To us the
charm of Hawaii can be found in the small towns that people pass through
on their way to Haleakala
and the Hana Highway, tucked away in the back of strip malls and off
the main streets. Here you find the people who love The Hawaiian Islands
for
their soul.
Photo Credit: Warren
S. Vanderbilt (Lahaina, Hawaii)
Since we haven't experienced all of the activities
and haven't connected with owners of the local businesses
we are just letting you know what is available to
do on Maui by the categories listed below. Those businesses
we have enjoyed we will share with you along with
any that are suggested by visitors to this site. If
you are a business that would like to be listed here
contact the Website
administrator.
We will be accepting short articles
and pictures from our clients and folks who have visited
Maui - to be placed here, with links to those businesses
and/or credit to visitors.
Okay here's the skinny on the "best" deals. You
can go to one of the "Time Share" presentations
for at least 90 minutes (most of the morning or afternoon)
or you can just go to the businesses and book your own activities.
The way you can save big with the Time Share guys is if you
plan on doing more than 2 or 3 of the activities they offer
discounts on. Ask who they book through and check out the
offers, some are a great bargain and some wouldn't be a bargain
if they gave it away. 'nuf said. The only "Activity"
booking agent we found that didn't require a chunk of your
day is Tom's Barefoot Cashback Tours, he offers almost as
many choices with as good of deals as the Time Share guys.
Please click
here to report any broken links or email returns you
may receive.
Looking
for a thrilling ride, try biking down from Haleakela,
the world's largest dormant volcano. Only guided
tours are allowed to start at the top but they
take you up in a van so you will have lots of
energy for a leisurely trip down and they will
also take you on down if the trip becomes too
much. The tours offer further benefits of a light
breakfast, lunch or gourmet picnic so shop around
for the perfect trip. If you decide to go it on
your own you can be dropped off at a bike staging
area at the National Park boundary.
Maui Mountain Cruisers
Maui is the magic Hawaiian
Island and your Maui Mountain Cruise is a big
part of that magic. If you're coming to Maui
you must "do the volcano". It will be the highlight
of your vacation.
Maui Mountain Riders
Experience the journey with
Mountain Riders 38 mile bike ride from the summit
of Haleakala to the sea of Maui, Hawaii.
Make
your own timetable with stops to fit your desires.
You can make arrangements for most any type tour
vehicle and tour guide if you are more interested
in the conversation and scenery from van tours to
helicopters.
Star Maui Limousine Service
Star Maui Limousine
- Hawaii, can arrange Transportation from your
Airport arrival and Departure to Wedding Limo’s
And even the famous Hana Safari, and all day (10-12)
hour Limousine Tour, Through Maui’s Tropical Rainforest,
Black Sand Beaches, Waterfalls, and on to the
backside of Haleakala, Maui’s Volcano, and finishing
with a Wine tasting at Tedeschi Vineyards. All
Tours and Charters are private and customized
to your needs. Travel Maui - Hawaii, in Style.
Carey / Town & Country Limousines
Hawaii's Town & Country
Limousine will chauffeur you in total comfort,
whether you need a ride to or from the airport,
wedding or dining transportation, or you're looking
for a full day of Hawaii touring adventure. Our
fleet of full and super stretch Cadillacs and
Lincolns include an open bar and sodas and informed,
courteous chauffeurs. Our fleet now features the
New Body Style Lincoln Superstretch limousine
as well as the Lincoln Navigator.
Enjoy
romantic sunset and dinner cruises with a view
of the islands and ocean. There are many types
of boats to choose from starting with a 120 ft
stabilized charter yacht to a 49 passenger catamaran.
You can enjoy a full dinner menu or drinks and
"pupus". Most offer open bar and live
entertainment.
Pacific Whale Foundation Ka'anapali Sunset
Dinner Cruise
Visit
Ka'eleku Caverns located 3 miles before you get
to Hana on the Hana Highway. Just past mile marker
31 turn left on Ulaino Road and drive .4 miles
to the Ka'eleku Caverns Visitor Center entrance.
Maui Cave Adventures
is a member of the National Speleological Society
and adheres to the "cave softly" guidelines.
Our tours are non-touching events, so as to
protect the precious features in the cavern
system. Our cavern guides are educated in geology
and the sciences, which offers an educational
approach to our tours. We keep our tours small,
to enhance the eco-experience.
Just wanted to tell
you how much I enjoyed our tour of Ka'eleku
Cavern. I can't wait to return to Maui and take
the extended tour.
I travel a bit and so I have a point of reference
about tours. I was quite impressed with the
facilities, the organized procedures, the available
equipment (unusual in cave tours), and of course,
the care and obvious love of the cave itself.
Audrey 2/20/03
The
road to Hana is getting upgraded from the basic
one lane twisting winding road I remember from
my first trip to Maui, I almost hate to see the
improvements. It was a challenge to navigate the
road especially when you met a tanker truck or
a car parade coming the other way at one of the
narrow sections. The improvements have almost
cut the driving time to half - if you are not
stopping at all the great scenic turnouts and
sites along the way. If you want everyone in your
group to enjoy the day you would be well advised
to seek out one of the many tour companies offering
a guided tour, this is not a road to take your
eyes off from! The other option is to take a plane
to the airport in Hana but it would be a shame
to miss all the beautiful Hawaiian treats waiting
along the drive. You can incorporate trips to
other spots but I would suggest designating one
day just to sit back and enjoy Hana.
Have
you always wanted to ride a Harley, drive a Ferrari,
Porche Boxter, 2000 Viper, Corvette, or 2000 Lotus
Esprit? Fantasy time is now! (Be forewarned
you will need a current motorcycle license to
rent out the big hogs.) There are a number of
motorcycle clubs on Maui, they have frequent meetings
and rallys - see motorcycling section below.
Hula Hogs Motorcycle
Rental offers motorcycle enthusiasts the opportunity
to discover Maui by way of motorcycle. All new,
well maintained Harley Davidson motorcycles
are available for daily and weekly rentals.
Although there is no helmet law in the state
of Hawaii, Hula Hogs offers helmets, rain gear
and accessories at no extra charge. Suggested
points of interest and scenic routes are offered.
For the most adventurous seeking to ride to
10,000 feet for spectacular viewing on Maui's
highest point, Haleakala Crater, or for those
interested in a day trip down the scenic Rainforest
of the Hana Highway - pack your saddle bags
with lunch and head out!
Many
people believe that the only way to see all of
Maui on one trip is from the air. Experience 180°
views of the volcanos, waterfalls, valleys, and
the rainforests of Hana. View the other Islands
from the air, see the active volcanos on the Big
Island and more.
Blue Hawaiian Helicopters
Kahului, Maui, HI
**This comes recommended to
us by Judy M of S. Carolina.** Explore
deep, meandering valleys set in the Rainforest
of the ancient West Maui Mountains. Knife-edged
ridges with mist-shrouded peaks separate the
spectacular valleys that give Maui its nickname,
“The Valley Isle.” Waterfalls cascade down from
towering cliffs into the streams running along
the Rainforest floor.
Hiking
on Maui can be a wonderful experience, from Rainforest
conditions to dry arid parts of the Haleakala you
can see the many sides of Maui. Regardless of which
you choose remember to take water and sunscreen
and most importantly USE THEM! Topographical maps
can be ordered from the USGS
National Mapping Information site before you
leave home. There are 25 area maps for Maui so make
sure you have the ones you need.
We have a page
of hike suggestions, Tom is working on expanding
it so look back for more listings.
Horseback
Riding
Crater
rides, picnics, overnighter, experience Maui from
horseback. You can find a number of horse rental
businesses the one below does rides into Haleakala
which we thought was pretty neat.
'Ohe'o Stables
Approximately 9 miles beyond Hana
in Haleakala National Park's Kipahulu District.
Reservations suggested
Experience the views of Waimoku
Falls and Kipahulu Valley you can not see from
your car! Healthy, well kept horses for all
levels of riding experience. Reservations a
must.
Kayak to unique pristine snorkeling
coves at the marine reserve. Best snorkeling
on crystal clear calm water with lots of colorful
tropical fish and coral gardens. They also offer
following tours: hiking, dolphins, snorkeling
and turtles.
Street
Bikers United is a legislative lobby group that
works on behalf of all motorcyclists in Hawaii,
promoting motorcycle safety and protecting us
all from legislation, which may negatively affect
our rights to ride free.
Site of the formal annexation
of the Hawai'ian Islands by the United States
in 1898, you will see some of the history of
the sugar cane plantations. (Also one of the
few places in Lahaina to find public restrooms)
Geared for children, it is
no less fascinating for adults. Tabletop aquariums,
rain forest explorations, telescopes, arcade
games and live insect and stream animal exhibits
capture the browsers attention.
This was the first major project
of the Lahaina Restoration Foundation. It is
a great interactive museum that the whole family
will enjoy. Check back - we will be doing a
feature article on this wonderful ship.
Built in 1984, the
Whalers Village Museum offers a new self-guided
audio tour which takes visitors back in time
to the years between 1825 and 1860 known as
the "Golden Era of Whaling". The FREE self-guided
audio tour is currently available in English,
Japanese, Spanish, and German. Hundreds of artifacts,
photo murals and interpretive graphics guide
visitors through the whaling trade and the hardships
of daily life on the sea.
Located in the plantation
town of Puunene, the museum is less than 10
minutes away from Maui's main airport in Kahului.
It has received local, state, and national awards
for its exhibits, as well as the Hawaii Visitors
and Conventions Bureau's prestigious "Kahili
Award" for preservation and adaptive use of
the building as a museum.
Missionary home
built in 1834 by Rev. Dwight Baldwin, a New
England missionary from 1838 to 1871. The oldest
standing building in Lahaina depicting the life
of a missionary's family when Lahaina was the
whaling capital of Hawaii.
The Wo Hing Society
was formed by the Chinese workers who came to
work the sugar cane fields, it was the social
center for them. The Cookhouse Theatre features
films shot by Thomas Edison shot during his
trips in 1898 and 1903.
The Hana Cultural
Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated
to the preservation of the history of Hana through
artifact, documents, photographs, etc. Our organization,
museum, and Hawaiian Village project are financed
by dues and donations. The Museum contains over
560 artifacts, over 600 books, over 680 bottles
and approximately 5000 photographs all from
the Hana District.
Soar
high in the air for unforgettable views of Maui.
West Maui Parasail
Lahaina, Maui, HI
Experience the thrill of flying
as your Parasail canopy fills with air and lifts
you 800 feet above the ocean for an unforgettable
8 to 10 minute Parasail ride. West Maui Parasail
uses specially designed Parasail boats for safe
and fun flights.
Crystal
blue waters make this a paradise for underwater
activities. Olowalu Beach just south of Lahaina,
Mokapu and Polo Beaches in Wailea offer the favorite
scuba and snorkeling land access. For those
more adventuresome there are boat trips to Molokini
and off Island sites available from the businesses
listed below. See Beaches for a more comprehensive
listing. You will need to fill out a physical
information form to take scuba instruction - contact
the scuba shop to save to get on to fill out before
you make reservations.
Scuba Shack has all your water
needs from boogie boards to charter services
for scuba and snorkeling. Check out his video
of the octopus while in the shop. And don't
forget to say aloha to Charley!
Bottom
Fishing - Sport Fishing, try a private or shared
trip for half, three-quarter or full day. You
don't have to be a non-fisher or a pro to enjoy
the fun!
Photo
Credit: Warren S. Vanderbilt
"Start Me Up" Sportfishing
Lahaina, Maui, HI
Breathtaking Maui scenery ...
optimal sportfishing conditions ... impeccably
maintained and outfitted 42' (loa) Betram sportfisher
... an experienced and courteous crew. Put it
all together and you've begun to picture your
Maui fishing experience aboard Lahaina Maui's
#1 highliner, “Start Me Up”. Whether you're
a novice or experienced sportfishing enthusiast,
you'll discover that deep sea fishing off Maui
Hawaii is unlike any other sportfishing experience
you've ever had.
Stop
in and meet friendly owners Jud and Kelly (that's
Kelly riding their wave sculpture outside the
store in the photo to the left), they have a
great selection of surfer wear and boards. Conveniently
located right on the highway to Jaws where when
the surf gets bigger than 15 feet the waves
have been known to reach 70 feet - experts only
please!
Take a once-in-a-lifetime undersea
adventure in an Atlantis Submarine, the world’s
first and most technologically advanced passenger
submarine. You will journey into a spectacular
blue world more than 125 feet below the surface
in spacious air-conditioned comfort.
Maui
is one of the world's finest whale-watch spots,
home to an important mating and calving area for
the endangered humpback whales. Season for best
viewing is December through March or April, when
more than 3,500 humpbacks are in Hawaii, with the
majority of these whales found off the south and
west coasts of Maui. For more information
click on link: Pacific
Whale Foundation
Ultimate gets a BIG five tail salute
for their contribution to help research
and also for giving great tours both in
Hawai'i and Alaska!
Qualified marine biologists lead all tours and
provide an informal, educational narrative.
Ultimate Whale Watch
is owned and operated by Marine Biologists. We
have specialized in photographic, non-threatening
close encounters with Dolphins, Whales & Turtles
since 1982. From mid-December through mid-April,
Humpback Whale encounters are guaranteed and the
crystalline off shore waters frequently provide
a passing subsurface eye-to-eye view. Many people
are truly touched by their experience amongst
these intelligent giants. We invite you to come
and see for yourself, one of the last remaining
great migrations of the Animal Kingdom. And as
always, a portion of each ticket sold supports
whale research both in Alaska and on Maui. Thank
you for helping make a difference
Pacific
Whale Foundation gets a BIG five tail
salute for leading the effort to create
whalewatching regulations that would help
protect whales. Their captains have won
awards for their environmentally sensitive
approach to whalewatching.
Pioneers in whale research and the
first to offer educational whalewatches on Maui,
Pacific Whale Foundation is proud to offer MauiÕs
#1 whalewatch. These top-rated cruises take place
from December 1 through May 15 and are based on
our 23 years of work in saving whales from extinction.
We have the experience of serving more than 1.5
million delighted passengers since 1980.
The
tradewinds that sweep across Maui and swells that
hit the north and west shores combine to form
conditions for windsurfers found no where else
in the world. The best spots on Maui are found
in Kahana and Ho'okipa, although you will see
windsurfers off the beach in Kihei and Ma'alaea
also. Check out the fun
windsurfing report.
Second Wind Sail, Surf & Kite
Kahului, Maui, HI
Whether you live
on Maui or are coming here for a vacation, Second
Wind has what you need to keep your gear up-to-date
and working well. We offer everything you need
to get on the water, from fin screws to longboards,
we've got it all. 16 Years of proven retailing
experience has made Second Wind, Maui's first
choice of water enthusiasts.
Maui's only vineyard established
in 1974 is located on the Ulupalakua Ranch,
a 20,000 working cattle ranch. Owners E-mail
and Jo Ann Tedeschi originally from Napa Valley
make a variety of wines but Maui Blanc(their
first vintage) is the one most sought after.
Disclaimer: The
information contained within these pages is meant only as a general
guide as to what to expect when visiting Hawai'i. This information
is kept as up-to-date as possible. Since weather and environmental
conditions may change quickly, it is always prudent to take into
consideration weather and environmental conditions when planning
any activity.
Wildcat Web Designs and/or employees will not be held responsible for any
accidents, loss of property, or any other misfortunes associated with activities
whose information is contained within these pages.
