Leaving for Maui on Sunday

[bobbledude25]

Off to get married. Anyone ever been to Maui and recommend places to eat, things to do etc. I've been once before in '99 and it was amazing but it's been a loooong time

[Menotti80]

Sorry for no advice, but just wanted to say congratulations, good luck and safe travels

[bobbledude25]

Sorry for no advice, but just wanted to say congratulations, good luck and safe travels

 

Thank you. I appreciate it

[TooLiveBrew]

Sorry for no advice, but just wanted to say congratulations, good luck and safe travels

Echoed -- what a setting for your wedding! Hope it's amazing.

[jjkoestler]

I used to live in Honolulu and one of the biggest regrets I have is not island hopping. I highly recommend checking out some of the other islands while you are there.

 

Congrats!

[Teatoe993]

I was there last year for a wedding. Maui is an amazing place. Wish I was going back soon. I stayed in a small rented cottage in a dinky town on the north side called Haiku. It was away from all the tourist hustle and bustle. Here's what I can remember...

 

All the beaches are spectacular. Here are my favorites... Wailea Beach, Maluaka Beach, Kaanapali Beach, Kahekeli Beach & Koki Beach Park. Wai'anapanapa Black Sand Beach is amazing scenery but not really a beach you'd wanna beach it up at. But there are spectacular caves and fresh water pools to discover.

 

Eating... Colleen's Restaurant & Bar in Haiku is great for breakfast. Maui Tacos was my favorite for cheap fast food lunch. Otherwise there are plenty of taco trucks and restaurants in the tourist towns like Lahaina & Wailea. The best Luau is the Old Lahaina Luau. Decent food and free drinks, & great atmosphere. I also did a dinner cruise, the Maui Princess Dinner Cruise. Again decent food, free drinks and great atmosphere. Flatbread Co Pizza in Paia was OK. Makawao Steak House was really good. I had an epic Kobe Beef Burger.

 

If you decide to do anything on the eastern side of the island, I recommend you rent a Jeep or a smaller car. The Hana Highway was by far the most intense driving experience (and I take my cars out on race tracks for fun in my spare time) I've ever had. It is 50+ miles long, 1.5 lanes wide at the most the entire way and hundreds of curves. The northern half of the drive is very pretty and not as intense. The southern half can be extremely nerve racking and a bit dangerous if you're not a confident driver. That's when the pavements stops, the road narrows and there isn't much room for error. I made myself carsick driving it. But it is the only way to see the desert side of the island. It will take you about three hours to drive the entire thing. Recommend starting the drive early (pre-dawn) to get ahead of the traffic.

 

The northwest corner of the island isn't too very popular with the tourists. The drive is intimidating as much as the the Hana Highway. But it's much shorter. But if you brave the roads, you'll end up in some cute native villages where locals will try to sell you fruit on the side of the road.

 

I really don't enjoy hiking much at all but the Kīpahulu Forest Reserve hike was amazing. It's definitely worth it to make the complete hike through the bamboo forest all the way to the waterfall. The Seven Sacred Pools are nearby as well to check out. Best bet is to leave super early again and get there right away to start hiking before everyone else gets there and before the temp starts rising.

 

Not sure if I missed anything. Let me know if you have any questions about the trip. I'd be happy to help.

[bobbledude25]

Teatoe993 - Wow, excellent info. Thank you. Did you happen to go on a whale watch tour or snorkel/scuba on Molokini at all? Excursions?

[bobbledude25]

I used to live in Honolulu and one of the biggest regrets I have is not island hopping. I highly recommend checking out some of the other islands while you are there.

 

Congrats!

 

Thanks man. I've been to Oahu, The Big Island, and Maui before. After we get married we leave Maui to go to Kauai which I've heard great things about