posted on February 7, 2001 10:38:59 PM new
Hi kiheicat & mauimoods, I talked with both of you in a recent thread where another lady (can't remember her name) was asking for tips etc., during her trip to Maui.
I had mentioned toward the end of the thread that I also wanted to vacation there someday, only in February, not March. Well, we arrive on Maui this Tuesday (2/13) and wondered if either of you have any additional information, tips or whatever to share with me. We are staying one week. There are 9 of us coming, between my sister and her family, and my family. Ages range from four adults, to two 15-year-old girls, to 3 little ones age 3, 4 & 5.
I have printed out things I was interested in from the other thread, but wondered if something new had popped into your heads. I'm not sure where we are staying because my sister is in charge of that that, but I think it is in the west end of the island. I booked the flights and rental cars. We are all so excited, we can't wait!!!!!
posted on February 8, 2001 12:27:12 PM new
Hey, I'll be on a whale watch out of Maalaea Harbor with the Pacific Whale Foundation on the 18th... maybe I'll see ya!
It's beautiful right now.
Be sure to get yourself a base tan right now so you don't spend your week looking like a lobster, lol
I'm doing packing and shipping right now - just on here to take a break from working - but if I think of anything else, I'll pop back on later.
Aloooooooooha!
Btw, do you know the name of the town you're going to be in? West would be Lahaina, Ka'anapali, Kahana, perhaps Napili or Kapalua, but they're really considered more North. Ka'anapali Beach is my fav on the island... wide and perfect for kids.
posted on February 8, 2001 12:32:56 PM new
Im jealous!!!! All I can think of to say is PSFFFFFTHHHSTTT!!!! (toungue out, eyes squinched shut and rasberry aimed at ya)
DONT FORGET to get lotion to protect you. If your all white and pale, you WILL get burned. So get HIGH protectant, i.e. 40 plus or so. DOnt forget your lips too...chapstick with protectant. Lips HURT when they burn.
Take lots of money so you can spend at the shops, and just enjoy yourself!!!
posted on February 8, 2001 06:43:21 PM new
I can't wait, I can't wait, I can't wait!
And boy am I ready...
No sure yet where we are staying. My sister is the one making that reservation and she is a flight attendant with TWA and is on a flight right now, returning Firday night or Saturday. So I won't know until then.
But we are planning to stay in the north, west part of Maui near you kiheicat. Who knows, may even in Kihei! Looks like they have some lovely places in Hana, but it seems kind of out of the way to me.
Yes, we are planning to go on the whale watch with the foundation. Our 15-year-old wants to become a marine biologist so that is a must. Have a question though: Should I book now online (because they may fill up) or will I be getting some discount coupons when we arrive - at airport or at the tourist stands you referred to in the earlier thread? What do you think? I have no idea how fast they fill up, but I do know that we are going during your busiest season.
Mauimoods, if I had a large enough carry-on and could fit you inside, I would. Although, you've been to Maui several times, and this is my first. But I'd still try to help out a friend. Hang loose...
posted on February 8, 2001 07:29:22 PM new
Kihei is in South Maui. I'm a good hour's drive and then some to the Northwest corner, depending on how far Northwest. Lahaina is technically 27 miles, I THINK (nobody really pays much attention to miles here) and the fastest I've made in there was 45 minutes. Hana is gorgeous but you wouldn't want to stay there because, as one guide says 'Once you get to Hana, you may wonder if you're really there' ... not much in the way of anything except for lots of rainforest, grazing horses, waterfalls, etc nearby. It's a good day trip.
Lahaina/Ka'anapali is where the action is.
You might want to take the little ones for a ride on the Sugar Cane Train... it's off the main road (Honoapi'ilani) near Lahaina. For the older ones, there's a Hard Rock Cafe. There's also an awesome show that I've been meaning to get to called 'Ulalena' up there... one of these days.
Bubba Gump's is a must, Hula Grill is an absolute must. Maui likes Longhi's... oh, btw, Maui, I just saw the Longhi's dude on tv but I can't remember why... if I think of what it was about, I'll report.
[ edited by kiheicat on Feb 8, 2001 07:31 PM ]
posted on February 8, 2001 07:34:02 PM new
OH!! BEFORE I FORGET!! Go sign LONGHIS guestbook at their website and you get a free desert!! YUMMY!!! If I can find it, I wll post it here.
posted on February 8, 2001 07:52:01 PM new
Pack duct tape to tape 3,4,and 5 year old to tree so you can enjoy vacation for short periods. Tell them a hurricane is coming and you are protecting them. They will believe it once.
posted on February 8, 2001 10:14:32 PM newgravid, I hear ya regarding the little ones - lol. There are not mine, we have a 15-year-old. The 3, 4, and 5 year olds are my niece and nephews, but I love 'em to death.
You know what? I bet that "stick to anything" Priority Mail tape will hold those little buggers just as well as duct tape!
mauimoods, thanks for the tip about longhi's! I'm already signed in and printed out the coupon.
kiheicat thanks for the heads up about the Sugar Train. Have not found anything out about that yet on the Internet. My sis lives in Chicago so we've already been to Hard Rock and Bubba Gump Shrimp. Although, my 15-year-old niece just loves Bubba's food, so we may be making a stop there. Personally, I don't care where we eat as long as they have good food and it is seafood!
The Whale Foundation is having some really neat free activities for the little ones while we are there in honor of "Whale Month."
Keep those pointers coming in, I learn something each time one of you posts!
posted on February 8, 2001 10:20:26 PM new
The little ones would probably like the Maui Ocean Center.. if you go on your whale watch out of Maalaea, book a morning ride and hit the Ocean Center when you're done.
And THEN have dinner at Buzz's Wharf.
All 3 are at Maalaea.
Oh, and gravid ROTFL!
No hurricane right now, but Oahu is under flash flood watch tonight.
posted on February 8, 2001 11:19:25 PM new
If I may interject my humble "Maui Vacationer" thoughts (nothing compared to Kihei's or Maui's of course!), definately do the Hula Grill near sunset. The view is beautiful and they start up a music thing after sunset - way cool! Don't be scared off by the hour wait - you get a pager and so you can wander around Whaler's Village (Chanel, Gucci, Gamo, need I say more?) - If you are a shopper of course!
posted on February 8, 2001 11:22:40 PM new
Oh, and one other thing...if you do the Hana thing - DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT read the map while you are in the car as a passenger. I made that mistake and had to make a few, er, unanticipated stops for some one-on-one time with the beautiful foliage.
posted on February 9, 2001 05:28:27 PM new
kc makes a good point about the map thing. You can stop in Kahului and pick up a Road to Hana tape, which is actually pretty interesting and a lot better than burying your nose in the map.
Oh, and a word of common sense... don't go swimming in the ocean after dark... the sharks come closer to shore at night. If you go snorkeling, pay attention to where you are... I usually 'hug' the reef, wherever I am so I don't inadvertently drift out too far.
posted on February 9, 2001 09:26:16 PM newcat
Yes, we are planning to snorkel thanks for the info. We're taking our own. Only thing though, I don't want to drag along a kickboard as a floation aid, and can't seem to locate the "old" ski preserver (the waist type). Any suggestions on anything else to use to keep us afloat? Do they rent equipment everywhere? Do you have to rent the entire outfit, or can I just rent a floation device?
BTW, can't decide on whether to do the whale search through the Whale Foundation or the half day dolphin adventure through them with snorkeling and lunch included.
They said on the dolphin trip that we'd probably see whale, but my question is since dolphin love to play in the boat wake, do you think dolphin will follow the whale boat out?
Our daughter is just crazy about dolphin and I want to make sure she sees at least one up close.
posted on February 10, 2001 06:46:53 PM newkiheicat, apparently we are staying west, at The Sands of Kahana, between Kaanapali and Kapalua.
One of the rental property agencies had a special deal on one of the 3 bedroom penthouses. Not a bad price I might add -$243 per night. I found a few small, one bedroom bungalos advertised for about the same price as this. Since both families are splitting the rate, it isn't too bad.
Only thing, have to stay in the same condo as the little ones. arrrgh! But we'll survive.
Let me thank everyone who posted any info, I greatly appreciate the help. It is so nice to have people who live, or have been where you are going to help with share information on where to, or where not to go. Thank you all.
If anything else comes up, just leave me a note here.
posted on February 10, 2001 10:33:09 PM new
It sounds as if you are going with your sister's family? If I may suggest a good "girls day", I went to the Day Spa at the Grand Wailea in Wailea (near Kihei), and it was FABULOUS! (Massage, mani, pedi, and these great mud baths and soaking tubs). A little pricey, but so worth it! Just a thought to get away from the kids for a half a day...
posted on February 11, 2001 03:45:57 PM new
Oh, Kahana is nice, quieter than Lahaina by far, but you're still not too far from town. There is an Outback Steakhouse and a McDonald's in Kahana. You will still want to venture in to Ka'anapali. There are lifeguards on the Kamaole beaches here in Kihei but none up there.
I'll be on the 10:30 whale boat out of Maalaea on the 18th... if you're booked on the same boat, look for a tall blonde chick with two boys, ages 8 and 10, probably both playing with their Gameboys, lol
I've not been on the Lanai dolphin expedition, but Maui went on a trip to Turtle Town on Lanai once. Might be worth it to do both.
posted on February 11, 2001 08:45:32 PM newkiheicat and everyone else, thanks so much for contributing your priceless information. It is greatly appreciated!
Update, as of 7 a.m. today (Sunday), our flight has been bumped up a day, so we are leaving Monday morning instead of Tuesday. I will be on the plane in less than 8 hours. We're flying out of Chicago to St. Louis and then from St. Louie to Maui (Kahului).
If we happen to go out on the same whale watching boat, I'll be looking for you! I'll probably be the one with the 3 screaming toddlers, a husband and 15-year-old daughter rolling their eyes, and a 40-year-old sister majorly stressed out... But I'll be smiling - afterall, I'm in Maui!!! Thanks again.
posted on February 11, 2001 08:58:41 PM new
I'm 40 also (for a couple more weeks anyway, lol) ... maybe your sister and I can leave ALL the kids with you and go have a drink!
LOLOL
(Just kidding )
Have a safe flight!
Aloha and e komo mai (welcome)
