I don't usually recommend Luaus as they tend to be awful food and kitchy entertainment...but I echo what has been said about Old Lahaina Luau, I was very impressed with the food and excellent entertainment, probably the best in all the islands. The owners of Old Lahaina Luau also have another "experience" in Lahaina called "The Feast at LeLe" which I haven't done but have heard great things about.

David Pauls is a don't miss restaurant in Lahaina (make reservations).A Pacific Cafe is excellent in Kihei. My new favorite restaurant in Wailea is Tommy Bahamas(in the new Shops at Wailea), they prepare food well and the service levels are higher than most Maui restaurants.

I also like the Aquarium at Maalea Harbor, it's not the Monterey Aquarium by any stretch of the imagination, but interesting (and alot better than the aquarium at Waikiki).

Wife & I were there about this time last year and stayed at Kapalua Bay Hotel. If you want to do the snorkle/dive trips I would highly recommend booking on the Kapalua Kai - we went out on two other boats and found this to be the best hands down. Mamas Fish house...must do. Road to Hana was great...just plan on a 12 hour day if you want to venture beyond Hana to go all around the eastern part of Maui. My recommendation would be to go beyond Hana & visit Oheo Gulch and then turn around.....we just didn't really enjoy much beyond that. Rent a convertible (of course) and get yourself a CD or two of some of the "local" music....great way to get you in the mood. I recommend a CD called "meleana" by Kealii Reichel. With all the rush of trying to see everything.....find one night for a quiet meal somewhere. Almost forgot the luau....went to two and the Old Lahaina Luau was by far the best. Hope you have a great time.

Silly question here, but...
does the Old Lahaina Luau include cocktails? Other luaus do, but the Old Lahaina Luau website says nothing about alcoholic drinks.
Mahalo.

Flyerwife
All of our drinks were included. I drank Mai Tai's and my better half discovered a new favorite called a "Chi Chi". I assume that you could order whatever for free but I'm sure they had a somewhat limited bar.

------------------

Maui is one of my favorite places. Here are some of the things I would suggest:

Have cocktails and dinner at sunset at Pacific O
http://www.pacificomaui.com/index.html

Spend a day sailing to Lanai on the Paragon
http://www.maui.net/~paragon/lanai.html

Have lunch at Mama's Fish House
http://www.maui.net/~mamas/

Take a helicopter tour of the island
http://www.sunshinehelicopters.com/

Enjoy a relaxed lunch at the club at Kapalua
http://www.kapaluamaui.com/activitie...lantation.html

Just drive around, explore all the little back roads, small towns and beaches and enjoy whatever happens.

Do not eat at Erik's Seafood Grotto at Kahana Falls.



[This message has been edited by Punki (edited 04-07-2001).]

PremEx2000 wrote:
>>My absolute Number 1 suggestion to you if you want to do something outdoorsy (aside from sitting on the beach) is to go snorkling on the Alii Nui.

PremEx2K, you wouldn't happen to have a little more info on the people running this trip? I'd like to contact them for my Maui trip next week... anything to avoid the crowded shores of Molo & Turtle Town.

Thanks!

PremEx2000 wrote:
>>My absolute Number 1 suggestion to you if you want to do something outdoorsy (aside from sitting on the beach) is to go snorkling on the Alii Nui.

PremEx2K, you wouldn't happen to have a little more info on the people running this trip? I'd like to contact them for my Maui trip next week... anything to avoid the crowded shores of Molo & Turtle Town.

Thanks!

I found this link by doing a quick search on the internet. I'm sure if you did a more extensive search for "Alii Nui", you'll find their phone number. Here's the link:
http://www.best4hawaii.com/maui/maui...ng_cruises.htm

Thank you everyone for your fantastic suggestions! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif They've been really helpful, and I've printed them all out to take with us and refer to while we're gone. I'll be sure to write up a report when we get back.

Thanks again! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cool.gif

-- jab

Re.: Old Lahaina Luau

What is Hawaiian Seating vs. Traditional seating like?

Any cramps from Hawaiian seating?

Old Lahaina Luau has open bar included in the price, it is a bit limited in terms of beer, wine, basic mixed and tropical drinks.

The seating closest to the stage is on the ground on mats, you have to more or less sit cross-legged, if you can manage it. The seats beyond and to either side are long tables with I think 5 or 6 per side. You can get these still pretty close to the stage however. The seating assignments the times I have been there is first come first served, they show you what is available and you select.

Dont miss the pu'a ceremony when they take the pig out of the imu (in ground oven).

I would recommend both Hailemaile General Store and Mama's Fish House - great food at both. I've never been to A Pacific Cafe in Maui, but the one in Kauai is excellent, so I'd recommend it.

Molokini is crowded with snorkelers, but I felt like it was still worth it.