Trip Report

Hello,

We were on Maui for 7 nights. It was our first time %26amp; we just loved it.

Our first 3 nights were at the Hale Ho%26#39;okipa B %26amp; B in Makawao. Loved Makawao, hated the B%26amp;B. Will post a review on it later.

Our last 4 nights were at the Wailea Renaissance. Absolutely loved it. It is very sad that they are going to tear it down as it has a great deal of charm.

Loved the Wailea area %26amp; would stay here again.

Loved Pa%26#39;ia, Makawao %26amp; Kula too. Those towns are good location for Halekalea, I%26#39;ao Needle %26amp; Hana drive.

Highlights

Restaurants- prices are for 2 with appetizers, usually no alcohol or dessert

Jacques Northshore in Pa%26#39;ia - excellent around ($60)

Mama%26#39;s Fishhouse - amazing ($130 - lunch)

Cassanova%26#39;s in Makawao - pretty good ($65)

Stopwatch - decent food %26amp; decent prices ($40)

Cafe O%26#39;Lei - incredible ($85 - 1 drink, appetizers, meal %26amp; dessert). Would go back without a second thought.

Da Kitchen - excellent ($20 for lunch)

Bada Bing - okay, wouldn%26#39;t bother again though ($70)

Maui Onion Rings at Renaissance - excellent but split an order!

Hecock%26#39;s in Lahaina - excellent ($25 for lunch)

Things we loved:

Drive to Hana %26amp; followed the Blue Bible. Just a note - it is not 100% accurate, pretty good though. Just don%26#39;t always assume you missed a highlight.

We did the whole loop %26amp; the back half was no worse than the first half. Don%26#39;t do it at night, though, as road is rough for first hour %26amp; it is not lit. Give yourself at least an hour %26amp; half before sunset.

It took us close to 12 hours - we started just before 6AM. Can hardly wait to do it again. Next time we will stay overnight in Hana at least one night as there is too much beauty to absorb in one day. Make sure you do some of the stops in Maui Revealed.

Ziplining - what a rush. The staff is excellent. I wanted to do it again but didn%26#39;t have time. BTW - I am afraid of heights %26amp; found the walking off the edge a bit challenging but really enjoyed it once I was airborn. The bridge is a bit tough but you are still hooked up which does help.

Sunrise at Haleakala - WOW. The cloudier the better. Got altitude sickness when we hiked sliding sands trail but it was worth it.

La Perouse Bay - didn%26#39;t snorkel but will next time. Incredible - just breathtakingly beautiful.

Whale Watch tour with Pacific Whale Foundation. Saw a few whales, none too close but it was amazing. Would definitely book with this company again.

Kapalua Bay - quite beautiful %26amp; really enjoyed the drive from Wailea.

Warren %26amp; Annabelle%26#39;s - laughed through the whole thing, he really is funny. The magic is amazing.

I%26#39;ao Needle - did the hike around the Needle. Do it with pants though as it is quite shrubby %26amp; got scratched up. It is very pretty here, especially at the stream. Wailuku town looks pretty neat but we didn%26#39;t have time to explore.

Walking around Pa%26#39;ia.

Favourite things -

Hana, walking the beach at Wailea, breakfast on lanai, sunsets on lanai, not following our agenda just using it as a guide %26amp; deciding each morning at breakfast as to what we would do that day!

Things we didn%26#39;t like -

Leaving - :)

Best piece of advice from I took from this board - don%26#39;t get too hung up on your plans. Remember where you are %26amp; just enjoy it.

If you have any questions, I will try to answer,

Hope this helps,

Chris

Thanks to everyone for the last year or so. Your reviews, comments, questions %26amp; answers helped so much - it was invaluable. I really can%26#39;t express my gratitude sufficiently.

Trip Report

Nice trip report! There are so many things I have not seen, and I%26#39;ve been to Maui six times over the past 19 years. I particularly like your comment about not getting hung up on plans. I actually worked with a guy (former military guy) who took his wife and two teenage daughters to Hawaii on several occasions, and they had EVERY minute of EVERY day planned out. He even had his DAILY PLANNER with him.....and at the end of each day he and the wife and girls would sit around and discuss and plan the next day. He had every day down almost to the minute planned. For example: 8:00 am - up for breakfast (details on where they would go, or if they would eat in the room); 9:00 am - go to beach; 11:30 am - back to room for lunch; 12:30 - back to beach. 3:00 - back to room; 3:10-wife%26#39;s shower; 3:25-daughter #1%26#39;s shower.......etc. etc. I remember asking him if he and the family EVER found time to relax. His reply was something like, ';We%26#39;re organized on our trips, and we get a lot done...we see a lot...we work hard and play hard. We could never just sit back and let the day pass us by without planning or being active.'; I%26#39;m sooooooooooo glad I don%26#39;t take vacations with him!!

Thanks again.....sounds like a great trip and lots of good ideas for my next visit!

Trip Report

Is there an actual ';stopwatch'; restaurant or are you referring to ';seawatch';? :)

I was pleasantly surpised with Wailuku. Very cool especially the North Market street area.

Yup, there is a restaurant in Makawao on the main drag called the Stopwatch.

BTW - forgot to post - Hawaiian Airlines rocks. They were on time for all our flights (5 in total), baggage was there within 10 minutes (we checked 3 bags too), staff was helpful %26amp; friendly %26amp; service was like flying 15 years ago. Wouldn%26#39;t hesitate to fly with them again. Flying a 767 from LA was great.

We also ate at the Okazuya deli %26amp; it was great. For lunch around $20. We ate at the beach as per Maui Revealed - turn right out of their parking lot %26amp; beach is on left just up the street. Really enjoyed that.

It is really easy to miss so keep your eyes peeled.

Chris

Thanks for the great trip report!! What company did you use for the ziplining?

Hello aliwnec10,

As far as I know there is only one - Skyline Eco Adventures. The website is skylinehawaii.com.

If there is more than one I would definitely recommend these guys. Very safe, very knowledgable %26amp; lots of fun.

-Chris

Ditto '; I particularly like your comment about not getting hung up on plans. '; Go enjoy....what plans....breathe it all in while you can.

Great report. Thank you