and ferns, with scenic overlooks) and Waianapanapa State Park (a beautiful beach with black lava rock along the shore).

Was only in Maui for a few days, but some of my favs:
- The Road to Hana is not necessarily a must in itself, but more so because of the abundance of sites along the way. Waterfalls, exploring at various colored sand beaches, snorkeling, etc.
- Pools at Oheo gulch and Pipwai Trail (4 mile rt hike, lead to 400ft Waimoku Falls)
- Snorkel cruise
- Haleakala
- Macadamia Nut pankakes at Gazebo oceanfront restaurant

Hike Hoapili Highway and beyond
Mountain Biking or hiking at Poli Poli Springs
Aloha Festival closing weekend in Hana
Halloween in Lahaina
Surfing the north shore
Surfing a south swell
Dinner at Chez Paul
Seeing Kealii Reichel perform with his halau
Catching Uncle Willie K at Hapa's
Floating on a cheap blow up raft at Baby Beach in Lahaina

In no particular order:

Seeing Kealii Reichel or/and Willie K.

Breakfast buffet at Renaissance Wailea

Easting Onion Rings with a Mai Tai at the Maui Onion, Renaissance Wailea

Eatings tons of fresh pineapple and papaya

Going to the upcountry (cowboy country) for lunch, and stopping at the winery

Doing the walk-way behind the Wailea resorts early in the morning, stopping for coffee along the way

Doing Haleakala sunrise, then having Eggs Benedict at Kula Lodge on the way down.

A table on the water at sunset at Lahaina Fish Company (reasonable & fun!)

Anyone else have suggestions?

This is not for everyone but here goes. Get up very early one morning and go out for a walk or a jog. See Maui when it is awakening with few if anyone else out, by yourself or with an SO. You will think you have paradise for yourselves, at least for a little while. :-)

ttt

Which Maui Kayak tour did turniton take? I have been looking for a kayak snorkel tour and and comparing????

We loved the helicopter tour over Haleakala and the Hana coast. It saved us a LOT of driving.

I do not like seafood, but Mama's Fish House was great! Our group mentioned to the waitress that I didn't like seafood - and she remarked that I certainly cleaned my plate. The food was awesome and the setting is lovely.

I also really enjoyed strolling around Lahaina - the galleries, and seeing that huge Banyan tree. In the basement of the courthouse is the old jail, which is now being used as an art gallery. Some pictures hang inside the jail cells.

We also really enjoyed Makena Beach - very pretty.

Regarding Kayak/Snorkel tour, I really feel it boils down to the guide. Pretty much all the tour companies provide the same equipment. I prefer a smaller group of about 6 kayaks. One time we had a guide who was adequate, but maybe was having an off day. Translation : I have furniture with more personality. Be sure to quiz the tour companies on your kayak route and where the stops will be.

Driving up Haleakala anytime of day. Smelling the eucalyptus as you travel through Kula. Looking down at the coastline between West and South Maui, the surreal quiet surroundings as you almost reach the top!

The lush beauty of the Iao Valley - the streams and the history behind "the Needle".

The drive up the coast of West Maui. How weirdly purple the dirt at the side of the road gets when you get to the one lane parts of the road.

The Kahului swap meet.

Walking the beach path in the Wailea area - seeing other islands in the distance, stopping for a coffee at the pathside stand by the Outrigger.

Frolicking in the Grand Wailea pools!

Wailea Nights at Mulligan's. The setting, the music, the food. Ahhhh...

Going to the "real" places in Kahului - the bakery, the laundromat, the Fabric Mart, the lumberyard.

Watching the windsurfers from the beach near Mama's Fish House and then going in for a cocktail.

Sitting on any of the beaches - especially the South Maui ones.

Enjoyed Old Lahaina Luau and shopping in Lahaina the first time - but been there, done that now.

Love that banyan tree in Lahaina still.

Oops! I had more than 15 items in my shopping cart. Better stop now. Ya got me daydreamin'!

We loved snorkeling in Honolua Bay.

Our Divers loved diving with Ed Robinson's company.

Our small children & our older folk loved the Atlantis Sub.

Loved the Banyan tree in Lahaina.

Loved the pineapple.

Loved swimming in the condo's pool that overlooked the ocean.

Loved the little geckos in our condo.

Loved Hana and the road.

Loved Mama's Fish House.

I want to go back!!!!!

OK! Here goes from a 2 time a year (at least) return Maui traveler from 1959. Molokini...never went there as our daughter, a PADI diver, took folks there daily from Lahaina during a summer stay and said the best thing they could do was be sure not to get sea sick! November is windy and heading into Hawaii winter which= WIND and roug seas.
Kaanapali to Kapalua and the Ritz Carlton are horrible in the winter..wind wise.
we always head to the beach at the Prince hotel at Wailea for the BEST snorkling in Maui unless you head further south to Makena beaches. The turtles LOVE the area (don't touch them- you can be arrested) and the fish are happy happy...unless it's windy and rough. Snorkle in the morning. The wind is up by noon...guaranteed.
If you really want to see a volcano close up, do the helicopter thing. Expensive, but not something you will do on a regular basis and you learn so much more than driving all over the place!
Then you can decide at a later date if a pre dawn winding ride up the crater is worth it.
The drive from the west side over the north of Maui is spectacular. It's narrow but safe if you cool it.
And ****** when you land in Kahalui head for Costco (if you have a card..or sign up for one!) and shop for provisions...tan lotion, drinks, snacks, breakfast goodies, etc..and their books are great for beach reading, not to mention Hawaiian subjects for collecting and gifts.,,flowers and leis are a bargain! Grab a pizza or hot dog on the way out! Better than airplane food!! Down the road, all the markets you need for other stuff. Empty the hotel refrigerator for overpriced drinks and snacks and throw in your own goodies.
By the way..at the airport are at least a dozen "tourist blab magazines" for free at the luggage claim. Grab a bunch and plan your stay+tear out coupons.!
Head to HIlo Hatties for great Hawaiian clothes and gift selections (and look for their coupon!)
AlOHA