Maui Getaway

Everything is a highlight in Maui, but I'd say take a night out to go and walk around Lahaina for the shopping. There are some great art galleries to look at there, some great places where you can buy macadamia nuts to take home, some of the best restaurants and just a great place to go get souvenirs and gifts that aren't your typical crappy jewelry and postcards.

Quick Tips:

Check out the Banyan tree by the marina! It's gigantic! Also, if you're missing good old mainland burgers, go to "Cheeseburger in Paradise" on Front Street. More on that in "Restaurants".

Best Way To Get Around:

Renting a car is a good way to get around. Driving is easy in Maui. A cab is a good way to get around, too, but if you drive yourself you can go many more places.

The Westin Accomodations are great. The rooms aren't all that different from one another but the ocean view is slightly larger than the island view. The beds are exactly as they're tokened--"heavenly." These are NOT regular hotel room beds. The balcony is also nice to sit on, especially if you have a view of the pool of ocean. The staff is very personable. The grounds are amazing, definitely the best on Ka'anapali beach. There are a bunch of pools that flow into one another including an adults only (over 16) pool. The beach is also right there but can get crowded at times. The water is normally very pleasant but in the winter can get a bit bigger with the waves, which I love. There is a large waterfall in the lobby and fish and flamingos and large tropical birds. There are many restaurants within walking distance but the only one actually in the Westin is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and is very expensive.

Overall, I love the Westin. It's a great place to stay.

I'O's is without a doubt one of the best restaurants on Maui. Their menu is so diverse and is more of an Asian/Hawaiian fusion than just Asian. They've got the most amazing creations and we always save our most glamorous night out on Maui to go here. It's open-air dining and you can eat inside or out on the lanai. This past summer on the Fourth of July we ate outside and were able to see the fireworks. They've got anything from fish to pasta to steaks, all served in unique ways, so there's something for everyone, but I wouldn't recommend bringing very small children. This place is great with a family all above the ages of 10 or so and especially great for a dinner for two. Take your time here! It's worth it.

Absolutely amazing. This place and I'O are owned by the same people and chef, and his food is so exquisite - the best on the island, I'd say. Pacific'O has fresh fish, meats, pasta, something for everyone, and is the perfect atmosphere. The restaurant uses clean white colors and is very classy.

This place is great. The decor is funky and fun: surf memorabilia, license plates and just fun stuff. Looking at the walls is an experience in itself.

The restaurant is right on the water for some great views and the food is yummy. You can get a regular burger or go crazy and get one with all the MANY toppings.

They don't only have burgers on the menu either. There are other options such as fries, chicken and pasta, but the burger is the main attraction. This place is very upbeat and fun--a great place to take kids, but also a nice place to hang out in a hip environment at night. Very popular place so wait times may be long.

We hiked a trail in the Haleakala Mountains. The hike was marked "moderate" and it was pretty moderate, but this is coming from a lean female in her early 20s - it may be marked under "strenuous" for some people. It was even a little tough for me at times. The hike was so much fun - it took about 3 hours, and we drove to the spot where tourists can go to gingerly walk around, but we hopped a fence to start our hike and dive right into the "rainforest." We started walking and we were provided with a pack and water for everyone (there were only three in our group and I don't think they'd take more than five or six at a time).

As we went, our tour guide was very knowledgeable and gave us background and stories on Maui itself; he also pointed out things growing such as fruits and roots that we never would've known were there. We walked for a long while and some parts were easy, aside from the large roots to step over here and there, but as the hike got along, we started to sweat and there were inclines to climb. This hike takes you all the way up the mountain so you can stand at the top and see everything. It was a lot easier getting down from the mountain than going up, but we took a nice water break up top and the guides had snacks for us like chips and dried fruit.

We had a lot of fun and laughed a lot, but it is VERY "in the jungle" and outdoorsy, so if you're thinking you're just going to be walking through a park, you're mistaken - it's hiking, and at times the wildlife comes in on you close. There were times we had to hold onto ferns and trees around us to keep our footing, and the ferns did leave small cuts on our legs, but overall, it was so much fun, and definitely worth it. We were back for a relaxing day on the beach by noon after our 8am hike!

www.maui.net/~surfdog

I used them to take my first surfing lessons on Maui and it was great.

We met up with the instructor, who had our boards, and he taught us first on land how we were going to go about maneuvering, paddling, and standing on the board. Then we paddled out into the ocean, a small beach with small waves, perfect for beginners - there weren't many people there. The instructor did a good job in telling us when to paddle and when to stand on our first few tries, and they guarantee that you'll ride a wave at least once! And I did :) The instructor was VERY friendly and personable too. It wasn't that expensive, either, just $55 for a 2-hour beginner lesson.

Honolua Bay is a world-famous beach where surfing competitions are held yearly for men and women. The surf is far too rough for anyone but an expert surfer to swim in in the winter, but it's still a great sight to see. We went in the summer and the water was far more calm, but it really rips in the winter. To get there, you'd have to rent a car and ask your hotel concierge for directions, but you basically drive north and come to a road where you're driving upwards with the ocean on your left. Once you see the sign for Honolua Bay, you can pull over, but there's not a lot of parking, as the site is on its way up a big mountain. You can look down to Honolua Bay from a point or you can climb down the steps and go on the beach. It's a small beach, but SO beautiful and worth the trip, especially if you're a fan of surfing. I wouldn't recommend going farther past Honolua Bay though - the farther you drive, the harder it is to turn around and go back. The road is narrow and there's no place to turn.