It doesn't matter which Hawaiian Island you visit you'll always be welcomed with a Lei, (necklace of flowers) and a friendly Aloha. I believe that Maui is just a bit larger than Oahu and that makes it the second largest Island. There are about 125,00 people living here.
When our Children were younger they like to go to Maui,
Hawaii. Today there are flights that take you non-stop to the Island. When we went you had to go to
Honolulu and transfer either to Hawaiian Air or Aloha
Airlines. The flight takes less than half and hour. It always amazed me how the Flight Attendance were able to serve drinks in such a short time.
Once a Friend convinced us to try the new Catamaran Service. We were ½ mile off shore when the engine died and we sat their bouncing in the waves until the engineer got the motor to start. In case you don't know some of the deepest water in the Pacific Ocean surrounds the Hawaiian Islands. I don't think this operates any longer but if it does I suggest you take a plane!
This is an Island that you must rent a car
to see the sights. The first time we rented one from Home before we left and found out the same car was being rented by the same Company for half price at the Kahului International Airport.
There are places to stay all over the Island but the best beaches are at Napili, Ka'anapali and Kapalua. These are all on the west side of the Island and we always stay on the Ka'anapali Beach.
We stay here because it is the closest beach to the town of Lahaina. This was a nice town to go shopping, eat out and see some entertainment.
The drive from the
airport to our
Hotel, (and once a Condo), took close to an hour.
~O OUR FIRST VISIT O~
The first time we were in Maui we came with some Friends. We didn't rent a car but hired a cab, (it cost each couple $50.00
USA one way).We were suppose to stay at the
Sheraton Hotel for three nights. It is beautiful because it's built into the side of a rock. We arrived late and they only served dinner at a set time. When we were checking in we were told to leave our bags and go have dinner because the
dinning room was going to close.
We did that and the meal was delicious. After dinner we decided to unpack our suitcases and then meet at the outdoor pool to have a night cap. We just had the first sip of our drink when all the lights at the pool went off. We went to the front desk and were told no one was allowed to go into the pool area after 9 p.m.
We went back to our rooms to finish our drinks and to watch some
TV. There was a TV set in the room but the reception was so bad we only saw squiggly lines. Needless to say we went to bed early. (Please note the TV reception is great now).
The next morning we sat by the pool for a while. We asked it there was a nice place to have lunch that was close to the Hotel. We were given the name of a Seafood Café. I saw that there was "Turtle Soup" on the menu. Being adventurous I decided to try it. Just before the waiter came to take our order I heard someone at the next table say, "Did you know Turtles cry before they are killed?"
I decided to have Mahi Mahi instead. Mahi Mahi is a dolphin fish but not a Dolphin and it's delicious.
We went back to the Hotel and sat in the sun for a few hours and then decided to take the Shuttle
Bus into Lahaina. The Desk Clerk told us that the last Bus back left at 9 p.m.
Lahaina is an old, (19th Century), fishingVillage and we had fun walking through the Shops. I forget where we had dinner but I know there was a Bar next to it. After dinner we went into the Bar to have a drink and listen to the Band. The Band's instruments were a washboard, a oil barrel drum, a piano and an old trumpet. The music was great and we almost forgot to make it back to the place the Shuttle Bus was picking us up.
When we arrived back at the Hotel my Girlfriend saw a huge Lizard on the driveway. She insisted we leave Maui immediately. We took the first flight out the next morning and so we were in Maui about 36 hours.
~O OUR SECOND VISIT O~
About 12 Families decided to visit Maui together so our Travel Agent Arranged to rent us Condos at the same place. It was next to a
golf course on one side and the Ocean was in front of it. Ours was on the main level.
I had just begun to unpack when our Children ran into our bedroom scream, "Bugs this place is full of bugs!". Mr. C. went to look because he though they had seen small chamaeleon, (a tiny lizard). Much to his surprise he saw so many bugs that he could identify he called the Front Desk.
The sent an Exterminator to see them. He began to collect each of them in separate bottles. When we asked why he told us that he had never seen bugs like that either.
Our first day on the Beach there did not seem to be a tide. The azure water was so calm. I decided to go in swimming. I was only up to my knees when an undercurrent pulled me under the water. I finely got my head above the water and began to scream for help but no one could heard me.
I got on my knees and slowly crawled out of the water, (it must have taken me half an hour). I yelled at my Husband for not paying attention to me and stormed up to our bedroom. I took off my bathing suit and went to look in the mirror to see if I had any coral scratches. I didn't but what I did have was a "sand bathing suit"!
Despite all of these problems we had a lot of fun taking turns hosting lunches and dinners. My favorite memory of this time was on New Years Eve. We had a barb-cue and watch the display of fireworks on the beach.
The last day we were here our Son and his Friends "borrowed" a golf cart and drove it through the golf course for over an hour until one of the Fathers caught them. The Manager told each of us we could never stay there again.
~O OUR THIRD AND FORTH TRIPS O~
We stayed at the Royal Lahina
Resort. In those days the rooms weren't expensive but the food and the pool side drinks were.
Our Children had fun the first day buying "slurpies", (frozen fruit non alcohol drinks). When my Husband got the bill he almost passed out because each "slurpy" cost $5.00 USD!
We toured the Island and sat at the beach or the pool and went out to dinner with Friends.
One of my memories was climbing out of the pool. I was wearing a bikini and the strap broke just as I was standing in front of our most conservative male Friend. I'm don't know who's face was the reddest.
We went to see a movie at the theater in the Mall. The film was called, "Carrie" and that was the last time I ever went to see a horror movie.
We learned that when you went out for dinner the first thing you ordered was dessert. The Restaurants all make home made desserts, (mud pie was first made here). They only made a few desserts and when they ran out it was too bad if you hadn't "reserved" what you wanted.
~O WHAT WE SAW ON OUR LAST 3 VISITS O~
If you stay on the west side of the Island you can see the Island of Molokini.
We drove over to the eastern side of the Island once to visit some Friends who were staying at Kihei near the Ho'okipa Beach. The wind is stronger and the surf is higher on this side of the Island. They taught our Children to windsurf.
There are two non-active volcanos. They are called Haleakala and Puu Kukui. We walked up to the top of Haleakala and saw the Pineapple and Sugar Cane fields. We drove down and had a sample of Dole Pineapple Juice and then we went off to try some Sugar Cane. You pull back a little of the hard cane and just bite into the pure sugar. For a candy lover this was 'heaven'!
On day we decided to visit Hana, (this Islands
Capital City). The road was two lane and full off "S" shaped curves. The nicest part of the ride was driving through the
forest and seeing some wonderful water falls.
Hana was so small and the Stores had the same things for sale as the ones in Lahaina that we stopped for lunch and drove back.
We always visited here during Christmas
Vacation so we always went to Papawai Point to see the Humpback Whales. They never stop fascinating me.
Our Children loved to visit the Arts & Cultural Center that is near Kahului. It is part of a Mall that has some Shops, three Theaters and some Cafes
We tried to ride on a tandem bike between our Condo and the Hotel our Cousin's were staying at. The Hotel was next to our Condo but the road was a dirt and bumpy one that we ended up walking there.
~O SOME THOUGHTS O~
Maui is a great place for Families or people who like to visit quiet places and want to "hang ten", (relax). I am sure I haven't remembered everything so you might want to check the web site at:
http://www.maui.worldweb.com
©LL2002
RELAX IN MAUI 
