Hana maui…deep, secluded in the rainforest

So you’ve prob. done McKenna Beach and Mama’s Fish House. Have you checked out the galleries and coffeeshops etc. in Paia?

We hit a lot of the typical tourist-type attractions. If you have any interest in hiking, you have to make the trip to Haleakala.

If you dive, or even if you just snorkel, a boat trip out to Molokini is always an adventure. I would reccomend the Trilogy.

If you keep driving south past the resort hotels in Wailea, the road will eventually end, and you’ll be close to some amazing black sand beaches..great snorkeling.

If you’re going to be up near Kapalua, drive north and see the local surfers. The waves are surreal at times.

If you’ve been to Maui a few times, and want a different experience this time, try staying in Hana.

Hope this helps.

I hear the real key to doing all the local stuff, and having a fabulous time, is taking a really good friend. It makes the trip pure magic.

I’m most familiar with Wailea which tends to offer enough to occupy my stays in beautiful Maui.
To see one of Hawaii’s largest undeveloped beaches, I suggest Big Beach. The waves are huge and strong so I don’t recommend surfing, kayaking or snorkeling. Maybe good for a long lunch and an afternoon splashing about in the waves. Like TexasJon’s trip, you travel a bit past the Hotels of Wailea. Gosh I wish I had a map. Makena. big beach lots of people. little beach- lots of nude people.

Hello! My two favorite things to do were sailing on “America’s Cup” and the bicycle trip down the volcano to the ocean. That was so cool. They come get you from the hotel at about 2am, take you to the top of the tallest volcano, watch the sunrise, then bicycle DOWNHILL the whole way to the ocean. You’re back to the hotel around 1:00

Have fun!

Oh man, wish I had seen this before you were actually there. If you have not sought it out, go to Haiku and the town closest to it. (I can remember neither the name of town 2 nor which is closer to the coast near Paia, but find one and you can’t miss the other.) The little galleries are what get me all fired up about these towns. In fact, one of my first 43 things entries was to go back to Haiku and buy a piece of art that for year now I have regretted not buying when I was there. If you happen to go, can you please grab some of the biz cards? You may help me realize this goal (well not going but getting the art) sooner than I otherwise might from Ireland.

Also, I enjoyed the drive around the north west part of the island. Stopping along the way at small artsy places (most of them quite posh but still nice nonetheless) and taking in the views. Ah, the cliff views in this part of the country are magnificent. This is also the only place I have ever been offered reefer. Not sure what that says about me or the place, but it’s memorable.

Enjoy the sunshine- must be happy to get out of the Seattle rain I hear you’ve been having for eons!