We're off to Maui on March 11th! Any suggestions for our stay?

[Radio_Lady]

We were there in the 1980s -- just a short visit, but we did the Haleakala bicycle ride down the mountain. Not sure we'll do it again... maybe get up early to see the sunrise.

Please don't suggest the road to Hana. Been there, done that... throughly motion sick by the time we got back.

Thanks for any comments you may have. Yes, I wish I could take YOU with me, also! Out of the winter gloom, into the sunlight...

[CabalPowered]

1. SCUBA or SNUBA the crater

It's great! :thumbsup:

[Radio_Lady]

3. Thanks for the suggestion. We went to Molokini and snorkeled there.

Regrettably, I was unable to eat lunch on the anchored boat... still too much wave action. I just get a horrendous case of motion sickness almost any time I'm on water.

I'll take the Bonine this time... hope I'm better. It's really a very neat place.



http://www.coralreefnetwork.com/mpa/molokini.htm

[CabalPowered]

6. Then I reccomend a good book, lots of cocktails with the little umbrellas

and pleanty of sunscreen. :hi:

[Radio_Lady]

8. Cute, Cabal Powered! I'll try to read there, but I always end up walking on the beach instead!

Drinks anyone? I'd love a Pina Colada!

[JitterbugPerfume]

2. have a wonderful trip

and come back with a lotta stories

[Radio_Lady]

4. Hi Jitterbug Perfume! Appreciate your post! Ever been to Hawaii?

[JitterbugPerfume]

24. unfortunately, no

but my daughter, Robin and her S.O (who is now her husband) went there a couple of years ago

now I WANNA GO!

My next trip is going to be to England .

[Radio_Lady]

26. I hope you get there soon! Our May-June trip is to England, Scotland,

France, and Belgium.

We are really travel fools this year!

Where are you going in England?

Nice to meet you at the DU.

Radio Lady Ellen in Oregon

[AlCzervik]

5. the aquarium, we were just in Maui before Christmas, the aquarium is excellent.

http://www.mauioceancenter.com/Information.html

also if you get a chance please go and eat at Mama's fish house, you need to make a reservation and it's a bit pricey but sooooo good.
http://www.mamasfishhouse.com/

the black pearl dessert is beautiful and delicious.

edited to add pic of dessert

[CabalPowered]

7. I'll second Mama's

I had the best lunch there I think I've ever had. I was tempted by all the fish but went with the Kona beef. Mmmm.. Kona beef.

[Radio_Lady]

10. Great suggestions! Will do both I'm sure.

Do you happen to remember if the restaurant is air-conditioned?

We were on Kauai two years ago and had to cook in our villa mostly -- so few of the restaurants had A/C, and I melt in anything higher than 68 degrees.

That dessert looks wonderful!

Thank you both for the tips!

[AlCzervik]

11. it's right on the beach and i don't remember it being air conditioned but they had

all the windows open and the fans on, wasn't hot at all. I get cranky in the heat and i was very comfortable through dinner, very breezy location.

[Radio_Lady]

12. Thanks. We'll check it out.

[Arugula Latte]

14. Yes -- that is a very nice aquarium indeed. nt

[Quixote1818]

9. Go to one of the surrounding islands like Molokai and the Lavender Gardens

Also the Winery is great!!! http://www.mauiwine.com/

I also took the dirt road along the south side of the island to Hanna in my rental and the road was great! Hardly any traffic and faster than the north road. You are not supposed to take a rental on that road but I did anyway. I think the locals don't want you to go that way because they like that route. If you rent an SUV or Rav 4 then you won't be breaking your rental agreement.

Walking along all the fancy resorts on the South East side of the Island at sunset is always awesome!

[Radio_Lady]

13. Sounds excellent! We were lucky enough to go to Molokai in the 1980s, and we took the mule ride to

Kalapapa (the leper colony). It was a wonderful day and we flew out that night.

We're going on to Oahu on Day 12 for another week.

Thanks so much for posting. We'll check out the OTHER road to Hana which we didn't know about...

[Arugula Latte]

15. If you want to poke around a cute little town, Pa'ia on the central north shore is cool.

It has a hippie/surfer vibe and a few nice little restaurants.

[Radio_Lady]

16. Thanks for the tip! I don't think we got there last time!

[Radio_Lady]

17. Hubby remembers being in the town of Pahoa, and buying 10 papayas for $1.00!

Oops!

Just realized that Pahoa is on the Big Island of Hawaii -- wrong trip...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pahoa,_Hawaii

But the papayas were delicious regardless.

[Shine]

18. We were there last June with our family.

I recommend checking out "Ulalena", it's an incredibly creative dance, multi-media presentation that takes the audience through the history of the island of Maui. It's excellent and the whole family LOVED it!! It's at the Maui Theatre in downtown Lahaina.
http://www.hawaiitravelnetwork.com/~ulalena/

Have fun! Aloha! :hi: :hug:

[Radio_Lady]

19. Good post! Sounds like fun, Shine! Mahalo to you from Radio Lady!

[Shine]

20. You're more than welcome, my friend.

be sure to let me know, afterwards, what you thought....if you decide to go, that is.

You won't be disappointed if you do. :D

[Viva_La_Revolution]

21. Remember...

... that I am SO! Jealous!!

:hi:

[Radio_Lady]

25. Hi Viva... at least we survived the raging wind and waters here in OR.

Sweetie, I really do wish I could take a planeful of you folks on this trip.

We've been very lucky with all of our travel since the early 1980s. Once in a while, I muse to myself that it will stop, someday -- due to death or ill health or whatever.

I'm crossing my fingers that you'll get to go soon... very soon.

Warm regards,

Radio Lady Ellen in Oregon

[Arugula Latte]

22. Lahaina is touristy, but I still like it.

You were probably there in the 80s(?)

I love that gi-normous banyan tree in the town center.

You can also tour the old ship that's docked in the harbor.

[Radio_Lady]

27. Yes, I have nice memories of Lahaina in 1984. I got a little tipsy at one of the restaurants

across the street, on the second floor. It was the heat and the tequila.

We'll try to get a photo of that banyan tree. Is it still alive?

[Arugula Latte]

34. Yes. Still alive...

[Scooter24]

23. Love Maui...

We always stay at the Four Seasons. Beautiful hotel with a top-notch staff. Excellent concierge.



Me and the boyfriend are going to Capri in a few months for my birthday. I'm so ready for the warmer weather.

Hope you have have a great time! Remember to relax! :hi:

[Radio_Lady]

28. Wow! That is a gorgeous shot. Perfect symmetry!

Have a good time in Capri!

We're slated to go to France, Belgium, England, and Scotland in the springtime.

What month is your birthday?

Have a good time in Capri.

No other way to go than to "relax" -- I try not to get stressed in the hot weather.

Nice to meet you on the DU!

Radio Lady in Oregon

[Radio_Lady]

29. Sunday update: Any other suggestions?

Thanks to those who posted.

[spiderpig]

30. Where are you staying?

If money is no object, I'd pick the Mauna Kea - elegant, but not stuffy. However, I had a lot of fun at the Hyatt Regency. Nice rooms and atmosphere, and you can walk to other hotels for someplace different to eat.

Personally, I find Maui kind of dull. Good for a relaxing getaway, but too artificial for my taste. And not much to do. Prefer the Big Island for its laid-back atmosphere and visual variety.

[spiderpig]

31. Um - DUH! I meant the Kea Lani

(Too much pre-Oscar vino).

Not to dis Maui...great place to relax, and DO see Fa'a do his firedance at the Hyatt. But I have a special place in my heart for the Big Island. Got married there!

[Radio_Lady]

33. Big Island favorite: Waikaloa Hotel and the new HGVC (which we haven't seen yet!)

http://www.hiltongrandvacations.com/honolulu-timeshare-villas.php

[barb162]

56. I have stayed there too and LOVED it.

I think I have hundreds of photos of the place. I love the artwork scattered all over the grounds.

[Radio_Lady]

32. We're going to the Sunterra resort Kanapali Beach Club Maui! We prefer the Big Island, too,

but we haven't been to Maui since the early 1980s.

After a couple of weeks, we move on to the Hilton Grand Vacation Club at the Hilton Hawaiian Village on Oahu, with our kids and grandkids.

[Radio_Lady]

35. Oh, Catnapper, you got MARRIED there! How beautiful!

Your "sand saying" would be... "Just about to get LEI-D!"

[spiderpig]

36. Yepper...wed by a Kahu on the edge of Hilo Bay

Part of the ceremony was in Hawaiian, so we really don't know what we promised each other, but we're still happily hitched 17 years later.

Saw you did the Molokai adventure - wasn't it fascinating? We were there in 93, I think, and there was still only one traffic light on the island. We took the plane down to Kalapapa and met up with the mule people who were offering us large bribes for our return tickets!

[KamaAina]

38. Did somebody say O'ahu?

Does anyone need recommendations for what my Big Island friend cheekily calls the "Island of Hell" (traffic, heat, etc.)? The key is: to rent a car, or not to rent a car? TheBus does go all around the island, but it sure ain't no Tri-Met! O'ahu does have attractions and scenery, but most are well outside the big city (I myself rarely get to see them :( )

[Radio_Lady]

43. We've rented a car both on Maui and O'ahu. This will be our tenth or eleventh trip to the state

of Hawaii. (We've lost count.)

On our first visit to the Big Island -- we stayed in Hilo at the Nanaloa Surf hotel, near the old, large banyan trees. That was in the early 1990s, we took an all-day tour bus from Hilo to the Volcano National Park, then to the botanical gardens where we stopped, then around to the Parker Ranch, and they dropped us to the Sheraton Waiakoloa, which was then the only hotel there!

A few years ago, we revisited the Big Island and just fell in love with it. I think we've been there five or six times. My favorite town is Wailea, which has horseback riding and a slightly cooler climate. I was actually able to put on a jacket!

Mahalo for your comments!

In peace,

Radio Lady

[KamaAina]

45. In that case, get the heck out of town!

:-)

Seriously, the eastern tip of O'ahu holds some of the finest scenery in the state: Hanauma Bay (closed Tues.) and Halona Blowhole. Hale'iwa on the North Shore is as close to country as we've got: kind of like Pa'ia, Maui, with nice restaurants and shops. Even some Honolulu attractions (e.g. Bishop Museum, particularly good with the keiki) are better done by car.

And then there's Opihi's place on Da Pond in Kane'ohe...

[Radio_Lady]

47. I'll have to monitor my heat index for many of these places.

Regrettably, I have to stay air-conditioned and/or in a wet bathing suit for many of the activities.

Also, I'll be in charge of my grandkids for many of those last seven days.

We'll have more free time in the earlier part of the vacation on Maui.

I really appreciate your comments.

[barb162]

54. I've been there several times too. I just love the Big Island

[barb162]

55. dupe

[kay1864]

37. Here's mine

Iao Needle
drive through northwest Maui
helicopter tour
art galleries in Paia
Old Lahaina Luau (an authentic luau, not the cheesy mass-produced kind at the Marriott)
Warren and Annabelle's magic show in Lahaina (amazing closeup magic. The guy's good)

Most important of all: get this book: Maui Revealed. I took Mrs. Kay to Maui on our honeymoon. 5th visit for me, so I knew *everything* already.

NOT.

This book told me about little gems I didn't even know existed. We hiked down 15 feet off the road and found a private pool with waterfall, while drivers zoomed by overhead, unaware of our find.

If you can stomach 2/3 the way to Hana, the Blue Pool is not to be missed. Breathtaking.

Edit: agree about the aquarium--very nice. And try shave ice every chance you get, until you find a favorite.

[Radio_Lady]

44. Kay, thanks so much. This is an EXCELLENT post!

I'm trying to find out if Powell's book store (the biggest in Portland, OR) -- has the book you suggested.

[Kajsa]

39. Honokeana Cove in West Maui.

You don't need to stay there to snorkel the cove.

It's the closest thing to an outdoor/open space aquarium
I've ever seen.
My son, who has high spectrum autism, completely overcame his fear of fish swimming alongside
him there. In fact, I couldn't get him out of the water. He wanted to go back
there everyday on our last visit in 1997.


http://www.honokeana-cove.com/sshow-activities.html


Have lots of fun and take pictures, please.

:hug:

[Radio_Lady]

46. Excellent! I'm definitely getting the urge now -- can't wait!

Thanks for your post.

[KitchenWitch]

40. This is smart alecky of me

but make sure it is close to an Olive Garden (just kidding!)

You kids have fun.

I have not visited Hawaii yet! I fully intend to soon!

:hi:

[KamaAina]

41. Sorry, no can do

We in Hawai'i work diligently to keep the archipelago free from dangerous, invasive species, such as snakes, and (so far, at least) Olive Garden.

Po' t'ing will just have to settle for Longhi's, the well-established, if somewhat touristy, Italian standby on Maui, I guess. :-)

[KitchenWitch]

42. Good plan!

:hi:

[Radio_Lady]

48. Longhi's it is -- tell me they don't have "poi" on the menu.

Tried it once -- didn't like it.

My son-in-law loves "poke" (raw fish salad). We actually have a husband and wife here who make it, along with other Hawaiian delicacies, at a Beaverton, OR restaurant called "Hapa Fusion" -- delicious!

They're catering a small party we're having next Saturday March 3rd.

That's because this "wahine" doesn't cook!

[Radio_Lady]

49. One more week to go... now I have to figure out what to pack!

[Parche]

50. MAUI MY FELLOW OREGONIAN

I suggest the Lanai cruise over sail 'Trilogy' tours

Lahaina Harbor, Slip #18

Effective: 1/1 - 12/31/07 Adult Child up to 12*
Atlantis Submarine Tour no transfers $90.20 $45.01
Submarine & Whale Watch Combo no transfers
(12/15/06 - 5/15/07) $107.16 $56.79
Submarine & Luau Combo no transfers $132.89 $79.30
Maui Value Pass no transfers $107.16 $53.57
Atlantis Submarine and Hard Rock Cafe $100.74 $56.80



Spirit of Lahaina Sunset Grill Cocktail Cruise
Effective: 1/1/07 - 12/31/07 Adult Child 3-11
Lahaina Sunset Grill Cocktail Cruise $55.00 $33.00
Operates daily. Check in at 4:30pm. Disembarks at 7:15pm.

Includes: Welcome Hula Show, Two Hour Cruise, Appetizers and dessert, Fresh Coffee and Tea, Welcome Sunset Cooler, 2 Premium Beverages, Open soda Bar, Strolling Contemporary Live Hawaiian Music, Hula Dancing, Dance Floor. Does not include transfers.


West Maui is home to one of the wettest places on earth. Long streaming waterfalls and vibrant green valleys are trademarks of this incredible volcanic wonderland. Weather permitting, highlights include: the "Wall of Tears" with over 17 waterfalls flowing at once; Maui's tallest waterfall, Honokohau Falls, with over 1,100 foot drop. View the resorts of Kaanapali and Kapalua. Take in Old Lahaina Town with its quaint historic whaling harbor. Fly by Launiupoko, Olowalu and Ukumehame valleys. Finally, the vast central Maui sugarcane and pineapple fields as you return to Sunshine's heliport. Whale watching in season.

A 30 minute flight.

[Radio_Lady]

52. We'll check it out, and thanks so much for mentioning this to us.

[Scarlett17]

51. Check out the Grand Wailea. . .

absolutely beautiful hotel and grounds. Lahaina is great. Have some Hula Pie coffee from the Bad Ass Coffee Company for me.

:hi:

[Radio_Lady]

53. The Bad Ass Coffee Company... sounds like a great place!

I'm going to meander over to the website for the Grand Wailea. Were they open in the 1980s?

Oh, my goodness, it looks absolutely spectacular!

http://www.peaktravel.com/GrandWailea.html

[Scarlett17]

59. It is even more spectacular in person.

I'm in sales and in 1998 I earned an incentive trip that included a week at the Grand Wailea. Lord knows I never could have afforded to stay there on my own. It is amazing. At the time, supposedly they had more flowers than the rest of Maui combined and the best art collection in the state. Just beautiful--check it out.

The Bad Ass Coffee Company in is Lahaina. Great coffee and a cute story to explain the name. I'm still using a Bad Ass key ring. Definitely worth the time to find. Enjoy your trip. I can't wait to go back.

:hi:

[Radio_Lady]

61. Wow! OT: I used to be in sales, and our incentive trips were to beautiful

downtown -- Summit, New Jersey. (With apologies to anyone from New Jersey)

Or Stamford, Connecticut (apologies to anyone from Connecticut). I did spend a month in training for the same company in New York City -- that was January 1984. I was one of a group of technical sales people who stayed at the Hotel 50th Street (maybe that's not the exact name) and they took us to see "Cats."

Went to Atlanta once and left the hotel for a quick one-hour tour (well, that was officially a training session, not an incentive trip.)

Nice to hear from you! Are you old enough to remember Burt Lancaster in the movie "The Swimmer"? I'd like to swim in every delightful pool in Maui -- husband has taken me to literally dozens of places with beautiful swimming pools -- one more lavish than the last.

Here's one from the 1980s -- easy to guess where I was:

[Scarlett17]

62. Direct sales has the best incentive trips.

I earned weeklong trips to Maui and Holland America cruises to the Carribean and the Meditteraean. Not to mention national sales conventions in Vegas, New Orleans, Orlando, San Antonio, Nashville, etc. The trips were earned by hitting a specific goal, not by competing against other sales reps. Now I work in corporate sales and only the top six sales reps in all of SE Michigan earn a three day trip to Cancun. Not nearly as motivating. :-(

Anyway, sorry, I'm not old enough to remember that movie. But, if you like pools, the Grand Wailea has the world's only water elevator. It's incredible. I don't know what the policy is for non-guests using the pools, but it's definitely worth looking into.

[Radio_Lady]

63. A water elevator? Now I've heard EVERYTHING!

I can usually wangle my way into a hotel pool, unless it's locked in some way.

In Hilo, we had driven all the way to the Nanaloa Surf hotel -- where we had first stopped on our original trip to the Big Island of Hawaii in the 1980s.

Oh, I (accidentally) had my bathing suit on under my muu-muu and then I then (accidentally) tripped and fell into the pool. It was delightful! Everybody smiled at me, even the lifeguard!

[Scarlett17]

64. Check it out, you'll love it.

There are several pools on different levels connected by slides and a lazy river. In the lowest pool you can swim up to a door that looks like a submarine door. The pool attendant lets you into a large round raft-thing that looks like a boat on an amusement park river rapids kind of ride. When the "raft" is full of occupants, the attendants close the door and water cascades down from above (hold onto your bathing suit top--I'm warning you). The raft floats up a round "elevator shaft" and you get out at the top and can take a slide back down. I have never seen anything else like it. There is also a swim-up grotto bar. I highly recommend the chocolate-macadamia nut smoothies (with several shots of rum, of course).

[barb162]

57. I like going on the whale watching boats off Lahaina

I have seen the humpback jumping out of the water doing flips. One did it four times in a row. It was wonderful.

[Radio_Lady]

58. Thanks for your posts, Barb! We're definitely thinking about whale watching cruises!

I better bring the Bonine -- goodness, I wish there were a CURE for motion sickness!

[barb162]

60. As I recall, it wasn't rolling around at all and nobody got sick

And I get seasick, but not on that boat. You know that disgusting sick rolling? It just wasn't doing that. It's pretty calm water over there by Lahaina.

[Hardrada]

65. Send a postcard to the antiwar demonstrators in DC. If you mail

it soon after your arrival it should get there by 3/17. Make it in care of The Pentagon.

[Robeson]

66. One suggestion: Take Mrs. Robeson and I with you!!!....

...:D

[Radio_Lady]

67. I've said it before, but I wish I could charter a plane and take you and others with me!

But I'm not rich enough to do it... sadly!

Best I can do is to try and post photos of the neat places we've been --

Thanks for your post, Robeson!