Magical Maui

The island of Maui was created by two volcanoes, one of which formed the western third of the island and Haleakala, the 10,020 feet tall volcano which formed the eastern two-thirds of the island. Known as the Valley Isle because of the central valley which is the area where the two volcanoes connect, Maui supports a wide variety of climates and provides a varied environment to explore. From pristine beaches, to the moon scape like crater of Haleakala, tropical rainforests, to bustling shopping areas, Maui has something for everyone. One experience not to be missed is the sunrise from the summit of Haleakala. If you are arriving from the U.S. mainland, do this early in your visit to Maui because getting up at 2:30am is much easier while your body is still on mainland time. Water activities abound on Maui. With crystal clear water and coral reefs close to shore with easy beach access, Maui is one of the premier snorkeling sites in the world. The best sites can get rather busy as the day progresses, so arrive early for a less crowded experience. Nearby Molokini is a frequent snorkeling destination for excursions on guided snorkeling tours. Sunset cocktail or dinner cruises, deep sea fishing trips, and whale watching cruises (in the winter when whales are present) are all great ways to enjoy the aquatic environment that surrounds Maui. For those interested in outdoor experiences, there are miles of hiking trails on the island. Maui boasts some of the worlds most beautiful waterfalls but most of them are visible only from the air so don’t miss out on a helicopter tour of the island. With 56 one lane bridges and over 617 hairpin turns, the road to Hana is not for the faint of heart, but this drive through the rainforest on the northern coast is a must do. For those who would rather leave the driving to someone else, several tour operators offer tours in air-conditioned motor coaches. For those that prefer shopping and indoor activities, opportunities abound as well. The areas along the west coast are more developed with numerous towns which provide opportunities for shopping, dining, and night life. The historic whaling town of Lahaina has hundreds of shops, restaurants, and museums which provide endless opportunities to purchase gifts or the perfect souvenir.

Quick Tips:

A great way to learn about available activities and get discounts on those activities, is to pick up one of the numerous visitors guides available almost everywhere on the island. Channel 6 on Maui TV show cases the best activities on Maui. Our condo, as well as many others, had a welcome breakfast sponsored by Expedia which we attended our first morning in Maui. In addition to a free breakfast, we received information on a wide range of activities available on the island. We were able to book several activities at a significant discount over regular price by booking together after the presentation. There are also booths or stores in all the shopping areas that offer activities at a discounted price. Check these out before paying full price. However, many of these booths are fronts for time share sales. To get the discount, you may have to sit through a timeshare presentation. Snorkeling equipment is readily available for rent for around per week for the entire set (mask, fins, and snorkel) at the numerous dive and snorkel shops in the towns along the west coast. These shops will also provide you with a map to the best sites.

Best Way To Get Around:

While there is limited public transportation along the more developed west coast of the island, buses run infrequently and taxis are expensive, so I would suggest renting a car. Having a rental car provides the opportunity to get off the beaten path and explore the island at your own pace. Because most visitors do rent a car, expect to wait in line at the airport to get your car. It took us almost two hours. Be sure to read and follow the road policy of your rental car company and follow the rules regarding restricted areas. Roads in some areas of the island are really more like trails than roads and most of the rental companies’ contracts have a clause that voids the rental agreement if you take their car on certain roads. If you drive in one of the restricted areas and the car breaks down or is damaged, you will be liable for all towing and repair expenses, even if you purchased insurance. After driving some of the less developed roads that are allowed, I can’t imagine driving on the restricted roads. Many of the permitted roads are little more than twisting, one lane paths so BE CAREFUL!

We were a little worried about what we were going to find at the Kamaole Sands. Some of the reviews that we read after booking weren’t extremely encouraging. We read that some guests thought their rooms were outdated and that service was inadequate, but had none of those issues. We followed the advice of the on-line booking site that we use and asked for a recently upgraded unit and what we got was a fantastic bargain for the price.

The personnel at the office were friendly and helpful; the entire check in process took less than five minutes. Finding our condo, number 7-305, was easy with the provided map. Our one-bedroom condo not only met, but far exceeded our expectations. The rooms were spacious and clean and the decor was bright and cheery with a decidedly tropical theme. Artwork from local artists adorned the walls and the furniture was wicker and glass, adding a romantic, tropical feel. The bedroom was spacious and well decorated and the bed very comfortable. The kitchen had modern, well maintained appliances including a dishwasher, refrigerator, stove, microwave, and coffee maker. The living room had a comfortable couch, two chairs, TV, VCR, desk with high speed Internet connection, and books to read. The condo had two spacious bathrooms as well as a washer and dryer which were very handy. We were able to keep our laundry done throughout the ten days we were there and unlike our typical vacation; we didn’t have laundry to do when we got home. The private lanai was spacious and well apportioned. There was a table with four chairs and two loungers. We ate breakfast on the lanai most mornings where we could look over the well manicured grounds and listen to the birds.

Our condo was advertised as a garden view, but was, in reality, a partial ocean view. The grounds included a large pool with an Expedia booking booth on site to allow easy booking of activities. Wednesday afternoons featured "Music and Mai Tai’s" with free drinks and live music. The pool area also included two hot tubs, an exercise room, and a computer room. Barbecue grills dot the grounds providing a great place to cook and congregate with friends.

The Kamaole Sands is located just across the road from the Kamaole III Beach Park which became our favorite place from which to watch the sunset. We were a little concerned that the only air conditioning in the condo was in the living room, but the evening breezes off the ocean were so comfortable that we never used it. We had none of the problems that some reviews complained about. There were a couple minor problems that needed repaired but they were remedied promptly and without hassle. The location provided easy access to the main highway that allowed easy access to the entire island.

We found the Kamaole Sands a clean, quiet, comfortable place to stay. The only complaint that we had was that we had to leave.

A Mexican restaurant on Maui! What were they thinking? If they thought that it would become a great place to eat some delicious food at a very reasonable price in a beautiful setting, they were right. Situated on the west coast of Maui in the town of Kihei, Fred’s is a great place to eat. The restaurant is on the ground floor of a two story building facing the setting sun. It is located just across the road from a beautiful stretch of white sand beach and provides the perfect spot to enjoy a delicious meal or drinks with friends while watching the sun sink into the Pacific Ocean and create the gorgeous sunsets for which Maui is famous.

Fred’s is decorated in bright and cheerful colors, interesting signs (for example, the "Hell’s Kitchen" sign above the kitchen), and items typically found in Mexican restaurants such as sombreros and colorful artwork. The real beauty at this restaurant is the magnificent view of the beach and ocean. The walls of the restaurant are open, allowing an unobstructed view of the sunset and letting in the smells of the ocean. This open plan also lets the smells of delicious Mexican dishes float out into the parking lot and onto the sidewalk inviting guests to come in and eat.

Although we first ate there because of the proximity to our condo, Fred’s quickly became one of our favorite places to eat on Maui for four main reasons: the food was delicious, the service was outstanding, the sunsets were spectacular, and the prices were very reasonable. An endless supply of chips and salsa, drinks, and high energy music made the wait for the food pleasant. The fajitas were undoubtedly the best that I have eaten at any Mexican restaurant anywhere. In addition to the usual green peppers, onions, and tomatoes grilled with the steak, Fred’s grilled whole sprigs of cilantro which added a delicious spicy flavor to the fajitas. I can’t vouch for the rest of the food; the fajitas were so good that I didn’t have anything else.

Although the restaurant was always crowded, our servers were always attentive and quick to respond to any request. Best of all, in spite of the top notch food and service in such a spectacular setting, the prices were very reasonable. We ate a several restaurants on Maui where the prices were considerably higher than what we typically pay on the mainland, but Fred’s prices were comparable to the prices of our Mexican restaurant at home. A serving of fajitas which was more than enough to satisfy even the heartiest appetite was just $11.

The great food combined with great service with such a spectacular view of the ocean quickly made Fred’s one of our favorite places to eat on Maui. You may have to wait to be seated, but if you like Mexican food and want good food at a reasonable price, don’t miss Fred’s.

Alex Air calls its helicopters the Alex Air "Birds of Paradise" and they truly are. Before we left home we never considered doing a helicopter tour, but after my wife and I attended the Expedia welcome breakfast our first morning on Maui, we decided that a helicopter tour was on of the things that we wanted to do while on the island. We had learned that it was the only way to see the largest of the waterfalls and decided to give it a try. We asked the Expedia booking agent at our condo to find a tour for us that met three important criteria. First the company had to have a good safety record, second we wanted a company that had a good customer service reputation, and finally, since we hadn’t really budgeted for something as expensive as an aerial tour, we wanted something that we could afford. We were told that all the tour operators had a good safety record and that all offered excellent customer service so the major factor for us, since we’d not planned to spend the money required for a helicopter tour, would be the price. This third factor was complicated by my weight, at the time I weighed over 250 pounds and all the helicopter tour providers charged an additional fee for persons who exceed that weight. Helicopters can only lift a certain amount of weight on each flight and transporting passengers who weigh in excess of 250 pounds means that they have to transport one less person on the flight than usual and they charge extra to recoup the loss of that additional fare. The Expedia agent said that most of the companies require passengers exceeding the weight limit to pay the full price of a second fare but that she would make some phone calls and see what she could do. She told us to go enjoy our day and then return to her booth in the evening and she would present us with the options available. In the evening, when we returned, she said that she had arranged for us to fly with Alex Air. They (at least at the time) only required that persons who weighed over the 250 pound limit but less than 300 pounds pay one and a half times the normal fare not double the fare as many of the tour operators required. She also told us that if we’d attend a two hour time share sales presentation that we could get a $115 discount to apply to any tour that we wished so we agreed. (Normally I hate going to time share presentations but there really were no high pressure tactics, we attended the presentation, told the sales person no thank you, and they validated our discount certificate with no pressure or hassle). With that discount, we ended up paying $200 per person for both the helicopter tour and a sunset cocktail cruise on the Pacific Whale Foundations catamaran.
The following morning we arrived at the heliport at the Kahului Airport and checked in for our flight. The FAA requires that pilots have accurate weight and balance information on file so when you book your flight and they ask you what you weigh, don’t fudge your weight, the first thing that you get to do when you check in is step on a set of scales. A sign located by the scales warns that if your weight is significantly different from what you told them when you booked, you may be denied boarding for your flight. After checking in and getting weighed, we were taken to a comfortable lounge area where we watched a film about safety and emergency procedures, basically a safety briefing specific to helicopter similar to what you experience on a commercial airplane. We were given an inflatable lifebelt which regulations require all passengers to wear then waited on a comfortable deck for our "bird of paradise" to return from the flight that it was on.
After the Alex Air A-Star aircraft returned and offloaded its passengers, we were escorted to our seats and strapped in by the person that had done our safety briefing. We met our pilot Chris and the two other passengers accompanying us then we were on our way. My wife had never flown in a helicopter so she was apprehensive as we lifted off and headed to the east but she quickly relaxed and enjoyed the view as much as I did. We climbed away from the airport over massive fields of sugar cane as we climbed toward the summit of Haleakala. We climbed over the low clouds surrounding the summit and over the summit itself which provided spectacular views of the crater and surrounding landscape. Our pilot was obviously a very competent pilot and an excellent tour guide as well. Throughout our flight he pointed out landmarks and talked about the history and geology of the island. As we descended over the southern flank of Haleakala we were treated to spectacular views of the rain forest, the coast, and dramatic waterfalls. We flew over the seven sacred pools and the town of Hana as we swung around the east end of Maui. The big island of Hawaii was visible in the distance as we flew over the summit of Haleakala. As we came around the north side of Haleakala, we were treated to beautiful views of the really tall waterfalls, many of them over 1,000 feet tall. We returned to the heliport and after landing we were assisted out of the aircraft by one of the Alex Air employees. She took our picture in front of the helicopter before escorting us back into the building.
Alex Air, as well as most of the other helicopter tour operators offers several flights ranging in duration from about 30 minutes to over an hour. We had booked the 45 minute eastern Maui tour of Haleakala and Hana but our flight actually lasted almost an hour. The helicopter tour ended up being one of the highlights of our visit to Maui and we were both very glad that we did the tour. We were also glad that we chose Alex Air. They were professional yet courteous and helpful. One advantage of this operator was that they used headsets that allowed you to talk to the other passengers as well as to the pilot so we were able to ask questions about what we were seeing and about the operation of the helicopter. The only negative thing about our entire tour was that the two other passengers ask so many questions about how a helicopter works and flying that the pilot didn’t have a chance to describe what we were seeing in the detail that I would have liked.
Here are a few suggestions to make your trip more enjoyable. If you want to take pictures from the helicopter, dress in dark clothing as light colored clothes cause a reflection on the cockpit windows which will show up in your photos. I would also book your flight for late morning as we were told that clouds often interfere with the view earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon. If you are prone to motion sickness take something long enough before you arrive for it to have a chance to work. However, my number one suggestion is that whatever else you do on your visit to Maui, definitely book a helicopter tour. This is one of the most specatacular ways to experience the natural beauty of Maui.
Booking a flight is easy. If you don’t want to use a booking agent like we did, you can call Alex Air direct at 808-871-0792 or visit their web site at http://www.helitour.com/. The web site is a great place to learn more about the tours that they offer, the history of the company, and there are even some internet special rates if you choose to book directly with them.

There it goes again, that loud, obnoxious, and extremely annoying buzzing sound that seems to be coming from somewhere nearby. The sound is some how familiar but I can’t quite make it out. As my mind struggles toward consciousness, I realize that it is the sound of the alarm clock next to the bed. I roll over and see that the clock reads 2:30. Wait, it’s still dark outside so that must be a.m. I’m on vacation, so why is the alarm going off at this unholy hour? As I come fully awake, I realize that this is the morning that we have planned to experience the sunrise from the highest point on Maui, the summit of the Haleakala volcano. After quickly getting ready, we hit the road from our Kihei condo at 3:00 a.m. in order to be at the summit in time for sunrise and in time to find a parking spot at the Pu’u ‘Ula’ula Overlook at the summit. Here there is a glass enclosed overlook which can be very handy with chilly temperatures and often windy conditions, but more about that later.
By the time we traveled the winding road to the summit, it was about 5:15 by the time we arrived. Being a little early was a good thing but cause we found a parking spot without any difficulty and we were able to stake out a prime viewing site before the crowds started arriving a few minutes later. Slowly, at first almost imperceptibly, the eastern sky began to lighten and then turn a thousand shades of purple, red, and orange as the sun crept above the horizon. This morning was spectacular. While the sky above was clear, the crater was filled with clouds which reflected and intensified the colors. Words are inadequate to describe the spectacular transition from night to day and the beauty of the ever changing colors. This was truly an experience not to be missed, regardless of how early you have to get up.
The sunrise is a great way to start you visit to Haleakala National Park but should by no means be the only thing that you do while there. After witnessing the spectacular sunrise, we drove back toward the park entrance to the Visitor's Center where there are exhibits showcasing the park’s natural and cultural history. While in the park look for the beautiful but endangered Silversword plant, there is a beautiful specimen in front of the Visitor's Center. You also may encounter the Nene, Hawaii’s state bird. Although they looked spectacular, we did not hike any of the trails in the crater. We were not accustomed to the altitude and simply walking from the car to the overlooks left us feeling winded. We did however; hike a beautiful trail near the entrance of the park at Hosmer Grove. This short trail leads through a beautiful eucalyptus grove where numerous species of birds, trees, and wildflowers can be seen.
Haleakala National Park which was established in 1916, covers over 27,000 acres and stretches to the southern coast of Maui. There is a $10 fee that allows unlimited visits to any section of the park for seven days and is good for either section of the park.
While this sunrise from the summit was one of the highlights of our trip to Maui, the following advice, or "lessons learned" will make your visit even more enjoyable. First, if at all possible, see the sunrise your first morning in Hawaii if you are visiting from the mainland United States. From our home in the Midwest, the time difference was five hours so, if we’d gone the first morning, before our bodies had adjusted to Hawaiian time, it would have been much easier to have gotten out of bed as early as you must in order to be there by sunrise. Because we’d spent the first part of our trip on Oahu, it was our eight day in Hawaii before we went to see the sunrise and getting up at 2:30 in the morning was just as difficult as it would have been at home.
My second piece of advice requires me to do something that no man wants to do, admit that my wife was smarter (at least this once) than me. I mean after all, it was June and we’re going to a tropical paradise, so why on earth would anyone waste space in a suitcase for a jacket? Great idea for her, not so smart for me. Before sunrise, at 10,000 feet, tropical paradise or not, it was COLD!!! OK, cold is a relative thing, but the morning that we were there, the temperature on the nifty thermometer in the rental car was 38 degrees. That might feel warm in Alaska in January but I wasn’t expecting that in June in Hawaii. At least I’d been warned by someone at the condo and did take a blanket which helped, but guys, let’s face it; it is not easy to watch your wife smile at you from her warm jacket while sporting that "I told you so" look on her face.
The road to the summit is winding and narrow with numerous switchbacks so you should allow yourself plenty of time. The drive from the bottom of the Haleakala Highway takes at least an hour and a half plus travel time to there from where ever you are staying. The drive was about 45 minutes from our condo in Kihei so an early start is a must if you plan to be there for the sunrise. The drive is remarkable not only for the natural beauty that you will see on the return trip, but also for the fact that you can drive from sea level to an elevation of 10,023 feet above sea level in only 38 miles and just under 2 hours! Be very careful and especially observant on your return trip down the mountain as there will be numerous people on bicycles coasting down the mountain. Several tour operators take hundreds of people daily to witness the sunrise and then ride down the mountain on bicycles. Where else can you ride downhill for 38 miles? As an avid cyclist, that sounded like a lot of fun but maybe next trip.
So, was it worth getting out of bed at 2:30 on vacation? For me, seeing the sunrise form the highest point on Maui was one of the highlights of our trip. Plan ahead and follow the advice above for the best possible experience, however, there is an element of luck involved. The morning that we went the weather conditions were perfect for a spectacular sunrise. I might not be as excited about the experience if conditions had not produced such a gorgeous sunrise but I think that the whole experience is worth losing a little sleep. I can’t wait to do it again the next time I’m on Maui. I do plan to follow my own advice though, we’ll go as early I the trip as possible and (hard as it is to admit) I’ll listen to my wife and take a jacket.