More Maui beta needed

**funkendrenchman** · 07-28-2007, 12:53 AM

Thinking about heading there for a week in mid-late September. I'll probably be flying into Kahului. I don't really know where to start, so I need some suggestions of where to stay, places to go and things to do. Is a car rental necessary? Should I hold off on a hotel and just get a place night to night? I read through the thread on Hana, but I want some more info on the other side of the island. Thinking about picking up the Entertainment book to save some money.

**gaijin** · 07-28-2007, 05:53 AM

Dude... rent a car. (get real)
stay in Kihei. good accomodation/beaches/snorkeling/food and Kihei is pretty central-island. Stay in a condo, they're cheap and highly worthy.

(If nobody here chimes in, PM me and I'll dig up Kihei info that gave me the best week of my life. That's a rad town.)

**Joey Joe Joe Junior Shabadoo** · 07-28-2007, 09:05 AM

Yeah staying in a condo will be cheaper cause you can cook and go to the grocery store since, like everything in Hawaii, eating out every meal will be way expensive. Renting a car and staying in the same place all week may be best since the island is pretty small. The only exception would be if you wanted to spend a night at the places up around Hana.

If you scuba dive Molikini crater is fun, especially the backside where the big stuff hangs out, and there are some other fun dives over by Lanai.

There is some hiking and camping over by Haleakala and tour groups do the sunrise bike thing down from the crater. I'm pretty sure there are mtn bike trails around the island but I'm not sure where. Luau's can be way cheesy but if you have never been to one you should go once. One of the best I've been to was on Maui. There is also lots of good windsurfing there if you want to try that.

**TWINS** · 07-28-2007, 09:17 AM

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...highlight=Maui

**Meadow Skipper** · 07-28-2007, 10:00 AM

Condo and a car - necessary.

Kihei's cheaper, but I like staying out near Lahaina, which is the coolest town. Traffic can sometimes suck out there though, so you may have to time your travel there.

Halku's pretty nice too, but I'm not sure if there are many condos there.

This got mentioned in the Hana thread, but save a few bucks for a dinner at Mama's Fish House near Kahului.

**cultvo** · 07-28-2007, 11:34 AM

Condo-Rent-a-car-eat in is def the way to go. Be careful not to get sucked into the touron mainstream though. The place can be geared for that since it is a bit of an industry.

Luau - Do some research, not all Luaus are created equal. The best ones are booked two weeks and more ahead of time. A Luau you can get into on short notice is most likely NOT worth the money. There is one on a farm not far WSW of Kahului that is supposed to be great, can't remember the name.

Hana. Definitley beautiful. Next time I go I'm planning to camp out beyond town somewhere. There are some incredible beaches out there if you go further E. Doing it in a day is a LOT of beautiful driving. If money is not an object the resort right in town looks amazing.

Paia - The most chill place to hang out. It's akin to Hood River in that people live there because they windsurf (or kite or surf). If you can really surf or windsurf it's close to Ho'okipa where it can be big and fun. I'm not good enough at either to hang there but it was fun to watch the big dogs play from the overlook and shoot some video.

Wailea - where the stars and the rich folk hang. Some amazing properties there for sure. Worth a drive-by.

The coolest thing we did was rent surfboards for the while time. We had them at all times and ended up surfing a lot more than anything else, which we were glad for in the end. We could stop whenever we saw a tasty, uncrowded spot and try it out. A snorkeling trip would be cool, but after figuring out that a little research goes a long way toward getting the experience we want we figured our first trip was beta for the future. Like Luaus, not all snorkeling trips are created equal. Try to get a first-hand recommendation for some of these things from someone you know well enough to trust.

But what the hell. You'll be on Maui time, you'll have a great time no matter what. It'll be an adventure. You won't want to leave when it's time to go.

**stenou** · 07-28-2007, 02:20 PM

I've lived in Maui for 20 yrs, so I can't help, but know a fair amt about the Island. Where to stay and go depend on what you like. Altho Lahaina is a nice tourist town, West Maui (Kaanapali, Lahaina, Kapalua, etc) is a bit of a drive from rest of island.If you likje to surf or boggie board, there's still south swells happening in Sept.. Either Kihei or West Maui have good spots for both. Hiking Haleakala crater is cool, but do in morning as it pretty reliably clouds up by noon. Snorkeling off beach in either west Maui or Kihei can be good. If you windsurf or kite, Kanaha is great if trades are blowing. They're not as reliable once summer ends. Kihei and West Maui are full on tourist oriented. Haiku is a bit more local. If you can find a place to stay there, it would be a different experience. It's also on windward side so much more lush. I would definitely spend a nt or 2 on Hana side. Book in advance as there isn't a bunch over there. Hike to Waimoku Falls is very cool. Hike along cliffs in Waianapanapa spectacular. Let me know if you want to talk and I can give you more info. As far as Luaus go (which I don't care for personally) Old Lahaina Luau is considered best. You can also rent Ocean Kayaks to take along coast. Let me know if want more beta.

**Blurred** · 07-28-2007, 02:44 PM

Originally Posted by gaijin

Dude... rent a car. (get real)
stay in Kihei. good accomodation/beaches/snorkeling/food and Kihei is pretty central-island. Stay in a condo, they're cheap and highly worthy.

(If nobody here chimes in, PM me and I'll dig up Kihei info that gave me the best week of my life. That's a rad town.)

What he said. Kihei is sweet, and pretty central. Rent a car, and see the whole island. Road to Hana is pretty amazing.

**skieurmalade** · 07-28-2007, 05:12 PM

not sure what your itinerary looks like, but hawaii air is doing $19 inter-island specials... I just spent three months camping out with a bunch of pirates in a secluded beach on the north shore of Kauai for about $200/ month... not for everybody... but lots of naked girls. it's just a ten mile hike from the end of the road or two hours by sea kayak and I definitely recommend it... I should be back there by sept...

**truth** · 07-29-2007, 08:55 AM

Originally Posted by skieurmalade

just spent three months camping out with a bunch of pirates in a secluded beach on the north shore of Kauai

I bet you know my friend Ivan @ napali kayaks.

**skieurmalade** · 07-29-2007, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by truth

I bet you know my friend Ivan @ napali kayaks.

Nope, at least not by name. I see those guys every day when i'm out diving, but they can't land on our beach so I never really get to know those guys too well. Damn impressive though, paddling 16 miles in those gnar seas every day from Ke'e to Polihali.