OT: Maui & Kona Recommendations

[scarlet_knight]

Heading to Maui and Kona for 10 days in March. This board has always been a great source for recommendations on travel.

Regarding Maui and road to Hana, would love to hear about which stops actually are worthwhile.

(Active couple without kids)!

Thank you in advance chopnation

 

[RUMcMahon]

Awesome! Maui is fantastic and the Road to Hana is a must! I'll have to look back and see what was worth it because I want to say everything was great. I remember that you have to leave early in order to make it all the way and hike the bamboo forest in daylight (once it's dark, you're F'd).

I would also highly recommend a helicopter tour (used Blue Hawaiian (spelling)) and the Haleakala crater for sunrise.

 

[PatrickRU92]

I will be happy to help you but there is too much to type here--I'm a frequent Maui visitor and know a lot, you can message me privately if you wish or I can give you my email. Do you have ideas on where you want to stay? of the West Coast and South Coast, I prefer the south although it's a bit pricier.

Briefly--on the Hana highway--black sand beach at Waianapanapa State Park is awesome, the short hike to the red sand beach is very cool and the best hike on the island is the Pipiwai trail to Waimoku falls (in the National Park about 1/2 hour past Hana). Get an EARLY start. shouldn't be a problem with your east coast jet lag !

Get the book (and phone app) Maui Revealed--it's worth it!

 

[mikebal9]

Haleakala at sunrise was amazing. Being warm clothes though. It's Hawaii, but it's freezing up that high.

 

[RUFogey]

Haleakala was amazing but 25 degrees or cooler. The town of Lahaina is really cool and has some amazing restaurants. My family took a day trip over to Lanai which included snorkeling and an expedition.

 

[mikebal9]

We also took a snorkeling trip out to Molokini. Was very cool. Even saw some good sized sharks.

 

[VirtualKnight]

Get the book Fodor's Maui, it was a great resource of things to do, places to go and eat.

The road to Hana is a must. I would do a 2 day trip and stay in Hana over night. Do NOT rush...take your time, you won't regret it. Make sure to go past Hana to the "Seven Sacred Pools" early on the second day if you do stay over. It gets really crowded as the day goes on. There are more than seven actually, but each pool waterfalls to another lower pool and finally reaches the ocean. It's truly something special.

Haleakala for sunrise is also a great early morning trip and will require a sweatshirt or jacket. You need to leave really early as it take over an hour and a half to get to the summit. Watching the sunrise from heaven is amazing.

 

[chickenpatty2]

Not sure if they still do the bike rides down the volcano, but we did that and it was awesome. Very early start (around 2am, I think). Best part was the breakfast we had at some local restaurant at the bottom (included in the price).

Hana - I echo an earlier comment -- if you can find a way to start an hour before everyone else, you'll have your time to make a few stops along the way and still avoid any traffic jams. Four-wheeling, you have the option of coming back the same way or following it around back to Wailea.

One other thing to consider -- if you have an hour or two to spare, take in one of the "time-share presentations" offered in a number of places. It's not the worst thing, and I recall getting a $150 voucher to a really nice restaurant. The dinner was great, and the money saved was used on golf!

Aloha, Mr. Hand.

 

[RUheart]

I just got back from kauai one of my favorite islands but the big island is still my favorite... If you stay in kona this time of year the wales are every where... But ck the lunar calendar if theres no full moon take a star gazing trip to mauna-kea 15,000 feet high and you can see stars galaxys etc. I could see the solar panels on satellite with a naked eye.. Yes its that clear.. PS i would avoid the road to hana if you or your wife gets car sick!!

 

[SirPerceval]

Went to Haleakala and Hana on the same day - absolutely killed my rental car's brakes - actually had to stop halfway back from Hana and wait for avis to bring a new car - this was before cell phones - found a phone at some fruit stand on the side of the road.

 

[alphapapa]

If I was looking at a 5 day trip to Hawaii (Have some miles to use), what'd be the best bet for me?

 

[BleedinRutgersRed]

If I was looking at a 5 day trip to Hawaii (Have some miles to use), what'd be the best bet for me?

2 days on the west side of Big Island (we stayed at some gigantic resort) for relaxation, then 3 days at a B&B on the east coast with some hiking. We stayed at an awesome B&B and hiking through a crater was something I will never forget.

5 days is a good amount of time for Kauai as well. Wouldn't really recommend island hopping for only 5 days.

edit: We kind of felt Haleakala was more about the journey than the destination, but we went at sunset instead of sunrise because we didn't want to get up so early. I'd recommend trying sunrise, though, as everyone else seems to say it was amazing. The sunset, at least the day we went, wasn't anything too special. And you will be driving in the darkest night you will ever see (or not see), with cows in the middle of the road :)

 

[m1ipabrams]

I just got back from kauai one of my favorite islands but the big island is still my favorite... If you stay in kona this time of year the wales are every where... But ck the lunar calendar if theres no full moon take a star gazing trip to mauna-kea 15,000 feet high and you can see stars galaxys etc. I could see the solar panels on satellite with a naked eye.. Yes its that clear.. PS i would avoid the road to hana if you or your wife gets car sick!!

My wife and I are going to the big island at the beginning of April and staying at the Fairmont Orchid on the west side. It is a trip for work, so I only have 1 day free(other days we have group excursions. We were thinking of renting a car and driving over to volcano national park. Any other suggestions?

 

[RULegion]

I will be happy to help you but there is too much to type here--I'm a frequent Maui visitor and know a lot, you can message me privately if you wish or I can give you my email. Do you have ideas on where you want to stay? of the West Coast and South Coast, I prefer the south although it's a bit pricier.

Briefly--on the Hana highway--black sand beach at Waianapanapa State Park is awesome, the short hike to the red sand beach is very cool and the best hike on the island is the Pipiwai trail to Waimoku falls (in the National Park about 1/2 hour past Hana). Get an EARLY start. shouldn't be a problem with your east coast jet lag !

Get the book (and phone app) Maui Revealed--it's worth it!

Second the state park...black sand beach and blow hole cave to crawl in...cool stuff

 

[alphapapa]

2 days on the west side of Big Island (we stayed at some gigantic resort) for relaxation, then 3 days at a B&B on the east coast with some hiking. We stayed at an awesome B&B and hiking through a crater was something I will never forget.

5 days is a good amount of time for Kauai as well. Wouldn't really recommend island hopping for only 5 days.

edit: We kind of felt Haleakala was more about the journey than the destination, but we went at sunset instead of sunrise because we didn't want to get up so early. I'd recommend trying sunrise, though, as everyone else seems to say it was amazing. The sunset, at least the day we went, wasn't anything too special. And you will be driving in the darkest night you will ever see (or not see), with cows in the middle of the road :)

Thanks. I was looking to do only one of the islands / areas and not island hop. There's always the next time and I don't think we could've covered a good chunk in 10 days either.

 

[RULegion]

Stay in kanapali or Kapalu in Maui... I stayed at the ritz in kapalua get breakfast Buffett included...it's worth it...big island is much more quiet obviously go see volcanoes national park, bring lots of water that day. I stayed at the hapuna beach not as nice as some on kona coast.. But great beach. I believe there is a Sheraton with some shops and restaurants would stay there next time...

 

[rufamily]

The Muana Lani Bay resort on the big island north of Kona great resort. The Hilo side has more rain and beautiful tropical forests. South is Volcanoes national park you can walk out on to the lava flow. I have been to both and Maui is awesome and the Road to Hana is great, but I love the Big Island.

 

[KnightHound]

My wife and I are going to the big island at the beginning of April and staying at the Fairmont Orchid on the west side. It is a trip for work, so I only have 1 day free(other days we have group excursions. We were thinking of renting a car and driving over to volcano national park. Any other suggestions?

Ok with one day here are two must do's in my book. First go to Blue Hawaiian helicopter and book the Big Island Spectacular. You'll fly over most of the island from the volcano to the rain forests and waterfalls. Its well worth whatever they charge
Second that night do a stargazing tour on Mana Kea. Absolutely breathtaking. Like nothing you've ever seen before.

 

[RUheart]

Ive stayed at the fairmont orchid for meetings and its very romantic at sunset watch them do the daily lightings its a daily ritual also a walk along the beach there to see the sea turtles as well a natural land locked water that closed over thousands of yrs with electric eels and unusual fish a 5 min walk from hotel... Theres a excellent sushi restaurant in the hotel one of my favorites..

 

[CranfordKnight]

The Haleakala sunrise and bike ride was one of the greatest experiences of my life. 3 hours coasting down beautiful vistas through multiple temperate zones. I'm not sure if this still holds, but we used Maui Mountain Riders because the concierge at our hotel told us they had preferential placement at the top of the mountain. We saw this pay off first-hand when many groups of riders had to move to lower checkpoints on the mountain because of overcrowding at the top, reducing their riding time and view of the sunrise over the clouds.

 

[D1ESEL44]

Ok with one day here are two must do's in my book. First go to Blue Hawaiian helicopter and book the Big Island Spectacular. You'll fly over most of the island from the volcano to the rain forests and waterfalls. Its well worth whatever they charge
Second that night do a stargazing tour on Mana Kea. Absolutely breathtaking. Like nothing you've ever seen before.

The stargazing on Maui freaked my wife and I out…it felt like the sky was much lower and the entire Milky was within arms reach.

To the OP:

Do the sunrise tour of Mount Haleakala and watch the sun rise up through the clouds (you will feel like you are on another planet) - THEN take the mountain bike tour from the top of the mountain all the day down to the base. It is not as bad as it sounds - all you do is hop on a mountainbike/cruiser and just coast down the mountain. The views of the island are truly amazing. Really cool. The tour finishes at a very old church that was once a leper colony run by monks.

I don't remember the name of the place, but there is a snorkeling spot that is actually the crater of an underwater, dormant volcano. You can only get their by boat and I know there is a catamaran tour that will take you there. The place is teeming with fish.

Play golf - there are several great courses - you can look them up online and research them.

Standup Paddle Boarding: If you have never paddle boarded you should definitely do it. When I was in Maui I used to hit the waves around 8 o'clock every morning. Saw all kinds of marine life - raced a few sea turtles on my board.

Deep Sea Fishing: charter a boat - just let the captain and the crew handle the rest.

(It's Hawaii - you want to be on the water.)

 

[RUinPinehurst]

Hadn't been in more than a decade, but have made a half-dozen trips to the islands. In Maui, we really enjoyed the Plantation Inn in Lahaina Town. More intimate then the big resorts, and more careful. Lots of snorkeling all around, hand feeding fish. Once in a while, some biggies moved in, aggressively. Terrific coffee. Also recall wild pigs coming down into town on occasion when they were burning cane up in the hills, and the ash falling like snow.

If Molokai interests you, you can take a day trip over via boat from Lahaina. But beware: the Molokai Channel is rough. You depart on a nice sparkling clean yacht but are later transferred to a "vomit comet" for the crossing. Lots of chum producing passengers. Hell, most of the crew got seasick. My wife and I still laugh at that. Still, Molokai is a slice of "old" Hawaii.

Not sure if it's still available to the public since Larry Ellison bought Lanai, but we stayed at a guest house that was part of the old Dole plantation, again, a nice change from the big resorts of Maui.

Stayed at Four Seasons on the Big Island. Nice property. Neat memories of the active island building there. Many lava flows look like they just happened, but you learn they are 100+ years old. Remember driving off road a bunch there, renting a little Tracker-type vehicle. Not sure that's legal, though.

 

[D1ESEL44]

I did the road to Hana too - you will need an entire day for Hana

Quick RU-related story on the Road to Hana:

My wife and I stopped at state park that has the black sand beach just to take it in. As I'm walking back to the jeep to leave, a young dude runs up to me - I will guess and say he was around college age, maybe a bit older. Who puts his arm around me and says to the girl he is with - "Take a pic". That is all he says. The girl takes the picture and that was it. I was wearing my Rutgers hat and Rutgers football shirt. The kid thanks me and says "Go Knights".

Never thought I would bump into a fellow Scarlet Knights fan on the Road to Hana.

 

[RUMcMahon]

Second the state park...black sand beach and blow hole cave to crawl in...cool stuff

Third as a must stop

 

[Newbrunfus]

Heading to Maui and Kona for 10 days in March. This board has always been a great source for recommendations on travel.

Regarding Maui and road to Hana, would love to hear about which stops actually are worthwhile.

(Active couple without kids)!

Thank you in advance chopnation

Heading to Maui and Kona for
Thank you in advance chopnation

Heading to Maui and Kona for 10 days in March. This board has always been a great source for recommendations on travel.

Regarding Maui and road to Hana, would love to hear about which stops actually are worthwhile.

(Active couple without kids)!

Thank you in advance chopnation

Scarlet, one of the best tips i can give you and any others heading to Hana is that you can download an I Phone app for 5 bucks called GyPSy Guide road to Hana-Maui. It will give verbal turn by turn navigation and point out all waterfalls, parking areas, hiking trails etc. Also Mama's fish house is a must on a separate day on way to Hana as is seeing Hoikipa beach wind surfers and Jaws surfing area. I will there this July with block R's all over my rental car and wearing R U gear everyday in Kapalua and Oahu.

 

[fg7321]

In Maui book a Trilogy Yacht tour of the Molokini Crater and then Whale watch right from the boat. In March the Humpback whales will be all over as they are giving birth in the warm Hawian water Eat at Pacioficos in Lahania great fish restaurant. Eat at Roys anywhere in the islands great Pacific Fusion cusine.

For the road to Hana rent a 4 wd and drive the complete loop past the 7 pools. This drive takes a whole day

 

[scarlet_knight]

As usual, the board came through with great recommendations thank you so much!

We will be staying in Kanapaali for 5 nights and then heading to Kona to explore and relax on the Big Island.

 

[RUBubba]

My sister lives in Maui, so when my wife and I went a few years ago we go to do a few "low tourist" things. Without a doubt, the coolest thing was going to "La Perouse". We walked maybe a mile across a lava field (the trail is well marked) and ended up at an old "fish pond" where the ocean washes fish into a deep lagoon for protected, yet AMAZING snorkeling. My memory may be off, but I think the whole snorkeling area was about half of a football field.
I'm not sure, but I think this was past Wailea.

http://www.hawaii-guide.com/maui/sights/la_perouse_bay

 

[scarlet_knight]

Great stuff. Any must eat shacks or restaurants ?

 

[RUBubba]

Mama's Fish House is ridiculous... but bring two credit cards just in case.

 

[Newbrunfus]

Great stuff. Any must eat shacks or restaurants ?

Scarlet there is a Roy's right near golf course in Kaanapali that I'd recommend plus the Hula grill in Whalers village near where you are staying. They have great macadamia nut crusted Mahi Mahi and usually some entertainment plus great sunsets. In Lahaina if you want to do an authentic luau then do the old Lahaina luau. My favorite restaurants in Lahaina and must goes for me are Kimo's for local brew and beautiful sunset and Fleetwoods for good music and beers but my all time favorite is Longi's for fresh made pasta and I could eat the free pizza bread appetizer as a meal its so good. Plenty of other places like pineapple and plantation houses in Kapalua and many more. Lastly a must go to but expect a long wait is a hidden breakfast gem in Napili near Kapalua called the Gazebo restaurant for the best pancakes ever. Aloha buddy.

 

[NJbound]

In addition to all that's been mentioned, we went horseback riding through the pineapple fields and down to the beach. Very nice trip.

 

[RUMcMahon]

Scarlet there is a Roy's right near golf course in Kaanapali that I'd recommend plus the Hula grill in Whalers village near where you are staying. They have great macadamia nut crusted Mahi Mahi and usually some entertainment plus great sunsets. In Lahaina if you want to do an authentic luau then do the old Lahaina luau. My favorite restaurants in Lahaina and must goes for me are Kimo's for local brew and beautiful sunset and Fleetwoods for good music and beers but my all time favorite is Longi's for fresh made pasta and I could eat the free pizza bread appetizer as a meal its so good. Plenty of other places like pineapple and plantation houses in Kapalua and many more. Lastly a must go to but expect a long wait is a hidden breakfast gem in Napili near Kapalua called the Gazebo restaurant for the best pancakes ever. Aloha buddy.

Second this the Hula Grill was fantastic. Snorkel off the black rocks

 

[RUforester72]

Roys restaurants in Kona and in Maui are terrific asian fusion with outstanding seafood. Napili Beach on Maui is great: good swimming and snorkeling.

Mai Tais are great everywhere!