Maui vacation - just back

[YorkieLover]

DH, DD, and I just got back from a 10 day vacation in Maui. Oahu and Kauai got pummeled with rain, but we only got a few sprinkles where we were around Makena, Wailea, and Kihei. It was overcast and sunny at times and fairly warm. Got some relaxing sun soaks in for a little tan. It sure felt good after all the rain and cold we had been having. Our balcony had ocean views, and we could watch the whales playing everyday.

Bad = an almost 2 hour wait on the jetway for a mechanical problem ... not a good thing before crossing the ocean ... the drive from the airport to hotel should have taken 20 minutes, but took almost 2 hours because of a bad accident closing the main highway and traffic was re-routed ... and two shark attacks closed the beaches by our hotel. They actually had policemen on the beaches to make sure no one went into the water ... and the restaurants are so expensive. We've been to Maui several times and we never get over the sticker shock. On the bright side, food seems actually reasonable when we come home! Oh, another bad thing ... the red-eye coming home - killer.

We had a blast shopping at the Shops at Wailea, at Whaler's Village in Ka'anapali, at Lahaina Cannery Mall, and at the Kapalua Shops (even though there's not much there).

We had great meals at Cheeseburger and at Tommy Bahama's in the Shops at Wailea, the Prince Court at the Maui Prince Hotel, at Spices and Stella Blues and Lulu's in Kihei, at The Rusty Harpoon at Whaler's Village, and at Aloha Mixed Plate behind the Lahaina Cannery Mall.

Sometimes it's hard to come back to 'reality'.

If you've been to Maui, what are your favorite places?

Welcome back to reality. My turn is coming next week.

I'm glad you had a good time and enjoyed the warm sun, and before we know it spring will be here. I, too, had airplane problems in that everything ran two hours late due to storms. Instead of arriving in Florida at 10:30 PM, it was 2:00 AM! A lot of my time was spent in Atlanta.

Years ago I was in Hawaii, but I can't tell you what I enjoyed most because I was fascinated by everything. I'm talking about before the big highways and hotels so you know it was ages ago. I remember staying at the Hawaiian Village and touring Pearl Harbor. The restaurants were expensive then too so nothing's changed in that respect. It's costly here in Florida also. Tonight we splurged at Johnny Carabba's, but it was well worth it.

[kells3]

I have not been to Hawaii for 25 years. I was there twice the last time with a couple of girlfriends. I always loved to travel then I got married. My dh does not like to go anywhere. He says if he has seen it on tv he doesn't need to go. And since he watches the travel channel a lot there is almost nowhere he has not seen. LOL The second time we stayed in Oahu and Kauai. One of the friends I went with went back a couple of years ago and said I would not believe how much it has changed. Kauai had really been built up so much since we were there.

[YorkieLover]

I know what you mean. When I lived on Oahu, it was a much different world than it is now. I can hardly stand to go back there. It has been years since I've been to Kauai ... since just before Hurricane Iniki. It makes me sick to think of that island being spoiled, too.

When we started going to Maui, it was pretty quiet and laid back. It's not very tropical, except for the landscaping, but we fell for the beaches and snorkeling there. There is all together too much building on Maui now, and the traffic is bad. It seems like even the old, run-down homes are going for close to a million dollars. Real estate is ridiculous there. I feel really bad for the locals - how hard it must be to make a good enough living to pay the rent there.

I'm a pretty big home-body, too, but DH plans things, little trips, to break up the monotony of work and to live a little. It's good to get out and do different things.

[Brenda2000]

First time I went to Hawaii was on my honeymoon, 20 years ago. It was a super-budgeted trip...we stayed on Oahu.
Two summers ago, we went back and took our two girls, this time we stayed in Kona, rented a condo. We went to see Kilauea, a black sand beach, a Luau, DH did a night dive with Manta Rays, lots of snorkeling...absolutely loved it!

[sunlover5]

Glad you had a good vacation. What hotel did you stay at?

We went to Maui and stayed in Wailea last summer. We stayed in a condo so we didn't eat out that often ($$$ with kids!), but we did enjoy dinner at Roy's one night, also the Fish & Game Brewing Co. in Kahana and Cheeseburger in Paradise in Lahaina.

My DD especially enjoyed shopping at the Shops at Wailea. The high-end shops were very welcoming and it was fun to gawk.

I've been to Kauai, Maui and the Big Island and love them all!

[YorkieLover]

We stayed at the Maui Prince Hotel - nice people. We usually stay in a condo because there's more room, more homey-feeling, and we can eat in more to save money, but this time DH wanted to try this hotel. The eating out didn't hurt my feelings, just my pocketbook. Actually, we found out that the espresso corner there has breakfast sandwiches and danishes and sushi rolls, so that made breakfast pretty reasonable and convenient. Yes, it is fun at the Shops at Wailea. The ritzy shops make me uncomfortable (they eagle eye you like you're going to steal something ) ... but it is fun to gawk, as you say. Every Wednesday evening they have a free hula and Hawaiian music show. We missed it this year, but have seen it in the past.

If you go back, make sure to order the mudpie from Cheeseburger ... to die for!!!

[mayfly]

You are a lucky duck! So glad it all went well, and you had fun.

[sunlover5]

Originally Posted by YorkieLover

Yes, it is fun at the Shops at Wailea. The ritzy shops make me uncomfortable (they eagle eye you like you're going to steal something ) ... but it is fun to gawk, as you say.

That's funny because we had just the opposite experience, and we weren't dressed up or anything, either. The only shop we really spent much time in was Louis Vuitton, and several clerks greeted us warmly and when my DD admired a pair of shoes, the clerk asked if we were interested in trying something on ($500...uh, I don't think so).

[la_bonita426]

oh god i would love a vacation right now. somewhere in europe

[ILUV2SHOP]

WOW!!! How Wonderful was that!!!
Too bad there was lots of rain that's kinda a bummer when you are on vacation at such a beautiful place!

Good to hear you are back and all is well...but I know its so hard to get back in the groove after a trip like that!

I have only been to OAHU BUT WOW WOW WOW
I am so ready to go back!!!

We are so trying to earn another trip to Hawaii!
It's such a different Atmosphere!