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Lahaina

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Click for Lahaina, Hawaii Forecast

Day or Night there is always something happening in and around Lahaina.  The front street is a bustling place of action.  During the day most of the museums, art galleries, shops, cafes and restaurants are open early.

You can enjoy your day under the banyan tree in the center of town where there is plenty of people watching to be had.  Each day there is something different going on from markets, to events, to presentations, tournament related events and even festivals.

Throughout Lahaina there are plenty of cafes and bars that are open late.  There is something for everyone in your group, from country to hip-hop dance.  Check out the hotel concierge often to see what’s going hot on what days.  There is no club that is going off every night so plan your days and check out things ahead of time to be sure you have a great night out.  Since most people are on vacation, waiting to the weekend to have a great time is not always necessary like in the cities.  Every day can be a party night in Lahaina.

This is the historic capital of the Hawaiian Islands so it has a lot more history. The old buildings, canal setup and unique architecture is a wonderful place to hang out for a day. This is much more of a tourist town then Kihei. There are little museums, galleries and many shops, cafes and restaurants.

The large banyan tree in the centre of town at the waterfront is a great meeting place and a perfect place to do some people watching.

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Kannapali

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Paia

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Click for Paia, Hawaii Forecast

I enjoy Paia and spent a lot of time in this little town.  I think it’s the best town, next to Lahaina,  for getting some good food and walking around in Maui.  There are lots of little shops, cafes and restaurants to check out.   During the day everything is open but by 7pm on most nights stores are closed.  The timing changes throughout the year so bet to head there a bit earlier.  It’s a great place to do a bit of shopping and then catch a bite to eat.

In the evenings the Moana cafe has something going on.  Along with their great food and beautiful presentations, they have Open Mic nights and live bands.  Check out their Facebook page to find out what new thing is going on that week.

My favorite pizza place on Maui, and possibly in the world is the Flatbread Pizza Company right on the Hana Highway.  It’s pomegranate mohitos are a local favorite.   They have many locations throughout the USA but they are not some big chain restaurant.  The use of local organic ingredients and the ever changing menu of fun pizza topping is what keeps me coming back each week.   I was introduced to the hamburger pizza here which has everything I love on a cheeseburger.  Yummy!

There are lots of little and big cafes, hole in the wall mexican or the fish stand at the main corner.  Get some Gelato ice cream too.

Now during the nights there are two places which have bands, music, dancing and late night menus.  Jaques and Charleys are right beside each other on the Hana Highway at the edge of town as you are heading out towards Hana.  Check ahead to see who’s playing and what the schedules are.   One is an open air fun, sushi club and the other is a down home country bar.  Both are a lot of fun on the right nights.

Besides eating and drinking, you can shop at the local grocery store.  They have decent prices and Mana Foods is a great place to grab things for a pinic lunch.  It’s a full service grocery and on most days have taste testings.  They encourage you to try out some of the tropic fruits before you buy so you really can tell the quality of the goods they get.

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Wailea

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During the day in Wailea there are not a lot of options besides the beach activities that Maui is famous for.  You can visit the Wailea Shops where you can peruse the high end shops and watch for celebrities.  They also have a great little deli that always has a line at lunch and some tasty pineapple topped burgers at the restaurant.

The number of high quality golf courses here will astound even the pro golfers.

Some of the best things to do in Wailea is to hang out at the Hotels.  Their lobbies are open to the public and they have plenty of great restaurants with great lunch deals if you are local and can show a Hawaiian driver’s license.

At night there are parties at most of the big hotels and everyone is invited.  You can be guaranteed that the prices for drinks will be much higher then anywhere else on the island and there will probably be some cover charges.

If you want a great overall experience then stay at a little Bed and Breakfast place called the Pineapple Inn.  This little inn is located in a beautiful Wailea neighborhood and has only a 4 guest suites and a cute two bedroom cottage.  They will make you feel right at home and give you all the scoops on what to do, when and where to do it.  The beauty of this place is that the backyard pool, hot tub, grill, lounges and everything you would dream should be in a backyard in Maui.   The views from the hottub, the privacy and incredible setting for the pool beats any other hotel hands down.  If you are traveling with a family then the two bedroom cottage is perfect for you to rest and relax.

There are some restaurants, golf courses and a mall to visit during the day but nothing really happening otherwise unless you are staying or doing activities through one of the major hotels. This is a high end area so be prepared for that. The best thing to do is Wailea is to hang out in the mall and spot celebrities. Be prepared to be disappointed, they don’t look like they do on TV, in the movies or on the concert stage.

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Kihei

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Hana

Going out to Hana to do things is the opposite to what you should be planning.  You should plan to do nothing when you go to Hana and just fill in some time checking out some of the local attractions.

During the Day

Hana Cultural Center and Museum

Red Sand Beach

Hana Bay

Oheo Gulch

Waianapanapa State Park

Hamoa Beach

At Night

There is not too much happening after sundown in Hana.  This is a sleepy little Hawaiian village as remote as you can get on Maui.  There is some live music at the Hana Ranch restaurant or at the Hana Hotel on most nights.  Other than those two places, unless you know some locals who are throwing a party, that’s about it.

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People Watching

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There are not too many places to take in some good people watching on Maui.  It’s nothing like Venice, California where the freek show is on full display on the boardwalk.  There are small pockets of it, so after a short time you will be seeing the same thing over and over again.

Some of the best spot to people watch in Maui normally include a place in the sand or under a banyan tree.

In Lahaina, under the banyan tree, you can sit in the cool comfort of it’s shade and watch the tourists go by.  This gets a bit borning after awhile but in most cases there is always someone who is doing something interesting that captures your gaze for a while.

Of course the prime spot to people watch is down at the beach.  On many of the popular beaches there is always something going on for you to watch in a relaxed daze. With the backdrop of the ocean and the sound of the waves crashing, this is one free pasttime that just can’t be beat.

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Doing Beach Things

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There is nothing less expensive to do in Maui then go to the beach.  All you need is a towel and you are good to go.  There are no entrance fees or certain equipment you should have.  Heck, even on some beaches you don’t even need a swimsuit.  Lazying around in the sun on a beach is about the only thing left in life that is free, at least on Maui.

Depending on where you are on the island, there is not even the need to get into a vehicle to have a great beach.  With so many miles of great beaches, the one right outside the condo or hotel room is perfect for you.

On the beach, there are plenty of things to do besides laying on the a towel, soaking up the glorious sun rays.   There is paddle ball, beach volleyball, a type of bocci ball game, sandcastle building, picnicking, read a good book, meditating, exercise and whale watching if it’s the right time of year.  Also the best place to watch a great sunset is on the beach too.

Of course there is also all the swimming and bodysurfing too which is always fun.

In most cases you can spend your entire holiday on the beach and not spend a dime for any other entertainment or activities whatsoever.

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Snorkeling & Diving

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Now I am a snorkeler.  I just love it.  It’s one of my favorite things to do in Maui.  I know all the good quiet spots where I can enjoy the underwater life without having to deal with anyone else.  It’s a way to escape into another world.  I am a fish and not in a fish tank.  On Maui, on good days in the morning the water is clean and clear like an aquarium’s tank.

Since we live on the island we have our little spot that we enjoy checking out every few days to see our favorite underwater creatures.

I enjoy visiting the turtles off of Hookipa as they eat the seagrass at the edge of the surf break.

I go look for the eels to the right of Charley Young beach in Kihei.  There is also a few turtles who call in there and an incredible wall with a great variety of colorful coral.

Down at Makena Landing, out around the point, are some beautiful undersea caves with sleeping sharks and turtles.  Long tunnels to swim through and plenty of coral in a variety of colors.  Also there is a trench where the turtles use to head out to sea, almost like a road.

Snorkeling in Hawaii is one of the best things to do.  If you have a mask and snorkel already then its a great way to spend a lot of time exploring a world that we see very little of in our life.  The underwater world in Maui is full of life and wonder.

There are many places to explore underwater up and down the coast of Maui.  Off of just about any coast there is something interesting to see.  So when you are looking for a cheap or even free way to pass your days on Maui then snorkeling would be it.

You can hitchhike to some great spots along the Lahaina or Kihei coasts.  You don’t need to take those tours out to Molokini to get some great snorkeling in.

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Surfing The Waves & Wind

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Boogie Boarding, surf boarding and body surfing are some of the least expensive, cheapest things to do in Maui.  If you have the gear then you are good to go and everyone has a body so at least that is taken care of.

You can rent surf boards on a daily or weekly basis for a good price.  Most people don’t travel with surfboards unless they are pros.  Boogie boards are so cheap that you can probably buy a good one and resell it before you end your vacation and still pay less then what you would rent it for.

As for my personal favorite body surfing, you don’t need anything but a good swimsuit that will keep on in the rough tumbling of the waves.   There are some great beaches like Little Makena Beach where you can ride a wave a good ways.  Catching them is easy at that beach too.

When most people think of things to do in Maui the first thing that comes to mind is surfing.  Surfing the waves to be exact.  The beautiful reef breaks and strong uninterrrupted ocean brings some incredible waves.  Some of the biggest in the world if the conditions are right.  There are many surf breaks in Maui, Hawaii. Surfing is just a part of life here.  You know when a good set at the right angle is coming in locally because no work gets done on that side of the island.

There is more to just the standard board and a wave surfing.  You can surf the air too.  Windsurfing and kiteboarding are two things that are a must do in Hawaii, especially Maui.  The trade winds are blowing strong and steady in the afternoons which makes for some increadible conditions.

Looking out over the ocean above Hookipa on Maui’s north shore, the contrasting colors of the windsurfer’s colorful sails and the stark deep blue of the ocean keeps you captured in awe for hours.  The tricks these guys perform over big waves and the air time they get some days is amazing.

On the south side of the island, with the mountains blocking the strong winds would be a good place for a first timer to learn.  The ocean is calm in the morning which will go along way to improving your confidence with the gear.

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