Can anyone give me 5 MUST DO's for Maui?

Hi!

My husband and I are going to Maui, Hawaii from Sep 19th to Sep 25th 2007 for our honeymoon. We are staying at the Four Season, Wailea, Maui.

Can anyone tell us 5 MUST DO things when we are there e.g. helicopter trips, restaurants, bars, walks anywhere in the island. We like nice food, are quite active but also like to relax and would like to do nice things (budget is not necessarily an issue because this is our honeymoon).

I really appreciate anyone%26#39;s help.

Thanks!!

Louise

Can anyone give me 5 MUST DO's for Maui?

1. Start each day sitting on the lanai, drinking island coffee and talking to each other about what you might do that day. Smell the wonderful flowers and listen to the island wake up for the day.

2. End each day sitting on the lanai, having a tropical drink and talking to each other about what you did that day while enjoying the best sunsets you will ever see in your lifetime.

3,4,5 – Anything else is really icing on the cake compared to 1 and 2 but a few suggestions might be visiting the Iao Needle, the Maui Ocean Center, strolling around Lahina, sitting on the beach, snorkeling (maybe even take a boat tour snorkel dive) and finally, maybe take in a luau, something I doubt you have in CT .

Can anyone give me 5 MUST DO's for Maui?

Thanks Brighton Bill! That made me smile. Regards, Bigsylou

BB obviously has his priorities straight. I couldn%26#39;t agree more.

In addition to Bill%26#39;s # 1 and 2:

Snorkle, either from beach or take a trip. We did a raft/snorkle trip to Lanai with Capt. Steve%26#39;s and it was an amazing experience-we had hundreds of dolphins swimming right under/next to the raft.

If your 1st time to the islands, do a luau. I%26#39;ve heard Feast at Lele is really good. We%26#39;ve done the Royal Lahaina Luau and the Old Lahaina Luau. Both are good, the OLL doesn%26#39;t have a fire dancer.

Visit Haleakala, do sunrise if you can-I wish we had. Do that the day after you get there while you are still on mainland time.

If you have the time spend a couple nights in Hana! We stayed at Tradewinds Tropicals Hana Cabana and it was the highlight of our trip. Hana is, to me what Hawaii is what I always pictured it to be: remote, romantic and riduculously gorgeous.

Lonely Planet Maui gives an unusual top To Do list - for best %26#39;hidden%26#39; adventures which include:

1 - Cloud Forests of Polipoli Springs State Rec Area [bring rain gear, dress for chill; may require 4 WD up that road; plan for mud]

2 - Hike the Kaupo Gap [only if you have a lot of stamina; are a master level hiker; love really remote areas; and like to scramble over lava scrub and boulders on steep descents]

3 - Drive Kahekili Hwy [22 miles at only 5-15 mph; around the %26#39;back way%26#39;; west Maui Mountains from Kahului / Wailuku to Napili / Ka%26#39;anapali / Lahaina; some say one section of this road is MUCH worse than Hana Hwy ever was; one lane with no shoulder or guard rails but with 2-way traffic - Yikes]

4 - Camp in Haleakala Valley [most call this the crater; there are a few cabins, rarely available; have to get a cabin by lottery; and you must hike in with all your supplies; steep descent and loose footing on Sliding Sands trail; and then you get to hike UP that same trail to get out]

5 - Cross rope bridges in a remote valley [the zip line at Halekala includes one of these; or take your chances on the west Maui side on the Waihe%26#39;e Valley Trail - not the ridge trail, the valley one; must get permits to hike since this is on private land]

We are not nearly that adventurous when on Maui - lay back, relax, maybe beachcomb / swim / snorkel one or more of the 8 FAB beaches on south Maui in Wailea and so. Kihei; sunsets whether on a cruise, at a restaurant in Lahaina with rail seating, or on your lanai; maybe a day trip to Hana to experience waterfalls, etc. You may not be able to book the zipline; it fills up fast and usually requires 2-3 months in advance reservations ... although the 1/2 day one on west Maui might have openings - check with Skyline

If you don%26#39;t mind a VERY early rising, and you have really warm clothes with you -- sunrise at Haleakala is on many%26#39;s top To Do List. We also like late afternoon on clear days from Lelewi Lookout - up above the clouds that hang out about 8,000 feet; can see Big Island, all over Maui, clouds down in the crater. Perhaps if you time it right you can see your shadows superimposed on the clouds below surrounded by a rainbow - some say ancient Hawaiians believed they were seeing their soul and receiving blessings, a promise from heaven when this occurred.

We have had this experience from House of the Sun spiritis, and it was truly phenomenal - rounded the corner on the trail, looked down, danced with our shadows and then a completely purple circular rainbow appeared; we fell to our knees in awe; mouths gaping, eyes popping, then starting crying/laughing; one of many best moments of Maui Magic !!! Star shine and moon rise up there is pretty FAB too. You just have to be prepared for the cold and the wind.

1. Snorkel - start in front of your hotel and then explore other beaches like Maluaka in Makena.

2. Iao Valley

3. Take a hike - get a good hiking/walking book and either enjoy the rain forest on the east side of Haleakala or the extreme lava near La Perouse Bay.

4. Since money isn%26#39;t an object, the zipline sounds like a lot of fun or a bike ride down Haleakala right after the sunrise. These activities aren%26#39;t that expensive really and the bike ride carries some risk.

5. Wailea beachwalk - appreciate the sunset from here or enjoy a lovely morning walk each day.

relax on the beach....float in the ocean

snorkel....

cocktails watching the sunset...

coffee on the lanai watching the ocean..

don%26#39;t over schedule yourself.

There are so many things to do and you wouldn;t go wrong no matter what you decide. You%26#39;ll just come back with a list of to-do%26#39;s for the next time.

My suggestions

1. checkout as many beaches as you can. If we had a total beach day, we%26#39;d do one in the am and another in the pm.

2. the zipline was a great way to get away from the beaches for a bit. Not something i%26#39;d ever done before.

3. my family loved the surfing lessons. it certainly isn%26#39;t something that we%26#39;d ever do in NJ

4. Eat Ice Cream everyday.

5. Get to a few nice restaurants. they%26#39;re not all as pricey as i thought they be.

Have a great time!

Hey, Bill so glad you offered that. If you hadn%26#39;t I would have worried about you. Best wishes and Aloha on you marriage, Bigsylou.

- Vulcano

-road to Hana

-Kahekili Hwy

- Big Beach

-Napili Beach