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Places to Go
When we aren't in the water, on the beach or just gazing out at the water, here are a few things we have found fun and interesting.Lahaina - We will always miss the Lahaina we knew!! Lahaina was the royal capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1820 - 1845 and the home of the ali'i nui (the supreme high chiefs). In the 19th century it was a very active whaling port. Front Street dating back to the 1820's. Whaler's Village - Great shopping - stores from ABC to Louis Vitton ,and everyhting in between. Some of my favorites are Na Hoku jewelry, Honolua, Blue Ginger, Totally Hawaiian Gift Gallery, Hilo Hattie's, and Tommy Bahama. Also home to Hula Grill and the Barefoot Bar, Leilani's, and Monkeypod restaurants. Lahaina Cannery Mall - (Update 2/2024 - As of 2/2024 - The Cannery mall is NOT open but Long’s Drugs, Safeway, Starbucks, & the ABC store are open because they have outside entrances.) Fully enclosed, air-conditioned, boutique retail stores (Maui Island Creations, Banana Wind) and casual restaurants. Hula dancing, Hawaiian artists, cultural events and festivals. Honokowai Farmer's Market - Monday, Wednesday and Fridays for 7:00 AM - 11:00 AM, Lower Honoapi'ilani Highway across from Honokowai Park. We go for the fruit, breads, veggies and flowers. Napili Farmer's Market - Wednesday and Saturday - 8:00am-12:00am, 4900 Honoapi'ilani Highway across the highway from Napili Plaza. Maui Ocean Center - Mā‘alaea Harbor - 192 Mā‘alaea Road, Wailuku, Hawaii 96793, 808-270-7000 Wonderful exhibits and educational programs designed to inspire Hawai‘i residents and visitors with fresh appreciation for the surrounding sea and local culture. We drove by for many years thinking we'd see more fish when snorkeling - wrong! This is a fabulous exhibit and experience! The Road to Hana - Start early, fill your gas tank, pack a lunch and drinks, take your time, and stop at the waterfalls. Check out the Hasegawa General Store (they've got EVERYTHING!), Charles Lindbergh's gravesite, and Ohe'o Gulch. If you feel Drive the north end of West Maui - Drive passed Kapalua and just keep going. You'll see Bell Rock, the blowhole, taro fields, bizarre rock formations, the fishing village of Kahakuloa (one of the oldest communities on Maui - home of the Little Green Church). The road is now paved but narrows to one lane in some areas. If you meet head on traffic you may need to back up to a wide spot in the road. In some stretches you find a cliff on one side and no guard rails. Be aware that some of the natives in this area are not real keen on tourists. Some of the more friendly locals sell banana nut bread alongside the road. Drive down to La Perouse - south end of Maui. Beautiful black lava flows to the water, black sand beaches, turquoise water and white waves. Be sure to take your hiking shoes along. Day trips to Lana'i and Moloka'i - Catch a ferry or boat from Lahaina Harbor. You may only be able to fly to Moloka'i now. Whale Watching - from December through May - catch a boat/catamaran from Ma'alaea Harbor. We took a very interesting trip with the Pacific Whale Foundation 1-800-942-5311. They also offer snorkeling trips to Molokini and Turtle Town. Old Lahaina Luau **** good luau - about $230 for adults!!! If you've never been to a luau, this one is great - right on the water - beautiful sunset and entertainment. Go early to wander and see the imu. More Ideas Souvenir ShoppingABC Stores - You'll find them all over - great prices, fun stuff Hilo Hattie's - You need to go just to say you've been to Hilo Hattie's - there's one in Whaler's Village Longs Drugs - Lahaina Cannery mall - Yes, it's still called Longs. The Hawaiians have insisted on keeping the name! Whalers General Store - 2463 S Kihei Rd, Kihei & 3750 Wailea Alanui Dr, Kihei - Lots of great stuff. Kihei Kalama Village - S Kihei Rd, Kihei, HI 96753 - Lots of inexpensive souvenirs. These are simple vendor stalls. Hawaiian music on the radio - Good Hawaiian music radio stations have become elusive on Maui. A lot are now playing Jawaiian music more that the pure Hawaiian music we love. This last time over (May 2023) we just played our own Hawaiian/Jimmy Buffett music. You might try KINE 105.1, Honolulu, or KPOA 93.5 FM, Kahului Our favorite artists: Iz - Israel "Iz" Ka'ano'i Kamakawiwo'ole - nicknamed "The Gentle Giant" by his admirers. He was described as always cheerful and positive, and he was best known for his love of the land and of the people of Hawai'i. A consummate ukulele player. He remains one of the major influences in Hawaiian music over the last 15 years. Throughout the later part of his life, Iz was obese and at one point carried 758 pounds on his 6 feet 2 inches frame. He died of weight-related respiratory illness on June 26, 1997, at the age of 38. Iz was cremated and approximately 10,000 fans gathered as his ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean at Mākua Beach where he was raised. Keali'i Reichel - Keali'i is one of Hawai'i’s most popular recording artists, and the award-winning kumu hula of Halau Ke'alaokamaile. His music, chant and hula represent the best of traditional and contemporary poetry and dance in Hawai'i today. Na Leo - which in
Hawaiian means the voices blending together in warmth, is the most popular,
most award-winning and biggest selling female Hawaiian group in the world.
Na Leo consists of three childhood friends, Nalani Choy, Lehua Kalima Heine
and Angela Morales. These three Hawaiian women run their own record label;
compose, write lyrics, record and perform music; they do volunteer work;
play sports and they're moms and wives. They are real women with real lives
sticking close to their ideals and putting their friendship first. Hapa - Hapa means half in Hawaiian, or someone of multiracial ancestry. Like the Hawaiian Islands themselves, Hapa's Pan-Polynesian music is an amalgam of influences ranging from ancient genealogical chants to the strummed ballads of Portuguese fisherman, Spanish cowboys, and the inspired melodies and harmonies of the traditional church choirs of the early missionaries. Add to this a dose of American acoustic folk/rock, and you have what has been described as the “most exciting and beautiful contemporary Hawaiian music the world knows!”… (Maui Times). Jimmy Buffett - We also enjoy Jimmy Buffett's music and his wonderful island spirit. We've been to a number of his concerts over the years. Bubbles Up, Jimmy! Rest in Paradise. We miss you! Maui No Ka Oi!! |
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adventuresome, drive home the southern route - The Backside (of Haleakala). Drive guides and rental car maps tell you not to drive around the south end of Maui. These standard publications tell you that many miles of the roadway beyond this point are unpaved and dangerous. You'll find about five total miles of road that, while unpaved, is well graded, and a lot of the remaining road is single lane but paved if a bit bumpy. We've never had a problem. Check the board at the Ranger Station ot Ohe'o Gulch. If it tells you that the road is open to ALL vehicles, then go for it! The landscape is completely different from other parts of Maui. You'll see covered lava flows, cows, and across to the Big Island on clear days. Stop at Maui Wine (formerly Tedeschi Winery) for some pineapple wine!
