Maui My Way

This B&B is conveniently located near Lahaina, restaurants, and many nice beaches. The place was clean, and our bed was made every day. The breakfast was sumptuous – on a lazy Susan, there were plates of dry and fresh fruits, nuts, pastry, yogurt… The hostess also made a hot plate daily – banana pancakes, French Toast, etc. I almost skipped lunch everyday since I was so full after breakfast.

Breakfast time should have been a good time to get to know other guests. However, a lot of guests staying there were German (as the hostess is from Germany), and they mostly spoke German to each other. Some American guests and I felt a bit left out. I did not think they were unfriendly, as speaking German might be easier for them. When we were alone and spoke one on one, they were very friendly and offered great travel tips.

This B&B is located in Kihei and is close to the beach. It is not a fancy place, but we had everything we needed: clean room, TV and VHS, snorkeling gears, towels, etc. The common area and lanai were great places to relax.

The host, hostess, and even their friends were very friendly. We wanted to borrow a wine opener, but the one at the B&B was broken. Their neighbor who happened to there went back to his place and brought one over. We felt very welcomed and really enjoyed our stay.

My most memorable dining experience was not eating at any fancy restaurants. I went to Pacific O and David Paul’s, two pricey and highly rated restaurants in Maui (it was over $150 for a three-course meal for two.) The food was good and the service was attentive. However, the two restaurants just did not leave me with a lasting impression. I think it’s because what they served was similar to what most mainland restaurants offered. They did use local ingredients (e.g., macadamia nuts, local fishes, etc.) in their food, but they were more like an afterthought.

If you’re looking for something local and casual, Aloha Mixd Plate is the place to go. I spent only $20 for a meal for two. The origins of the "mixed plate" started in the early days of the sugar plantations. Workers from different countries (China, Japan, Korea, etc.) brought their lunch and shared their foods with each other. The "mixed plate" was born.

One of the mixed plates was the Hawaiian Plate, which consisted of Kalua port and cabbage, Lomi Lomi salmon, poi, macaroni salad, and rice. I grew up in Hong Kong, and this place reminded me of small diners back home. The Aloha Mixed Plate is located by the beach, and diners can enjoy a great ocean view while enjoying their food. No wonder the New York Times described this place as "paper plate meets million-dollar view."

I took a snorkeling trip to Molokini. The operator was Trilogy, and their service was very good. The catamaran was neat, and the snorkeling gears were pretty new. The crew was friendly, and the lunch they served was delicious. Make sure you bring your own towels, as they were not available onboard.

Perhaps I was spoilt by the water in Southeast Asia, as I did not find the snorkeling at Molokini too impressive. There were some beautiful fishes and carols, but they were far from spectacular. The boat took us to a second snorkeling site where I saw several sea turtles. They were resting at the bottom of the sea at first, and some travelers grew disinterested and went back to the boat. I stayed in the water, and my patience paid off. Several sea turtles ascended to the surface to breathe and swim around. At one point, I was so close to one sea turtle that I almost bumped into it. Seeing these gentle creatures made my day.

I would rate the level of difficulty for biking down Haleakala Mountain a 6 or 7 (1 being very easy and 10 being extremely difficult.) It wasn’t strenuous at all, as I was going downhill 99% of the time. However, the first 3 to 4 miles of the trip were pretty scary, as the road was windy and narrow, with cars zooming by frequently. The drizzle and strong wind at the top of the mountain made the ride more challenging. After passing the initial 3 to 4 miles, the road was wider and the ride became more relaxed. The scenery along the way was beautiful, and the air was filled with the refreshing smell of flowers and grass. I also saw several rainbows while biking.

Maui Downhill, the tour operator I used, did a great job ensuring our safety. The bike leader was in the front and the van driver following us constantly watched out for the traffic, so I felt pretty safe.

The only complaint I had with the tour was the breakfast. The website said we would enjoy breakfast at the "upcountry’s finest restaurant." The place they took us to, however, was a little bit better than a Denny’s. Anyway, I was so hungry, I did not care if the breakfast was gourmet or not. I would suggest travelers pick the less expensive tour that does not include breakfast. Save the money to spend on a better breakfast.