Well, we are back from our New Year's Trip to Maui, and it was an experience, to say the least. This was our second trip to Maui and our 4th to Hawaii. On all previous trips, the weather had been perfect, so I guess we were due for some less-than-perfect, but unfortunately, it rained the whole time except for 1 day.
We flew on American Airlines from Tulsa to DFW then to Honolulu and then on to Maui on the crazy Hawaiian Airlines interisland flight--what chaos, but it saved me $300 per person over flying directly to Maui. With 4 people, that's a lot. All connections went fine, but when we arrived in Maui, we had a big surprise--no luggage.
It seems our luggage decided to take its own vacation and went to Los Angeles instead. We got it the next day.
We stayed at Kula Lodge on the slopes of Haleakala the first 3 nights. This is a small lodge with 5 "chalets". Ours had a big downstairs with a queen bed and a loft with 2 twin beds. Very comfortable, but as previously noted on this board, it is very noisy due to traffic sounds. I think this was somewhat less for us due to the bad weather with fewer people going up to see the sunrise, but still noisy. Also no tv in rooms which usually is a good thing. We had planned to hike a lot, but with it raining buckets, we stayed in more than usual, and it would have been nice to have more to do than read.
The restaurant at the lodge is very good, especially breakfast. One word about this though--we arrived at 8:30 the first night (late due to our luggage being lost) with no dinner. The hours listed on the lodge's brochure list the dining room being open till 9:00. So we went to get supper immediately and were told that the restaurant was closed (even though there were lots of people eating still). When my husband asked if they could recommend where to go, the manager said, "No, that's not my problem". We would have been happy with soup. Fortunately, we had been to Maui before, and I remembered that there were some restaurants in Makawao.
So we drove back down the mountain and ate at Casanova Italian--a great place with delicious food and good service--we actually ate there 2 nights.
We did have one fairly nice day on the mountain and were able to do the big hike from the top down to the road--a killer on the feet at the end due to a very long ascent but good scenery.
We also visited the botanical garden in Kula--absolutely beautiful flowers and plants.
The rest of our trip we stayed at the Fairmont Kea Lani. This is a big, elegant resort hotel--expensive--but they don't nickle and dime you like a lot of resorts--no extra parking fee, well-equipped exercise room is free, towels at the pool (boys went swimming in the rain) are included. Food is way expensive, but they have a really good deli (Cafe Ciao) which is somewhat more reasonable. Everyone was very nice and helpful.
My only complaint (and since it rained the whole time anyway, it turned out not to be so bad) was that we had reserved an ocean view room. When we arrived, they informed us they didn't have any ocean view rooms--even though I had my reservation confirmation with this written on it--and couldn't get us one till 1/2 (the last 2 nights). We got a garden view instead and it was a very nice suite, but I think this shows poor management--obviously they were counting on no-shows and overbooking or someone just screwed up. But it did save us $250 per night, and there was no view anyway due to bad weather, so I shouldn't complain.

Aloha RachelG,

Thanks for the nice trip report... sounds like you weren't alone in your water-logged travel to the islands... after reading a few other reports.

Glad yOu had a good time despite the weather!

Much aloha!!

It was a one-time-in-ten years kind of winter storm we just had, and it lasted three days. Your report is a lovely example of grace under pressure. Thanks for the hotel reviews, and I look forward to Casanovas! Makawao no ka oi.

But would you return? I felt bad, my cousin was here from Sunnyvale and saw NO sun. She still maintained that it was warmer than where she came from, so she's already planning to be here next year at the same time!

I agree with kalena, it was a fluke....in fact, I remember the last time it was this bad, I was just out of college so it could be longer than 10 years ago!

we spent a week in Maui in March,2000 and had nonstop rain as well. saw the aquarium in the rain, hana in the rain, etc. it was our boys' first trip to maui but fortunately not their first to Hawaii. The second week on the big island was just as bad weather=wise but they did get 3 days of partly cloudy.

Fortunately I had been to Hawaii before and knew that this rain was really a fluke--if it had been my first visit, I would have really been down. I intend to return in the future--and hope this doesn't happen again!

Husband and I were there Dec. 6-12th and it was cloudy or rainy half the days.. and rained mostly every night. Sure made the waterfalls on Road to Hana huge. But everything was so green! I will take a week on Maui with rain and no sun anyday ...over 2 1/2 feet of snow and 17 degrees like I have right now! We have 61 days and counting until we return to Maui for spring break!!!!

We were on Maui 11/2001 and we had a Kona storm that they said happened once every 10 years then. hmmm. We vowed never to go again at that time of year and haven't. We are going in March and are hoping for the best.

The Maui Kona Storm of 2001 only lasted one night and one day (Nov 27). However it was one hell of a day - a torrential downpour that flooded roads, golf courses, resorts, everything. Unlike the recent streak of bad Maui weather, the weather before and after the Kona storm was quite good.

Rachel, it was a good summary and hope your next trip is better. We are going in early July and have a girl (9) - typical girl, loves Jaw's and sharks but sometimes gets afraid of ocean water (go figure!). Have boy (11) who loves the water and will stay for hours. Pretty typical kids and they like hiking, etc. Tried snorkling once in Disney World at Lagoon couple of years ago but water got in mask and they gave up (plus there was fish in tank) but we hope to try again. Do you have recommendations on where to go? Plans so far are submarine, ocean center, not sure on Haleakala (too risky to take them on bikes). Any reader comments on what to do with kids is appreciated.

Hi, Debbie,
With your kids, I would definitely do the aqaurium. There is a sugar museum which my boys really enjoyed when they were about that age--tells you how sugar cane is grown and processed and is really pretty interesting.
The pineapple plantation is also fun for kids. Even though most people don't think of taking their kids to botanical gardens, I have found that my boys love them--they can run around outside and the plants are really interesting. Kula Gardens is beautiful and they have a pair of nenes (a bird that is endangered--looks like a type of duck to me).
Of course, they will want to spend lots of time in the water--try to stay at a hotel where the beach is swimmable. My boys can play in the water for hours while I read a book which is great.
As far as hiking, my favorite small trail is Hosmer Grove, right at the entrance to Haleakala NP. It is filled with lots of beautiful and very aromatic trees. You definitely need to go to the top of Haleakala and look around. It is very cold and windy so take appropriate clothing. If your kids are good hikers, you should do at least a part of the sliding sands trail because it is so unique--like hiking on the moon. But you definitely need to take plenty of water and wear layered clothing.
As far as riding the bikes down Heleakala, my opinion (and this is just mine before I get attacked) is that it is too dangerous. You are biking down a steep, curvy highway that has quite a lot of traffic. I personally know 2 people who have been seriously injured doing this--one with a dislocated shoulder and another with a broken arm. We asked the ranger his opinion--he said someone gets hurt almost every day. The park service does not run or control this concession--it is private companies. It may be a moot point anyway as I think the minimum age to do this is 12.
Another thing I have mixed feelings about is going to Hana--it is very beautiful, but it is very curvy and congested on the highway. Both times we have done it, our oldest has gotten carsick, so with the heavy rains, we didn't even consider it this time.

Hope this helps--and hope you have good weather.

It's amazing what a difference a few days can make. We were on Maui from Dec. 19th - 29th and the weather was decent. It was good enough weather to get a nice tan. It didn't rain during the day and I think it rained one night while we were sleeping.