Magnificent Maui

Two of the more memorable things we had done while there were to take a helicopter tour of the island and a small plane trip down over the Big Island and watch Kiluhea's lava flow to the sea. The scenery on the road to Hana was spectacular, and the black sand beaches at the end of that trip were certainly worth waiting for. And finally, for the kid in all of us, The Sugar Cane Train is a slice right out of history not to be missed.

Quick Tips:

Most travel guides will send you to very popular, (ie: expensive) destinations to check out, or restaurants. But what they won't tell you in detail is how much fun can be had exploring the 19th century whaling capital of the islands which, by the way, was founded by sailors from, and modeled after, New Bedford, MA. If you look around you can find a number of really inexpensive places to eat. The nightlife in Lahina is incredible also, any night of the week.

Best Way To Get Around:

To get around this marvelous island, a car is certainly necessary, but there are places where the only access is by foot. There are definitely no schedules to keep, and everything and everyone is so laid-back that the only beat you need follow is that of your own drummer.

We stayed in a Deluxe Studio that had a regular queen size bed and also a fold-away couch (max. occupancy four). Right in that room were sliding glass doors which led out to the lanai (our breakfast room if you will), and we could wake every morning to the sounds of the ocean and birds. That is why we chose a Deluxe Studio over a one bedroom. There was a full size kitchen, complete with a full size refrigerator and an apartment size stove - it was also fully equipped with small appliances, dishes, silverware, and glassware. The bathroom, with full tub and shower, also had a hair dryer. Laundry facilities were right on site. There was no air-conditioning, but honestly, you don't need it here. There is very little or no humidity, and the Trade Winds make it very pleasant. There was a ceiling fan over our bed however, but we never felt the need to turn it any higher than LOW.

This is one of the out-of-the-way places that we did find for our evening meal. It is located right in the heart of Lahaina, as are many other places we'd found, including Cheeseburger in Paradise and The Hard Rock Cafe. The friendly staff and delicious food quickly made this one of our favorites. The food was typically American fare (they make a great Prime Rib), and they have a full liquor licence. There are a few tables and chairs, but most seating is in booths ~ which can be either very romantic, or family oriented; service is very good.