Week in Maui

We caught the tail end of the whale migration season in mid-April, so we "only" saw six whales. One was a several-hours-old newborn which was exceptional. The most memorable location was the waterfall/pool adjacent to the ocean, just before you get to Hana. It is called Helele'ike'oha Falls, also known as Blue Pool. It is at mile marker 31. It is gorgeous!! GO THERE.

Quick Tips:

Discount coupons are innumerable, especially for SCUBA/snorkeling. Many of the "discounts" were no better than just making a phone call to the vendor however. Mark it up, then discount it.

Best Way To Get Around:

Rent a car to explore the island. ALL the maps tell you that the road PAST Hana and Kipahulu is largely impassable and treacherous. Don't believe it. A simple two-wheel-drive vehicle and a little caution are all that is needed. This is some of the most untravelled scenery on the island, and it is well worth it.

Best Things Nearby:
The beaches in the area are fantastic: clean, mostly sandy, and not too crowded.

Best Things About the Resort:
The location and the pool were the best. It is directly on a beach, just up the road from Whalers Village, and a couple of miles from Lahaina. The staff is very friendly and helpful.

Resort Experience:
The accommodations at the resort are a typical Embassy design, not extravagant, but very nice. We had a one-bedroom, with a great view of the ocean. Kitchen facilities included a microwave and fridge, but no stove or dishwasher. A coffee pot was a measly four-cup size--not good for us coffee-drinkers!!

The pool at this resort claims to be 1 acre in size. It is not overly loaded with people, and there are a lot of lounge chairs/tables around. They have scuba lessons at the pool.

The in-house restaurant is very good, and the wait staff is helpful and pleasant. They have a typical buffet breakfast, but it has an excellent price ($85/week for four people, or $17/day for four people). Get there early, or the buffet can be cold, just like anywhere else.

Parking is $10/day, so expect that additional expense. It is covered, however. Valet parking is optional tipping. The concierge and bell captain are very helpful. Maid service is limited to one day per week, but they do come in daily to straighten up a little bit. Porches were daily swept of sand, which was nice. There is a rooftop miniature golf course, which was nice for both adults and kids

• Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
• Activities: Very Good
• Amenities: Very Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Very Good
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent

Excellent restaurant. We have been there several times over the last 20 years, and every time has been wonderful. Great French cuisine, focusing on ocean dishes naturally. Great wine list-pricey. Reservations strongly recommended, and even then, expect a 15-minute wait.

The atmosphere is French, and the waitstaff is very helpful. Location is away from the cities, nestled in the trees by the highway. It must be at mile marker 8 or so, just west of the tunnel on highway 30, as I recall--have a designated driver, or watch yourself. You DO have to drive back to town!! Very romantic.

I strongly recommend reservations. This place serves pan-Asian cuisine. Three of four meals were excellent, and the fourth was very good - it was a lobster dish that was a little chewy, probably because the lobster was too big. The other meals were mahimahi prepared two different ways and a tofu meal. They had a great wine list.

It is on the ocean, so the mood is very romantic, with the sound of the surf in the background. Next door was yet another genuine luau, with drums pounding, so we were glad that it stopped shortly after we arrived at 8:30pm.

This is off Front Street, near Hilo Hatties. This was more continental dining. My wife had the osobucco, and I had the opakapaka. Both were excellent. They had a great wine list that was better priced than at some of the other fine restaurants in the area. It is not on the beach, but is still quite romantic, and the overall price was a little better.