Maui and Kauai Areas and Driving Times
Filed under: Hawaii - general, Kauai, Kauai Activities, Maui, Maui Activities, Vacation Planning
first, thanks for offering those free books which i promptly downloaded. my boyfriend and i are staying at a timeshare in lahaina, maui for 6 nights. i have put together a list of things to do, with as much free things to do as possible.
we will be renting a car, and it just seems like all the things to do are in the east (like the haleakala crater, and hana, and even the winery seem to take hours to get to). i have looked at previous answers you have given, but i guess my question is not so much as “things to do” but the order to do them in so we are not just spending this vacation driving back and forth, and passing the same things. for example, the road to hana. we want to drive that, and sites suggest that be the whole day, which is fine.
however, it seems i will be passing all these other attractions and should take advantage of being in the same proximity, you know what i mean? like a suggested beach or snorkling in the molokini crater.
what do you suggest taking advantage of while in that area? light walking around is fine for me, but nothing resembling strenuos hiking. snorkeling for free ourselves at a nice beach would be fine, too, but i guess to get to the crater we would need to get out there..hmm. of course we want to do a luau.then, after 6 nights, we are flying nonstop to kauai (pupoi) for 4 nights. i guess we will need another rental car, so can you help me with the same strategy with driving? ie, doing things convenient to each other and knowing what can be done in one trip. it would be nice to be at a beach, and then actually shower before going on a dinner cruise, for example.
Well, here’s what I would do, I think. I would plan a whole day for the road to Hana. Hit whatever you want to on the way there - like Paia and some easy hike waterfalls and then once you get to Hana check out the Oheo gulch, it’s easy to get to and a main attraction there.
Then, do an upcountry day where you hit the winery and the Haleakala park.
then, do a beach and site-seeing day along the Lahaina and Kaanapali and maybe Wailea coasts and fit in any boat tours too - I think you are already on the absolute right track and all this will come together a bit more once you get there and see that the island is smaller than it seems to you now.
If you wanted to get a guidebook that would really spell this out for you, I really like the Maui Revealed book - it breaks up beaches and sights and adventures by areas of the island. Sometimes libraries have it too.
Now, once you get to Kauai, this really won’t be an issue, because Kauai is even smaller. No matter what you want to do it will probably be within 20 minutes of what you are doing, and wonderful sunset dinner cruises will be right there in poipu, so you can hit your hotel room to shower first.
heading all the way out to the farthest west side of the island can take a while but not to many people do that - and hitting the Na Pali coast from Poipu can take a while too, but everything else on the island is on the way to the Na Pali coast - so don’t worry, I don’t think you are going to have any problems.
Have a truly wonderful vacation! Lisa
Best Price for Inexpensive Maui Surfing Lessons
We want to learn to surf in maui. Can you turn us on to the cheapest lessons available. Anywhere on the island is fine
Generally, the best prices are going to be for group lessons. I have found group lessons as low as $60. Rates may be better for larger groups. You’ll get a free board rental with your lesson - and you could ride a wave on your first ty 
One good company is maui waveriders.
Semi private lessons - for couples or groups of three are good too, maybe $85 to $90 is the best price available.
Do you have a business with rates around here or better than this? Add it in the comments. Or, have you had an experience with surfing on Maui? I’d love to hear from you. Lisa
Remote and Secret Waterfalls on Maui, Hawaii - Waterfalls off the Beaten Path
I’m planning a trip to Maui in March and was wondering if you could suggest some waterfalls to visit? We were hoping to find some with swimmable pools and maybe (if we’re really lucky) somewhere off the beaten path - remote!?
Well - Maui is a GREAT island to see waterfalls on. Many of them have swimmable pools - most *were* off the beaten path and then the guide book Maui Revealed revealed them all and gave great directions how to find them … because before noone could find them. I would suggest getting the book. You also can check out these pages for some fantastic descriptions.
Adventure Maui Waterfall Descriptions
Hawaiiweb waterfall pictures
Personally, I would stick with Oheo Gulch (aka the seven sacred pools) or the ones on the Hana Highway. They are remote, even if they are no longer secret. Many of them have swimmable pools. They won’t be that private but they’ll still be cool. Plus, there are short hikes out to most of them that are just really fun.
Honestly, many locals have gotten a bit peeved that some of their favorite spots have been overrun by visitors and that’s why I would suggest Hana Highway and Hana. You are less likely to run into that.
Have a GREAT time! Lisa
Maui Vacation Planning Can Be Easy - Maui Revealed Review
Filed under: Hawaii Revealed Guides, Lanai, Maui, Maui Activities, Molokai, Vacation Planning
The Maui Revealed
The book explains and has maps and directions to practically every single thing on the island that you might want to do or see. It actually was quite controversial a few years back becuase it told the truth about when land was state land or otherwise open to the public and some locals took exception to some things being shared with visitors.
The book opens with sights: West Maui Sights: stuff to see in Maalaea, Lahaina, Kaanapali, and Kapalua. Central Maui Sights: things to do and see in Wailuku, Kahului, the valley of sugar, and Pa’ia, plus shopping and ‘best bets’. Then Hana Highway Sights: answering questions like ‘can a rental car go all the way?’, where are the waterfalls? where is the red sand beach, and where to eat in Hana.
Then there are the southeast Maui Sights: like Kipahulu, Oheo Gulch (7 sacred pools), pipiwai trail, and past the park. Then is Haleakala and upcountry, then South Maui: Maalaea, Kihei, Wailea, Makena, Molokini, and La Perouse Bay.
Then the book talks about Kahoolawe, Lanai, and Molokai.
The next sections are Beaches, Activities, Adventures, Island dining, and Where to Stay. This is one book that truly has everything.
Here’s a particularly telling quote from the book introduction:
We hike the trails, ride the boats, eat in the restaurants, explore the reefs, and do the things we write about.It takes us one to two YEARS, full time, to do a first edition book, and we visit places anonymously.
We recognize the effort people go through to visit Maui, and our goal is to expose you to as many options as possible so you can decide what you want to see and do. We took great pains to structure this book in such a way that it will be fun, easy reading and loaded with useful information.
So, that’s the kind of attitude I want in MY guidebook writers! Buy the book here: Maui Revealed - The Ultimate Maui Guidebook
Maui Scheduled Itinerary - What should we do in Maui?
Filed under: Hawaii - general, Maui, Maui Activities, Vacation Planning
I made a tentative schedule for our Maui Trip. Can you look it over to see if we have included all of the “must sees” and if the timing looks ok?
DATE TIME ACTIVITY
25-Aug
2:23 p.m. Arrive at OGG
4:30 p.m. Arrive at Westin Resort and Spa in Maui
6:00 p.m. Dinner at Lahaina Grill
8:00 p.m. Explore area around hotel
26-Aug
11:00 a.m. Brunch at Longhi’s
1:00 p.m . Surfing at Kapalua Beach
7:00 p.m. Old Lahaina Luau/Dinner
27-Aug
3:00 a.m. Sunrise Haleakala Bike Tour
7:00 a.m. Complete Bike Tour
Rest/Relax all morning
11:00 p.m. Massage at the Westin Spa
12:00 p.m. Lunch at
2:00 p.m. Snorkeling at the Black Rock
7:00 p.m. Warren & Annabelle’s Magic Show
28-Aug Road to Hana Day Trip
29-Aug
9:00 a.m. Breakfast at
10:00 a.m. Water Activity: parasailing, windsurfing
2:00 p.m. Check out of The Westin
3:20 p.m. Get to OGG airport
4:20 p.m. Depart from OGG to Hilo
5:00 p.m. Arrive in Hilo
It looks really good - you are not trying to cram too much into one short trip. Obviously there’s much more to do on Maui but you wouldn’t be happy trying to do all of it. It looks good to me - you have a great time! Lisa
Thank you for looking over our itinerary. I’m glad it looks relaxing
Can you suggest 3-5 more activities we should consider doing while we are in Maui?
Sure, there is a nice aquarium on Maui , you could take surfing lessons or windsailing lessons. You could jet ski, you could rent a kayak, you could snorkel or learn to boogie board, you could go on a sunset or dinner cruise or a dolphin watching cruise, you could go to a luau, you could do the submarine tour or a glass bottom boat tour, you could do a zip line. I guess that’s more than 3-5 … well, something has to call to you more than the others, right?
Suggested Hawaii Itinerary - Plan my Trip for Me!
Filed under: Big Island, Big Island Activities, Hawaii - general, Kauai, Maui, Maui Activities, Most Popular Questions, Oahu, Oahu Activities
If you had to recommend a two week itinerary in Hawaii, what would you recommend and why (13 full days)? Don’t give me some cop out answer like “every island has something to offer for each person”. We were thinking of visiting 2-3 islands. Which islands should I visit and for how many days.
Ok, 13 full days - never been to Hawaii before - I would do Oahu for 4 to 5 days. On Oahu I would visit Waikiki beach, because it really is the beach that started it all even if it is completely packed with people and commercialized these days.. I would visit Pearl Harbor and maybe hike to some waterfalls. I would consider Hanauma Bay. I would check out Kailua and Lanikai beaches and the North Shore. For the rest of the trip *I* would decide which out of the following was my favorite must-see and choose my island(s) around that:
an active volcano (big island)
black sand beaches (big island)
the Na Pali Coast (Kauai)
tons of waterfalls (Kauai or Maui)
zip line (maui and kauai)
downhill bike adventure (maui)
ferries to smaller islands (maui)
rivers (kauai)
hana and the road to hana (maui)
mauna kea (big island)
green sand beach (big island)
waimea canyon (kauai)
sport fishing (all islands, but big island - kona side is considered best)
waipio valley (big island)
Anything else you would want to do in Hawaii could be done on any island - so figure out what appeals to you and focus your activities around that. That is the most specific advice I will offer. I hope you have a wonderful time! Lisa
…. BIG TRIP for us all. Most of us do not like tons of crowds for a long time. average crowds are fine. we have planned 11 days or more. Quoted 4,500 for all inclusive flight hopper to 3 islands. Does this allow you to see the greatest of hawaii by moving about?
Three islands is a personal choice - if you guys want to move around that much, great! Of course staying in one place is good too. The only island I sometimes really advise people to not stay on for a long time is Oahu - sometimes visitors get disenchanted with the amount of traffic and people there. Lisa
Latest on planning is … talked to an agent that suggested a cruise to the three islands instead of flights. After thinking about it, we think it sounds easier than packing and unpacking. We would fly to Honolulu and get on a cruise ship that moves about three different islands. At least there are stay overs for more than one day.
We have been on cruises… the frustrating part for us has been we find a place we really like however, we can’t stay any longer than the time they allow. :
If you had say 11 days to see hawaii, knowing this could be your 1st and last trip, what would YOU do? Teens will need activity. Parents and grandma like activities such as hiking, snorkeling, ATV rides, beaches, FOOD of course. Any suggestions??
I have a really hard time when people ask ne what would YOU do becaue I have been here for so long and have seen so much and I can’t seem to get myself back to a place of being a fresh newbie to Hawaii.
The cool thing about a cruise is all the people are right there when you get off the boat trying to talk you into their activity - but the not so cool thing is you are stuck in this one geographical area for this finite period of time.
I won’t say - do the cruise or don’t do the cruise. I’m sure it could be awesome, and I’m sure it could be awful
Tour the Volcano From Maui - How to Get to the Big Island
Filed under: Big Island, Big Island Activities, Hawaii - general, Hawaii Volcanoes, Maui, Maui Activities, Vacation Planning
If I spend 10 nights in Maui is it easy to do a day trip to the big island to see the volcano or would you recommend something different. I am traveling with a 15 and 12 year old boys.
Well, you have four options, really. The first three will take *all day*. The last one will not but will be the most expensive. If you really want to see the volcano then go for it - just realize it could be doing *nothing* when you come (it could be in a pause or all the lava could be flowing underground)
- arrange your own flight to hilo, rent your own car, and drive up to the national park, see as much as you can in one day, drive back and fly back to maui. Not a bad choice - probably your cheapest option. I would say it is possible to do this for $100 per person for the flight (if you book early enough to get the lowest rates on the flight) plus $35 to $60 for the rental car. Drive to the national park from Hilo will take 30 minutes. (Do NOT fly to Kona- that will take you over two hours to drive to the Volcano.) Bad thing is, the lava flow is currently (nov 07) viewable only by air so you may not get to see active lava - but you will get to see all the other stuff.
- Arrange your own flight to Hilo, then take a tour bus to the National Park. http://www.hawaiiactive.com/activities/bigisland-volcano-tour.html or arrange your own flight to Hilo or Kona, then take a small plane or helicopter flyover tour of the volcano: http://www.hilowings.com/ , http://www.bluehawaiian.com/bigisland/tours/, http://www.safarihelicopters.com/bigislandtours.html (web booking price is $151 per person when I wrote this)
- Arrange a bus tour to the volcano, starting from Maui - http://www.hawaiiactive.com/activities/maui-volcano-adventure.html - have all the legwork done for you by the tour company
- Do a flyover of the volcano from Maui: http://www.volcanoairtours.com/index.html, http://www.hawaiiactivities.com/us/hawaii/maui/sg/1258/ag/6382/
have a great time!
Best Molokai Day Trip from Maui or Oahu
Filed under: 808Talk Answers, Hawaii - general, Maui Activities, Molokai, Oahu Activities
Brian of Alexandria, Virginia asks
What is the best way to visit Molokai Island as a day trip? I will be in Oahu for a week, then touring Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island as part of a cruise. I am especially interested in the history of the island, including its role as the location of the colony for those with Hanson’s disease (leprosy).
Would it be best to do this as a day trip from Maui?
Hi Brian,
It may be best and easiest to schedule your trip as a day trip from Maui, but I am concerned that you will find it hard to coincide your shore leave times from the cruise ship and the tour times so we’ll look into options from Oahu and from Maui.
Pacific Wings and Molokai Air Shuttle (808-567-6847) and Island Air offer flights from Oahu (Honolulu) to Molokai.
Molokai Outdoors looks to be an outfit that will set up all your flights or transportation from Oahu or Maui and get you started on a tour or with a rental - whichever you want.
The so-called ‘leper colony’ is located on the Kalaupapa peninsula and hard to get to, plus you must either take a tour or be invited by a resident - you can’t just wander wround the area. Here are some options:
Molokai Mule Ride
A ride down the mountain on a mule plus tour.
Molokai Ferry offers ferry-car packages, guided day tour excursions, and a hike and tour, all from Maui.
Maui and the Big Island Day Tours from Oahu
Filed under: 808Talk Answers, Big Island, Big Island Activities, Hawaii - general, Maui, Maui Activities, Oahu Activities
I have seen that I can get cheap inter-island flights via “I flygo Airlines”. I will be staying in Oahu and want to visit a few islands for a day each.
I want to know if I visit Maui, or another island, how easy is it to get from the airport to a day tour. Is there somewhere that I can book a day tour that will pick us up from Maui airport and take us on the island ‘tour’.
I am mainly interested in Maui and the best island to see volcanos (which island would that be?)
Thanks, Vicki (Australia)
Hi Vicki,
The active volcano is on the Big Island, so it appears you would most like to visit Maui and the Big Island and you would like to use Go! airlines to defray some of the cost of this.
Several companies offer big and small bus and shuttle tours on these islands. If you are going to see a specific attraction, such as Kilauea Volcano, you will probably be able to find a company that will also shuttle you to and from the airport or just pick you up there if you book your own flight. If, however, you are going to do a “circle island tour” or just a general sightseeing tour, you may find it easiest to book your airfare through the tour company, and they may or may not (most likely not) use Go! airlines. I, by the way, have flown on all three inter-island carriers and Go! is my definite favorite at this time for the great prices and the short lines.
So, here’s some places to look for tour booking for island and volcano tours on Maui and the Big Island:
- Hawaii Active - general booking of several tours
- Paradise Excursions a 5 hour tour that does the up-mountain volcano stuff (no lava flow walk)
- Viator booking of a tour This appears to also be through Paradise excursions, but I can’t find it on their site, and it includes a trip down to the lava flow area
- Lava Tours - pretty complete volcano tour.
- Guides of Maui Land Tours
- Roberts of Hawaii Magnificent Maui Tour
- Roberts of Hawaii Maui Tour from Oahu
I hope you find one or two that you like Vicki! Have a great time! Come back and tell us how it went - I’d love to hear which ones you did and how you liked them. Aloha, Lisa
See also: Hawaii Island Hopping
Should I Rent a Surfboard in Hawaii or Bring my Own?
Filed under: 808Talk Answers, Big Island Activities, Kauai Activities, Maui Activities, Oahu Activities, Prices
Vicki from Australia asks
My friend is visiting Oahu in March. Would it be cheap enough for him to hire surfboards there or would it be better to bring his own?
Hi Vicky,
Well, before we explore prices and availability of surfboard rentals in Hawaii, let’s talk about whether it’s even a good idea to bring your own surfboard to Hawaii for use on your vacation. The How to Pack Your Shortboard for an Airplane Trip article at eHow.com reveals that surfboard noses are commonly broken in baggage holds and that airlines can charge big bucks for handling surfboards - so that’s a pretty big strike against bringing your own surfboard.
At Hawaii Surf Board Rentals.com on Oahu they state they offer free, island-wide delivery and pickup of quality surfboards for between $50 and $90 for the first two days and $10 each additional day. (Prices may change, check the website).
Also, anyone who wants to just try surfing in the Waikiki area can walk onto Waikiki Beach and rent a surfboard for about $20 for an hour or two. Just look for the rental booths and the racks and racks of surfboards. There are several spots along the beach.
So, Vicky, it appears to me that renting a surfboard once he gets here is your friend’s best option. I hope he has fun!
More rental websites:
… Neal wrote and suggested this - thanks Neal!
I would like to make a suggestion to let visitors know that they can also buy a surfboard when visiting Oahu. While many may prefer to rent, there are other surfers who can buy a cheap used surfboard here and then take it home as surfboards back home cost way more than they do here. Hawaii, being the home of surfing also boasts a wide array surfboard shapes and types and lower end prices. Aloha, Neal
Maui Kayak Rentals and Kayak Companies that Will Deliver and Hana
My wife and I will be staying at a condo in Napili (west Maui) the end of January for a week and would like to rent kayaks (two singles) for the week. The place we’re staying at is right on the ocean and it would be fun to be able to kayak around whenever we want right from our place.
Is there anywhere in Maui that will rent for a week, deliver and pickup at the condo?
I made some phone calls and found one company who currently says will deliver for a $50 charge: South Pacific Kayaks. (Call to confirm this as things change).
They indicated they might not charge if you were closer to their location, so maybe call around or inquire when you get to your hotel or rental and see if there is anything closer.
As a last resort, consider getting a two seater single kayak and strapping it on to the roof of your rental if you have one. They aren’t any harder to steer, and one person can easily paddle it by themselves. I have one and I take it out alone all the time. It can be heavier but that doesn’t matter once you get it in the water.
Have a great time!!
We are visiting Maui in late July. We will stay near the airport for one night and the following morning depart for Hana for seven nights. We want to have a kayak for Hana Bay. However, there is only one kayak tour operator in Hana, and he doesn’t rent kayaks for the week. We would like to just get a rental car with surf racks and strap the kayak to the top. Can you suggest a good kayak rental place? I haven’t had much luck looking online. Thanks.
Well, I didn’t have much luck either. South Pacific Kayaks will rent you a kayak but they are in Makena: It sounds like you will be in Kahului and Makena is a good 40 minutes from there. Here’s a place in Kihei which is closer: http://www.bigkahunaadventures.com/kayaks.html but I couldn’t find anything in Kahului. Good luck!