Weekend Getaway on the Island of Maui, Hawaii

The Wailea Beach Marriott is located along Kihei Road/Highway 31 along the southwest side of the island. Drive through the towns of Kahului (where the airport is) and Kihei. Wailea is immediately after Kihei. When arriving at the airport, it's almost a straight shot south. It is very easy to find, regardless of day or night arrival.

The Wailea Beach Marriott is located immediately next to the Shops of Wailea, which is where you may find some celebrities shopping. Shops include Fendi, Gucci, and other luxury item venues. Golf courses abound on the "island side" of Kihei Road, across from the hotels, and all hotels are beachside with easy sand access.

Parking at the Wailea Beach Marriott is ample. Valet parking is available at $10 per day. Otherwise, you can self-park for free. The self-parking areas are on the top level of the parking garage or in the back section of the first level of the parking garage. Self-parking is not far away from the valet parked cars and you won't have to worry about walking far with your luggage to the registration desk.

My husband and I did not have reservations when we arrived as we had taken a spontaneous trip to celebrate our first wedding anniversary. We arrived around 8pm on a Saturday night and were met at the registration desk by a large fireworks display from an adjacent hotel and a warm smile from the desk clerk. Check-in was prompt and when the clerk learned of our spontaneous decision to visit them for our anniversary, she placed us in an oceanfront room and had room service deliver champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries with gold-flaked chocolate seashell candies on a beautiful white serving dish. It read "Congratulations" in swirled chocolate on the dish.

Our room was laid with beautiful porcelain tile floors and teak wood. The Tempur-pedic style king sized bed was covered in all white with a warm goose down comforter and goose down pillows. A small wicker couch, chair, and coffee table were available, as well as a lanai table and two chairs on the tiled balcony which overlooked the green grounds leading down to the oceanfront. The bathroom sink area had ample space and was an independent cabinet sitting on the floor, marble top and high grade chrome faucetry. A floor to ceiling mirror outlined in teak was on the wall next to the sink. The toilet and marble bathtub with shower were in their own invididual room next to the sink area. A TV with pay-per-view movies, high speed Internet access, and a small refrigerator were available. Bottled Fiji water was on the desk, available at a $4.75 bar charge.

The bed was so incredibly comfortable that it made me want to throw away my expensive mattress at home. I fell asleep right away and possibly only changed position once as I slept through the night.

Being hotel guests, we qualified for 10% off the total bill by showing our "hotel pass".

My husband and I arrived at 8:30pm on a Saturday night. Plenty of room was available and we were quickly shown a balcony table for two which overlooked the tiki torch and lantern lit multi-pool and Jacuzzi stone and tile areas below. Multiple palm trees swayed in the breeze and though you couldn't see the ocean for the darkness, you could hear the waves crashing on the shore.

Our hostess, busboy, and waitress were very friendly and professional and checked on us often to make sure things were fine. Our water glasses never went below 3/4's full without being refilled.

An appetizer menu was presented on paper with a pen. It's done on the honor system. The buffet inside houses all the appetizers and two salads. You choose what you like and write down what you have taken. It's tallied to the bill at the end of the evening.

The menu is à la carte with prices listed. An ample wine list is available and on the menu are listed approximately 10 different martinis at $9.95 each.

The menu has different appetizers than the buffet-listed appetizers. There is plenty for all types of appetites and tastes. There are approximately 12 appetizers, six salads, two soups, and main courses show at least five kinds of fresh fish prepared in a variety of ways and all with different ingredients, steaks, pastas, seafoods, seafood pastas, steak and seafood combinations, chicken and vegetarian dishes. À la carte side items show approximately eight choices. There are after-dinner drinks and coffees and a listing of desserts as well.

I chose the sea bass with crab crust and aioli. It was heavenly and a very nice sized portion. I also chose the Bibb lettuce salad with tomato slices and sliced mango with vinaigrette and an order of spinach with chestnuts and oil. My husband chose the chicken breast with ham and melted swiss cheese with marinara sauce. He stated it was "OK" and would have rather had my fish dish. He chose broccoli, which arrived on long thin stems as asparagus are. Our bill, with two martinis, two main courses, two side items, and one salad—with the 10% discount—came to $89, not including tip.

The restaurant is large and can accomodate very large crowds for conferences and weddings. Yet, the balcony seating is very intimate even though there are many tables. There is a separate bar outside the restaurant entrance with bar seating and table seating.

Two singing gentlemen played instruments outside the bar in the hallway and added very nicely to the atmosphere.

This restaurant is on the "Road to Hana" along the Hana Highway in the town of Paia. The town is approximately 7 miles west of the airport (town of Kahului). The restaurant is located on the south (right) side of the road and is just a few blocks from the far edge of town. There is no parking lot, only streetside parking.

Charley's is both a restaurant and bar, separated nicely into family areas and bar area. Wooden table and chairs are packed in nicely and service is fast and friendly. Wood beams across the ceiling, big windows letting in lots of light, carpet throughout, and a bustling kitchen. Souvenir T-shirts are available.

The menu has a lot on it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We stopped for breakfast and ate for under $20. I got an order of Eggs Benedict with a little flair of green chilies. It was really good. My husband got an order of scrambled eggs, biscuits and sausage gravy, and sausage links. Both meals were good sized portions. There are vegetarian selections on the menu as well.

The bathrooms are fairly good sized, two stalls in the ladies' room and lots of sink room. To reach both bathrooms, you must walk through the bar area and up a ramped narrow hallway. Nice painted island murals inside, and clean. Both bathrooms are wheelchair accessible.

The bar is really cool, long and filled with just about every alcohol imaginable. It made me wish I was coming back to enjoy it at nighttime. Lots of tables and booths and a really friendly hometown atmosphere. A big room, but a cozy feel, which is welcoming. Has a side door entrance so you don't have to walk through the dining area to get there. Overflow from the dining area is seated in the bar area to eat. I didn't see any no smoking signs but that doesn't mean they're not there. I didn't see anyone smoking.

I'd recommend it for any family with children, honeymooners, and older generations. The bar has musicians come in and play and it looks like tourists and locals would mix well in the bar area at nighttime. A nice laid-back atmosphere with great food.

An American diner with awesome food and even better milkshakes. 1950s style with red and white and airplane motif. Burgers, chili fries, onion rings, ice cream and apple pie, club sandwiches, chicken pot pie, fried shrimp dinners and milkshakes, ice cream sundaes and more!

Sandwiches run between $6 and $10, dinners are between $10 and $14. Milkshakes are between $3 and $4. Portions are big.

Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, 7 days a week.

Located along the outside border of the Maui Mall. Parking is abundant.

Hairpin turns with abounding rock cliffs on one side and straight down cliffsides on the other. Parts of the Hana Highway are one lane and all bridges are one lane with traffic yielding to the other. This is the Road to Hana. It's soooo worth it!

Most of the road hugs the coastline but is hundreds of feet up along the sides of mountains and cliffs. If you drove straight to Hana, it would take about 2 hours, but then you'd miss all that's along the way. The town of Hana is not your main destination, it's enjoying all what you can find and see along the way.

It was built in 1927 and has been maintained nicely through the years. We drove over brand-new asphalt for miles. You'll find over 600 hairpin turns, 56 one lane bridges, temples, churches, black sand beaches, red sand beaches, and tons of waterfalls.

The town of Paia begins the trek even though the Hana Highway leads from near the airport. The town of Paia is really a cool little town. It's beachside and is the home of the invention of windsurfing. You'll find lots of tourists, tons of surfers and windsurfers, and lots of locals there too—not avoiding the tourist population. I wouldn't consider the town a tourist trap with gift shops, etc. It is, though, the last real stop on the way to Hana so be sure to get gas, snacks, drinks, and film...and use the bathroom before traveling to Hana, as there are few facilities. You'll be pulling over on the side of the road to use the bathroom otherwise...and that's difficult because most of the road is cliffside. If you do pull over at a pull off spot, there's no privacy as you'll be one of many drivers at any time of the day. If you get nauseated with turns in the car, be sure to eat ginger, drink ginger ale, bring crackers, and take Dramimine. Trust me.

You can drive it yourself or take a guided tour with air-conditioned mini-buses or SUVs for about $100. If you drive it yourself (which I recommend), you can stop anywhere you want. Rent/buy a Road to Hana CD to play in the vehicle, which will tell you all about everything.

It can rain along the way. Speed limits are posted as 20 and 30 mph. The turns keep you from going much faster and you wouldn't want to...with the accidents you could have and the things you'd miss along the way. Falling rocks are a hazard too.

Don't miss: (1) Twin Falls waterfalls. Hike beside the guava trees. Mile marker 2. (2) Garden of Eden Arboretum for tropical flowers. Between MM 10 & 11. (3) Keanae Peninsula with views and taro fields. (4) Wai'anapanapa Park past MM 32 for black sand beaches, lava tubes, caves, and ancient cemeteries. (5) Hasegawa Store in Hana. (6) Seven Sacred Pools Park past Hana. (7) Charles Lindbergh's grave—difficult to find—we couldn't!

Inside Wai'anapanapa State Park lies a black sand beach open to the public.

Park in paved parking lots. There is a ranger station. A pay phone is available. Garbage bins and recycling bins are available. Port-a-potties and campsites or cabins are available. Camping is with prior received permit only.

The black sand beach is not wheelchair accessible. Those with problems walking up and down stairs will have difficulty. It begins with a steep paved walkway to the stairs. There are only a few handrails.

The sand is coarse and the beach abounds with larger black, smooth, round stones becoming smaller stones, becoming pebbles, and then becoming sand type granules. The beach is surrounded by lava rocks and lava rock cliff fronts. There are big lava rocks in the sand. The size of the beach is roughly 150 feet in length so it's not very big.

There is a lava tube immediately to the right at the base of the stairs you can access. It is not the pathway to the beach; you hit the beach at the bottom of the stairs. This is a little extra treat! You must bend down to access but once inside, it is above 6 feet in height and leads to the ocean. Be sure to watch for the tide so you don't get trapped.

Caves are accessible in different areas. You will climb down and up steep rock steps, no officially built steps with handrails. Caves are filled with pools of water. You cannot walk in the caves because of the pools and the pools are not deep enough to snorkel or dive into. Watch for spider bites and bug bites. The insects are not very evident and you'll be bitten before you know it. The caves are very worth the walk though.

Ancient lava rock-lined cemeteries lie here. Ancient Hawaiian spirits remain here. Do not remove any rocks from the cemeteries, the caves, the beaches, or anywhere on the Hawaiian Islands, as a matter of fact. People who have taken rocks and stones from any of the Hawaiian Islands are said to have grave bad luck fall quickly upon them. Park rangers even receive packages containing rocks, sent through the mail by people who have taken rocks home...because of the bad luck that has fallen upon them. The rocks are then returned by the rangers to the park.

Board the catamaran named Four Winds II for a 4-hour morning or afternoon cruise to Molokini Crater and/or Coral Gardens for humpback whale-watching (in season from December to April), green sea turtle-watching, and snorkeling, with breakfast or lunch at an extra $6 cost.

The boat is amply staffed with friendly and knowledgable staff. Besides the captain, there is a SNUBA instructor and guide, a bartender/food server, and a photographer/videographer, among other staff members.

Snorkels and face masks are included in the cost. Sodas, wine, and beer are included in the cost. We didn't have the breakfast so I can't tell you what's offered but the $6 lunch offers a choice of a freshly grilled cheeseburger, hot dog, chicken breast sandwich, or vegetarian burger and chips.

Novices as well as experienced divers are welcome. Children are welcome.

You may rent a wetsuit jacket for $5. SNUBA is an extra charge. Underwater cameras with a roll of 36 exposure film rent for $21 (you take the film with you to develop on your own). Copies of still photography and/or DVD copies of the day's filming is available for purchase—between $20 and $45. The photo/videographer takes your photo and video aboard the boat and underwater while you SNUBA/snorkel.

The catamaran takes you out for an hour of snorkeling at Molokini Crater or if wind/weather isn't that great, to Coral Gardens. The catamaran is partially glass-bottomed so you can climb to the bottom of the boat for your viewing pleasure.

The cost is $35.95 per person when you mention you saw their ad in one of the tourist books. Discount given at time of booking only.

The company, Maui Classic Charters, operates the boat Maui Magic as well. The company is a sponsor of the marine science department of the University of Hawaii and has donated a boat to the program.

The Wai'anapanapa State Park is a great stop along the Road to Hana. It is approximately three miles from the town of Hana on the island of Maui, Hawaii.

Tent camping and cabin camping are available by previous permit only. There is a ranger station, port-a-potties, an outside pay phone and garbage/recycling bins. The parking lot is paved asphalt and can hold roughly 100 vehicles.

Inside the park and not to miss is the black sand beach, the lava tubes, the caves and the ancient burial site cemetery.

You can easily spend an hour and a half and see everything, taking some great photos and walking some nice small hikes.