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June 2004
For our very first trip to the islands are looking for one
discounted airline ticket S.F. to Maui (8/4 to 8/11) for up to
$450. Does anyone out there have or know a source to obtain
such a ticket. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
leeor
We just purchased our roundtrip tickets non stop from SF to Maui
thru Pleasant Holidays for $399, plus tax. I believe you have
to leave on a Mon, Tues or Thurs. It was the best deal we could
find. I saw their ad in the Travel Section of the SF Chronicle.
Aloha
Ali
Try Suntrips @ http://www.suntrips.com/
Enjoy!
EP
May 2004
My son's 7th birthday falls during our vacation to Maui . I'd
like to get some ideas on places to take him to celebrate.
I'm not looking for a Chuck E. Cheese type experience, just
a kid-friendly place that's fun and interesting.
jim
We just did a trip to Maui and went the Aquarium there. It was great. We
saw lots of cool fish, rays, tons of sharks, and two special tanks outside
with hammerhead sharks and turtles. Have fun!
In addition to the aquarium, just across the parking lot from
there is a miniature golf facility. It's new and is really cute
and best of all has bumper boats with squirt cannons. My son had
a blast when we stopped there on a lark. It's kind of hidden so
you have to look for it. Fun for the whole family.
woodbury
March 2004
Husband, 8-month old, and I would love to stay around Hana on
Maui for 2-3 days. We're not sure we can afford the Hana-Maui
Ranch. Any tips for getting a lower rate? We'd also like to
hear alternate suggestions in Hana.
Erin
The latest issue of Via Magazine (for members of AAA) has an
article on Hana and lists a few places to stay. Between friends
and the library, you probably can find a copy easy enough.
Bob
Jan 2004
We'd like to take our family on vacation to the Grand Wailea in
Maui. I was wondering if anyone had been there with kids. I
called the conceirge, but that was a waste of a phone call. No
advice and she knew little about negotiating the resort with
kids. For example, they have what appears to be a fabulous pool
with multiple slides to take you from one level to another, but
the web-site says there's a minimum height requirement of 46'',
so my son won't make it by 4''. My questions are: is the pool
still fun for kids who can't do all the slides? Can kids under
2 go to all levels of the pool with a lifevest and parent or are
they stuck in the kiddie pool? Any other comments are also
appreciated.
Thanks! Sharon
Grand Wailea pool is great for kids of all ages. We stayed at
the Fairmont but since their pool was under construction we were
allowed to go to the Grand Wailea, which we ended up doing
almost every day. Our toddler did not like the slides but there
is a ''baby beach'' and a ''lazy river'' that are perfect for little
ones, plus she loved the swim up bar. There are also rapids, a
tire swing, and smaller slides that do not have the height
restriction.
michael
We took our 15 month old to the Grand Wailea last year and had a
wonderful time. Except for the water slide, the water elevator
and the rapids, which would be too rough for a little one, they
can go with you everywhere else in the pool, down the gentle
waterslides, and in all of the pools. The best part with a
little one is the sand pool which is next to the big pool and
designed to be a beach for really little kids. It's perfect. The
hardest part at the hotel with a child under 3 is that you can't
prepare any meals, so you have to eat out. Our best bet ended up
being room service, but it gets very expensive. If you don't
mind that, I would vote for the Grand Wailea, it's a very
special place for adults and children.
We have stayed at the Grand Wailea and thought it was wonderful
for children. The grounds are incredibly beautiful with easy
access to the beach if you want to head there for the day as
well as lots of space to run around. While a very elegant
resort, the place was completely set up for kids and the staff
was very gracious and accomodating. The pools are set up for all
levels so even if your child can't go on the slides because of
size, there are many other areas of the pools that are fun. They
even have a pool with a sandy beach so that the kids can play in
the sand at the waters edge. The resort also has a kids camp
that allows you to have your kids go to an organized program if
you want to head off and do something more adult for a while.
Great resort, highly recommend it.
Arquelle
May 2003
My parents are going to Maui for their 50th anniversary. Can
someone recommend a really nice restaurant. Thanks.
A MUST is Mama's Fishhouse (www.mamasfishhouse.com). It is
WONDERFUL!!! The fish is caught daily and their meal
preparation is fabulous! It has a wonderful ''Hawaiian''
atmosphere. You can make the event what you want it to be.
There are people dressed up and others that come in their shorts
and Hawaiian shirts. We have spent alot of time in Maui and
this is always a MUST for us. It is a bit of a drive,depending
on where you are staying, but well worth it. Try and time your
reservation so you can arrive 1/2 hour early to see the sun
set. It is BEAUTIFUL and makes a nice picture.
ENJOY!!!!
Glenda
We really enjoyed Mama's Fish House when we visited Maui about
1.5 years ago. It was recommended as one of the best fish
restaurants on the island.
Susan
''Roy's'' is very good. Roy Yamaguchi is a very famous chef in
the islands, and this is one of his restaurants. If I remember
correctly, there are 2 Roy's restaurants right near each other.
One is more casual, and one is pretty fancy.
Pacific-O in Kaanapali is fantastic. A beautiful ocean side
restaurant with many original and fantastic fish dishes. We ate
there our last night during our wedding-moon at sunset. It was
romantic and very delicious.
Also good, Mama's Fish Shack. The name sound awful, but the
restuarant is renowned for its fish entrees. Very classy place.
This is a bit out of the way--on the road to Hana. Also
beachside.
Also delicious: Swan Court at the Hyatt Regency in Kaanapali.
Beautiful open air restaurant, dim romantic lighting, excellent
service and wonderful food.
Four Seasons is great too...you almost can't go wrong eating in
Maui.
Deniene
Depends on what part of Maui and what type of food, I guess.
I'm only familiar with the Northwest part of the island. If
they like sushi/Japanese food, I highly recommend Sansei in
Kapalua. If not, then Roy's in Kahana.
Tiffany
We had some great dining experiences while on our honeymoon on
Maui. The best two were Roy's and David Paul's. Roy's makes a
chocolate souffle that was out of this world! Your parents
won't be disappointed with either restaurant. David Paul's is
in downtown Lahina and Roy's was just a short drive north of
Kanapali.
Top picks for me are:
I'O
Pacific 'O
Roys
Mamas Fish House
check them out on http://www.mauimenusonline.com
Enjoy, A Maui Gourmet
Congratulations to your parents! If they are near Kihei or
Wailea, we recommend the Waterfront restaurant near Maalaea
Harbor, north of Kihei maybe 5-10 miles. I would even drive
down from Lahaina for it. We haven't been to Maui in 3 years,
but went to it for our ''night out without the kids romantic''
dinner every year for about 4 years. It was recommended to us
by a local, is off the beaten track and is definitely worth it.
In an apartment complex on the bay, it serves some of the best
fish we've ever had and has great service. Make a reservation
for a table outside. Definitely worthy of a golden anniversary.
The website is www.waterfrontrestaurant.net
Aloha
Linda
We used to live on Maui, and we revisit frequently. Our
favourite restaurant for a spectacular dinner is Mama's Fish
House tucked along the coast, just east of Kahului heading
towards Hana, in Kaua. The setting is beautiful- in a converted
beach house with gorgeous views and ambience, and the food is
divine- exotic but homey. Traditional Polynesian cooking
featuring very fresh seafood and incorporating local tropical
fruits and vegetables. Its a Maui institution. Their website is
http://www.maui.net/~mama. Its expensive but worth it.
fontana
We just returned from Maui and had a great dinner at Pacific'O,
located at 505 Front Street, in Lahaina. It was definitely the
most adult restaurant we ate at, even though we had our toddler
with us. It's absolutely beautiful at sunset, and they have a
patio right on the beach. The food and service were both
terrific. In fact, there was wedding party there at the time,
so it seems to be one of the best ''celebration'' restaurants in
West Maui.
Alison
Try Mama's Fish House. I've traveled extensively and have to say
that my meal at Mama's ranks among my top five. Have the home
made sorbet if they still serve it. Enjoy the taro root. Eat,
eat, eat. Everything is wonderful. I hope your folks have a
great trip!
Chris
David Paul's in Lahaina is fabulous! It's a classy, little
place but not uptight. They will definitely need reservations.
anon
at the risk of spoiling the party, I gotta say that Mama's Fish
House is overrated (though the sunset from the beach next to it
certainly is not). we go to Maui at least once a year, and
have for many years. we used to go to Mama's, but got tired of
them overcooking perfectly lovely fresh fish and then throwing
some goopy sauce on top. the ambience is sort of mid-period
Trader Vic's; going there is like being a tourist at
Fisherman's Wharf in SF.
on a more positive note -- the Waterfront (mentioned in a
previous post) is a lovely, very adult place, right on the
harbor. I spent one of those big birthdays there, and was
really happy I did. they made a delicious Caeser salad from
scratch at the table (a little showy, but it was good). the
only downside is that it is bizarrely located in the basement
of a modern, ticky-tacky apartment complex ... though you
forget that once you're inside, or out on their patio ....
another delightful place -- though something of a drive from
most anywhere on the island -- is the Hailemaile General Store,
which indeed used to be a store in the middle of a plantation
at the foot of Haleakula (the big volcano). the cuisine is
more eclectic than gourmet, but everything is delish, and the
atmosphere is ... fun.
please enjoy ... after all, how bad can it get in paradise?
the old grouch
just wanted to put one more vote in for Mama's Fish House. I
haven't been there since 10 years ago and their sumptuous food
is still ingrained in my memory.
Christine
For an unforgettable, delicious meal, Nick's FishMarket at the
Kea Lani Resort in Wailea is fantastic. The food is superb, and
the service is unbelievable. You have to try their Maui onion
salad, which I still drool at the thought of. The fish is
wonderfully prepared. The wait staff is unlike anything I've
ever seen; each table is handled by a team, so you are always
taken care of but no one hovers. Even though the restuarant is
in a resort, the prices are very comparable to other nice
restuarants on the island ($22 - 40 entree). We dined at
several restaurants during our stay; we returned to Nick's
because it was so great. The Kea Lani Resort is gorgeous, worth
a trip to check out anyway. They also have a great aquarium
outside the restaurant, which is fun for the younger adults in
your group. Enjoy.
Cindy
May 2003
I've read through the archive recommendations on the website but
am looking for recent information on south Maui condos suitable
for 4 adults + 2 toddlers. We want a condo that is spacious,
comfortable and light with a good pool area and walking distance
to the beach.
The Royal Mauian and Kamaole Sands look great on-line but I've
had bad past experiences with internet photos v. reality when
dealing with vacation rentals. I would appreciate feedback from
anyone who has stayed at either property recently.
A friend has recommended Elua Village in Wailea but it is on the
high end of our price range and I'm wondering if it is worth the
added expense. Also any nanny or babysitter ideas whould be
appreciated.
Lauren
I highly recommend Mana Kai Maui, in South Kihei.
>From Fodor's: ''This lodging is a real find in Kihei, partly
because of the property itself and partly because of its location
on the end of one of the nicest beaches in the state, just down
the strip from the Renaissance Wailea. Here you can get a studio
without a kitchen, or a one or two bedroom unit with a kitchen.
The decor is modest--what people in the Islands might call
typical tropical--but the view of the ocean right beyond the
lanai steals your attention anyway. The Mana Kai has a very good
beachfront restaurant, open for all meals. There's daily maid
service and no minimum stay requirement.''
We stayed there several years ago, and MUCH preferred the mellow
atmosphere and terrific, calm, kid-friendly beach (with a reef
and some of the best snorkeling on the island, right there at
your feet) to the north shore, where we stayed more recently. I
think the condos are about $150-$175, but I'm not sure. We paid
@ $100 for a hotel room, and it came with a car and continental
breakfast.
They have a website (type in Mana Kai Maui on Yahoo), and their
phone # is 808-879-1561. Have fun! Aloha!
Heidi
October 2002
My husband and son (who will be 9 months) are going to Maui in
February. We'd like to know the must sees and dos for baby and
adults. We are staying in Kahana. Looking for info on:good
restaurants that are family friendly; activities that won't bust
our wallet; a good dive company (in case we find a babysitter);
best beaches, things only the locals know about and anything
else you can think of. Thanks!
Juliette
Hello, we just got back from a week on Maui w/ our 15
month old daughter, so I have a few recommendations.
We stayed in a condo in Kihei and found Ulua Beach in
Wailea to be calm for taking the baby in AND there's a very
alive reef for snorkelling. At 9am there's a free reef tour by
the Pacific Whale Foundation. We tended to go to the beach
early, go home for lunch and nap, then venture out again
once the sun was less strong.
A cheap (a rarity) and very good restaurant in Kihei was
Alexander's for grilled or fried fish (take-out).
Another protected beach is near Paia called Baby Beach. It
has a wall that the waves break against, creating a calm
pool. The beach is not signposted, but is exactly 2 turns
before Baldwin Beach going towards Paia from Kahului,.
After you turn, follow the road to the right and park
overlooking the beach after abt 1/2 a mile. If you're hungry,
Mana Foods in Paia has an incredible spread of take-out
foods that start coming out at about 11 am I think, including
delicious vegetarian salads, hot dishes, organic salad bar.
It was a good resource for baby-approved foods.
We did a lovely hike with Renate Gassmann-Duvall, PhD
from Paths in Paradise. Renate is a family friend who leads
bird, plant and cultural hikes on Maui (in German and
English). She's lived on the island for almost 20 years and
knows A LOT about all aspects of Maui. If you're interested
in plant and animal life and Hawaiian culture this would be
a great way to see the REAL Maui. We took our backpack
carrier with us and our daughter did very well, napping twice
(we supported her head on a travel neck-pillow), enjoying
the sights, and running around during frequent pit-stops.
Her info: phone 808-878-4030; cell 808-264-4827;
email: hikes@MauiBirdHikes.com website:
www.MauiBirdHikes.com
Fiinally, we didn't get to go, but there's supposed to be a
Keiki (kid) Hula Show at Lahaina Corner Sat & Sun at 1:00.
Kristine
September 2002
We are a couple with a 4 year old girl, planning a trip to Maui
for the end of December 02 into the first week of January 03. We
are close to booking flights w/Aloha airlines since they offer
direct service from Oakland to Maui. Although the vacation
includes visiting an old friend, we would like to stay someplace
with easy snorkeling access and possibly kids activities that our
daughter could get involved in. Any specific recommendations of
places? Or about packages that include a room and car rental?
(I have looked at the site and info on Maui seems not quite what
I'm looking for).
Many thanks!
Carol.
You might try the Napili Kai Beach Club. It is a wonderful
family resort and I think they have children's activities though
you may have to be 5. It's family owned and has been a favorite
of many people for years. I know that they have a web site
kristi
Sorry, I can't address the part about hotels/places geared
towards children since we didn't have children at the time,
however I can tell you about a package we had to Maui. Twice we
used Sun Trips, staying at the Maui Coast hotel, including car
rental and airplace flight. Sun Trips is a so-so airline, and I
don't really recommend them, however if you are very cost
conscious, then it might work for you. We paid about $700 per
person, the 2 times we visited Maui. The Maui Coast hotel is
one I would recommend. It was very clean, comfortable, and the
staff was nice. The car rental was convenient since it came
with the package. If you by chance do signup with this kind of
package, after arriving in Maui, have someone go get the rental
car while the other person waits for the luggage. The line for
car rentals was very long. The Maui Coast is about 2 blocks
away from a very clean quiet beach that wasn't populated with a
lot of tourists, at least that was how it was in 1998 and 1996.
Hana
We highly recommend the Mana Kai Maui in S. Kihei. It's right
on the beach (one of the best beaches in Maui--CALM, even in
winter, perfectly sandy, with a reef and spectacular
snorkeling.) It's a multi-story (5 or 6 I think) hotel (though
it's managed by a condo company), with regular hotel rooms or
one or two bedroom ''condos'' with kitchens.
There's a great restaurant downstairs--delicious but casual,
indoor/outdoor dining. There's also a little store with
everything from clothes to sunscreen to soda & ice cream.
There's a small pool, but I must admit we never used it, as the
beach was steps away and so user-friendly. We stayed there 6
years ago, and a hotel room + a car was right about $100 a
night.
I checked the prices again last year and they're still about the
same. It's in a central location--easy to get to Hana or Wailea
or head north. They have a website--just type in Mana Kai Maui
on Yahoo or similar...
A note of warning: the surf is rough in the north during winter-
-if you decide to stay up there, you can still go south for the
beach!
Aloha, Heidi
September 2002
We've never been to the Hawaiian Islands, and this year I'm
determined to plan a trip over spring break in April. I've
decided to limit our trip to Maui, and the northwest shore
around Kapalua and Napili looks most suitable for our
family's interests (we have two kids, age 4 and 11). I got
some good tips from the UCB Parents archives on places to
stay and things to do, but I'd like to see if I can get any further
recommendations on planning the trip to get a good price
on airfare and accommodations. We would like to stay in a
condo right on the beach (or very close), and we prefer
low-rise (5 stories or less) in an area that's not densely
populated with higher rise hotels and condos. I've found lots
of interesting properties online and in the Chronicle. But at
this point, the airfares for that time period are outrageous.
Most of the ''package'' deals with airfare included seem to
be offered only for the bigger hotel and high-rise condo
properties, which don't interest us. Has anyone recently
planned a similar trip to Maui, and can you recommend an
agent who put together a package or some online service
you used? Am I starting too early? When is the optimal time
to get a good price for airfare if I want to book a condo on my
own and make the airline reservations separately?
Maria
An agent that has twice been great in assisting us in planning
trips to Hawaii exactly the way we want them is Laurie Radovan at
Pacific Harbor Travel (yes, it's in Santa Cruz, but a couple of
long distance phone calls have ended up being VERY worth it).
She's listened to what we want, found places to stay that were
exactly what we asked for, and even pointed out things that we
hadn't thought of but that were very important.
Her email is lcr@wspan.com, and her phone numbers are:
Work: (800) 435-9463
Home office: (831) 427-9100
Have a great trip!
Karen
The Maui Kai condominiums are great. It is higher than five
stories but is right on the beach and all have ocean views
and at a more affordable rate than other nearby places. They
have a webiste also but the address/tel is below;
Maui Kai
106 Kaanapali Shores Place
Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii 96761
808.667.3500 - phone
808.667.3660 - fax
reservation@mauikai.com
1.800.367.5635 - Toll Free
David
The Ridge @ Kapalua is a great deal ~130/night. We have stayed
twice. Townhouse on a golf course overlooking the trees and
ocean. Not densely populated and a few minutes to the beach.
You call the Kapalua shuttle to take you anywhere in Kapalua.
You can go back and forth to any hotel or beach. My favorites
are the ''Club at Kapalua'' and the ''Ritz''. Waiters bring you
drinks at the beach, pool or the grassy point area. Very
relaxing family setting. It reminds me I need to plan a trip.
Stephen
We just planned a trip to Maui for this Thanksgiving. Found
super cheap ($300) airfares on Travelocity and also had good
luck with a travel agent we found on the internet -- More Hawaii
for Less. We really liked the guy who helped us -- Joe. We are
staying in a mid-scale condo in South Kihei and it comes with 2
rental cars. The travel agent also sells wholesale airfare but
they couldn't beat our surprisingly low Travelocity fare. Good
luck and have fun!
- candace
I would recommend the book Maui Revealed, by Andrew
Doughty and Harriet Friedman, as a great place to start
planning your trip. They have a website with detailed
recommendations on where to stay (accessible by
password once you buy the book). It is very helpful in terms
of finding the best beaches, restaurants, etc. once you're
there, too.
Sima
We went to Maui in June and had a fabulous time. We stayed on
Kaanapali Beach. The beaches north of there are rockier and not
as nice. We stayed at the Whaler Condo's. Although it is
directly next to the Whaler's village it did have a nice pool
and the walk way was lovely. It is easier to go to resturants
because they are right there. We used AAA to help plan our trip,
which included, airfare, car rental and condo. I am sure you
could put it all together yourself online for a bit less money,
but I didn't have the time. I would also recommend going to a
Luau with your kids there are many to chose from, we went to the
Old Lahania Luau. YOu need to book those reservation in advance
as well. Depending on the time of year you want to go, you might
look into some of the hotel offers on Kaanapali beach. The
hotels offer kid camps, which would offer you some adult time.
Maui is a great place to take the entire family. We would also
recommend going to the Maui Ocean Center. It is as good if not
better than the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Have fun!
adina
August 2002
We will be traveling to Maui with our 15 month old son for a
friend's wedding in early December. We are considering staying
at the Maui Hill resort (we definitely want to stay at a condo)
but are concerned because it is not on the beach. Has anyone
stayed there? Any good or bad experiences you can share? Is
the pool area set-up well for toddlers? Any opinions as to
whether staying a 10-15 minute walk from the beach is going to
be a total pain with a toddler? Any other recommendations for
lodging near Wailea?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Monica
I've never stayed at the Maui Hill Condo Resort, however I have
stayed at the Maui Coast hotel twice and liked our
accomodations. I believe the Maui Coast is in the Wailea area.
About 3 to 5 stories tall. A couple blocks from the beach. For
us, 2 adults, we actually found it a bit difficult walking in
the heat in the early morning. Too hot for us, so we would walk
very slow. Sometimes we even drove the 2 blocks. The Maui
Coast room we stayed in didn't include a kitchenette but it did
include a little refrigerator. If you were interested in a
kitchenette, you could probably call them to see if they have
them. We had a couch in our room though. There is a restaurant
and swimming pool and bar at the hotel.
hana
This is almost next to the place we always stay which is Kamaole
Sands. M Hill looks nice and is the newest development, but it
is another 200 yrds from the beach and thats just a bit
incovenient. Kamaole Sands condo complex is across the road
from the eastern most end of the last of the Kihei public
beaches and is lovely. This end of Kihei is quite nice and not
junky, and you cross over the Wailea line right past it. KS has
big lawns to romp on, two hot tubs including one not so hot for
kids, and a real kiddie depth pool. Good, basic 80s condos,
correctly priced. Units differ widely so ask about features upon
arrival and look for opportunities to take something that is
better after seeing the map. Most overlook central garden
complex with lots of bird sounds and peace. Wailea is gorgeous -
- an upscale fake town for movie stars on vacation -- but feels
a bit precious and pristine for diapers and spills, though
perhaps your toddlers very neat. Another vote for Kihei:
sidewalks for strollering throughout, a fabulous play structure,
and kihei cove beach with the old (unused) boat launch...with
perfect 8 inch curls and a 25 yard ride in foot deep warm water,
its the dreamy place all the local toddlers (and adult
beginners) stand up on the board for the first time! Enjoy.
Deebie
July 2002
I have read the recommendations on the web site about travelling
to Hawaii with children. I wanted to know if anyone has stayed
at the Sugar Beach Resort in the Kihei area of Maui and what
they thought of it?
My husband and I and our (will be then) 2 year old have reserved
a 1 bedroom condo there for over Christmas vacation.
Sherri
I've been to Maui about 5 times and we have *only* stayed at
Sugar Beach since my in-laws own a condo there. I have
nothing to compare it to, but I will say it's ideal for families
with children.
We were there when our son was a toddler a few times up
until he was 7 and had great times every time. The one
bedrooms are a decent size, with a sofa bed, or plenty of
room to put a portable crib. The pool is fantastic, having a
kiddie pool built right in. The beach access is right there.
The resort was built in the '70s meaning the zoning allowed
for the building to be much closer to the water than it is
today. So you literally walk right out onto the beach.
The only downside is that it does tend to get windy in the
late morning afternoon. But we would go to the beach early,
have lunch/nap and then hang out at the pool or go on
excursions. There are grills outside so that cuts down on
money and time spent in restaurants, too.
The resort is very kid friendly, and there's a little
supermarket right on the premises as well as the Sand
Witch restaurant. The office is very helpful in planning
excursions or renting equipment.
I think you'll have a great time. Please email me directly if
you have any more questions.
Mollie
2001
Maui accomodations requested. We are traveling with our 9 month old to Maui
in the 2nd week of May. We'd like to stay in a somewhat not-croweded area that
feels like we're not in a city. Does anyone have any suggestions for a 2 bdrm,
under $170/night house or cottage in Maui they'd recommend we stay with our
baby and another couple? We like a serene environment (we'd consider a very
nice condo), clean and safe for a baby. Thank you for your help! If we take
anyone's suggestion, I promise we'll send you a thank you gift!
Susan
It's been several years, but we stayed at a great condo at Kihei, the narrow part
of the island where the two larger halves meet. It was in a smallish building,
right on the beach. I THINK this was called Kihei Beach Resort. I loved that it
was right on the water and that it was away from the really big commercial developments
in Lahaina, Kaanapali, etc. (of course, that could have changed in the intervening
years). At any rate, the Kihei location was a good one, and a travel agent should
be able to help find a place around there. Linda
I have been a fairly frequent visitor to Maui over the years and I don't believe
you will find many 2 bedroom house or cottages in the $170/night price range,
certainly not near a beach. There are many, many more condos available for rent
on Maui than private homes. Unfortunately, I really think your price range is
a bit low even for a two bedroom "very nice condo". The area that I like best
in Maui is called Napili Bay. It is located on west Maui about 20 minutes north
of Kaanapali . Napili is pretty quiet and laid-back. There is a beautiful crescent
shaped beach, excellent snorkeling and has groceries and restaurants nearby. I
have stayed at several properties there. The one I like best, Napili Surf Beach
Resort, does not have 2 bedroom units, but it has studios that rent for about
$110/nite (I think), and you could get two. Napili Surf is a family run business,
is not super luxurious, but is right on the beach! Next door to Napili Surf is
a large condo property called Napili Shores. It is about 100 steps to the beach.
They may have some two bedroom units, but I think they are mostly one bedroom.
It's been a couple of years since I have stayed at Napili Shores, but I think
it was around $150/night for a one bedroom. There are some condo properties behind
the beachfront ones that are probably cheaper. My feeling, after having been to
Hawaii quite a few times, is that beachfront is worth it, especially if you like
to snorkel, and especially if you have to schlep a lot of baby equipment. Good
luck and have a great time. Nancy
I recommend the Hale Hio Kai condos in Kihei. All of them are 2 BDR, 2 bath, very
modern, clean and right on a beach. If you're going the 2nd week in May you will
hit their low season so prices are more reasonable. Two years ago their low season
rates went from $95 to $170/nt depending whether you had garden or ocean view.
I think there is an additional charge for extra adults. I liked the location of
the condo. It was away from the shopping area - a long strip of stores, restaurants
and dive shops. Honestly once you were in the condo and on the beach you really
felt secluded. No high rises or resorts on this beach. You are still close enough
though to walk to shopping. We went when I was 6 months pregnant but we are definitely
planning to return with our kids. Mostly families seemed to be staying at the
condo and the kids seemed to enjoy the pool and beach. The snorkeling is pretty
good by the condo. We enjoyed swimming at "our" beach as well as at some of the
other beaches. You can contact the Hale Hui Kai condo at (800) 809-6284. Feel
free to email with any questions. It's a great vacation spot! Robert
April 1999
On Maui, it probably is illegal to camp on the beach, yes, but we noticed the
same tents day after day from the highway south of Lahaina (not quite to Mile
Marker 14). They were on the beach under the trees, but NOT at any official
beach park with amenities -- perhaps that's how they managed to avoid arrest?
At any rate, I wouldn't try that with children -- the beach is much too close to
the only, and heavily trafficked, highway. Good snorkeling at mile marker 14,
however! We also noticed that there are cabins at Haleakala, which is an
amazing old volcano, 10,023 feet in height. The cabins are below the 10K ft
line, of course. Excellent hiking around there, albeit weird in the crater
itself. Not at all beachy, though. Dry forest and then rainforest farther
down, arid colorful crater with silversword plants higher up. We stayed with
our 6-month-old at one of the condos at Kahana, and that was a perfect solution
for us. The Kahana beach was just across the street (NOT a highway), and the
place also had a pool and hot tub. Our main issue right now is having a place
sufficiently DARK that the baby can sleep -- he seems to be very
light-sensitive, especially in his night sleeping.
Heather
Hawaii with Teens
I'm a single mom who's going to Maui with my teenage girls (13 and 15)
this summer. I've never been there. Any recommendations for neat stuff
to do, places to go?
This is a recommendation for the woman taking her two teenagers to
Maui..My 13 year old's high point was learning to dive with the Kapalua
Dive Company..they do a two hour swimming pool orientation then take you
for an hour or two dive..you then have certification to dive with one of
their instructors for the rest of the month..The cost wasn't that high
(I think about $65) and was a unique experience..he saw eels and sea
turtles..hte instructor he had Naomi Fagley turned out to be a graduate
of King Middle School and had had Mr. Ball, my son's current PE
intructor . Their number is 808 669-3448..if you can get Naomi, she is
great with teenagers..Also take a boat to Molokini for amazing snorkling
and diving and go to Kapalua beach, my personal favorite for safe easy
and wonderful snorkling..The Nature Conservancy leads a walk through a
cloud forest on Haleakela..Call them. The rangers at the top tot Mt.
Haleakela do a night time program that was awesome..the stars and
galaxies visible were amazing..take binoculars and warm lothes..it is
about 40 dgrees there at night..Paia is the big windsurfing area..there
may be lessons available..though it is pretty intense..have fun!
On Maui vacation suggestions - Our most fun was going on the road to
Hana (SP?) and stopping in Paia at the Lunch Box for delicious picnic
food. Stopping for a swim at the falls, called The Awakening in English
( something more complicated in Hawaiian), and finding a private black
sand beach. On the tip of the Southwest side of the island, where the
road turns into dirt, there is a wonderful beach called the "cornmeal"
beach, because the sand is the consistency of cornmeal. Bring a snorkel
and a mask and you are in for a treat at any quiet lagoon.
April 2004
Re: Hawaii rental
Doesn't Kapalua Bay on Maui have condo rentals or
something similar to what you're looking for? You can't beat
the site in terms of beauty and calm.
From: Toby
Maui - I used to live on Maui. You didn't state the ages of your kids, but
the crater is an incredible place and you should check it out. Go up there
for sunrise. It is an experience that will stay with you always, it's so
incredible. Visit Huelo and Hanavana, Makena Beach (the smaller beach over
the hill) is great for boogie boarding and swimming. And certainly, visit
Hana. If you have a 4-wheel drive you might be able to visit the dry side
of the island. It is quite erie, but very interesting. We're going to
Maui in August as well.
From: Ed
About Maui:
We just finished a week with a 20-month old there and can recommend the
Hana excursion (assuming your kids can survive 2-3 hour trip each way) with
a visit to the "Seven Pools" for some swimming and hiking. The hike up to
the upper falls is worth the effort and the pools are a great place for a
swim. Also in Kihei, there is a good beach for beginning surfers called
Cove Park, where i took my son to explore the tide pools and notice small
kids surfing as well as older beginners. The Sugar Cane Train in Lahaina
was also a big hit with our son, but kinda expensive compared to the Tilden
Train. The new acquarium is nice, but very expensive $17.50 for an adult
and is only worth an hour or so of exploration, we wouldn't do it again.
The best beach we found for kids was "Baby Beach" in Paia where the locals
take kids on the weekends. It has a nice reef protected pool where kids can
wade and swim with waves only effecting it at high tide. You'll have to ask
locals how to get there, but its easy to find if you ask someone. Finally
for some good relatively cheap eats, try Maui Tacos the only place we went
back to.
I have taken my 2 boys, now ages 7 and 10, to Maui for several years. There
are many fun things for kids to do there. If you enjoy nature, don't miss the
walk down to the Nakalele Blowhole north of Kapalua, a coastline walk about a
mile long in a dramatic landscape of lava fretwork and towers (fun to climb!)
ending with a thirty foot high geyser-like blowhole. You'll have the place to
yourself, but be sure to wear closed toe shoes because the lava can be tricky to
walk on. Another great, short walk is up to Twin Falls on the road to Hana, where
you can go swimming in a lovely mountain pool under a waterfall in a jungle-like
setting. Water shoes are a good idea because the bottom is rocky. Look for
both hikes in one of the Maui hiking books. The best, easy access snorkeling on
Maui is at Honolua Bay, just past Kapalua before the Nakalele blowhole. Go in
the morning when the water is calm. My kids also enjoyed the Maui Ocean Center,
a small aquarium at Maalea Harbor, and the Sugar Cane Train, which takes you
through the sugar cane fields between Lahaina and Kaanapali in open air cars with
a guide who sings Hawaiian songs and tells stories. Have fun!
I used to live on Maui. Go to Makena Beach. There is a big beach and
to the right a small hill. When you get near the hill you will see a
pathyway which goes over the top. On the other side is a beautiful,
smaller beach. You can hear the whales under the water. Go to the top
of Haleakala (the main mountain) for sunrise. This is not to be
missed! Drive to Hana. It takes about 2 hours along a very windy road,
but you go through wonderful, lush jungle. It's incredible. Try to
find some local waterfalls. They are everywhere, but you will probably
need to ask a local where to find some. Have a great time. It's loads
of fun.
Paragon sailing's catamaran snorkeling trip to Molekini - Awesome!! Look
for ads in the tourist brochures.
Enjoy yourselves.
-- Roger
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