Hiking Into Nature

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Wandering through bird filled pine forests to a tropical rainforest with waterfalls or a barren moon like crater there are so many landscapes to enjoy.

On Maui is one of the first frisbee golf courses in the state and possibly the country.  For those who are not quite sure about what that exactly is here is a bit of a brief.   This sport is where you go from tee to tee using a frisbee instead of a golfball.  The terrain is not well groomed like a golf course but it’s completely unspoiled nature.  You need to spin that frisbee around tree trunks over high grasses and across gullies.  If you get off the course the hike to get your disc back may take you a good bit of time but it’s always fun.  This course is set high up on the slopes of Haleakala just below the tree line.  You will wander through meadows and bush collecting your discs as you miss throw them or if they bounce off trees.  Bring a picnic and bring the family as kids will love wandering through this forest on a treasure hunt for the discs you are bound to loose or mis-throw.

Check out our little pice on hiking up Iao Valley.  It’s a great place to spend a morning and if you are quite adventurous you can continue up over the pass.  This route brings you out in south Maui above Lahaina.  Expect to spend a good 8 to 10 hours doing this hike.  Although it is not that long, it’s quite trek as the paths are overgrown and the terrain is very steep.  You will be doing some mountain climbing so be prepared for that.

One of the favorites for any serious hiker is the trails coming down the slopes of Haleakala.  There are many different routes depending on your skill level and time.  Starting at the top of the mountain the most spectacular hike is down through the crater and out the Kaupo Gap.  This takes only a couple days if you are quick.  The weather really changes often in Hawaii so be prepared for anything.  Being exposed in the crater on a wet windy days is never that much fun.   The other option through the crater is heading north and venturing down into Keanae but that is not as popular.   Many day hikers skip choose to follow the trails down the “front sides” towards Wailea or Haiku.   In all cases for a good portion of the hikes you will still be above the tree line.

Still in the National park but on the Hana side of the island is a wonderful short hike up the Oheo Gulch.  Following the creek that feeds the Seven Pools (Seven Sacred Pools) will take you past 200′ plus waterfalls, banyan trees and through the dark bamboo forest.  It takes only a few hours to go right to the top but it is well worth it.  Many people believe that if you hike down from the crater you can come out here but scaling down the 400′ waterfall at the end of this trail is not advised.

There are many Maui activities and tours related to hiking.  Many of the hiking turs from Kaanapali take you around the west Maui mountains.  There are very few tourists who venture out that way so it’s perfect for tour companies to provide services out to them.  You rarely meet anyone and the land is unspoiled, as far as Maui goes.

Check out some of the other sites to get more in-depth hiking spots as there are hundreds.  Wander along the Kings trail in Makena, adventure into Polipoli springs in Kula or find some of the ancient rock art above Lahaina.  The big thing now is to hike up through the forest and Zipline down.  It’s fun for most of the family and there are a few locations to do that particular activity on Maui but they are booked weeks ahead so plan early.  There are many hiking books in the local stores that can give you pinpoint directions of where to go, where to park and the difficulty rating of each of the hikes.  There is something for everyone.

Road to Hana Tour

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We took The Road to Hana Tour with Valley Isle Excursions and I have to say it was great. What a value for the price! Surprisingly there were two main attractions. First, the unparalleled beauty found on The Road to Hana.

Second is the knowledge possessed by your guide. The guides are so familiar with every aspect of Hawaii, Hawaiian culture and are so friendly, they are truly the epitome of “Aloha”. You really feel like they are enjoying their job! It’s so nice to see that their employees are taking the time to really show you the beauty of Maui and making it fit within your vacation budget!

Another thing to consider is the possibility of having an accident while driving the Road to Hana. There are a whole lot of t-shirts that say “I survived the Road To Hana” and they say that for a reason. There are over six hundred turns on the way to Hana. Six hundred!!! How could anyone enjoy their trip if they had to drive it. It would simply exhaust you and you would be advised to stay the night in Hana and then drive back the next day. Now, if you didn’t already know, the little, affordable B&B’s in Hana are usually booked way in advance. Also, expect to spend at least $150 for a decent place to sleep in Hana.

When we drove to Hana by ourselves on a few separate occasions and it was truly a unique adventure each time. The first time we drove to Hana it was raining so hard that we couldn’t get in to swim at the Seven Sacred Pools because of flash flooding. The second time it was so dry that there weren’t any falls at the Seven Sacred Pools or to look at on the way and we weren’t knowledgeable about the other sites so we just went home.

Another time we drove out a Jeep had just landed in the ditch on the opposite side of the road, presumably because the driver was looking at the sights instead of driving, which happens quite often from what I hear. Even during our trip with Valley Isle we saw a good sized rock in the road that had fallen from the side of the cliff directly above the road. I don’t even want to imagine the hassle that could have caused us if it had come down on our car, not to mention possibly killing someone if they were in a convertible or soft top vehicle!

Yep, the Road to Hana is incredibly treacherous, and incredibly beautiful. Valley Isle Excursions really has us hooked. Now and in the future we’ll enjoy the Road to Hana while letting someone else man the wheel and educate us on Maui!

Lahaina

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Day or Night there is always something happening in and around Lahaina.  The front street is a bustling place of action.  During the day most of the museums, art galleries, shops, cafes and restaurants are open early.

You can enjoy your day under the banyan tree in the center of town where there is plenty of people watching to be had.  Each day there is something different going on from markets, to events, to presentations, tournament related events and even festivals.

Throughout Lahaina there are plenty of cafes and bars that are open late.  There is something for everyone in your group, from country to hip-hop dance.  Check out the hotel concierge often to see what’s going hot on what days.  There is no club that is going off every night so plan your days and check out things ahead of time to be sure you have a great night out.  Since most people are on vacation, waiting to the weekend to have a great time is not always necessary like in the cities.  Every day can be a party night in Lahaina.

This is the historic capital of the Hawaiian Islands so it has a lot more history. The old buildings, canal setup and unique architecture is a wonderful place to hang out for a day. This is much more of a tourist town then Kihei. There are little museums, galleries and many shops, cafes and restaurants.

The large banyan tree in the centre of town at the waterfront is a great meeting place and a perfect place to do some people watching.

Kannapali

Paia

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I enjoy Paia and spent a lot of time in this little town.  I think it’s the best town, next to Lahaina,  for getting some good food and walking around in Maui.  There are lots of little shops, cafes and restaurants to check out.   During the day everything is open but by 7pm on most nights stores are closed.  The timing changes throughout the year so bet to head there a bit earlier.  It’s a great place to do a bit of shopping and then catch a bite to eat.

In the evenings the Moana cafe has something going on.  Along with their great food and beautiful presentations, they have Open Mic nights and live bands.  Check out their Facebook page to find out what new thing is going on that week.

My favorite pizza place on Maui, and possibly in the world is the Flatbread Pizza Company right on the Hana Highway.  It’s pomegranate mohitos are a local favorite.   They have many locations throughout the USA but they are not some big chain restaurant.  The use of local organic ingredients and the ever changing menu of fun pizza topping is what keeps me coming back each week.   I was introduced to the hamburger pizza here which has everything I love on a cheeseburger.  Yummy!

There are lots of little and big cafes, hole in the wall mexican or the fish stand at the main corner.  Get some Gelato ice cream too.

Now during the nights there are two places which have bands, music, dancing and late night menus.  Jaques and Charleys are right beside each other on the Hana Highway at the edge of town as you are heading out towards Hana.  Check ahead to see who’s playing and what the schedules are.   One is an open air fun, sushi club and the other is a down home country bar.  Both are a lot of fun on the right nights.

Besides eating and drinking, you can shop at the local grocery store.  They have decent prices and Mana Foods is a great place to grab things for a pinic lunch.  It’s a full service grocery and on most days have taste testings.  They encourage you to try out some of the tropic fruits before you buy so you really can tell the quality of the goods they get.

Kahului

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Maui Arts & Cultural Center is one of the top attractions and fun things to do in Kahului.  There is always some sort of event happening either out on the courtyard or in the theatre.  You can spend many a night enjoying displays of Hawaiian or modern culture.  From comedians, plays, films to orchestras, solo artists and rock bands, there is something on the schedule that you don’t want to miss.

Other things during the day in Kahului to do can range from the farmers markets held at the local malls, the weekend events that include festivals, swaps or street parties.

There are plenty of bars, cafes and restaurants doing something, day or night in Kahului.  Most of these events are tailored to the locals so in most cases they will be similar to what you got back at home.  If you want Hawaiian themed partying this is not going to be the city.

The movie theaters are about the only late night thing going on for the family.  Most of the arcades, mall galleries and box stores close at no later then 10pm.

Wailea

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During the day in Wailea there are not a lot of options besides the beach activities that Maui is famous for.  You can visit the Wailea Shops where you can peruse the high end shops and watch for celebrities.  They also have a great little deli that always has a line at lunch and some tasty pineapple topped burgers at the restaurant.

The number of high quality golf courses here will astound even the pro golfers.

Some of the best things to do in Wailea is to hang out at the Hotels.  Their lobbies are open to the public and they have plenty of great restaurants with great lunch deals if you are local and can show a Hawaiian driver’s license.

At night there are parties at most of the big hotels and everyone is invited.  You can be guaranteed that the prices for drinks will be much higher then anywhere else on the island and there will probably be some cover charges.

If you want a great overall experience then stay at a little Bed and Breakfast place called the Pineapple Inn.  This little inn is located in a beautiful Wailea neighborhood and has only a 4 guest suites and a cute two bedroom cottage.  They will make you feel right at home and give you all the scoops on what to do, when and where to do it.  The beauty of this place is that the backyard pool, hot tub, grill, lounges and everything you would dream should be in a backyard in Maui.   The views from the hottub, the privacy and incredible setting for the pool beats any other hotel hands down.  If you are traveling with a family then the two bedroom cottage is perfect for you to rest and relax.

There are some restaurants, golf courses and a mall to visit during the day but nothing really happening otherwise unless you are staying or doing activities through one of the major hotels. This is a high end area so be prepared for that. The best thing to do is Wailea is to hang out in the mall and spot celebrities. Be prepared to be disappointed, they don’t look like they do on TV, in the movies or on the concert stage.

Wailuku

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Wailuku is the capital of the county of Maui.  It has all the government offices, it’s the administration center for Maui county.   Wailuku has a long history and it can be seen at the Bailey House Museum during the day.  That building is also home to the Maui Historical Society.  You can learn all about Maui’s past and future here in Wailuku.

Up above Wailuku is a number of great parks to visit during the day.  The Cultural Heritage park that shows different building styles of the cultures that call Maui their home.  The Portuguese, New Englanders, Philippinos, Hawaiian, Japanese and Chinese all have a demonstration building that their community upkeeps.

Further up the valley is Iao State Park and the Iao Needle.  This park deserves a few hours to explore especially if you head upstream for a swim in the pools.  On most days you can watch some of the local kids jump off the bridge into a small pool, a fall of about 20 feet or so.

At night Market Street and the surrounding area has the concentration of restaurants, cafes and bars.  Market street is lined with little cafes and shops but it’s definitely not a touristy place.   The best spot to listen to new local talent is Marc Aurel cafe.  They have open mic nights and also some live music playing on the weekend.  Their menu is tasty and innovative.

Kihei

Hana

Going out to Hana to do things is the opposite to what you should be planning.  You should plan to do nothing when you go to Hana and just fill in some time checking out some of the local attractions.

During the Day

Hana Cultural Center and Museum

Red Sand Beach

Hana Bay

Oheo Gulch

Waianapanapa State Park

Hamoa Beach

At Night

There is not too much happening after sundown in Hana.  This is a sleepy little Hawaiian village as remote as you can get on Maui.  There is some live music at the Hana Ranch restaurant or at the Hana Hotel on most nights.  Other than those two places, unless you know some locals who are throwing a party, that’s about it.