(Note this is part 2 of our series on choosing the right location on Maui (click here for part 1)
Focusing on the south side you’ll find Kihei, home to lots of condos, one after another along the beach. While this is not my favorite location to stay, it’s certainly beautiful and can be a good choice. Be careful with your condo selection and check with a travel agent to make sure of your choices. If you’re on a tight budget, Kihei may be the right choice for you. You’ll find beautiful beaches at Kameole I, II and II, and many boat tours leave from nearby Maalaea Harbor.
At almost the tip of the southern part of the island is Wailea. Home to some of the most amazing resorts in all Hawaii, Wailea is my choice for honeymooners and those who are really looking for a vacation of a lifetime. Many five and six star accommodations are located in Wailea, but it is not only for the rich and famous, you can also find affordable condos here
as well, including the Palms of Wailea and Aqua Diamond Wailea Resort.Wherever you choose to stay when you go to Maui, make sure you do your homework to pick the best location to ensure you enjoy the vacation of a lifetime.
On the southern tip of the island is an area known as Makena. There’s only one resort in that area and it’s called the Maui Prince Hotel. The prices are pretty affordable and you get all the amenities of a major resort and the property is quite expansive. It’s truly are one of the most beautiful sections of beach in all of Maui and a short drive to the
beautiful Makena State Park.
About 25 miles to the east is Hana. If you’re looking at the map will be on the far right. Many people have heard of the road Hana which is a wonderful way to spend a day and experience a lot of natural beauty in Hawaii. You can stop along the way and see sacred Falls waterfall. There is only one major resort in Hana and it’s called Hotel Hana. It’s a beautiful plantation style resort making this a perfect quiet getaway with wonderful ranch cottages. This is a very pricey property a well worth the cost. I love to put honeymoon couples here and also like to split vacation to Maui with some time being spent in, and also time spent in Kaanapali. It’s almost like staying on two different islands.
Finally, while there’s some wonderful places to stay in bed and breakfast types of accommodations in other parts of the island, the only other hotels are located in Kahalui on the Northern side of the island. This is where the airport is located and this a very busy hub for business on Maui. The two hotels that are there are very marginal and are not recommended unless you’re staying there for a night or a really inexpensive place to stay. It’s about 20 minutes to the Wailea/Kihei area and about 45 to 50 minutes to the Kaanapali area.
(Note this is part 2 of our series on choosing the right location on Maui (click here for part 1)
Related posts
Selecting a Hawaii Vacation area isn’t easy
Getting Around the Hawaiian Islands
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Posted by Bruce Fisher
@AlohaBruce
May 25th, 2009
If you’re considering Maui for your Hawaii vacation you’re probably wondering where would be the best place to stay on the island. I often get this question and base my recommendations on customers’ individual travel needs. That being
said, here is some basic information that I think would be helpful to anyone who is considering a trip to Maui. This is general overview of the island and it’s always best to check with a travel agent to make sure you avoid any problems
with the location you have chosen.
Please note this is a Part 1 of a 2 Part series on this subject and focuses on the West and South sides of the Island Click here for part 2.
When you look at a map of Maui, it’s similar to a sideways figure eight. We’ll start from the left side (northwest side) and work our way around the island. On the northwest side is Kapalua where you’ll find the beautiful beach at Kapalua
Bay. Although the trade winds can be strong, there’s true magic looking out across the Bay and relaxing here. Kapalua is considered a somewhat "high end" area. You’ll find the Ritz Carlton and Kapalua Bay Villas which are both
adjacent to two golf courses. One potential downside is a bit of a walk to the beach at Kapalua Bay from most of the resorts there.
Moving south from the northwest side is Napili. In this area you’ll only find condos, no major resorts or hotels. However, some of these condos are quite nice and even provide restaurants and spas on property. Many of the condos very
affordable and are located right along or across the beach. The area is perfect for families and small groups. The major attraction in Napili is Napili Bay. I always make it a point to snorkel there and I’m never disappointed. Napili Bay
is very safe and I often see beautiful sea turtles there.
Further southwest is Honokauai. This area is heavily populated with condos. Similar to Napili, Honokauai does not have any major resorts or hotels. Honokauai is one of my favorite places for visitors because it’s a bit closer to the action in Lahaina and Kaanapali. Unfortunately, some beaches are not conducive for swimmers due to coral rock. If swimming is a priority for you, make sure to find the right beaches.
On the west side is Kaanapali, one of the most popular resort areas on the island. Here you’ll find amazing resort hotels and wonderful condos. There’s lots of action; shopping and restaurants all connected by a walkway behind the
hotels with the Whalers Village the central focal point. You won’t feel isolated here, there is a lot to do and see. Kaanapali is a good mix of cosmopolitan and tropical activities.
Located nearby Kaanapali is Lahaina, the heart of Maui in many ways. Lahaina is home to Lahaina Town. This is an old whaling village which is now a promenade with museums, restaurants, shops and more. Lahaina is a wonderful place to stay for those who either can’t or don’t want to rent a car. Everything is centrally located and extremely easy to find in Lahaina. No traveling is necessary to enjoy numerous activities Lahaina has to offer. Don’t worry, you can find budget
friendly condos in Lahaina, including the Lahaina Shores and Aina Nalu.
Please note this is a Part 1 of a 2 Part series Click here for part 2
.
Related posts
Selecting a Hawaii Vacation area isn’t easy
Getting Around the Hawaiian Islands
More links:
Follow me on twitter
See our latest videos
Book your Hawaii vacations here
Posted by Bruce Fisher @AlohaBruce
May 22nd, 2009
It happens. The old standby gets accused of being trite, boring, no longer fashionable.
Compared to the other islands, Oahu is still holding its own, but now it seems to be cool to downgrade it. Waikiki is too “touristy.” Honolulu is a big city now, with the inevitable traffic, industrialization and loss of the Aloha Spirit.
Okay. Maui has been called “the world’s greatest island.” It has the amazing Haleakala, the charm of Hana, the history of Lahaina, the lure of the Iou Needle and the resorts of Kaanapali.
Kauai has an abundance of natural wonders and great resorts. The Big Island has its volcanic action, enormous variety and even greater resorts. Molokai and Lanai have their intimacy and peace.
They’re all terrific. But never shortchange Oahu. Oahu is a big island, too, stretching ‘way beyond Waikiki and Honolulu. And Waikiki and Honolulu embody most of the things you envision when you first consider Hawaii for a vacation.
Waikiki is where the action is. The entertainment is first-class. A lot of the acts have been at it for a quarter of a century; newer ones are laced with high tech and imagination. World-class performers appear in Waikiki or Honolulu regularly. The beaches in Waikiki are everything you’ve seen and read about. The shopping is top-drawer.
Honolulu is almost as historical as (and perhaps more interesting than) Boston or Philadelphia. Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial should not be missed if you’re going to come to Hawaii.
The outer areas — the North Shore, Windward Oahu, East Oahu and the emerging West Coast with its “Second City” of Kapolei are all worth your time.
Seasoned visitors to Hawaii would offer you a suggestion like this:
On your first visit, do Oahu. If you have time, then take in a neighbor island or two. On your next visit, do a day or two in Waikiki to see what’s new, then do the neighbor islands.
When you consider the entire picture, spending your entire vacation on a neighbor island can be restricting. Think of a smorgasbord and spending the entire evening at the salad bar. However much you might love salads, there’s a whole lot more for your table.
Posted by Jim Winpenny
Related blog posts:
Your Most Important Vacation Decision
Visit Honolulu’s Art District
Oahu Beach tourists don’t know about
For Non-touristy Hawaii Vacation ideas on Oahu, Look East
Related Video:
Planning a Multi-island Hawaii Vacation
Top Beaches of Hawaii
More links:
Follow us on twitter
See our latest videos
Book your Hawaii vacation here
February 2nd, 2009
Narrowing down your Hawaii vacation destination is even more difficult than it may seem to be at first. Most people try to decide which island – or islands – they think would appeal to them most.
The problem is that, except for little Molokai and Lanai, each of the islands actually has three or more distinctly different areas within their beaches.
On Oahu, Waikiki – on the south shore – is where the action is, and it’s close to most of the island’s other attractions. On the north shore, Turtle Bay is a full-blown resort near “Old Hawaii,” those humongous winter waves and the quaint little town of Haleiwa. Ko Olina is a newer, sprawling, self-contained resort area well west of Honolulu in leeward Oahu.
On the north shore of Kauai, the beautiful Hanalei and Princeville area is quiet and scenic with nice resorts. The south shore has Poipu and a whole bunch of ritzy resorts with all kinds of things to do. On the east shore, the town of Lihue is the island’s business and population center, with good accommodations that are convenient to most of Kauai’s spectacular attractions.
Maui is said to be two islands. West Maui has Lahaina, Kaanapali, Kapalua and those spectacular resorts. The island’s larger portion contains the rustic Upcountry, the mammoth Haleakala crater and the Waimea resort area. Way to the east, the fantastic Hana area is an isolated destination unto itself.
The Big Island is generally divided into the Hilo side – the east – and the Kona side – the west. But it’s far more than that. On the Kona side, the coast is lined with one spectacular resort after another, and farther inland is ranch country in the rural areas of Waimea and Kamuela, the majestic Mauna Kea and the world’s most powerful telescopes. The Hilo side is far less touristy, but that’s where you’ll find Volcanoes National Park and the amazing lava flows.
As you can see, there’s a lot to consider beyond a choice of islands. The best thing to do is pick an agent from our website and begin a relationship (No obligation, of course). Our agents all are experts in Hawaii – have lived here and can guide you with passion and professionalism. Or, if you prefer, call 1-800-843-8771.
Posted by Jim Winpenny
November 26th, 2008
You see the phrase in most of the “visit Hawaii” brochures, ads and on-line postings: “Whale watching in the winter months.” It’s a fairly innocuous phrase, along with “lush tropical gardens” and “white sand beaches.”
But anyone who has witnessed these fascinating monsters arch their backs and raise their tail flukes above water in preparation for dives, and has heard them emit their stored air through their blowholes (which can be heard from 800 feet away) will tell you the experience is thrilling and unforgettable. (It’s the arching of their backs maneuver that has earned them the “humpback” nickname.) Even more spectacular is the breach, a powerful acrobatic display where the humpback uses its tail to launch itself out of the water, landing back onto the surface with a resounding splash.
Every year, humpback whales of the North Pacific migrate to the main Hawaiian islands during the winter months. (The early ones have arrived already this year.) The round-trip distance they travel during this annual migration is approximately 4,000 miles, one of the longest migration distances of any animal species. During their stay in Hawaii, they do not feed, but rely upon stored energy. Near the islands, the whales devote most of their time to mating and giving birth to their calves.
While they’re here, they’re renowned for their many and various acrobatic displays: the aforementioned head lunge and blow, the pec slap (in which humpbacks roll onto their sides or backs and slowly slap the water’s surface with one fin or both fins simultaneously), the tail slap (which can be heard for miles), the lobtail slap (where the whale will thrash the surface of the water by whipping its upraised flukes from side to side), and the head lunge (not unlike a dog baring its teeth at a perceived opponent).
While whale watching in Hawaii is touted by all the islands, the protected Auau Channel and shallow warm waters off the west coast of Maui (Lahaina, Kaanapali) are definitely the best places to watch. You can get a good view from the shoreline as the whales are left undisturbed and pollution from boats is avoided.
Don’t take the hype for whale-watching lightly as you plan your Hawaii vacation. It’s a spectacle that will stay with you forever.
Posted by Jim Winpenny
October 13th, 2008
