Maui on a Budget

Maui is called the Valley Isle. The West Maui Mountains are sometimes called the Yosemite of Hawaii. This lush island has it all. On the north side of the island is some of the best surfing anywhere. On the east side of the island is the best windsurfing area. Maui has the highest dormant volcano, great hiking, the quaint town of Lahaina for shopping and restaurants, great beaches, fabulous snorkeling beaches, the waterfalls along the road to Hana, the rugged North Road, upcountry, with its ranches and winery, whale-watching... I could go on and on. I think Maui is the best of all of the Hawaiian islands.

Quick Tips:

You can visit Maui on a budget without missing the beauty of this island. Stay in a one-bedroom beachfront condo for a night (off-season). There are trips you can take on your own without taking a tour: the road to Hana, Haleakala, North Road, snorkeling, Ioa Valley, even whale-watching without leaving your condo. Staying in a condo, you can eat a few meals in. There are restaurants you can eat in for or less. Save on airline tickets. Use a credit card that earns air miles and fly free.

Another way to save is Hawaiian’s vacation in Vegas, so Hawaiian Airlines runs specials to and from Vegas. Most airlines in the U.S. run great deals to Vegas. You might fly for less than a ticket, living on the East Coast. You might like to take a costly snorkeling trip or a helicopter ride, but you can go half-price if you go on a timeshare sales presentation, and it only takes 1½ hours. I did this and I got half-price on my helicopter ride, snorkeling trip, and a sunset cruise for only each. Boss Frogs, a surf shop, offers these deals.

Best Way To Get Around:

I would suggest renting a car if you plan on touring the island. If you stay at the big resorts in Kaanapali, they do provide bus service to and from the resort into the town of Lahaina.

Kahana Reef has oceanfront one-bedroom and studio condos. All units have excellent ocean views. Units are fully furnished with your typical Rotan furniture and king- or queen-size bed; a kitchen and washing facilities on the property. These units are NOT air-conditioned. Ceiling fans are supplied in the living area and bedrooms. You do receive a great cross breeze.

You will enjoy listening to the ocean as you sleep. The property is oceanfront (not beachfront), with a pool, grill, and manicured lawn. I think this condo has the best view for the famous Maui sunsets. You have a magnificent view of both Lanai and Molokai.

You are within walking distance of the Kahana Shopping Center. Shops, restaurants, convenience stores, and ATM machines are all available here.

One-bedroom units run $115 per night in the low season and $130 per night in the high season. Not a bad price for oceanfront condos. I use the real-estate company Chase’n Rainbows. If you are a repeat guest, you will receive a 10% discount. Look them up on the web at www.chasenrainbows.com or call at 800/367-6092.

Valley Isle offers one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and studio condos. Located in Kahana, this beachfront property has it all. All units have a full kitchen, living area, bedroom with either a king- or queen-size bed, and a washer and dryer in the unit. These units are NOT air-conditioned. Ceiling fans and fans are usually supplied. These units have oceanfront and oceanview units. The property has a nice pool area with grills supplied for the guest, manicured lawns, and a nice beach. You are within walking distance to Kahana Shopping Center. Right across the street is another small strip mall with shops, deli/bar, convenience store, and surf shop. I rented an oceanfront unit. I had a great view of Molokai. Depending on whether you have a corner unit and are on a higher level, you will have a view of Kaanapali Beach. One-bedroom units run between $115 and $180 per night, depending on the season. Studios run from $95 to $140 per night. Two-bedroom units can run as low as $150 to $220 per night. I use the real-estate company Chase’n Rainbows. If you are a repeat guest, you will receive a 10% discount. Look them up on the web at www.chasenranbows.com or call 800/367-6092.

Serving local Hawaiian food, this is the best deal in all of Maui. This small restaurant is located on Front St., with a great ocean view. It's a great place to have dinner and enjoy the magnificent sunsets. The menu consists of local dishes called mixed plate or lunch plate. These are some of the examples they offer:

Hawaiian Plate
Our Most Popular Plate Lunch: Kalua Pork & Cabbage, Lomi Lomi Salmon, Poi, Macaroni Salad and Rice. $7.95

Alii Plate
Royalty of Plate Lunches: Lau Lau, Kalua Pig & Cabbage, Lomi Lomi Salmon, Poi, Macaroni Salad, Rice and Haupia for dessert! $12.95

Lau Lau Plate
Two Lau Lau, Poi, Lomi Lomi Salmon, Macaroni Salad, Rice and Haupia. $12.95

Aloha Mixed Plate
Shoyu Chicken, Teriyaki Beef and Mahimahi combination plate. $7.95

Can you believe these prices?! Each dinner also includes two scoops of white rice and macaroni-potato salad (another local favorite). I have eaten here many, many times and never was disappointed. The portions are large, the prices are low, and the ambience is fabulous. This is my top pick for either lunch or dinner.

Located in downtown Lahaina, on the waterfront, Bubba Gump is a great place to have a casual dinner with your family or friends. You have a magnificent view overlooking the ocean. The service is unusual. Each table has a sign that either tells any of the waiters or waitresses to leave you alone or to stop and take whatever you want to order. While you wait for your dinner, you will listen to Forrest favorite sayings. The menu, of course, is shrimp, shrimp, and more shrimp. Besides that, there is a variety of fish, shrimp done in a variety of ways, ribs, seafood, sandwiches, and appetizers. I have eaten here many times, and I never was disappointed in my meal. My favorite is the steamed shrimp. The shrimp really does not need anything seasoning on it, so if you are looking for some down-home cookin', I would not miss Bubba Gump. They do not take reservations, and there can be a long wait, but they do supply beepers, so you can do shopping in town while you wait.

Located in downtown Lahaina, on the second floor on Front Street, Moose McGillycuddy is a great place for lunch, dinner, and early-bird specials for breakfast, and at night, they have live entertainment most evenings. I only ate breakfast here. It was one of my favorite places for breakfast. They offer a wide variety of eggs and pancakes, with a selection of breakfast meat. I love the Portuguese sausage. It is outstanding. Look out for coupons, and you can get breakfast before a certain time for only $1.99. That is a great deal anywhere.

This is the place to go on a Tuesday. It is TACO TUESDAY at the Compadres. Get there early, because all the locals enjoy the $1 drafts and $1 tacos. This is a great place to sit back and have a few.

I have only eaten here on Taco Tuesday, but the regular menu consists of your typical Mexican fare.

Located in downtown Lahaina on the waterfront, Cheeseburger in Paradise is a great place to sit back and relax with friends and family and enjoy casual dining. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The menu, of course, is cheeseburger, cheeseburger, cheeseburger. They even have cheeseburgers for breakfast.

Besides that, they serve eggs, omelets, and pancakes. The lunch and dinner menu is the same. They have a variety of burgers done with different toppings, sandwiches, and many appetizers to choose from. I usually get their cheeseburger with onion rings.

Cheeseburger in Paradise does not take reservations. You can always sit by the bar, have a drink, and enjoy the fabulous view of the ocean while you wait.

Maui Taco has fresh-made Mexican dishes. This is a fast-food restaurant. Everything is made fresh daily. They serve a wide variety of burritos, tacos, quesadillas, nachos, and salads. There is a fixin's bar with unlimited chips and salsa.

The owners came from L.A. and incorporated traditional Mexican food with a touch of Hawaiian flavor. This is a great place to feed a family on a budget.

Maui Taco has another location in the Napili Shopping Center, as well.

Whalers Village sits along the magnificent beach of Kaanapali. This village offers everything, from great restaurants to shopping, museums, and art galleries. By day, you can relax along one of the most magnificent beaches in Maui, and by night, you can stroll along the beach walk spending your time shopping in the unique boutiques, enjoying a fabulous meal at one of the restaurants, or watching the sunset at Black Rock as a native Hawaiian dives off of the cliff.

Hula Grill - I thought this was the best restaurant to eat at in Whalers Village. The food has a Pacific Rim flavor. Everything is freshly made. The service is outstanding and the view is of the oceanfront. The cost of dinner runs about $25 per person. Everything is á la carte. I would not miss out on having their salad with their papaya dressing. It was excellent. But if you do not want to spend that much money, Hula has a barefoot bar that serves sandwiches, burgers, pizza, and platters. Some of my favorites are their pig sandwiches and fish-and-chips.

Leilani’s - This restaurant offers both casual dining and a formal dinner menu. It sits along Kaanapali Beach. The upstairs is for formal dining and downstairs offers a bar menu. The main dinner menu has everything, from steaks to seafood and local fish. Prices run about $25 per person. The food is good, but I think Hula Grill is much better. One thing Leilani’s offers that Hula’s does not is their famous Hula Pie for desert.

Rusty Harpoon - I would rate this place as my third choice. This restaurant is oceanfront. The menu offers everything, from steaks to seafood to chicken and pasta. The prices are a little cheaper than the other restaurants.

Haleakala is a massive dormant volcano standing 10,023 feet above sea level. You can see this magnificent natural wonder for only $10 per car, and the pass is good for 7 days. The best time or the most popular time to visit Haleakala is at sunrise. It is a 40-mile ride from the gate to the summit. When the sun peaks over the horizon, you will see many colors reflecting off the crater. It is a magnificent sight. Depending on what side of the island you are staying on, I would plan on 2 hours to make the trip in time for the sunrise. You can contact the National Weather Station (808/877-5111) to give you up-to-date information on the weather, the conditions, and the time of sunrise and sunset. Make sure you bring a sweatshirt; it usually is in the 40s as the high.

You can hike trails ranging from 10-minutes to overnight trips. Camping is available on a first come, first served basis. I would first stop at the visitors center for a free map of the trails. Please check their website for more information.

P.S. Keep your receipt for when you take the road to Hana. You can use the same fee to enter the seven sacred pools.

Maui has a wide variety of beaches to visit. Each beach has its own unique beauty, but my favorite is Airport Beach (so-called by the locals). This beach is on the north side of black rock on Kaanapali Beach. There is plenty of parking, showers, restrooms, picnic tables, and grills. This section of the beach offers a wide stretch of golden sand, great snorkeling without taking an expensive trip, shaded areas, and it's great for sunbathing or enjoying the blue Pacific water. I spent most of my time snorkeling here. I saw all types of fish, small sharks, eels, and sea turtles. One part of the ocean is restricted because the turtles are nesting. You will see people dive in this area. I was told this is a great snorkeling and dive area because the ocean drops off very fast. On my last visit, I had an added surprise and was entertained by the spinner dolphins. If you are visiting during the winter months, you will spot the humpback whales. I highly recommend coming to this beach.

Flemming Beach is located north of Kapalua Beach. This beach offers showers and restrooms, plenty of parking, and a great place for boogie boards. The beach is on the north side of the island, so the trade winds really pick up, and the waves can get pretty rough. I enjoyed sitting back and watching people ride the waves.

Honolua Bay is the place to watch surfing. In the late afternoon, take a drive up the north road to see the surfers. It amazed me how the surfers would climb down the rocks with their surfboards, then swim out into those rough waters and ride those treacherous waves.

Kapalua Beach is on the northwest part of the island. It has a beautiful moon shape and is another fabulous place for snorkeling. This beach has limited parking, showers, and restrooms. If parking lot is full, you can park along the Lower Road. You can rent snorkeling gear or rafts because the exclusive Kapaula Resort sits on this beach. This beach rates high because of the beautiful setting, protected beach, and great snorkeling.

Ioa Valley is located in the West Maui Mountains. Just a short walk from the parking lot, you will see Needle Point. This geological wonder stands 2,250 feet. It was caused by the erosion from the rains. Depending on how the weather is that day, the needle will look different. We were there on day when the clouds were low and the mountains looked very mysterious. On anther day we visited, it was a crisp, clear day with no clouds; the needle looked fabulous with the clear blue sky as a backdrop.

After you visit Needle Point, take the lower path to visit the gardens. This area is a very tranquil place with vegetation and the sound of a running stream. I was told that Ioa Valley was a sacred burial site for Hawaiian chiefs. The last documented burial was in the late 1700s. This is a great place to visit with your family. There is no cost and it is only a short trip from South Maui or West Maui. I would plan on 2 hours total for this trip.

Hours of operation: 7am to 7pm

Cost is FREE.

Hana is a picturesque road filled with hairpin turns, lush vegetation, waterfalls, rugged coastline, and breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. The first thing you will need to do before you leave for this excursion, is buy a tape on the Road to Hana. It is sold at the ABC Stores for only $9. This tape will instruct you on what mile-marker you need to stop to see the attraction. Your trip will begin in the small town in Paia. Stop for breakfast at the famous Charley’s, located on Hana Highway, which turns into Baldwin Ave. in the town of Paia. If you are lucky, Willie Nelson might be flipping the pancakes. They are excellent. You only need to order one; they are as large as your plate. After breakfast, stop for gas; it is a long way until you hit the next station. You need to pack a lunch. Across the street from Charley’s is a deli that does boxed lunches. They run about $7 to $8 for a complete lunch with a side of potato salad. They will even supply a cooler. You are now ready for the exciting trip.

First, stop will be Hookipa Beach Park. This is the famous windsurfing beach. The Travel Channel voted this beach one of the best windsurfing beaches in the world. In the morning hours, you will see the surfers. When the trade winds kick up in the afternoon, the windsurfers come out from all over the island. You might want to come back in late afternoon to see the world-famous windsurfers.

Soon the road becomes winding. Take your time to enjoy the terrain. The tape will notify you when to stop. Each stop is different, ranging from cascading waterfalls to rugged lava rocks beating against the great Pacific Ocean; the small, quaint town of Hana; fruit stands run by the locals; black-sand beaches; lush vegetation; and bamboo trees. I would recommend purchasing "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Hawaii" before taking this trip. The book describes each stop, what to see, and whether restrooms or picnic facilities are available. There are hiking trails ranging from a fourth-mile to overnight trips and what accommodations are available. One site you do want to see is OHEO GULCH, better known as the Seven Sacred Pools. Bring your swimsuit, depending on the current; you might be able to swim in the pools. Both times we were there, the area was closed off. There is a $10 fee, but if you already visited Haleakala and kept your receipt, it is also good for the Oheo Gulch. A few miles past Oheo Gulch, the paved road ends and most people turn around and go back the same way.

To be continued in Road to Hana: Part Two

Continued from "The Road to Hana, Part One"

If you are more adventurous and you do not mind breaking your rental contract, stay on this road, and you will not be disappointed. The road narrows and becomes unpaved. You know it is safe, because all of the tour buses take it. You will see the backside of Haleakala. This is the newest part of the island. The terrain is dry and rugged. The road will become paved after ten miles or so, and you will end up at the gate to Haleakala. Along the way, you will pass the winery. You might be too tired to stop here, so come back another day to explore the up country.

Helpful hints: Plan on leaving early, as the trip will take all day. Fill your tank up with gas. Pack a picnic lunch. Hana is the only place that does have restaurants, but I do not think any are open for lunch. Bring a swimsuit. The best time to take the Road to Hana is in the winter months. The waterfalls are better at this time of year. We recently did this trip in November and were disappointed in the falls, which were not nearly as spectacular as they are in the winter months.