Trip Report - Aug 31 to Sept 7 - Maui Blues setting in

For the past several years we have gotten such great advice from TripAdvisor that it’s time to give back and share our most recent Maui experience. Here’s my first trip report (hopefully one of many). Warning, it’s very long…

We just ended our trip yesterday so I’m feeling those Maui Blues setting in. Our Maui adventure started on Sunday, August 31st. Eight fellow travelers departing from LAX that included 4 first-timers, me %26amp; the hubby, plus the “newlyweds” my brother and Sister-in-Law for 8-day trip.

Day 1 – The attendants and pilot of United Airlines couldn’t have been kinder to my SIL. She is the kind you see waiting to bolt when the plane takes flight. The attendant noticed it right as we boarded and took her aside to visit with the pilot to calm her nerves. After the flight took off, she calmed down and the crew was very kind by presenting her with airline wings and a bottle of wine to celebrate their honeymoon.

We arrived into OGG just before noon. Picked up two cars at Alamo without any glitches and planned to grab lunch at Da Kitchen before heading into Wal-Mart and Costco for supplies. FYI - Da Kitchen in Kahului, we found out is closed on Sundays. Onto plan B – we drove to Kihei and had lunch at one of our favorite hang-outs “South Side Tiki Lounge” for pizza and beer. After lunch, the guys hung out at Lulu’s for football and beer until they could check into the condo at Worldmark while the girls headed back to Kahului to shop for supplies (we ate half our meals at the condo). Once we were stocked with supplies and settled in, we heading across the street to Kamaole One to enjoy the surf and beautiful sunset.

Day 2 – We planned Lanai Safari Excursion before we left the mainland based on all the reviews on TripAdvisor. Here’s a quick review (detailed account in the review section to follow). The trip was wonderful. We unanimously voted it was our favorite highlight of the trip. We arrived at Lahaina Harbor at 6:30 am and didn’t return until 3:00 pm. In seven hours, we traveled around the entire island of Lanai (68 miles) with 3 snorkel stops viewing magnificent scenery along the way. The crew was very attentive, food was delicious and the boat wasn’t over packed. We spent the rest of the evening back at the condo watching another beautiful sunset and relaxing by the pool.

Day 3 – Lazy day …We made plans to have our local friend over for dinner, so we had a lazy beach/pool day. Some went shopping in Wailea and then we all met up for lunch at “Cheeseburger in Paradise” located at the end of Wailea Mall. The customer service at the restaurant was good and for the price, it sandwiches did not disappoint. The BBQ steak dinner back at the condo didn’t disappoint us or our local friend either!

Day 4 - We wanted to show the first-timers joining us some of our favorite sights, so we heading off to Makena Beach (in front of the Maui Prince) to snorkel. We love this beach/snorkel spot. It was a great day and everyone loved seeing all the turtles. After snorkeling, we drove down to south end to see the lava fields and then stopped at Keawakapu Beach before hitting the Tiki Lounge again for lunch and back to the condo for POGtails by the pool and another fabulous sunset and BBQ dinner.

Day 5 – The day was busy with activities. We started the day by heading west to visit a favorite spot “Black Rock.” Free parking for one car and the other we paid $20 to park at the Sheraton. We also wanted some shade, so we bit the bullet and rented two umbrellas from the hotel which included 2 chaise lounges ($50). The current was not very strong that day, but the shore entry was tough on some. It looked a bowling for tourists when one of our friends (along with others) got knocked down by the funnel shore break. Thankfully no one was hurt nor did it dampen our friend’s spirits. She was still able to snorkel %26amp; swim. As the day progressed (and after much persuasion), my niece goaded my brother into both jumping off “Black Rock” (the locals were still in school). The first-timers left early to grab an expensive lunch at Jack in the Box ($40).

Everyone in the group split up for dinner that evening. The first-timers enjoyed themselves at Wailea’s Marriott Luau (heard comments that the drinks were strong, food was good, location beautiful and the show was great). Since Tableside Chefs went out of business, the “Honeymooners” were treated to a romantic dinner for two at the SeaWatch Restaurant (they loved it). Hubby and I played chauffer for everyone (no DUI’s to take home). Ands, after everyone was where they wanted to be, me and the hubby sat outside at the counter of Alexander’s Fish %26amp; Chips eating our Ono %26amp; Molokai Sweet potatoes (yummy) watching Pop Warner Football practice and the sunset (yup, that’s where we wanted to be). Afterwards, we strolled over to Foodland to buy a quart of Rosalina’s Kona Coffee Mudpie Ice Cream to share with the group.

Day 6 – Hubby and I drove over to Home Maid Café at 6:30 am for breakfast %26amp; to buy malasadas for everyone (2 dozen $20 - very tasty) before we split up into groups. A few went on a shopping adventure looking for Harley Davidson souvenirs and had lunch at Peggy Sue’s in Kihei (50’s theme). Four of us went to visit the Iao Needle and to visit a customer in Kahului. My customer suggested Ho Cho for lunch (located next to the Queen K. Mall). They had good burgers, but not much in the way of atmosphere. It reminded me of an outdated TGIF.

Day 7 – The group wanted to make most of our last day. We started out at the swap meet where we bought trinkets to take home and snacked on yummy garlic noodles. We then headed west to Honoloa Bay to snorkel, stopped to view the Lava Dragon Teeth in Kapalua (along with a turtle family) and then hung out at Kapalua Bay. We ended the day with a sunset dinner at Aloha Mixed Grill in Lahaina. Happy hour drinks and some wonderful food without breaking the bank. And the best of all, the sunset during dinner had a picture perfect view with the Old Lahaina Luau music playing in the background.

Day 8 - We packed and had a delicious breakfast at Stella Blues Café (large portions) before checking out of the condo. Little did I realize that our return flight was actually bumped up an hour than originally scheduled (shame on me not double checking earlier). We rushed down Hwy 310 to make our flight. Two from our group were left to drop off the rental cars after as the rest of us tried to check-in our luggage. Not only were we rushed trying to repack two overweight bags, but we literally ran trying to get through security and onto our flight. We had only nanoseconds to board as the doors at gate 27 were closing. The flight was full – not a single open seat. But, the time disadvantage worked in our favor since it left no time for my SIL’s anxiety to set in. We had a safe flight home with a tail winds blowing to get us to LAX early.

Well, that’s it for this year’s trip. I must have repeated TripAdvisor every time someone asked me where I learned “that” while on Maui. The trip was a blast! Below are a few notes I hope are worthwhile to someone:

The price of gas on Sunday was $4.56 for regular.

The average temperature in Kihei was 92 degrees while we were there. And, this year we saw a lot more clouds and rain than in prior years. It seemed more muggy than hot.

We noticed as soon as we starting driving down Dairy Road, the roads were less traveled and tourism is down. Throughout the week, wherever we traveled it was un-crowded. Parking could be found almost everywhere except at Black Rock. In the early afternoon, there was ample parking at Honoloa Bay, in Lahaina, the Ritz Carlton and Kapalua Bay Beach.

We managed to get one of the first-timers hooked on Loco Moco for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And, we hooked another one on POG juice. Everyone got hooked on the Rosalina’s ice cream.

Our niece works at a local Starbucks so we made a quick stop at one in Kihei. She was able to get a free pound of Kona coffee and everyone in the group got drinks at 50% off.

When traveling with 8, allow room for space. Luckily, none of us got on each other’s nerve… except for the text messages. I guess, I’m old fashioned and I just don’t get it – you’re on vacation – turn off the cell phones. You can text your sweetie XOXO when it’s time to go sleep!

Memo to Caddyshackman – The local reports that the Renaissance Wailea has not been touched since it was closed on Sept. 6, 2007. It seems that “The Baccarat” has only sold 21 out of 70+ condos and will not start demolition/construction until 75% of them have been sold. Estimated time for completion was early 2009 and it now looks like late 2010 (if it doesn’t get resold). We heard that it’s costing the new owners 1 million just to keep up the landscaping while things are idle.

I hope this information is helpful to others as much as it was to us while we were planning our trip! Thanks again for all the help! I welcome any and all questions or comments I mentioned above. Maui no ka Oi%26#39;!

Trip Report - Aug 31 to Sept 7 - Maui Blues setting in

Sounds like the perfect vacation to me! Thanks for a great report. We%26#39;ve often commented how much we%26#39;d love to show the Maui we enjoy so much to friends and loved ones, but don%26#39;t think we could handle the group travel thing. Sounds like you made it work for you guys.

Very interesting news about the Renaissance. Too nice a property to sit empty, but in this economy it%26#39;ll be a stretch for them to get to their 75% goal anytime soon.

Trip Report - Aug 31 to Sept 7 - Maui Blues setting in

Thanks for the great report. I am taking my parents, 2 aunts and a cousin with us this November; so a group report in the area we are staying in was great to see.

I really enjoyed hearing about the ';little'; things that are unique to the area (ice cream, ono %26amp; molokai sweet potatoes). My family will appreciate those types of things.

We are renting 2 condos in the Maui Kamaole development. I would love to hear any suggestions you have that would make our trip better. Good, inexpensive to mid-range food places/restaurants that can easily accomodate 7 people, things to do, etc.

For activities, I%26#39;ve been loosely thinking..

Iao Needle

Magic Show

Lanai Day trip

Top of Volcano

Fish Bowl area

Drive partway to Hana (not sure if doing the whole thing)

Luau (not my thing, but the others want this)

Tracy

Nice trip report. Sounds like you had a blast. I%26#39;m glad that you didn%26#39;t miss your flight. I remember once stopping for breakfast at Honolulu Airport and thinking the Wiki Wiki train would be waiting to take me to the main terminal. Wrong, it just left and would be another 10 mins. I almost missed my flight to Orange County.

Interesting about your return flight, ours was bumped up an hour also and we flew from OGG to San Francisco on United. We were in Wailea beginning of July and it rained too but they were still in a drought mode. Sound like you had a perfect trip though.

Great trip report. Thanks for writing!