Married In Maui

Maui is full of amazing things to see and places to go. We waltzed in Lahiana town at all of the shops and galleries. They were really fun and full of authentic items from Hawaii. We bought some art that was painted by a native Hawaiian and enjoyed the harbor before a sunset cruise.

Don't miss the Old Lahaina Luau, the best on the island, for a neat look at the island's heritage.

Drive up and ride bikes down Haaleakala, which was absolutely AMAZING! Don't miss this, you'll be sorry--but dress warmly and in layers as it is COLD at the top and HOT at the bottom. Along the bike route are huge pinaeapple plantations, some too large to imagine, and great old churches. The best outfitter is Maui Downhill, they get the best reviews and have the best equipment.

The best thing to see on Maui is the sunset. It is gorgeous, free and too wonderful to miss. You also won't want to forget it so don't forget your camera!

Quick Tips:

Ask for upgrades AT the hotel,in addition to through the travel agent. Tell the hotel that you are there to be married or on your honeymoon. They love the romaticism of the event just as much as you do, but beware lots of people are in the same boat and it will only be given if it is available.

If you can afford it rent a Jeep. It is well worth the extra cash. Trust me valet parking may seem like a pointless expense, but it is totally worth the absence of the hassle for you.

DON'T OVERPACK. A few great and dressy items are needed for dinner, and the rest of the time it is beachwear or shorts and tank top/t-shirt. Nothing is worse than walking through a non-air-conditioned airport draggin' too many clothes!

Best Way To Get Around:

Don't even think about not renting a car. This would be the biggest mistake you could make. You will want to leave your resort, no matter if you think so or not.

This hotel is rated by Travel & Leisure Magazine as the #1 Best Value Hotel in Hawaii and one of the world's Best Places to Stay by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler Magazine. It is a truly HAWAIIAN hotel. If this is what it means to be Hawaiian, I want to call it home.

The people were amazing, they knew our entire family's names, they each knew what day my wedding was taking place and always made a point to greet me and to care about my responses. The accomodations were wonderful in the Moloka'i wing. This wing doesn't have an elevator, but it is worth the walk up to have the rooms in this wing. We had a balcony that overlooked the garden and ocean. There were huge shutters that closed in addition to the slider and we could let the breeze and the ocean sound in, but remain secluded in our room. Which is certainly important for this occasion. There was a big bathroom with a large shower. There was no tub but, with the ocean right out the door, who needs a tub? Each of the rooms in this wing has a ceiling fan which was a great feature. We only used the air-conditioning during the day, and left the doors open all night with the fan running.

Upon our arrival we received a wedding/honeymoon tray (champagne and treats) and were very pleased with the staff and accomodations. There is valet parking,as with many hotels in Maui, and they were always very prompt at bringing the car and having it ready on time when we asked for it in advance.

This is truly a wonderful hotel and they strive for personal service. I think they accomplish it. You can view their website at www.kbhmaui.com. Mahalo!

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This was our after wedding celebration spot! We "dropped" in, which is not recommended, but we didn't know where we were going. The grounds and view were amazing and were a proper pre-cursor to the dinner. We went all out, and had the bill to show for it, but it was unforgettable. The menu is extensive and lists tons of local fresh caught choices. The wine list is amazing and affordable. They actually perform weddings here and provide accomodations for receptions. The website is www.seawatchrestaurant.com. The waitstaff was incredible. I will continue to dine at the Seawatch when I am back in Maui.

There are so many things to see in Old Lahaina Town. Local artists maintain galleries here and sell their wares at reasonable prices. They will also ship things home for you so you don't have to pay sales tax. The shipping charges are minimal, and this also helps ensure that things get home in one piece, not your suitcase. There are also the traditional mass-produced items and large worldwide restaurant chains. There is a Hard Rock Cafe, so stop in and pick up a HRC Maui T-shirt for those people back home who didn't get to experience it with you.

A visit to Old Lahaina Town is a great idea if you are waiting for a sunset dinner cruise. However, don't cut yourself too short on time at the harbor. There are wonderful boats to see, and the harbor itself is neat. It feels old and the docks are still wood, not concrete like so many modern harbors. There are people all over the town and docks waiting to take your picture. They aren't as expensive as you'd think, and may be worth it to ensure that you get a picture worth saving and it won't be like the one that the guy standing behind you in line cut your head off in.

There is no better place to see a sunrise! It will be tough, but drag yourself out of bed in the morning and do it. It will be one of the best things about your trip. And besides, if you are from the mainland U.S., the time change makes you feel like it is lunchtime anyway!

The trip down provides neat stops and out-of-the-way lunch spots and sights. There is a cool church near the end of the route, Makawao Union. It is an old stone church that is super cool. The pineapple plantations are hard to believe. They are so large, you wonder how they can ever pick them. Did you know that pineapple heads only produce a fruit every two years. . .neat, huh? The beach will come at just the right time, so don't forget to pack or wear your swimsuit as your bottom layer so you can dive in at the end of your trip to cool off.

You'll get a neat certificate for completing the trip and they will stop for photos several times during the ride down.