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.

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.

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!

I’ve been asked many times how one can propose marriage creatively on our island. I tell my own story, and then give suggestions. It’s time to share this with everyone.

How I Proposed to my wife on Maui

We live here, so I felt that I needed to do more than just walk down the beach and propose (though it would have sufficed.) I rented a beautiful house in Hana and told my girlfriend that I’m taking her camping in Hana.

My lady is notorious for sleeping in (as am I), so I woke up early and packed everything I needed for a weekend at the house. I added a few camping accessories to seal the deal. When she woke up, she marveled at how I’d packed the car already. We left early for the Road to Hana.

Once we arrived, my lady was very surprised about the house and asked what occasion we were celebrating. This is where I blew it. I should’ve made something up, but I said it was for some spontaneous fun. Bad liar. She knew something was up.

I immediately began setting up a picnic on our property (great views!) The day before, I’d visited Who Cut The Cheese in Kihei to pick up some wine and cheese. Despite the horrific name, this shop is something really special. The woman working there helped me pair some of my favorite cheeses with some half-bottles of wine.

During the picnic, I nervously unpacked each cheese as we sipped on complimentary splits. It was great! Then, as we savored a french grape-leaf-wrapped goat cheese, I proposed to her. It went off pretty damned well. We then spent the next 4 days running around Hana, hiking, swimming, exploring, and relaxing. The perfect start to our engagement.  (And today we celebrate our 3 year anniversary! I love you, honey!)

My one regret is not having the ability to wait a little longer to propose under a beautiful waterfall we’d discovered the next day. There was NO WAY I could hold out for a whole night without relieving myself of the burden of holding all of this in, so I proposed immediately when we got there (that would be 1 long sleepless night in Hana.) It would have been cool though If I’d swam up to her under the waterfall with the ring (so long as I didn’t drop it.)

Here are a few ideas I have about some unique ways to propose to your woman while visiting Maui, Hawaii.

1. Picnic on the beach - You can find a spot on a low-density beach or on a grassy bluff along the water. Sunsets are a great idea for both #1 and #2 if on the South or West side.

2. Walk on a deserted beach – Try some of the long stretches between North Kihei and Maalaea or go up North to some of the kite beaches. Most of these are long and don’t have many occupants.

3. Go on a hike and find a waterfall - Wait for any other hikers to leave before popping the question. Bring a little bottle of champagne or sparkling cider. If you don’t know of any less-traveled hikes, have a local take you up to a good waterfall, then have them leave. This only works if you’ve got friends on the island, or if you find someone nice enough to do this for you. (Consider calling around for a private tour like this.  If the hiking tours out there don’t already have one, they should.)

4. Propose while fine dining - We’re not talking about hitting up Outback or Applebys. Reserve a secluded table at Ferraros at the Four Seasons or at Capische. Dress nice and order some good wine. Take your time with a long meal and propose whenever you want. See a list of Maui restaurants.

5. Go on a cocktail sunset cruise - You can take a trip on the Kai Kanani or another vessel that doesn’t have too many people on it, or if you’ve got the bucks, charter a private cruise on the Island Star. The later would be preferred. If you can go sailing in Maui, that would be the best since you get less fumes and noise.  Plus it’s more romantic than a power boat.

6. Take a drive - There are many gorgeous spots to stop and enjoy Maui views. You might want to drive around exploring, and once you find the perfect spot, drop to a knee.

Remember: Always get down on your knee! make some effort. You don’t want your future wife to be telling a lame story for the rest of your lives.

I hope this helps. If you can think of any other ideas, give us a shout.

Taking the plunge in Hana

We recommend going through Aloha Rents.

You can find competitive rates along with many options for makes and models. Their service was created to simplify the rental process while saving you money. Let them help you secure your discount rental car for the Hawaiian Islands.

Call 1-800-440-7029

Maui Driving Tips

1. Slow Down!! This ain’t the mainland.  It’s very easy to do, since a lot of our roads have lower limits than you’d expect. Keep in mind that if you go 30 miles over the limit, you’ll be getting mandatory jail time!  They’re serious in Hawaii about slowing things down.

2. Honk only in an emergency. Honking in Hawaii is considered very rude and is hardly ever done.  It’s not an easy thing to do, but t steady your hand and let go of the road rage.  You’re in Maui now.

3. Don’t trespass! A lot of places you’ll find in the guidebooks make it look like you’ll be on public land, but it’s not always true. The last thing you want is to piss off some locals or violate your car rental agreement.

4. Don’t leave valuables in your car. We don’t have much crime, but the little crime we have is usually nonviolent. Maui theives know what a rental car looks like.  Please keep your valuables in your hotel or on your person when you travel.

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.

The Paihi Bridge is undergoing repairs again.  This means those that are looking to go to Oheo Gulch (7 sacred pools) will have to drive the back way,through Upcountry’s Kula.  Basically, Hana is now 2 trips: 1 through the lush rainforest past waterfalls and dramatic green coastline, and another to the Tedeschi Winery, Upcountry, and the drier arid back side of Haleakala to Seven Sacred Pools.

This isn’t the first time that this bridge has been closed to traffic, and I assure you it won’t be the last.

COMMENTS:

I will be on Maui for only 2 days in September 2010, I want to go to the Palapala Ho’omau Church. It was my father’s favorite place on Earth. I am only coming to Maui to do that experience and would love any help or advice. Can anyone tell me if there are tours that go there or will I need to rent a car. Also want to go whale watching. Many thanks for any help!