Fun on Maui

Maui is full of tourist activities, many of which we recommend. Popular attractions are often offered by multiple businesses with wide ranges of prices. Taking the absolute cheapest tour on a mountain bike down Haleakula is probably not the way to go. On the other hand it is easy to overpay for many activities. There are many tourist activity shops that offer “discounted” rates for many businesses (and they also want to try and sell you time shares at the same time). Many businesses have websites that offer web discounts for reservations, something to think about especially for expensive tours like helicopter rides. Finally, travel packagers like Expedia and pleasantholidays.com have activities as options to their Hawaii packages at significant discounts. Buying in advance often saves money but limits your choices of which company to patronize.

1. Snorkeling at Molokini – Want to see schools and schools of colorful fish? Several different companies offer the Snorkeling at Molokini tour. We signed up for the Prince Kuhio boat – A tour typically includes an early morning boat ride to the Molokini Marine Reserve (about 1 hour off Maui), snorkel equipment, a barbecue lunch and a return trip which passes by some giant turtle areas. Once you reach the reef, an amazing number of colorful fish inhabit the area. Some tours offer a Snuba option which is basically scuba diving with the air supply based on the ship, but you are probably better off swimming around with snorkel equipment to see the various fish. Flotation devices provided by the tour company make the snorkeling relatively easy and you can spend as little or as much time in the water.


2. Mountain Biking down Haleakala – Like the Molokini snorkel tours, several companies offer a bike excursion down the Maui volcano. We took the Cruiser Bob tour which emphasizes the safety of the bikes. If you want to bike down Haleakala, be careful to pick a tour with safe bicycles and one where the tour van follows the biking party down. You do not want to take a tour that just dumps you off the top of the volcano and leaves you on your own to make your way down. This tour is more physically demanding than any other – people have died on the mountain, mostly by colliding into an oncoming bus. It is also easy to fall off the road and fall down the mountain. The scenery is spectacular and the downhill bike ride is quite fun but be aware of the dangers.


3. Jet Skiing at Lahaina – Unlike the mountain bike tours, the jet skiing offered in Lahaina is much safer than jet skiing almost anywhere else. You take the tour from Kaanapali Beach in Lahaina, in front of the Hyatt Regency Maui – a rubber raft takes you to a platform just offshore where you ride a jet ski in a specially marked area. The ocean surf provides waves for jumping on and you don’t need to worry about running into boats. If you enjoy jet skiing or want it try it for the first time, this is the place to go.


4. Helicopter tour of Maui – We took the Blue Hawaiian helicopter tour of Maui and enjoyed it. Much of the island is only accessible from the air and the beauty of Maui is magnified by a helicopter tour. You will see the road to Hana and see first hand why you don’t want to drive it – going to Hana in the air is so much more enjoyable. Gorgeous waterfalls inaccessible by ground are seen although we took the ride after an unusual dry period and many of the water features were dry. Since everything in Maui is expensive (especially gasoline) the Maui tours are not cheap but for those looking to see all of the beautiful island might consider splurging on a flight.


5. Scuba Diving – Several companies offer scuba diving tours and classes. One can take a 1-2 hour introduction class/tour or enroll in a several day long class leading to full certification. I took an introductory class at the Grand Wailea which takes place in a special 12 foot deep scuba pool. After completing the swimming pool class he took a 1 hour dive off the beach around a reef. The reef tour included an introduction to a small octopus as well as a drive by of a giant sea turtle. Scuba diving is interesting but getting used to the dry compressed air as well as the uneasy sensation of breathing under the surface is difficult. In general, scuba is somewhat more difficult than it appears leading to my conclusion that snorkeling off Molikini is the best way to see pretty fish.


6. Shopping - The main airport is in Kahului and a Costco can be found just outside the airport. Kahului also has the stores like Home Depot and Wal-Mart. The main shopping center for Maui residents is Ka'ahumanu Center. Inside this large shopping center are most of the chain stores you’d find at home including a Sears store. Maui has four main shopping areas that cater to the tourists. The Shops at Wailea is a collection of upscale shops and boutiques. In Lahaina, two main areas of shopping attract tourists. The Cannery Mall which is on the main highway thru the town has a food court, a Safeway, a Starbucks and various T-shirt and souvenir shops in a fully enclosed shopping area. Lahaina’s Front Street is the main tourist trap with a strip mall, collection of shops selling souvenirs of every kind, Bubba Gump Shrimp Company Restaurant, and the Wharf Cinema Center with more shops and restaurants. The fourth and largest tourist shopping area is Whaler’s Village in Kaanapali with restaurants, shops and boutiques.


7. Luaus – A visit to Maui isn’t complete without attending one of the luaus available both in the Wailea and Lahaina areas. Luaus are all you can eat extravaganzas including a whole pig which is cooked underground in a pit. Beef, Chicken and fish entrees are also available. Luaus also include beverages like Mai Tais and entertainment including hula dancing, music, drums and fire dancers twirling torches to the amazement of stuffed patrons.


8. Parasailing was available at the Lahaina harbor and we decided to try it out. While flying along the Maui Beach at 800 feet was quite exciting, the parasailing experience is probably not much different (and probably less interesting) than doing the same thing along the Seattle waterfront in the middle of summer.