My partner and I are going to Maui and Hawaii for our honeymoon October 28 through November 6th. Burned 140K US Airways miles to get us there and back in first.
I'm 26 and he's 25. We make decent money for our age, but are responsible with money. We have a house, a paid off car, new Acura, etc. We're paying for our entire wedding, so we decided on doing the Honeymoon using miles and Hilton/*Wood points. Figured we'd have money to do some nice things that way. We visited Oahu, Kauai, and Hawaii back in 2009 and loved it. We stayed at the Hyatt in Kauai (our favorite) and did ziplining and had a great time there. He loves the beach/pool and I love to get out there and do some nature stuff while on vacation. I love the pool too, but a few days of it and I'm bored.
Maui (5 nights at the Westin Maui): The pools and beach look nice. I've scoped out some decently priced places to eat in Maui. We're thinking of doing the road to Hana. It sounds interesting, but sort of scary--I frankly hate driving so I am glad he'll do it. We did Saddle Road in '09 in the dark and fog--so it can't be worse than that right? I think the Halloween festivities will be fun to do, it looks like a college homecoming! Anything we should really do here besides enjoy the resort and Lahaina?
Hawaii (4 nights at the Hilton Waikoloa): Pools are great. We did the volcano last time. I think some hiking in the Waimea area may be nice. The black sand beaches look interesting, but we're not sure if it's worth a drive all the way back over there or not? What else?
I don't want an activity planned everyday but a few days in Maui and a day in Hawaii would be nice to get away from the resort.
milesk
Feb 4, 11, 11:53 am
We just returned from Maui and Oahu on Monday and had a great time. If you're in Oahu, Pearl Harbor Memorial is a must see. We wanted to go gliding on the North side in Haleiwa but didn't have time :(
In Maui, we drove the road to Hana and continued all the way around Haleakala. This is an all day trip. Another day we drove to the top of Haleakala (1/2 day trip). The Kaanapli has a great beach and snorkeling at Black Rock. One of the better late afternoon deals is at the Hula Grill happy hour from 3-5pm (at Whalers). We also took a whale watching trip on the Hula Girl www.sailingmaui.com which was fantastic. You leave right from the beach. It also has an excellent kitchen on board and reasonable prices.
There is a grocery store just up the road where the Lower road starts that has everything and decent prices too. About a 1/2mile up the lower road is a place called Uno Kau Kau (IIRC) for a cheap casual sandwich or chinese for lunch.
Have a great time!
ericgartner
Feb 4, 11, 6:24 pm
Buy the Gold Card and do a Blue Hawaiin Helicopter tour on Maui. My family loved it. Or if you are brave do the Magnum PI doors off helicopter.
trlaura
Feb 8, 11, 8:42 pm
Maui is just an incredibly crowded island that is best left to just staying close to your resort (if you like it) and then put on some fins and get out in the water.
However, you time of stay may not be too bad. I never really liked the weather in the Wailea area (rain every single day) so if you can, head to the north area. Crime is rampant on that island, so don't lock your car and your window may not get broken.
808 Flyer
Feb 8, 11, 10:52 pm
. We're thinking of doing the road to Hana. It sounds interesting, but sort of scary--I frankly hate driving so I am glad he'll do it.
IMHO, I don't understand why people people want to drive to Hana on a vacation. I understand it can be pretty, but it is very stressful, and after awhile tedious. On the hand, Up Country Maui is very pretty, and not a bad area to drive in.
You mentioned liking nature. You may want to check out 'Iao Valley on Maui.
Recreation
Feb 9, 11, 9:11 am
Maui is just an incredibly crowded island that is best left to just staying close to your resort (if you like it) and then put on some fins and get out in the water.
However, you time of stay may not be too bad. I never really liked the weather in the Wailea area (rain every single day) so if you can, head to the north area. Crime is rampant on that island, so don't lock your car and your window may not get broken.
Crowds on Maui are dependent on the season. If you go in low season, it's not crowded at all. If you go in the summer or over a holiday, it's crowded like every other tourist destination. We traveled in the summer this past year, and we took day trips to Iao Needle, Haleakala, and Lahaina. Absolutely no issues with traffic outside of normal rush hours.
One of the main reasons that I love Maui is that it offers a nice combination of things to do. You can snorkel, hike, swim, boat, boogie board, go horseback riding, take driving trips, fine dine, picnic, ATV...or you can sit around at the resort and soak in some sun.
Contrary to what trlaura claims, Wailea is located on the driest part of the island. It rarely rains there as evidenced by the precipitation map below (Wailea is unmarked but located on the coast between Makena and Kihei.) There are parts of the island where it does rain everyday, but they are on the interior and certainly not in the two major resort areas of Ka'anapali or Wailea. (Lack of rainfall is one of the main reasons they built the resort areas where they did.)
Crime exists, but is not rampant on Maui. We do leave our cars unlocked and take our valuables with us, but I do this anywhere I go, including the swanky spas I visit.
dchristiva
Feb 9, 11, 9:24 am
IMHO, I don't understand why people people want to drive to Hana on a vacation. I understand it can be pretty, but it is very stressful, and after awhile tedious. On the hand, Up Country Maui is very pretty, and not a bad area to drive in.
You mentioned liking nature. You may want to check out 'Iao Valley on Maui.
I'm sure experiences differ by season, but when my wife and I drove to Hana, we didn't find it scary at all. A few "one lane" bridges, but nothing I would call scary. Lots of pretty scenery and places to stop and do some exploring in the bamboo forests. Many, many visible and hidden waterfalls and pools to find along the way.
Ancien Maestro
Feb 9, 11, 11:35 pm
IMHO, I don't understand why people people want to drive to Hana on a vacation. I understand it can be pretty, but it is very stressful, and after awhile tedious. On the hand, Up Country Maui is very pretty, and not a bad area to drive in.
You mentioned liking nature. You may want to check out 'Iao Valley on Maui.
Something to do that takes a day. Maui is a small island.. driving this trek makes the island seem bigger than it really is. Lush vegetation, black sand beach, behind the volcano park, and driving the trail around the volcano are some of the reasons to doing the road to Hana. Few good fast food stops along the way doesn't hurt neither.
happymommy
Feb 11, 11, 5:33 am
Something to do that takes a day. Maui is a small island.. driving this trek makes the island seem bigger than it really is. Lush vegetation, black sand beach, behind the volcano park, and driving the trail around the volcano are some of the reasons to doing the road to Hana. Few good fast food stops along the way doesn't hurt neither.
Maui is actually the second largest island, after the Big Island.
I've been a few times (and lived on Oahu) but never drove to Hana. Our friends did once, and they loved it. They stayed a night in a little inn while there, and said it was spectacular.
The Big Island is so beautiful! I'd go into Kailua-Kona for casual dining, and I'd definitely do the drive down south. It's so pretty - stop at Punalu'u bakery for the best guava bread!!!
Maui may be the best to enjoy the resort at least a couple of days, snorkel, if you want to do a luau, the old Lahaina one is supposed to be good (I've done 2 lauas in my life, and it was one too many, as I get bored).
The hike at Iao Needle on Maui is nice and easy. We took our son when he was a baby, and he just hung out in the backpack.
I think in Hawaii, whatever you do, get away a bit from the tourist areas and go explore. Talk to the local folks. Especially on the Big Island, we enjoyed it a lot. Sam Choy used to have a restaurant on the Big Island, but I think it's gone now. It was a hole in the wall in an industrial area with the BEST food ever.
mander
Feb 11, 11, 8:42 am
My wife grew up in Paia and we go there every year for the holidays. Yes Maui is touristy in the resort areas but there is much more to Maui. You have some excellent suggestions already. I definitely recommend going to Hana and then also driving past to Oheo Gulch and the Seven Sacred Pools, the bamboo forest, waterfall and so on. Take a day for the drive stop for swims and so on along the way. I also recommend sunrise at the top of Haleakala. If you are reasonably fit hiking down into the crater along Sliding Sands Trail is pretty cool. Lots to do on Maui...
tudorcity
Feb 13, 11, 1:47 pm
I think in Hawaii, whatever you do, get away a bit from the tourist areas and go explore. Talk to the local folks. Especially on the Big Island, we enjoyed it a lot. Sam Choy used to have a restaurant on the Big Island, but I think it's gone now. It was a hole in the wall in an industrial area with the BEST food ever.
Good news, Sam Choy is coming back to the Big Island, with a 100 percent locally sourced menu! ^
OMG I would love to go back! So cool to hear - thanks! To all those going to Hawaii - do not miss a Sam Choy meal. I used to love his segment on the local news for cooking. He's so gifted and full of aloha.
ranles
Feb 13, 11, 4:37 pm
Attend Warren & Annabells, a very special magic presentation +++ and outstanding night out. You will need reservations BEFORE you get to Maui. 808-667-magic
You can read our trip report on Maui... search "ranles"
JimG
Feb 27, 11, 9:23 pm
Attend Warren & Annabells, a very special magic presentation +++ and outstanding night out. You will need reservations BEFORE you get to Maui. 808-667-magic
You can read our trip report on Maui... search "ranles"
ABSOLUTELY!
Can't say enough good things about that show.
It's not your "typical" Hawaiian experience that you'd think about, but his show is absolutely one of the highlights of Maui.
As ranles stated....make your reservations early. They sell out every night and don't advertise.....it's all word of mouth, which should tell you something.
If you're adventurous (which is sounds like), I enjoy biking down Haleakala (Haleakala Bike Company). I like their bikes and that they just let you go down on your own time.
BTW....your honeymoon is one of the quietest times to visit Maui.
beckoa
Mar 4, 11, 1:14 pm
Good news, Sam Choy is coming back to the Big Island, with a 100 percent locally sourced menu! ^
Wow... excited :cool: and probably worthy of its own thread ^
I went to Sam Choy's over a decade ago on the Big Island and wondered what happened to it...
OliviaMarie5
Mar 6, 11, 12:43 pm
The extent of the crowds TOTALLY depends on the season. We went in early October and it wasn't crowded at all. I loved the road to Hana...we got a lot of beautiful pictures and had fun stopping at the lookouts and little fruit stands along the way. I had a friend recommend taking a snorkel trip with Maui Boat Trips,(www.mauiboattrips.com) and that was my favorite day of the trip. We got to snorkel, whale watched, saw turtles and dolphins, and got to go to several different locations. It was a one of a kind experience for us. Also, Haleakala at sunrise is magical. Congrats and have a blast!
fajimenez
Mar 7, 11, 7:39 am
Consider sunrise or sunset on Haleakalā.
We went for sunset -- it was at least 40-50 degrees cooler than Wailea -- so dress in layers you can put on and take off easily.