Rainy Day on Maui

Image via WikipediaWe have very few rainy days on Maui especially during the summer. As we head into the winter we will see alot more on the east side and a bit more on the south and west side. As an activity concierge many people ask me what they can do on a rainy day.... I have made a list -

1. Visit the Maui Ocean Center. This aquarium does a great job of introducing you to the fishes of Hawaii. They have some great exhibits on the humpback whales that visit Hawaii’s waters each winter. (Admission fee is required.)
2. Tour the Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum. (Modest admission fee required.)
3. Learn about Maui’s whaling history at Whalers Village Museum in Kaanapali. (Free)
4. Shop at the Lahaina Cannery Mall. (Free) or the Maui Mall in Kahului.
   
5. Tour the historic Baldwin House in Lahaina. (Currently open daily from 10 – 4. Located at 120 Dickenson Street in Lahaina. Modest admission fee of $3 for adults, $5 for families, and $2 for children is required.)
6. Admire 100% locally made crafts at the Maui Crafts Guild in lovely Paia. (Free)
7. Schedule some pampering time at a spa. Maui has an abundance of top rated spas. (Be sure to check out our popular suggestions for maximizing your Hawaii spa treatments.)
8. Drive through Iao valley and take some hikes the rain is always warm and refreshing.
9. Watch the windsurfers or surfers at Hookipa beach park and then have an expensive, incredible lunch at Mama’s Fish House.
10. Take a tour of the Maui Tropical Plantation. The tram on the tour tour has a roof.
11. Drive up to Haleakala, it might not have clouds or rain at the top
12. 12. Visit Dan's Greenhouse in old-town Lahaina to gawk at tropical flowers, buy one of Dan's world-famous Fuku-Bonsai lava rock plants or play with miniature piglets and baby birds, 193 Lahainaluna Road

13. Take the family to see Kupanaha, the great Magic, dinner show, or Ulalena in downtown Lahaina….
14. Nab one of the umbrellas on the patio at Aloha Mixed Plate and stay dry while sampling local food.
15. Sample a red or white at the King's Cottage tasting room at Maui's Winery at Ulupalakua Ranch near the mountainside community of Keokea. (Tedeschi Vineyards)
16. where else in the world can you go to a Glow in the Dark, miniature Golf Course. Glow Putt in the Lahaina Center.
    

Sunrise at Haleakala

Haleakala at sunrise is truly one of the most beautiful places on the planet. You have to get up very early in the morning and dress warmly as you are traveling up to 10,000 feet and even on Maui it gets cold at the elevation.

One of Maui’s most memorable experiences, seeing the Haleakala sunrise from almost 10,000 feet above sea level does take some planning. Here are a few tips to make the most of your Haleakala expedition.

Come Early
Depending where you get started from on Maui, it can take you up to two hours to drive the Haleakala Highway (HI 37) and then up the winding Haleakala Crater Road leading to the summit of Haleakala. It’s an early wake-up call, but the reward is well worth it.

Drive past the Park Visitors Center at 7,000 feet to get to the Haleakala Visitors Center at 9,740 feet. Try to arrive at the Haleakala Visitor Center no later than a half hour before the sun rises — earlier for a good spot. In the summer the sun rises as early as 5:38 AM, in the winter as late as 6:55 AM. The color of the sky and clouds before daybreak are stunning.

Bring Warm Clothes
This is Hawaii but it gets very cold at the summit. The temperature drops 3º for every 1000 feet of elevation, so at the Haleakala Visitor Center’s 9,740-foot elevation (where most people watch the sunrise) it’s about 30º colder than at sea level. Be sure to bring pants, shoes, layers of clothing, and blankets. Temperatures are often in the 40-degree range.

Pick Up Breakfast
Although there are restroom facilities there is no food or gas sold within the park. So fill up your tank and bring some food and drink for an early morning breakfast. And most importantly don’t forget your camera.

Molokini Snorkel

Image via WikipediaWe went on the Pride of Maui morning snorkel last week and had so much fun. They serve a nice breakfast with fruit and muffins and of course Kona coffee. Next up we get our snorkel gear and instructions for the beginners, then we are off to Molokini. Really beautiful snorkeling at this little caldera and the water is perfectly clear.
We left Molokini and on the way over to Turtle Reef we had a nice lunch hot off the grill. We had a choice of Chicken, hamburgers, or hotdogs and a great pasta salad. The next stop was Turtle Reef where I got this great image of the turtle coming up right next to our boat. Contact me at Maui_Vacations@yahoo.com for more information and to learn about more exciting activities on Maui.

Fire on the West Maui Mountains

There is a huge fire on Maui today. It started at least yesterday and maybe even the day before. You can see plane after plane landing and I just know it is loaded with tourists, half of whom, stay on Lahaina side in Kaanapali beach or Kapalua. I wonder what they are thinking as they are flying in to land and see the huge fire on the left side of the plane. I wonder if the pilot tells them to hurry up and find a hotel in Kihei and/or Wailea before they are sold out.

It is likely that I won't be able to go to work tomorrow unless the fire lays down overnight. I will check the road closure phone line in the morning. I am supposed to go to the Feast at Lele Luau tomorrow night, something I am really looking forward to. Already several Luau's and Ulalena have closed for tonight as the dancers cannot get to work from the West Side. I am surely going to pack and overnight bag for tomorrow night because the Kiave wood burns and burns. It is used here as charcoal. I am walking over for sunset and can see the fire from the beach across the street, hopefully it is laying down a bit so I can go to work tomorrow.

Snorkeling at Ulua beach

A great time to sit at the beach a look out and watch the whales. They are so active at this time of year. I was at Ulua beach in Wailea today. Ulua beach is a beautiful crescent shaped white sand beach. This beach is great for snorkeling off the shore and the dive shops do introductory dives here as well. I really enjoy snorkeling on my days off. During times of high surf or strong currents, it can be a little “murky” or “stirred up” but it is still fun. I like Ulua beach because there is also a big tree that hangs over the beach and provides shade if you want it. The best time to go to the beach on Maui is in the morning. Usually the wind is calm in the morning and tends to pick up more in the afternoon. The north end of Ulua beach is the good end for snorkeling, but if conditions are right the middle and south end are great for boogie boarding. Always be careful at the beach on Maui as the waves can be unpredictable and can knock you down. “Never turn you back on the Ocean” is a good rule of thumb.