I think it’s safe to say that these guys have balls.

Peahi (Jaws) is located on the north shore of Maui, Hawaii and only breaks a handful of times per year.  It’s one of those spots that needs enormous swell for even a ripple to begin stirring.  But, when the swell is hitting, Peahi gets big and scary.  There’s a left and right, but the right seems to be more popular.

Through recent years, Jaws has become recognized as one of the premiere big wave spots due to the attention brought from Laird Hamilton, Dave Kalama, and the big wave surfers of Hawaii and elsewhere.  Since their publicizing of the spot, surfing Jaws has become somewhat of a circus with all kinds of surfers in the water looking to prove themselves.  We’ve heard that in order to curb the participation, Laird and some others have organized competitions to where it’s becoming increasingly difficult to surf there without an invitation or some kind of permit.

We love to watch these guys surf here, and we hope that the surfers take every precaution to be safe.  It still shocks me when I hear a surfer say they want to surf there, especially when they’re not that good.  It takes a lifetime of training to get ready for something as heavy as surfing Jaws, and plenty of jokers think they’ve got what it takes.  Machismo will only take you so far.  For me, I’ll stick to manageable, fun waves and leave the suicidal waves to those looking for an ego boost.

We’d again like to thank Michael Chad Photography for sharing his photos of Jaws with us.  He’s a fantastic photographer and can be hired for weddings and portraits on Maui.

We’ve listed 6 of the most popular activities done on Maui in 2011.  We hope you’ll experience some of these when you visit Maui in 2012!

Big Aloha and happy 2012!!!

The Road to Hana is Maui’s number one attraction for a good reason. Cascading waterfalls, breath-taking coastal views, lush rainforest, and the untouched purity of the islands bring visitors back again and again. Hana is exactly what you imagine it to be. It’s home to local Hawaiians that pride themselves on keeping Hana undeveloped and untarnished by encroaching “civilization.”

Maui is world famous for the best whale watching in the world! Maui whale watching is what Africa is to safaris. You get a chance to not only see Humpback whales enjoy the freedom of warm waters with no predators, but you’ll most likely be given a show in acrobatics. Every year our Humpbacks journey to Maui in order to mate and give birth. If you haven’t witnessed whale surface behavior in Maui waters, you’re in for a treat!

Haleakala is Maui’s largest mountain/volcano with views of the surrounding islands and all of Maui. The best way to experience these views is by riding down the slopes of Haleakala on a bike. There are many Maui bike tours, and we recommend a self-guided tour for safety and convenience. Watch the sunrise from the crater, then bike downhill at your leisure through Maui’s Upcountry.

Molokini Crater is a volcanic atoll sitting just off the south coast of Maui. Conveniently, it harbors and protects some of the most awe-inspiring ocean life in Hawaiian waters. Snorkeling Molokini has become one of the most popular activities on Maui due to it’s incredible water clarity. Scuba diving is also a world famous activity for advanced divers on the backside of Molokini.

Maui is home to all kinds of surfing. Wind, kite, stand-up, longboarding, and shortboarding are all increasingly popular on the Valley Isle. You’ll find different areas attract different surfers and different skill levels. If you’re new to surfing, there are plenty of surf schools in Maui. If you have more experience under your belt, you can find great waves depending on season.

Once you become a fan, you’ll be entered to win these boat trip tickets.  You’ll also automatically be getting 15% off of any future tickets on the Pride of Maui.  Good deal, right?

Go to Pride of Maui’s Facebook Page and become a fan!

Give them a ring at (808) 661-SAIL or visit their website at Teralani Cruises.  Find out why the Maui News Poll voted the Teralani as the Best Water Activity for 2011!

What’s it like?

Surfing Da Rush is kind of like surfing, snowboarding, and wakeboarding all rolled into one.  It’s really nothing like anything you’ve tried and offers a completely different rush than you’ve experienced before.  It’s both challenging and exciting to try for the first time.

Fun for all ages and skill level, we love the helpful staff that operate Da Rush.  They’re supportive in their instruction, and you’ll never feel more at home.  We love the level of aloha and pure fun in the air at this man-made wave in Kihei, Maui.  Check it out today by visiting our one and only Maui wave pool.

THE GOOD

• Location! Perfect for outdoor photo shoots and workshops. The beaches here are amazing and perfect for sunsets.  you can’t ask for a better area to shoot at.
• Warm, Strong Community. This is different from any other photography convention we’ve been to.  It’s not as huge as some of the mainland conventions, which brings people together more to meet and learn from each other.  These things are fantastic for networking and learning from other professionals and enthusiasts. It’s a less intimidating environment allowing everyone time to speak to the pros and mingle.
• Off-site Workshops. There are plenty of opportunities to shoot with the expert speakers away from the hotel.  There’s a trip to Haleakala Crater for sunrise, doors-off helicopter rides, and much more.
• Studio Lighting. For a few hours they set up studio lighting for anyone to use.  They also had some models there to give everyone a chance to shoot.
• Contests and Prizes. Each year there are multiple contests for photos taken during the week of the festival.  Awards are given on the last day and prizes are exceptional.  Some prizes this year included: Wacom Tablets, CS5 Photoshop, camera backpacks, and many more.  See some of last year’s best photos.
• Student Scholarships. We love that the Maui Photo Festival sponsors aspiring photographers from local high schools.  These kids are truly gifted and have a bright future in photo.
• Magazine Staff. We liked that staff from popular magazines came and spoke to us about how to submit photos to their magazines and what they’re looking for.  People from The Knot and from Maui No Ka Oi Magazine came and spoke.
• Live Models. Beautiful models are brought in to allow us opportunities to hone our craft.  There was studio shoots, outdoor shoots, hula dancers, bikini models shoots, etc…
• Great Speakers and Experts from all Over. World renowned experts and local legends include:

Jim DiVitale – I’m in awe of this man.  Unfortunately, most of the teachers I’ve had over the years for any technical matter offer too slow a pace.  Jim, on the otherhand, moves at times too fast.  He’s perpetually on a serious caffeine high and blows through material.  He’s incredible.  I’ve tried to go to all of his workshops the last 2 years, and I gain so much from each one.  he is a Photoshop wizard.

Randy Jay Braun – Randy is a local artist that is gifted in bringing the culture of Hawaii to the masses through beautiful images.  He’s proven to be one of the more successful photographer artists in Hawaii, and just happens to be one of the nicest guys you’ll meet.

Some of the Other Speakers include: Jim Tierney, Michael Sweet, Douglas Peebles, Judy Host, Stacy Pearsal, Andy Dunaway, Eddie Tap, Jack Reznicki, Randy Hufford, Lou Freeman, Lewis Carlyle, Rebecca Crumley, Frederick Van Johnson, and Mike Sidney.

Our Suggestions

• The Rooms are Too Cold. Air conditioning needs to be cut down a bit. This is an easy fix that I think they can have set up better next year.  Bring a sweatshirt just in case though.
• Parking. Many times we’ve gotten lucky, but the Hyatt isn’t great for parking.  If you get there too late, you’ll have to valet.  It’s $18 to valet, but you can get it validated if you eat at one of the restaurants.  Umalu is reasonable and good, but the new restaurant Japengo is outrageously expensive.
• Offer More Broad Classes, other than Photo: It would be nice if we could have some classes on business, marketing, branding, advertising, website design, networking, etc… I know that’s kind of a lot, but if there was time and an extra room, it’d be nice to offer some of these workshops.
• Mixers to Mingle. It would be great to have a different local restaurant/bar help sponsor a different night for every night of the fest.  This would be a great way for our photographers to get to know eachother away from the classrooms and help build lasting relationships in an even more casual setting. Sponsor host restaurant/bars could offer 1 free drink to each paid attendee and all other drinks are cash bar.  I’m sure plenty of locations would be interested in the exposure if Maui Photo Festival were to add some advertising for them.
• Breakout Sessions. We’d love to see a few hours each day dedicated to sign up sessions to have pros interact one on one with attendees.  Photoshop or shooting, it’d be nice to have a few hours where our experts stick around a classroom and meet with each person to discuss their questions one on one.  Not sure if this is possible, but it’d be cool.

Learn more at the Maui Photo Festival.

The summit of Haleakala is an island atop a volcanic island, with its own distinctive climate and habitats.  Its cinder desert is sometimes frozen and seemingly barren, Yet a variety of creatures and unique plants like the  ‘ahinahina (Silversword) have adapted to the summit’s extremes.

Despite the contrasts to seashores of Maui, the summit is connected to the rest of the island in critical ways. The upper slopes capture moisture to nourish the rain forest of Kipahulu and feed the streams and waterfalls in the valleys.  The summit also preserves portions of the original Hawai’i, including native vegetation and evidence of the early inhabitants.

THINGS TO DO at Haleakala National Park:

• Trails – Explore the cinder desert on Keonehe’ehe’e (Sliding Sands Trail) and native subalpine shrubland on Halemau’u Trail. Also check out Maui bike trails.
• Scenic Overlooks – Enjoy vistas of volcanic features and island panoramas.
• Naturalist Programs – Inquire at either of the visitor centers.
• Bird Watching – Hosmer Grove Nature Trail and Halemau’u Trail offer excellent opportunities to bird watch.
• Picnics – Set up a picnic at either Hosmer Grove or the Headquarters Visitor Center.
• Camping – Hosmer Grove, available on a a first-come first served basis, is an wonderful spot to camp at especially since there are no permits required.  In order to camp in the wilderness of Holua and Paliku, permits are required and available at the visitor center during operating hours.
• Bike the Volcano – You can do much of the above then be taken to the base of Haleakala National Park and ride all the way downhill to Haiku Town.
• Maui Van Tours – Check out Haleakala Crater at sunrise or later then go shopping and enjoy the restaurants of Kula and Makawao Town in Upcountry Maui.

CAUTION:

• You are responsible for your own safety
• Be prepared for extreme and sudden weather changes.  Dress in layers and bring rain gear.
• Be alert for symptoms of altitude sickness: headache, nausea, dizziness, shortness of breath.  If you get altitude sickness, have help getting lower   in altitude, drink lots of water, and call 911. If you’re near a park employee or the visitor center, ask them for assistance as well.
• Protect yourself from the sun.  Cover up, use sunscreen, wear a hat and glasses. In cold weather, it’s easy to forget how powerful the sun is, especially at this altitude.

HALEAKALA PARK RULES:

• Respect the ‘aina (land).  Many people consider the park lands to be sacred. Be mindful.
• Stay on designated trails.  Off-trail hiking can kill unseen plants and animals or destroy cultural resources.
• Leave things as you find them, including rocks, which can possibly animal or plant homes.
• Help kep nene (Hawaiian Goose) wild.  No feeding or approaching!  Tame nene often get hit by cars.
• Limit group size to 12 or less.
• Enter on foot only, and don’t ride bicycles.
• No pets allowed on trail.
• Clean boots of dirt and seeds.
• Camp in designated areas only, and get a permit if required.

Now that you know what to do, and what not to do, you’ll have a better, safer, and less-impactful experience at the park. Maui thanks you!

There are many ways of doing this.  One of our favorite ways is to rent a jeep and explore at our own pace.  We’ve recently been able to use the Road to Hana Map, driving tips, and CD guide from R2H.  We loved the full experience it allowed us to have by allowing us to choose the journey best suited for us.

As you drive along the Road to Hana, you’re given a unique perspective of the area.  You truly breath in the best of the island while stopping at recommended spots along the way.  Swim under a picture-perfect waterfall.  Enjoy a picnic on a secluded beach.  Explore rainforests and bamboo forests on amazing hikes.  There’s so much to do on the way to Hana and beyond.

Learn more about the Road to Hana by visiting the R2H.  There you can listen to the CD for free, watch video of a recent trip to Hana, flip through photos, and read tips.

Moral of the story:  Leave the ocean life to itself.  Maui has some incredible life in the ocean, but it’s best to enjoy from a safe distance.  This ensures everybody’s safety.  Going within 10 feet of a sea turtle on purpose is against the law.  Sea turtles are protected by law because they can become overstressed and possibly drowned by human interaction.

If you’d like to see more about snorkeling, check out these Maui snorkel maps, or read this information about snorkeling Maui.

A few more things about the tour.  Expect to be picked up and dropped off at your hotel (no driving for you!)  Also, expect a delicious breakfast and picnic lunch.  There’s so much more that you’ll be doing on this tour, so we’ve listed a few more things you can expect:

• Watch waves being surfed at Ho’okipa Beach Park (often Huge waves!)
• Visit Charles Lindbergh’s Memorial
• Explore Hana Town
• See the volcanic village of the Keanae Peninsula
• and much more!

Get your seats today while they’re available!

One that we particularly like is Pride of Maui.  Along with regular snorkeling trips, sunset dinner cruises and whale watches, Pride of Maui does their fair share of private bookings for weddings and events.

Their catamaran is fast and stable with lots of deck room.  For those looking to enjoy water activities like snorkeling, scuba or even snuba, this is a great boat to choose.  They have warm water showers, stairs into the water and swim platforms.  The Pride of Maui also has a water slide and glass-bottom viewing windows.

Weddings on the Pride of Maui are great for small parties.  I personally would suggest a ceremony on the beach then having the reception on the boat, though quite a few people do their ceremonies on the water with excellent results.

We went to one ceremony on the water in south Maui a few years back.  It was a really special event because at sunset the sky lit up and the photos were beyond amazing!

You can call to make a reservation right now at 1-877-TO-PRIDE or visit their site at Maui Private Charters.

This is the first of many posts we’ll be adding about being pregnant on Maui.

For the most part, snorkeling while pregnant can be done without danger and can be a great way to get some exercise while increasing the mother’s happiness (both very important for a healthy pregnancy.)

There are a few things you should consider before snorkeling while pregnant. When in your 3rd trimester, it’s a bit more risky since you’ll have less energy and dexterity.

Dangers and tips:

1. Reef Cuts and Infection
Upon entry and exit of the water, you’ll often find yourself in shallow water. Shallows are also prevalent around reef outcroppings. If you touch the reef at anytime, you’ll likely be cut. Cuts lead to infections, which are bad news when pregnant. We suggest going out at calm beaches and staying a clear distance from any reef.

2. Pressure Issues
When snorkeling when pregnant, it’s imperative that you stay on the surface. Diving below causes pressure issues which can cause harm to the baby. Scuba diving is out of the question because of this.

3. Exhaustion
The 1st trimester and 3rd are the most exhausting. It’s suggested that you never overexert yourself with exercise at anytime during your pregnancy. When you’re out in the ocean, you can’t take breaks. Stay close to the shore and don’t stay out any longer than you’re comfortable with.

4. Currents
On the same lines as #3, currents can put you in positions that would necessitate you’re pushing harder than you should. Research the spot you want to go to for regular currents. Always start against a current if present. That way if you get tired, going back is the easy part.

5. Waves
I’ve seen a pregnant woman in her 3rd trimester swimming out at a heavy beach break (Big Beach). Unfortunately, I only realized her condition after she’d struggled to come in. That baby had a hell of a ride. Thankfully they both are OK, but it could have been much worse. Even if the water looks calm, watch it for a while before entering. The ocean can do some scary things even if you’re not pregnant.

6. Holding Your Breath
Some snorkelers find themselves involuntarily holding their breath. This is fine, but when pregnant, it’s a danger. Don’t hold your breath ever while pregnant especially when over-exerted.

We hope these tips have helped you snorkel while pregnant more safely (if we didn’t completely discourage you!) We think snorkeling in Maui is a great thing to do when pregnant, but we strongly urge you to take precautions and limit your activity to light exertion.

All of the photos were taken on a recent snorkeling session with my wife on the south side of Maui.  She is in her first trimester of pregnancy and doing great!

We’d like to put a spotlight on some of the activities that have a positive impact on our world, economically and ecologically.  The first activity we’d like to discuss is Ziplining.

Ziplining – #1 Eco-Friendly Activity

With over 1 million safe customer zipline crossings, it’s incredible to think that a company like Skyline Eco-adventures could maintain a minimal ecological footprint while running at such a high-volume of visitors.  We’d like to commend them in their efforts to educate each zipline patron on the unique culture and environment surrounding their activity areas.  Not only do they inform their customers about the fragile eco-systems around them, but they have visitors enjoy the process.

One of the biggest pluses Skyline Eco-Adventures have offered to Maui is their keeping our land pure.  In order to run a successful zipline course, the many acres of land used need to be protected.  Nature then becomes part of the attraction.  Without their involvement, it’s possible that the purity of the land would be developed and destroyed.

Of all the activities you can do while visiting Maui, consider the excitement of ziplining with Skyline Eco-Adventures.  You’re not only getting your money’s worth with an unforgettable experience, but you’re also enjoying mother nature while doing some mild hiking, learning about the land and its sacred culture, and you’re helping to protect our island.

You can book them now by calling (808) 878-8400 or visiting them at zipline in Maui.

We’d like to thank Skyline for providing the photos and for staying committed to keeping our island pure.  Here at Maui Goodness, we’ll continue to experience the fun you provide as well as share it with the world.  ALOHA!

“She’s looking right at me.  I know it.”

I leaned back slightly and slid myself left along the side of the boat.  The big eye followed me.  I grinned and slid myself to the right.  The big eye followed me back.

“What must you think of me?” I whispered to the whale.  “Do you wonder about me the way I wonder about you?  Are you old enough to remember when there weren’t so many humans riding on boats?  Are you able to remember at all?”

A giant splash to my right startled me out of my revere.  Another whale was slapping his shining white pectoral fin over and over against the surface of the water.  Then he rolled onto his back and began slamming the back side of his tail on the surface.  Bang, bang, bang.  One more splash, a big breath, and then he dove, sinking out of sight.  I turned back to the water, but the first whale was gone too.

“Well ladies and gentleman,” the Captain of the Kai Kanani said into his mike.  “That was quite a show but it’s time for us to be heading back to shore.  Please check for any loose clothing or trash, and be careful of your hats as I pick up speed.  The whales aren’t looking for any donations.”

On the trip back I thought about what I’d seen.  The breaching and splashing were very exciting, and I had some great photos to share with my friends.  But I was moved by what I had seen looking into the eye of the whale.

“Humans aren’t so special,” I thought to myself as we neared shore.

By Megan Edgar, Staff Writer

Read more about our fascinating visitors from up north at Maui Whale Watch Tours. There you’ll see photos, videos, in-depth information about Humpback Whales, as well as illustrations of the various Humpback surface behaviors.

All of the photos seen here have been taken by Natalie Brown Photography.  All Rights are reserved on these copywritten images, and we thank her for the use of them.

After I’d been here for about six months I started to miss biking.  A lot.  Surfing was fun, but I wanted to go really fast for longer than a few seconds.  I wanted to brush elbows with trees, smell piney air and dust, and feel my body compress as I whipped around a berm.  I wanted to ride a bike.

I went to some bike shops and asked around but everyone was really secretive.  I’d get vague answers about good trails somewhere on Haleakala, or redirected toward the road biking groups that met every Wednesday and needed more riders.  On this small island in the middle of the Pacific, nobody wanted to give up the goods.

Finally I had a break through.  I was walking my dog on the beach and asked a fellow dog walker if she knew of any Upcountry hikes you could take dogs on.

“Yeah,” she said.  “The Makawao Forest Reserve is great.  There are a lot of trails, the trees are bautiful, and the air is about 10 degrees cooler than down here, but you have to watch out for all the bikers.”

Bingo.  Bikers.  I got directions, rented a sweet full suspension downhill bike from the Haleakala Bike Company, and headed out.  I couldn’t believe it.  Just 45 minutes from Kihei were miles of mountain biking trails.  Pine trees.  Dust.  Single track.  Yes!

Local riders very skilled at trail building had connected the obvious multi-use trails in the Reserve  with windy, single track that narrowly missed trees and used the natural lay of the land to create fun drops, berms, and log rides.  A few of the trails were too advanced for me, with large gap jumps and big drops, but most were right up my alley.  I grinned the whole way home.

After that first day I called my brother and told him to pack up my bike and ship it out here.  It arrived a few weeks later and I headed back out.  The more I biked, the more bikers I met, and the more I learned about the trails.  Once I figured out where to go on my own, I was in the club, and people were very willing to share.  Turns out Maui isn’t just about surfing, beaches, and jungle – there are bikers too.

By Megan Edgar, Staff Writer

Land Paddling is the land version of Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP.)  In order to escape the monotony of the gym, this middleweight Maui native skateboards up and downhill near his home in North Maui.  Since 2008, Kendall has been using his long skateboard and six foot carbon-fiber pole to break a sweat while bombing hills and then climbing them again the hard way.

Kendall Grove (Da Spyder) does Land Paddling to clear his head while getting a workout and preparing for UFC.  I was fortunate enough to assist on the photo shoot and get some time with this Maui celebrity.  It’s hard to believe that such a funny and easy-going guy could tear my limbs off if he wanted to.  Meeting athletes like Kendall bring the realization that MMA is more than fighting.  It’s a sport for those strong in the mind and the body.

We look forward to seeing Da Spyder in his next bout.

Humpback whales mate and give birth in the same season? Sometimes, but most often they come to mate then return the following year to give birth.  The gestation period of a Humpback Whale is 12 months, which forms a perfect cycle.

Why Hawaii? Humpbacks travel to Hawaii as well as south of North America for the warm, protected waters.  Hawaii, and specifically Maui, offers shallower areas to perform their mating habits as well as give birth away from deep ocean predators.

If Hawaii is ideal for mating and giving birth, why don’t Humpback Whales live there year round? They have to make this long trek, back and forth, every year because plankton (Humpback’s primary food source) doesn’t thrive in warm waters.  Each year, Humpbacks feed and store fat while living in the Pacific Northwest.  They then make the journey and the stay in Hawaii without any food.  This is particularly hard on the mothers nursing over 100 gallons of milk to their calves each day.

For more humpback whale information, including recognizing surface behavior, migration, and birth, visit Whale Information.

Last night Sublime played at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center (MACC) with their new lead guitar and singer Rome Ramirez.  Rome made for an excellent replacement for the deceased Bradley Nowell.

Sublime, now “Sublime with Rome”, played most of our favorite classic Sublime songs along with a few new ones.  We think that they made a great move in doing this.  Appeasing the fan base is the only way for them to move towards newer material, especially considering how Bradley is now considered a legend.

We really enjoyed the show.  I’m sure the veteran members of Sublime enjoyed the crowd, and Rome seemed very pleased with his first trip to Hawaii.  Read about more Maui Events.

Maui, Hawaii, USA

$85/hour

We’ve been testing out massage parlors on Maui for years now.  Most are outrageously expensive (ex. at the big resorts.)  But we just found one that does incredible massages for a decent price.  Massage Maui in front of the Sugar Beach Resort is outstanding.

The location is great because it’s easily accessible for anyone on the south side (Makena, Wailea, Kihei), not more than 30-45 minutes from the West side (Lahaina, Kaanapali, Kapalua), and a short hop from the North side (Kahului, Wailuku, Paia.)

The inside is large enough for at least a few people to get massages simultaneously.  The Asian decor and ambiance is quiet and soothing.  Our Masseuses were ready for us right away for our appointment.  They asked how hard a pressure we preferred, and I told her my preference for really getting in there.  She knocked out some serious knots, and somehow knew exactly where they were.  She asked what I did for a living and about any troubled areas.  I gave her pretty general areas, and she found the exact points immediately.

If you want to save money while getting a great massage in Maui, go to Massage Maui at the Sugar Beach Resort.  The big resorts charge a lot more for 1/2 the massage.  We were really pleased and plan on going back. Call them at (808) 357-7317 to book your massage.

THE WORST

Dalian, China

Cost: $15/hour

Visiting friends in the tier 2 city of Dalian, we were taken to the best spot in town for a massage.  We walked past a dozen or so piles of burning trash to a dirty sliding glass window in a large industrial building.  OK, first signs of discomfort reached.

We walk into a small room (100-150 sq ft) with 4 people, and 2 massage tables.  Our masseuses were blind (the leading job for blind people in China.  In fact, I’m pretty sure this job is reserved for blind people.)  We lay down on our respective tables and the massage begins.  The massage was actually pretty good (they practice more medicinal massage, which hurts like hell, but I like it.)

My wife told be about 2 things that disturbed her.

1. In some massage parlors, the hole you put your face through when lying down sometimes will have a bowl of water and flowers under it for you to look at.  My wife had the lovely view of a box holding dirty, smelly jars.
2. She also made the mistake of using the bathroom.  She’s still scarred from the experience.  Apparently, it was a hole in the ground and the entire room was beyond filthy.

Our massage ended with us getting up and dressed with close to 20 people crammed in the room.  Most of them had been smoking and conversing loudly in Mandarin during our last half of the massage.  The room was hardly large enough for 4 of us, but they were all fascinated to see westerners in these parts.  People were all over, sitting on tables, on file cabinets, and practically squeezed into every nook smoking feverishly.  Needless to say, we won’t be getting a massage there again.

THE BEST VALUE

Bali, Indonesia

$3-250/hour (depending on location)

Though you can get massages for as little as $3 on the beach, or as much as $250 at a resort, finding a good masseuse in Bali has nothing to do with price.  Most massages you’ll get are by untrained hands trying to make a buck.  Even the expensive resort massages (though better than the ones on the beach) sometimes are not all that great.

The best massage we had was at a hole in the wall spot in Seminyak (many of the best spots are in places you wouldn’t think) with a bunch of young girls.  My wife and I each had a 4 hand massage (20 fingers each) for 1 1/2 hours at $15 per client.  Incredible value because these girls knew what they were doing.  If we can find this place again, we’ll be back.

On the other hand, we had a different 4 hand massage at a place in Kuta with a bunch of similar girls.  Unfortunately, these ones were loud, laughing and talking the whole time.  They were not well trained, and at one point I found an unwanted fist up my bum.  We’ll stay VERY clear of this spot.

COMMENTS:

Great tips. Will certainly check out Bali. There’s nothing like a great massage while you face the ocean and hear the waves crashing on the shore. You may also want to know that some massage establishments also offer soothing sounds that help you relax. These are actually quite effective. Brian

True.  There’s a lot of beautiful things to straight off the coast of Maui.  But, when you travel to Molokini, you get a lot more.  Here are a few things that Molokini offers over shore dives:

• Water Clarity – Even if there’s some swell in the water, the inside of Molokini Crater is better protected than off the coast.
• Wind Protection – the high walls of the crater also better protect the water from wind.
• Marine Reserve and Bird Sanctuary – Molokini is protected from fishing so you get a lot of ocean life enjoying this safe haven.
• Food – Most vessels will provide snacks and drinks to keep you going between locations.
• Professional Guides – Your captain and crew know where the best spots are, so if Molokini isn’t optimal, you’ll go somewhere that they know is perfect.
• Gradual Inner Slope – The inside of Molokini Crater gently slopes down, which makes for great snorkeling and snuba diving.
• Diving the back Wall – The Backside of Molokini Crater drops to below 300 feet, and is world famous for advanced scuba dives.
• Proximity – The location of Molokini Crater is very close to South Maui.  It’s a very short baot trip from Maalaea Harbor.
• Safety – Having trained lifeguards in the water as well as top of the line safety equipment ensures a safe snorkeling trip.
• The Ride – Don’t forget that when you’re going to Molokini, you get a fun ride out of it!  Some vessels are sail boats, others rafts, and also power catamarans.  Each of these types of boats offer unique ways to get to the crater.

Molokini snorkeling and scuba diving is world famous for the reasons above.  If you visit Maui, you shouldn’t miss out on the Molokini Crater.

Maalaea Harbor has many excellent sailing charters.  One of our favorites is the Island Star.  This luxury sailing yacht is available for private charters, which is partly why we like it so much.  There’s nothing like having complete control over where you’re going when sailing in Maui waters.  With a private charter, you decide where and what you do, and you only have to invite people that YOU like.

Leaving from Maalaea is great because of its proximity to West Maui, South Maui and the other close islands that make up Maui County (Lanai and Molokai.)  Recently, some very high-profile celebrities have been seen on this vessel.  They’re ultra-protective of their clients, so we were unable to find out who they were, but we know that some big-ticket stars regularly charter this beautiful yacht.

If you’d like to charter the Island Star, call 1-888-677-7238 toll free or visit their site at Private Maui Yacht.

We were lucky enough to spend some time this Labor Day weekend at Ono Farms in Hana, Maui.  This organic farm grows all kinds of fantastic things over a large area of sustainably farmed land.  Due to it’s ideal location, there is no need for an irrigation system, chemically dangerous fertilizers, or any other ugly polluting systems.

This farm is unlike any farm we’ve been to.  The fruit trees and coffee trees wind around with no structure.  It’s like Free-Range farming!  The trees grow the way they want to, the fruit is plentiful and huge, and the area is as close to natural perfection as we can imagine.

They are located past Hana Town, far away from any type of pollution.  We hear they make some of the best coffee in the world.  Truly “Ono” Coffee!  If you’re lucky enough to find any of their products in stores, snatch them up quickly!  From what we saw, they have bananas, coconuts, coffee, avocados, ginger, lilikoi, star fruit, and much more.

Mahalo to Ono Farms for having us!  We’ll look for your products on grocery shelved in the future.

This year’s Maui Film Festival had the regular parties with many new faces.  The Starry Night Moondance party hosted by Tommy Bahama’s Wailea was a hit!  The dance floor was moving like never before.  Most of the photos on this page were taken at this event.

Another great night event was the Taste of Chocolate at the Four Seasons next to Duo.  Here guests enjoyed countless chocolate treats while sipping drinks and mingling.

The Taste of Wailea was held again above the Celestial Cinema on the golf course.  All of the best Maui restaurants showed up to make their signature dishes.  Southern also provided excellent wines for pairing.

A new event this year was held at the Wailea Resort (formerly known as Diamonds.)  This involved a pool side fashion show with club music and great drinks.  We hope this is offered again next year.

Celebrities such as Zac Efron, and the beautiful Malin Akerman (pictured below at the taste of Wailea) enjoyed the parties and promoted their movies.

Local celebrities also found their way to the parties such as Sherri Van and Lucas Woodford causing a veritable frenzy among young Maui fans.

As always, the events surrounding the Maui Film Festival are only secondary to how great the movie experience is.  Watching films under the stars on a Maui golf course with friends and family can not be compared to any screening at any other film festival.

Thanks for joining us!  We’ll post again about the events next year!

Aloha!

The day began with a keiki parade and Eco-Day Conference for the kids.  Throughout the day visitors enjoyed arts and crafts booths, local restaurant food, live music, and plenty of jumping houses for the kids.  Tonight “Laugh @ Da Park” will commence under a large tent where locally farmed food will be served with live jazz from the Fulton Tashombe Quartet and a comedy show to top it off.

This marks the 30th year of this fun festival.  If you get a chance to go tomorrow, you won’t be disappointed.  Make sure to wear sunblock and maybe even bring a chair.  Scripts can be purchased for food and drinks (no alcohol).  Vendors selling crafts accept cash.

MAUI WHALE WATCHING

If you plan on doing a whale watch in Maui, check out this comprehensive list of Maui Whale Watch Tours. There are many boats leaving from Lahaina Harbor, Maalaea Harbor, Kihei Boat Ramp, and on the beach in Makena.  Humpback whales visit every winter from December to May and it’s a wonderful thing to experience up close.

Bring some friends, a camera and some sun screen and enjoy the sights and sounds of surface behavior from our visiting Humpback Whales.

COMMENTS:

liza:

I am glad you wrote a post on this. I was planning to but didn’t get a chance. I only got to upload the “whale origami curtain photos” at A Maui Blog.

The Whale Day Festival at Kalama Park is surely a treat! I started going there when my kids were small (5 and 4) and now they are 12 and 11! It’s great family fun.

You can see it live here: Makena Web Camera

The camera switches views from multiple locations on an automatic basis.  The camera is located in a prime location, high up on the Makena Beach & Golf Resort, which gives it a great number of potential views.  These are the views that it is set on right now:

• Mooring of the Kai Kanani II
• Molokini Crater (Close Up)
• Molokini Crater from the Beach
• Beach Check in area for the Kai Kanani
• Lanai Island
• South Maui area (includes Puu Olai and Kahoolawe)
• The Beach in front of the Makena Resort
• Surf Conditions for Beach Loading (2 views of this)
• Maalaea Harbor and West Maui Mountains

Below is an animation showing sceenshots from each view.  We know you must think we’re a little crazy about this, but we don’t have that many webcams on the island, and it’s nice to have one that has so many views.  it’s like having 10 cameras in 1.

We’ve been on every Maui zipline tour, and we strongly feel that Piiholo Zipline offers the best tours.  Below we outline exactly why we feel this way:

• Safety - We like that you don’t have to use your hands.  Some zipline courses use trolleys that necessitate you using your hands to slow down, and/or keep yourself from spinning around.  Piiholo trolleys keep you zipping facing forward the entire time without fail.
• Length of Ride - Their 5th zipline in the course is the longest side-by-side zipline in Hawaii.  That means you’re moving fast and high for the longest time.  It’s really nice to have the time to look around and appreciate the scenery and realize exactly what you’re doing.
• Side-By-Side - Piiholo offers lines side-by-side, so you can zip at the same time as your friends.  It’s fun to try racing others while flying through the air. It also speeds up the tour and minimizes wait time.
• Suspension Bridge - To enter the zipline course you cross a 317 -foot long suspension bridge.  This is a great way to start your adventure.
• Tango Tower - What is a Tango Tower?  It’s a 6 sided climbing tower with all kinds of challenges from rock wall to rope climbing.  This is a wonderful place to work on Team Building exercises. (contact to reserve.)
• HorseBack Riding – Piiholo is a locally owned ranch with other tours including Horseback.  This means you can do more than just zipline and rope climb in the same day without wasting the time to drive out again.

Piiholo Ranch Zipline is located in Makawao, Maui, Hawaii.  You can book their activities at the best price by calling (808) 572-1717 or online at Zipline Maui.

Thank you Greg Hoxsie for your excellent Maui commercial Photography. Your photos help enormously in telling the story!

And WOW!  It’s a lot of fun!  Now we’re all hooked.  It’s like going snorkeling without getting wet (if it’s calm and you don’t fall.)  From looking down over your board, you can see the reef clearly as well as any sealife.  Turtles are everywhere!

Not only is it fun for the views of Maui and sealife, we enjoy it because it’s great exercise and a lot of fun.  Sometimes we’ll put some snorkel gear on our board (attached to the leash) and go out to spots that are difficult to access.

When it comes to surfing, it can make a really bad day good.  I don’t recommend taking them out in big waves, but riding tiny waves is really fun.  I feel you have more of an advantage in surfing larger waves with a short board or regular longboard.  Some would disagree, but we suggest only riding the SUP boards in really small waves or just for distance exploration.

Here’s a video from the boards the last time we went out.  We rode from the Makena Golf Resort to Little Beach and back.  We got up a little late, so it had a bit of bump.  It was still a lot of fun, but we suggest going out before the wind hits around 10-11 in the morning while it’s still glassy.  If there is wind, make sure to go up wind to start.  Save going down wind for when you’re tired and coming back. Also, always be safe and don’t ride over shallow reef or areas you don’t know. Be careful!

We rented our boards at Boss Frog’s Dive & Surf.  You can call and rent boards on Maui, Kauai and the Big Island of Hawaii by calling (808) 661-3333.

COMMENTS:

A friend of mine was telling me how much fun Stand Up Paddle Boarding is. Would love try it one of these days. Thankyou for the useful tips.

Jules

Paddle boarding is so fun! You get your balance down really quick and your off! Wear polarized glasses so you can see into the water and look for turtles and fish! And go earlier in the morning, better with no wind. Have fun!

Natalie

Maui Fun Charters specialize in Maui Bottom Fishing as well as Maui sport fishing.  Give them a call at (808) 572-2345. We suggest calling because they have their phone on them on the boat even when out fishing.  Emails, on the other hand, are not recommended.  These guys live and die fishing.  They don’t spend too much time in front of the computer.

Founded in 2002, Skyline Eco-Adventures now offers two locations for ziplining on Maui, Hawaii. The Haleakala Skyline Tour is phenomenal with views of the South and North Coast as well as the West Maui Mountains and the Central Valley. You’ll zip across 5 lines while learning about the ecology of upcountry Maui. Each zipline becomes increasingly more exciting with longer distances, bigger heights, and much more speed. Before each crossing, you’re given some insight into the endangered bird that the Maui zipline is named after. A portion of your ticket goes to preservation of these birds as well as other Maui conservation efforts.

Safety is the primary concern of your 2 zipline tour guides of whom personally hook each person up themselves. For those worried about equipment and cables, the lines you cross are strong enough to hold a full-sized car. All of the equipment has been tested for safety.

The last crossing is by far the most fun. Each time you zip across a gulch, or over waterfalls, you’ll find that you want more. You finally get it with the last run when you’re hurled at incredible speeds over a long forest gulch. Besides the adrenaline rush of the Maui ziplines, taking a walk through Eucalyptus forests with incredible views makes this a journey worth making.

The Kaanapali Skyline Adventure takes twice as long with 8 ziplines. You’ll experience views of West Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Lahaina, and some gorgeous waterfalls. A step up from the Haleakala Tour, ziplining in Kaanapali is a half-day trip you’ll never forget.

Make sure to wear good shoes and something warm. Long pants and a jacket are very nice to have when upcountry, especially while zipping at high speeds.

This Maui Zipline Video was taken at the Syline Eco Adventure Kaanapali Course. The terrain is different than the zipline discussed above, but just as fun. You’ll see below!

We recently enjoyed a top notch sailing trip aboard the Kai Kanani, which leaves from shore in South Maui.

Unlike most boats in Maui, the Kai Kanani offers shore entry, meaning you walk from the sand onto the boat.  It’s also the only boat that leaves from South South Maui, in front of the Maui Prince Hotel.  This makes it much more convenient for those staying in Wailea, Makena, or Kihei.  When getting on the boat, keep in mind that you’ll probably get wet up to your knees, and possibly thighs (depending on the surf.)  It’s best to wear shorts.

We left an hour or so before the sun sets and cruise along the South shore by sail.  There’s very little on Earth that matches the simplicity, peace, and relaxation that’s found while sailing in Maui with out a motor.  Maui’s warm breezes helped lull us into a sense of total relaxation (though the Mai Tai’s helped too.)  Being on a catamaran is also nice because it’s less turbulent, offering less of a change for sea sickness.

One of the things we really loved about the Kai Kanani is that they don’t pack the boat like a can of sardines.  It’s a pretty big boat, and they only put on a small amount of people.  There’s plenty of room to sit and move around both in the cabin and on the decks.  Another plus is how new and well kept the Kai Kanani is.  You can tell the captain and crew take pride in their work and love that boat.

Here’s a real quick list of why we recommend the Kai Kanani for your next sunset voyage:

• Convenient South Maui Departure

• Ultra-Friendly Captain and Crew

• New High-Tech Catamaran

• Plenty of Room

• Great Cocktails

• Excellent Pupus (Hors D’Oeuvres)

The food on board is really good.  They have jumbo shrimp, meatballs, assorted cheeses, salad, bread, and vegetables with dip.  Unlike some other boats, they dont’ charge for cocktails, and you don’t have a limit (unless you’ve had too much.)  Mai Tais, Local Beer on Tap, Wine, and Pina Colodas are spun up at your request.

Of course, the sunset over the water is what we’re inevitably after.  Watching the sun disappear between the neighboring islands and into the ocean is something best enjoyed on a boat.  We left feeling warm, relaxed, and happy.  We think you will too.

Book your trip direct by calling (808) 879-7218 or visit their website at Kai Kanani.

Thank you Greg Hoxsie for your photos!