First trip to Maui

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

• Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
• Activities: Good
• Amenities: Fair
• Unit Satisfaction: Fair
• Family Friendliness: Very Good
• Service: Excellent

Kimo: Nice restaurant overlooking the water on the main drag in Lahaina. The food is very good. Very pretty as the sun sets over Lanai.

Cheeseburgers in Paradise: Everyone stops here for lunch. The food is just like at home except it costs more. Lots of cool stuff all over the walls.

Outback Steakhouse: Again, the same as at home except it costs about 30% more.

Hula Hula Cafe is no longer there. An equally good restaurant has taken its place. If you're using Maui Revealed as your tour book, see p. 251.

We didn't find a bad restaurant. All had lots of fish if you're inclined that way. Try something besides the Mahi-Mahi. While it's great, there are other fish on the menu that are equally good if not better. Expect to pay about $40-60 for two with one drink at most restaurants.

After Hana and the Seven Pools (swim there), the roads turn to gravel, but is still ok. After that it turns to a grossly patched road and is very bumpy, but still ok. While it's boring in this stretch, it's still better than returning on the same road you came on. Besides, it goes by the winery, which is nice. Stop and sample some wine - it's tasty. This description could go on and on about the trip, but it's been done to death in virtually all travel books. One addition: take your lunch with you and stop in Wianapanapa state park just before Hana. There's a great beach there as well as caves. Lots of picnic tables, too. The food in Hana is problematical. There is a nice general store for souvenirs.

You are seated with 300 of your closest friends, and if you get there early enough you can sit near the stage. This is a good thing. There are long tables with a waiter assigned to each table. She/He brings you free drinks (alcoholic or not). The food is served as a buffet and is very good. The ambience is better after the sun goes down.

The show is the star of the evening. It's a high energy show featuring scenes from various Polynesian cultures. It's very interesting. Is it authentic? Who knows! But it's fun. The entire production lasts no longer than three hours at the most which is just about right.

Also, they uncovered the roasted pig, climbed a palm tree, split a coconut, taught a hula dance to volunteers, and just generally had a good time. The show was written up in the Hawaiian Airlines magazine.

If you've never been to a luau, forget about 20 friends sitting around a circle eating. Go to one of the luaus in Maui and have a good time. It's just fun.

So they take off from Ma'alaea and take you out to Molokini which is a submerged volcano. Only the top of the volcano is still above water and even then only part of it. One side is totally submerged. This allows the boats to anchor in the middle or near the inside of the part remaining above water.

First you do the snorkeling for a while. Then you try the snuba. With snuba, you have a 20' air line connected to the boat. You can see much more since you're not relegated to the length of your snorkel.

If you are certified you can also scuba. Snuba does not require certification.

After an hour or so, you lift anchor and head for Turtle Town. If you see turtles, which we did, it's definitely worth it. The turtles are large (maybe 6' across). Don't miss it. Take a tour that goes to Turtle Town.