Maui in May!!!

[davetravis]

Going for my 20th.
Anyone ever do the Road to Hana?
Any other recomendations?
Thanks.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I have driven the Hana road. Go slowly, pull off frequently to take in the sights, drive carefully.

 

[roteague]

Going for my 20th.
Anyone ever do the Road to Hana?
Any other recomendations?
Thanks.

Yes, go to Kauai or the Big Island instead. Maui is very touristy. On the Big Island, you can make the hike out to see the lava flowing; you can walk right up to it. If you insist on Maui, make the drive up to Haleakela.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I agree that Maui is very touristy.

One thing that's a bit less touristy that's easily accessible from Maui is Molokai. You might arrange to make the trip to Kalaupapa while you're there (guided tours only, conducted by long term residents). Read John Tayman's new book _The Colony_ about the historic leprosy settlement in advance.

 

[BWGirl]

Hold on.... Maui has a lot of things to photograph! It is true that it is far more 'tourist-y' than Kauai, but it's got lots to shoot!

There's a nice winery with great surroundings (and miserably sweet wine) :rolleyes:. The up-country area is gorgeous and you can get some great small-town shots.

Where are you staying?

I have to say that when we go back, I am renting a jeep, and driving around the Hana end of the island. on the back side, there are black lava sand beaches, old churches, and gorgeous views. Hana is over-rated, but there is a great park with nice trails & waterfalls. On the windward side of the island is an area where windsurfing championships are held. That's a sight to see!

There's also an interesting old bunker on the main road away from the airport... and the Iao Needle is neat.

So... have a great time!

 

[blansky]

I go to Maui every 6 months and drink to excess.

Maui and Kauai are quite different from each other but on Maui there is the tourist parts and then lots of fairly private spots. Not as much as Kauai but still some.

Sometimes it's helpful to go to a book store and get a Frommers or one of the other companies guide books and look for out of the way places.

I usually stay on the Kaanapali side near Lahaina but when I'm feeling "Orange County" I stay in Wailea.


MIchael

 

[roteague]

There's a nice winery with great surroundings (and miserably sweet wine) :rolleyes:. The up-country area is gorgeous and you can get some great small-town shots.

Ever heard of Volcano wine? It comes from the town of Volcano on the Big Island (just outside of the National Park). Then you have the entire Kona coast, where you can visit coffee plantations - Hawaii is the only state in the US where coffee is grown, and Kona is the premium Hawaiian coffee.

Not to miss is the flowing lava at Volcano National Park, at night it looks like rivers of red running down the mountain, and into the ocean. Nearby is the black sand beaches, although that keeps changing. The twin volcanos of Maona Loa and Maona Kea, both over 14,000ft - snowcapped at this time of year. Then you have the largest ranch in the US, the Parker ranch in the center of the island. Waipio Valley at the top end, where you can still see how the ancient Hawaiians used to live - along the way you can see towns like Kamuela, which still has very rural areas (just like upcountry Maui).

Maui is fine, I'll take Big Island anyday. Of course, I live on Oahu, which is city, so when I go off island, I normally go to the Big Island or Kauai, to get away from the city and away from the crowds of tourists.

 

[Dinesh]

I am exceedingly jealous of all of you!

 

[blansky]

As much as I love Hawaii, if I lived on or near the east coast I'd find cool places in the Bahamas or around there.

Hawaii is 5 hours from Frisco so it's a looooong way from the east coast. Besides we don't want all you guys coming over anyways.


Damn tourists.



MIchael

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

My wife grew up there, so we go to visit her family, but always manage to fit in a week or two not visiting the family.

Kona is the premium Hawai'ian coffee, but the last year or two, the premium coffee from Moloka'i has been better, in my opinion. I usually order from--

http://www.molokaicoffee.com/cart/shopcore/?db_name=molokai

and recommend the Malulani Estate coffee, the Hawai'ian Espresso, and if you like flavored coffees the Moloka'i Island Princess which has Tahitian vanilla. If you go, stop at the plantation, take the tour, and order a Mocha Mama from the coffee bar.

Even with shipping to the mainland (not that I live on the mainland, since Manhattan is also an island, after all), it's cheaper than Kona, too.

 

[plummerl]

I'll have to chime in with a recommendation of the Big Island as well (I've been to both Maui and the Big Island). The diversity of scenery is amazing! We like the beach areas around Waikoloa.

larry

 

[roteague]

Going for my 20th.
Anyone ever do the Road to Hana?
Any other recomendations?
Thanks.

In case you are interested, I have an article on my website about Haleakala: http://www.visionlandscapes.com/ArticlesTips.aspx?ArticleID=5