Maui No Ka Oi

Highlights for the back door adventurer include getting to know some of the many water falls, cliff diving into the ocean, spear fishing, hiking the crater then staying in one of the cabins, camping, checking out the Redwoods, lava tubes, local tropical foliage and birds, climbing coconut trees, rain dancing, bathing in the sunset, and witnessing the phenomena of the Haleakala sunsetting with the full moon rising.

For the front door traveler there are an abundance of planned activities such as sunrise at the crater and biking down the 10,000 feet of the winding Haleakala road into the quaint town of Paia. Try surfing, wind-surfing, and body boarding for the first time with trained professionals that will keep you from drowning or getting bit by a shark. Don't forget the lush beauty of The Road to Hana stopping at the Seven Pools and then the historical Kaupo Store in the middle of nowhere.

Quick Tips:

The mystical theatre piece, "Ulalena", in Lahaina will give a musical history of the Hawaii.

The Maui Arts and Cultural Center in Kahului offers quality films you'd see in New York.

The Maui Farmers/Arts Market Friday mornings in the Kahului Queen's Mall has the local fruit at local prices - an abundance of pineapples, papayas, mangos, bananas, avocadoes and strange fruits you don't know how to open, as well as local arts and crafts.

Go to Makena, the most beautiful long stretch of white sands beach and body boarding able surf.

For the hiker, swimmer, surfer I suggest getting a good hiking book and a book on the beaches to find all the spots the tourists aren't bussed in and still have the tranquility of water dripping with no obtuse chatter.

When the winds are up and the surf is fine, the windsurfer's do the most amazing tricks - full flips, sideways spins and just plain catching air on a wave. Checking them out at Hookipa or behind the Kahului airport is a good free live performance.

Best Way To Get Around:

All though, I'm not sure if it's kosher to recommend, hitch-hiking is a common way for the low budget traveler with no time constraints.

For the low budget short term traveler renting a wreck might be the best. Try Good-Karma Cars.

For the low budget long term traveler buy a truck, van or economy car depending on your travel plans and shelter arrangements.

For the luxury carry me around I have some money traveler, rent a new car and go slow on the rocky roads, take a shuttle or plan each day with a wonderful excursion.

Snuggled into the one and only major intersection of downtown Makawao, Casanova's is a central spot for all the local familys and friends living in the area as well their guests from the mainland and a few tourists who researched the area immensely or got lost and fell upon the local's upcountry, upbeat Italian restaurant.

Casanova's, well known by most of Maui's locals for dance nights and for serving Italian cuisine seen in every city on the mainland yet sparse on this island, caters to the food lover's stomach and artist's pallette.

The red table cloth wine glass shiny silver decor, custom clay benches, dance floor, two seating levels and roaring emblem of founder/artist Piero Resta warms the tummy as you watch the tanned Maui locals eat their pizza and wait for your pasta to arrive.

Casanova's serves your typical fine pastas, pizzas and wine with some particular themes to Maui's way of life. Mmm yum. I have yet to taste them all!

For that food fascination when you are bored of the tourist joints in Lahaina, Casanova's is a good choice.

Don't forget to go to Ladies night serving hip-hop dance beats on Wednesday nights, the band "The Prolifics" on Thursday nights, and Friday is the wildest night of Latin dancing excursions. My friends drive 2.5 hours from "the other side of Maui" where the roads are windy and rocky to make it to Casanova's on Friday nights. Piero Resta, the flambuoyant Italian artist and founder of Casanova's shows up and makes Friday nights even more special on the days he is not too tired of his work's gallery showings.....

Seek out what the locals are doing!

The cuisine is very Hawaiian with the popular Poki (raw Ahi appetizer), seared Ahi, Ono (local fish means "yum"), Taro cakes and much much more!

The waiters and waitresses wear fine Hawaiian floral pattern dresses and shirts. The women wear flowers in their hair. If you ask, they can probably teach you some Hawaiian words. To add to the decor, the table cloths have Hawaiian patterns, and local fresh ginger flowers are placed on the table. There are views of the ocean out the open screened windows. And the inside is made all of a dark wood, making it very comfortable and cool to sit in on a hot day. Feel the breeze come in from the ocean, and watch it tremble through the palm trees, this is pure delight while sipping a scrumptious Hawaiian inspired martini awaiting the beginning of your meal!

Mama's is a busy place. Stop by just to attend the bar and enjoy a scrumptious drink! Definitely get reservations if you want to have dinner.

To get there, drive from Paia along the Hana Highway toward Hana (and Huelo and Haiku) for about a mile or two. It's on the left hand side (ocean side) with a large sign saying Mama's Fish House. There is plenty of parking and a nice beach with tiki torches, outrigger canoes, palm trees and that aqua blue ocean of your dreams. Bring a camera, it's very picturesque.