Two weeks in Maui, Hawaii

The best things to do in Maui would have to be:

1. The road to Hana
2. Scuba diving Molokini (the underwater volcano) and Turtle Town
3. The volcano crater and the drive up
4. Sunrise from the top of the crater
5. Surfing!

Quick Tips:

Most of the discounts can be found in the magazines that are given free around the island, such as coupons for diving trips. My stepfather seemed to be pleased with the windsurfing rentals from Neil Pryde in Kauhului. Also, there's a TimeOut for Maui, and there are lots of local postings in cafes for concerts, which is how we heard about the Steel Pulse raggae concert we went to.

Best Way To Get Around:

Taxi is really nonexistent and pricey unless you're travelling short distances. I would say the best way to get around is by rental car. I think our rental was from Alamo.

The guesthouse we stayed in was a dream! The design of the house was influenced by Japanese architecture with a blue-tiled roof. Very natural, with wood floors and beams. Swimming pool and Jacuzzi overlooking the ocean. Can have up to 6 people staying there. Plus, the location couldn't have been better, as during the day it was sunny, and at night it rained, so it cooled the air down.

The food at Hailemaile was very good, especially the seafood. It's not all seafood. They also have some local dishes and some japanese influenced dishes. The service was good, and the food was very enjoyable. And I was told that the restaraunt is co-owned or started by Alice Cooper. The reason it's called Hailemaile General Store is because Hailemaile is the town's name, and the building used to be a General Store before turning into a restaurant.

Mama's has traditional Hawaiian cuisine such as poi (taro root) and local seafood. Under each seafood plate, it will say which fisherman the fish was caught by. The poi is interesting to try, but I wouldn't say it's delicious. The dishes my family and I ordered were all great, though. Also, the ambience of the restaurant was very nice because the decor was a very traditional Hawaiian-style, with tiki torches, wooden sculptures, and large windows right next to the beach. The service is very good too. This is not the place for budget travellers, but for those who are willing to spend a little more, it's worth the money!

I loved the Road to Hana. The landscape was so dramatic, and the road was very narrow and windy and on a cliff overlooking waterfalls and steep gorges down to the ocean. The vegetation was thick, and in certain areas, there were forests of bamboo. I highly recommend the fruit stand at the beginning of the Road to Hana, with fresh mango and coconut and passion fruit smoothies. I had an interesting crepe with papaya and brie! Then we found a hidden path in a bamboo forrest where we followed a trail over rivers and streams, over waterfalls and hiking up rocks by rope! We swam through a canal and hiked up another waterfall to reach an iscolated giant waterfall surrounded by cliff faces overgrown with trees. There are many, many trails like this all the way down the entire Road to Hana. I was told that the Road to Hana is a metaphor for life: "It's not about the destination, but the journey travelled." My family and I never made it to Hana.

We set out early in the morning with a scuba tour boat called Maui Diamond 2 leaving Maalaea Harbor. The group was a comfortable size of eight, including my family and me. It was a nice drive out about an hour away off shore and breakfast and lunch is served on the boat. I did a two-tank dive. The first dive was about 80 feet, and I saw a large morey eel, many smaller eels, tons of colorful small fish of many varieties. The second dive I went about 60 feet and I saw a white tipped reef shark about 3 feet long! It was awesome, and it was following a trevali about the same size. The trip back was an adventure too as the winds picked up and the waves were really large! Everyone got wet and had a good time!

The drive up the volcano is said to be either the steepest or one of the steepest driving roads in the world, or maybe just the USA. Either way, this drive is incredible. The road is steep and winding, and it feels like you're soaring above the clouds like in an airplane! After driving through the clouds and reaching the crater, either you'll see a sheet of clouds down below or maybe the island. The crater itself is enormous. There are hiking tracks that are difficult, as it's a long hike and the altitude makes it more tiring. There are also horseback trails through the crater. It looks like another planet down there! Also, you can go up before sunrise with a bike tour, watch the sun hit the island, and cycle down the mountain! I didn't do the bike ride, but it's mainly downhill, and I've asked people about it and they were all enjoying themselves!