Maui Wedding Escape

In one week we fit in a snorkel trip to the Molokini Crater, kayaking, a trip to Hana, two visits to Lahaina, a trip to Honolua Bay to watch the surfers, a trip to Iao Valley, a luau at the Renaissance, snorkelling from shore, and a good amount of shopping. Oh yes, and there was a wedding!

Quick Tips:

As much as we read about booking for events ahead of time, we found that it was not necessary. We did book our catamaran/snorkel trip to the Molokini Crater ahead of time by using many searches online (try the activity warehouse www.travelhawaii.com) and the luau at the Renaissance Hotel in Wailea, but there are many discount places all over Maui. I don't think anyone pays the listed prices. Don't forget to rent your own snorkel gear from Boss Frogs for under for the week.

Best Way To Get Around:

We had a rental car. That is something you should consider. Most places have parking, and many of the hotels have valet parking, so it is very convenient. Lahaina was the only area where parking could get packed, so plan to go there earlier in the day.

Best Things Nearby:
This condo is located right across the street from the resort. There were many restaurants within walking distance and even more when we decided to drive down the road. The harbour for the larger ships and catamarans was about a half-hour away, but there were many boat tours that picked you up at the boat ramp (2 minutes away) or at Makena Landing (7 minutes away). There were lots of unique stores along Kihei Road that sold almost anything you were looking for.

Best Things About the Resort:
Our room was on the third floor. It had been recently updated. The location was perfect and the units were in very good condition. There is an orientation offered to the guests, but it is more to try to sell you different activities. Make sure you check a few other prices first. They are not the cheapest, but the Private Kayak Tour that we booked was definitely worth our money. There were no on-site activities.

Resort Experience:
We were travelling in the off-season, so they were fixing and painting the outside of the building and the lanais (balconies) while we were there. The grounds are well kept and the pools and barbecue areas are clean and nice to use. Our suite was clean, well supplied, and well looked after. There was an air-conditioner in the living room, and it kept the suite at a comfortable temperature. (Be sure to ask if your unit has one!) When we wanted to barbecue, they had barbecues, tables, and even a fridge right down on the pool deck. Kihei is the warm side of the island, so we were able to take a dip in the ocean daily. Another tip is to ask for a unit above the first floor. Some of the ground-floor rooms are almost sub-floor rooms.

• Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
• Activities: Not Available
• Amenities: Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Very Good
• Family Friendliness: Good
• Service: Good

These have to be the best hamburgers we have even eaten! They were huge and sloppy and so very tasty. The have all sorts of fun names, like "The Duke" and "The Legendary."

They have fish, steaks, ribs, and sandwiches on the menu as well, but try the burgers. This was a wonderful lunch. Check for coupons in your activity booklets. There is often a 50% off or more coupon printed.

The Cool Cat is located right across the street from the Banyan Tree, on Front Street, in Lahaina. They are licensed, so a cold beer or glass of wine tastes great in the middle of your "being a tourist" day.

We noticed a large crowd of people coming and going from Stella Blues when we drove by on Saturday night, so we had to return on Sunday. Again, the parking lot and restaurant were full, so we hoped we would be able to get a table.

We had to wait a couple of minutes and then were seated. The atmosphere was relaxing and fun, the waitress was pleasant, and the menu was diverse.

We both decided to have the plate of ribs. We were thinking about appetizers, and the waitress was kind enough to point out that we really weren't going to want to do that. We took her advice and just had the main course. When the meal came to the table, it had two racks of ribs on each plate! It also had huge piece of cornbread (with honey) and a serving of coleslaw. Now, we love ribs and can eat quite a bit before we roll away from the table, but I ended up taking half of my ribs, and all of my cornbread, back to the condo to enjoy the next day.

Try Stella Blues for one of your evening meals, but remember to make a reservation so you don't have to wait long for your table.

We went to the Wailea Beach Luau at the Renaissance Hotel in Wailea. We researched Luaus in Hawaii and Travel Hawaii.

We thought that the Old Lahaina Luau sounded very nice, but it was just over an hour from the condo to Lahaina and write-ups say it is not as good as it used to be. The second place we researched was the Feast at Lele. This is a very personal luau. You are seated at your own table and the food is brought to you. It is not as crowded and the show is great. The reasons we didn’t choose that one was the price ($99 times 11 people!), and again it was in Lahaina. We will definitely consider The Feast at Lele on our next visit, though.

This brings us to “The Renaissance Wailea Sunset Beach Luau.” We booked at The Renaissance Site, or you can call the number listed.

 

We arrived at the hotel at 5:30pm. They take a picture of your group with a Polynesian dancer, "lei" you with a shell lei, and then seat you. The Luau is set on a beautiful grassy area overlooking the ocean. You are encouraged to stroll around the grounds. The sunset was spectacular.

They have a Hawaiian band playing when you arrive. You have an opportunity to try out a few local customs, such as the many ways to wear traditional clothing, learn how to swing those pompom balls attached to a cord (boy, I sure can’t remember what they are called, and I couldn’t get them to work the way they can), and then watch them dig the Kalua Pig from the Imu.

Then comes the dinner. This is an all-you-can-eat buffet, and they even use platters instead of plates. Make sure you come hungry. The menu is on the website. My favorite item was the charbroiled teriyaki steaks. The drinks are free.

The entertainment starts after the dishes have been cleared. The show was a journey through the history of the islands. Anyone who was willing was invited up on the stage to learn the hula and a few other dances. This was a hoot. The evening ends with the Samoan Fire Knife Dance, and it was great to watch.

At the end of the evening, they have your group picture available. This makes a wonderful remembrance from your evening.

Don’t pass up going to a luau. I do recommend going to one, but pick the one that suits your location and style.

Driving the Hana "Highway" is not for the faint hearted, but what a view! We armed ourselves with a rental car, a tank of gas, a couple of good maps, and a cooler with lunch and drinks, and off we went.

We were told to stop at every section that we saw that interested us, because on the way back, you don’t feel like stopping anywhere. Believe it! It is a long drive, and on the way back you are tired. There are 52 miles of road with 56 one-lane bridges, 617 curves, and at least 100 short sections of one lane only road. The best map we found (and we had many with us) was the free map in the Maui Gold advertising booklet. It is a long, slim design, and you can pick it up at any advertising stand.

We must have stopped more than a dozen times, but a few of the highlights were:

1) Ho’okipa Beach Park, where you can watch all the brave surfers and windboarders

2) Twin Falls. There is a moderate hike up a muddy trail. Be sure to wear good footwear, but know that they will get very muddy and wet. The falls are beautiful.

3) Turn in to Keanae to see the shoreline. The white surf against the black lava rocks makes for an impressive show. (There are also washroom facilities in Keanae.)

4) Turn in to Wai’anapanapa State Park. The Black Sand beach is there. It is a beautiful park with dramatic Lava Caves, natural bridges, and blowholes.

Don't feel you have to actually get to Hana. It is the drive and the places to see along the way that count.

Our parents decided the drive would be too much for them, so they went on the coach tour. They were picked up at 7am and taken for a 12-hour tour! The guides do know all the best places to stop, and the best thing is that you don't have to drive. This tour was not for us but something to consider for those who would not like a challenging drive.

We booked ahead of time because we really wanted to be sure to get on one of these snorkel trips. We went out out on a catamaran for the morning, Molokini Crater and Turtle Town snorkel. Turtle Town is wherever they say the turtles are; it isn't a specific place!

We were treated well; the crew was great, and they cooked up a great lunch, with salads and various types of burgers.

We were pleased with the trip, but there are some things for you to consider:
1) The snorkelling was not that impressive. If you have snorkelled in the Caribbean, you will be disappointed with with abundance, or should I say lack of, fish. There are still quite a few, but they are not in great numbers or in as wide a variety of colours.
2) You don't need to have experience to snorkel on any of these tours. They explain the way the equipment works and where you should swim.
3) How many people do you want on your tour? We were on a smaller catamaran, and there were 60 people plus the crew. I hear that some take out 150 people! I don't know how that can be safe, let alone how they know when we are all back onboard.
4) If you still want the catamaran (we did), you will have a more comfortable ride than on one of the zodiak-style boats with less people. Zodiacs take waves very roughly.
5) Don't be talked into going on an afternoon snorkel. The wind will pick up in the afternoon, and it will be a very rough ride and hard to snorkel.
6) Don't forget your Dramamine! Seasickness will catch even the steadiest person.

Do your research. You can get this for free if you want to do a timeshare tour. We got this at half-price, $38.95, just by looking at prices.

The beaches are plentiful and meant to be used, but we couldn't believe how few people were actually on them. I think the busiest we ever saw it was with about a dozen people (or when there was a wedding party).

Be sure to visit the Kamaole Beaches I, II, and III. All three are perfect for families to relax on. Take along your own chair and towel, but you can rinse off at the freshwater showers located nearby. There is a lifeguard on duty during the daytime hours.

The shoreline all the way to Lahaina is gorgeous. There are spots for camping, a thought for those who want less-expensive accomodations or just to stop and take a dip during their travels. The Ukumehame Beach is the name of the one where people are camping. There is a warning not to get your tires stuck in the sand, and we did see a truck stuck.

Try the Lauiupoko Wayside State Park. There is a saltwater pool set up with people learning to surf nearby.

The west side of Maui seems to be the best for beach lovers. It is warmer and gentler. The east and north areas are for those surfers!

We were strolling along Front Street in Lahaina, just doing a little sightseeing, and a picture caught our eyes. It had the most fabulous colours to it and was of the Iao Valley we had just been to. It was so realistic that we had to go in to see if it was a picture or a photograph. It was original artwork, of course, and we were amazed at the accuracy of the painting.

We looked further and saw many other paintings of Maui, and many were of places we had already been. There was one that looked as though a light was actually on in the house in the picture. If you haven't seen Curtis Wilson Cost's work before, you will fall in love with it instantly, as we did. Curtis Wilson Cost is one of Maui's well-known and accomplished traditionalist painters. His landscapes, are crisp, alive with color, and very detailed.

His work is online at Cost Gallery. You should look. I have posted a couple of his pictures below to give you an idea of his work. These come from his website.

The flowers on Maui are so beautiful. From the hibiscus hedges to the yellow, white, and kahili gingers used in the flower leis, Maui is a gardener's and photographer's paradise.

We had been told that the hibiscus grew abundantly, but it was so amazing to see hedges full of their radiant colours.

Bird of Paradise and Heliconia grow in the wetter areas (like along the highway to Hana), where the climate suits them better.

Peek around a building or bush to see which flowers and colours you can find.

I admire those athletes who can swim out in the ocean on a little surfboard and try many times to catch the perfect wave, which they then ride along to the shore. Often it seems like they are just suntanning out there. Why didn't they catch that wave? Or they try but seem to stop before they get going.

We watched the surfers from the Point overlooking Honolua Bay. You are able to look right down on them and respect the control they have.

We also saw windsurfers off of Ho'okipa Beach Park, on the east side. Amazing.

If you are able, they offer surfing lessons, which are guaranteed to get you surfing. Just ask at any local activities' desk.

Lahaina is a quaint old harbor town, which has maintained her rustic "whaling" look while accepting the new. There are old buildings nestled in with the modern. There are historic monuments which have picnic tables beside them. There are carvers out on the street creating masterpieces with people taking pictures with digital cameras.

 

I enjoyed having so many things jumbled together. It gave it a very unique atmosphere.

Another thing I liked about Lahaina was the opportunity to dine. From Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. (try the bucket of boat trash) to the Cool Cat Cafe with their amazing burgers, you could pick from any type of food you desired.

All of these were situated right on the waterfront, so you have a wonderful view of parasailers, boaters, and cruise ships.

Take your time and look in all the tiny shops along the street. You can find unique handcrafted items. Many one of a kind that will make a lasting treasure from your trip. Or you can find the T-shirt store where you can pick up four golf shirts or five t-shirts for $20. Pick up a cool drink and relax under the Banyan tree.

Lahaina is rich with history. There are many items of interest listed on the maps you can pick up anywhere, but check out those extra galleries and places of interest not shown.

The name of our tour was actually Private Kayak Tours.

We booked our Private Kayak and Snorkel Tour through the activities desk at the Kihei Akaki Condo. The kayak tour is not on the website, but you can call them on the toll-free number listed there.

We met at Makena Landing at 7am (less than 10 minutes away). There was only one other couple our guide and ourselves. It was a very personalized tour. We learned how to paddle, and he went over safety and environmental issues with us. We paddled a short distance out to a buoy. When we got there, our guide said to run in to it, because there was usually a turtle at the bottom that caused him to come up to the surface for air. There were a few other kayakers around, but our guide knew these extra tips. It was fun to see the turtle coming up and being able to show it the others around us. Remember not to touch--you don't want a $2,000 fine.

We did a fair bit of paddling, but nothing more than anyone could handle. The other couple was around our age but less experienced than us. (We canoe in the ocean off the inside of Vancouver Island.) We weren’t held back by their lack of skill. By going on such a small private tour, they eliminate the fear of, “What if I can’t keep up?” Our guide paddled closer to them and was very encouraging.

We reached a reef, which had some underwater caves. As I was paddling along, on the surface, a turtle swam right along beside me. I almost swallowed my snorkel!! It was about 3 feet across and beautiful! It dove down to the underwater cave. They can stay down on the bottom for a good length of time. I hear that it can be up to an hour or so. As we snorkeled around the area, we saw about eight more turtles in various sizes, just waiting on the bottom for the tide to come in, so they could reach the rocks that held the seafood they love to eat.

We were very lucky to have Chris as a guide. He is a certified PADI diver and underwater photographer. He takes pictures over and under water during each tour and then makes them available to those he guided. We ordered the disk after we returned home to Canada, and it just arrived in the mail. There are over 150 pictures on it, 20 to 25 from the day we went out and many more from previous trips he had been on.

You want an excellent tour. I suggest going with the Private Kayak Tours. The guides get right in the water with you and show you the special places that you would overlook if you were in a big group or on your own.

Well, a wedding in Maui is a different experience than we are used to.

"Relaxed" is the word that comes to the forefront when thinking back on it. You decide what beach you want to be married on and what time, and then it happens. There are the legalities to take care of, license, etc., but the informal atmosphere means that the guests will either stand in a circle around you or bring their own lawn chairs.

I imagine you can get caught up in a traditional marriage ceremony. We saw one that was very formal. They got married on the beach in front of the Maui Prince Hotel (the same beach as our wedding party used) and moved to the grass park area of the Maui Prince Hotel, which catered their reception with white linen under white canopies.

If you are going to Maui, plan on getting married on the beach, but be sure to book your time. There were four weddings taking place at the same time at different areas of the same beach, and that was a Tuesday at 4pm in October!

The bride said that her wedding planner really didn’t do very much, so you can probably plan it on your own. They picked the beach after they arrived in Maui, and there are quite a few ministers who seem to specialize in that style of service, so I don’t think it would be hard to find one for your special day, but book him/her ahead of time.

The couple that got married were in their 30s. They wanted a small, informal wedding, and they got exactly what they wanted. The minister blew the conch shell as the bride approached. Her father handed her to the groom into the circle of fresh flower petals. They exchanged leis and rings and spoke their vows. The register was signed and witnessed right in the circle.

The reception was held at the Seawatch Restaurant at the Wailea Gold and Emerald Golf Course, and I know that they could get you started on how to plan your wedding. We had cocktails in the lounge and then were seated outdoors in a private garden area. There was absolutely first-class food and service. It was a wonderful, memorable experience, and I am sure the bride and groom were pleased with their special day.