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Advice for the Maui Vacation Virgins

July 27, 2009 at 6:06 pm · Filed under Maui and tagged: , , , ,

For those vacationers looking forward to their first trip to paradise, here is some information to help you prepare for your Maui, Hawaii vacation. Maui, or, the Valley Isle, is the 2nd largest island in the Hawaiian chain and is known for its long stretches of beautiful beaches and the landmark Haleakala Crater, the House of the Sun. 

This beautiful vacation destination is approximately 48 miles (76.8km) long and 26 miles (41.6km) wide, totaling 728 square miles. Maui County includes the islands of Maui, Lanai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. There are actually 132 Hawaiian Islands, atolls, shoals and reefs! 

Another Hawaiian island yet to show itself is Loihi, located southwest of the Big Island of Hawaii. This “new” island is building on the seafloor southeast of Kilauea. Its top is 1000 m (3000 feet) below the water surface, and it will break the surface in the next 10,000 to 100,000 years, so plan your vacation now for the big surfacing!

 Maui weather offers something for everyone. From rain forest to desert conditions! The average winter temperature, catch this Northerners, is 71 degrees and during the summer months, a balmy 78 degrees. The highest recorded temperature, in Kihei, is 98 degrees and the lowest recorded temperature, in Haleakala, is 14 degrees. Isn’t that a typical winter day in Michigan? 

The nearly constant trade winds breezes keep the humidity down and the heat tolerable. Coming from the northeast at 5-15 miles per hour, these breezes naturally cool and clear the air. Kona Winds come in the opposite direction of the trade winds and usually forecast bad weather. Local residents are so in touch with their surroundings they can usually smell and feel the change these winds bring. This is a great place to search for your pot of gold as rainbows are plentiful on the beautiful island as are the ghostly moonbows at night! 

Get used to hearing directions with the terms mauka (toward the mountain) or makai (toward the sea) rather than north and south. (Example: Alio Street is mauka of Front Street) and please don’t honk while driving in this tropical oasis.  It is considered poor manners to honk your horn in traffic on Maui. You don’t honk in Paradise! Watch out for the bike lanes, many first time island drivers assume these lanes are for traffic!

 When exploring the beautiful beaches just a few feet from the pavement in places like Olowalu and Kihei, use extreme caution. Many a driver has become stuck in what appeared to be trustworthy sand! Watch for the red and yellow markers in the shape of Hawaiian warriors along the roads. They mark historical landmarks and points of interest.

 When you see a whale, pull over carefully to the side of the road. Don’t jam on your brakes…unless you have a great insurance policy! Every whale season there are dozens of accidents caused by visitors who sight their first whale and immediately hit the brakes. Also, watch riding your brakes in the hilly areas, try using a lower gear or you might burn up the brakes! Traffic is often heavy and the locals tend to drive somewhat aggressively; you’ll be driving like a local in no time! 

As implied above – you don’t have to go on a boat to see whales if you are here during the right time of the year. Maui is the breeding ground for the Humpback Whale, who winters here before returning to Alaska each season. It is common to see people standing on a hillside overlooking the ocean and watching the signs of distant whale activity through binoculars. You can often SEE whales from shore … but you can’t truly experience them from that distance. There is a huge difference between watching a whale splashing in the water two miles away and experiencing the thrill of looking over the edge of the boat and having one of these gentle giants swim directly underneath you. Book your Maui vacation accommodations between December 15 and April 15 and do yourself a favor…. go on a whale watch.   

Vacation accommodations in Maui range from the extra luxurious to the extra affordable. Coast 2 Coast Vacation Rentals has one of the largest inventories of Maui Rental Condos and homes. Our expert rental agent, Dawn, lives locally in Hawaii, so we can assure you the best possible customer service when planning your Hawaii vacation. Contact her at dawn@c2cvr.com or 888-601-5864. International callers use 001-734-205-5870. Aloha!

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Maui Ocean Adventures: More Than Snorkeling

July 27, 2009 at 5:30 pm · Filed under Maui and tagged: , , , ,

Maui offers great diving and snorkeling activities that you can enjoy right outside the door of your Maui Vacation Rental if you make your reservations at the right place. Our Maui specialists are available to assist you in deciding where to book your condo rental to be convenient to the places you want to explore. Here are some great tips that will help you experience the ocean life of Muai.

 
   

Snorkeling is an inexpensive pastime that is easier to learn than surfing or scuba diving and can be done either by booking a cruise or finding a good spot on a beach. If you book a cruise, expect gear, lunch and other amenities to be provided.

If not, snorkel gear can be rented or purchased. In either case, all you’ll need is a mask, a snorkel and some fins. Gear comes in many sizes and shapes. A good fit is what’s important.

For help buying or renting gear, try pros like Boss Frog or Snorkel Bob’s. Snorkel Bob’s designs and manufactures snorkel gear, including a special kids line. Gear packages are available by the day, the week, or for keeps. All gear packages include mask, fins, Bubba dry snorkel, no-fog goop, fish ID and maps and tips. If you’re traveling interisland, Snorkel Bob’s offers 24-hour interisland gear return.

Here’s some snorkeling tips:
1. Never snorkel alone. Hang with a buddy.
2. Never turn your back to the ocean.
3. Whenever possible snorkel in the morning. Fish are significantly more active in the morning, and predictable afternoon winds make water clarity less than ideal.
4. Marine life tends to congregate around structures, so stick to reefs for the best opportunity to score a face-to-face encounter.
5. Don’t feed the fish.
6. Even on the cloudiest of days, use waterproof sunscreen.
7. Take a small cooler with bottled water, snacks, and food. Most beaches don’t have concession stands.
8. Snorkeling isn’t so much about swimming as it is about floating. Stay relaxed, float, kick only when necessary. The more relaxed you are in the water, the more relaxed and friendly the fish will be.
9. Be respectful of the ocean. Avoid standing on coral, which is the foundation of Hawaii’s reef environment, All sea creatures rely on the reef for homes, protection, and food. Broken coral takes many years to grow back.

Rounding the corner into the Living Reef at the Maui Ocean Center is like stepping into a psychedelic fishbowl. The walls, fitted with more than 40 aquariums, are alive with tropical fish flashing like prisms of dazzling light through living coral reefs. In this surround, humans tend to lower their voices and gawk.

Located at Ma’alaea Harbor Village overlooking Ma’alaea Small Boat Harbor off Honoapi’ilani Highway between Kahului and Lahaina, the $20-million center is designed to draw visitors through a series of indoor and outdoor exhibits. The Living Reef building is home to thousands of live corals, where you can go eye-to-eye with the likes of moray eels, other-worldly garden eels and an octopus.

Go behind the glass at the aquarium and dive with sharks, stingrays and tropical fish. The dive site is a 750,000-gallon open ocean exhibit where, accompanied by a dive master, you’ll descend about 20 feet to meet well-fed sharks.

   

Even if you’re afraid of water and would sooner jump off a skyscraper than put on diving gear, you can explore the world down under without getting wet. Inside a tour submarine, you’ll get the full view from the inside out.

Atlantis, owner of the world’s largest and most experienced passenger submarine fleet, will take you down deep and dry to depths of approximately 100 feet in air-conditioned comfort. There you’ll come face to face with sealife and get a look at an artificial reef growing in Lahaina Harbor waters.

The reef was established when the remains of an old whaling ship were sunk into the harbor. The Carthaginian II, a two-masted vessel that had served as a historic floating museum in Lahaina Harbor for more than 20 years, was sunk after it was determined that it was dangerous and beyond repair. The vessel, a symbol of Lahaina’s days as a 19th -century whaling port, is made up of 80-foot masts, spars, yards, and iron fittings. It is already creating a solid substrate for coral to take hold and grow.

During whale season, in the winter, Atlantis passengers will see Maui’s visiting whales from the shuttle boat as they cruise out to the submarine along the Lahaina coastline.

Reefdancer, a semi-submersible with a unique design, offers another option. Passengers can sit underwater at shallow depths, while the upper portion of the boat remains on top the water. It’s calm and comfortable down there, and what a view. The whole family can enjoy this adventure.

The Reefdancer boards from the dock in Lahaina Harbor, just a few steps from the air-conditioned cabin. The company prides itself on its dive show, the only one on Maui. Divers will bring creatures right to your window, while another experienced diver explains the sights from within the cabin.

 

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Romantic Maui- Where to Make the Magic Happen

July 21, 2009 at 2:03 pm · Filed under Maui and tagged: , , , , , , , , ,

Whether you are planning a family gathering for the big wedding day or a quiet honeymoon for just the two of you, Coast 2 Coast Maui Vacation Rentals offers the perfect vacation spot for your occasion. Large beach houses for rent, cozy cottages, incredible villas, and condos for every budget are available to you. In addition to planning the perfect vacation rental on Maui, here are some ideas for the romantic vacationers.

The dream of a wedding in paradise often comes true on Maui. There are no blood test requirements, but you will have to obtain a license from the State of Hawaii. The officiant or minister, who performs the ceremony, must be state-licensed, there must be a qualified witness and you must be at least 19 years old or have written parental permission to wed. Your license will be valid immediately.

That out of the way, the biggest challenge might be choosing a wedding planner and making arrangements. Maui is just brimming with professionals who are experienced in planning and performing weddings. One way to find out what’s available is to contact the Maui Wedding Association at Box 2255, Wailuku, HI 96793 or call the Maui Visitors Bureau at 244-3530. The 200-member Wedding Association publishes a Maui Wedding Planner. You can find information about the planner and the association on line at www.mauiweddingassociation.com.

Picking a location for your wedding is a little like choosing the best chocolate from a box of top-of-the-line candies. This island abounds with perfect settings. A typical beach wedding will find the bride and groom attired in white with green ti leaf or maile leis. There will be a minister, a photographer and fresh flowers to sprinkle over the newly Mauied couple.

Customized wedding themes have become the rage in the Hawaiian Islands with luau receptions, chartered sailboats, on-the-ocean services and helicopter flights. So do a Google search, find a wedding planner and get ready for the big day.

Maui isn’t nicknamed the “Magic Isle” for nothing. Captivating sunrises and sunsets, green valleys, sprawling beaches, and ocean vistas are just a handful of sights that will leave you wondering if it’s all real or some beautiful illusion of Mother Nature. a place where vacationing couples that haven’t held hands in years forget themselves, and just do it. Look around, hands are linked to hands everywhere you look. And if you’re introduced to an island dignitary or celebrity expect to be offered a cheek for the customary peck.

For an intimate get away from the crowds, book a seat on a sunset dinner cruise. These cruises offer not only an unobstructed view of the sunset, but the added bonus of seeing Maui’s coastline from a unique perspective. You can find a sunset dinner cruise to suit your preferences; whether you want a three-course meal aboard an air conditioned yacht, a buffet spread, or appetizers on a catamaran. Some also include live music and hula shows that help set the mood. Maui Dive Shop offers a two-hour cruise aboard the 60-foot Alii Nui, complete with an array of appetizers and a champagne toast as the sun sets. The ocean is usually calm in the early evening, perfect for viewing Maui’s features bathed in a moonlit glow. Maui Dive Shop offers a two-hour cruise aboard the 60-foot Alii Nui, complete with an array of appetizers and a champagne toast as the sun sets. The ocean is usually calm in the early evening, perfect for viewing Maui’s features bathed in a moonlit glow.

Another romantic choice is the Tedeschi Winery, Maui’s only vineyard and one of two in the state, is located 2,000 feet up the slopes of Haleakala. Its vineyards, established in 1974, are located on ‘Ulupalakua Ranch, a 20,000-acre cattle ranch where cowboys still herd cattle on horseback.

Also referred to as Maui’s Winery, Tedeschi Vineyards offers a wide selection of locally made wines that are available for tasting and purchase in the King’s Cottage Tasting Room. The cottage dates back to 1874, when it was built for King Kalakaua and his wife Queen Kapiolani, who were frequent visitors at the ranch. The centerpiece of the Tasting Room is an 18-foot-long bar cut from the trunk of a single mango tree. Here you can sample Tedeshi’s collection of tropical wines or enjoy a picnic at a table set beneath the winery’s 100-year-old trees.

Tedeschi Vineyards introduced its first wine in 1977. Called Maui Blanc, it is a pineapple wine made from Hawaii’s “golden fruit.” The winery now produces reds, whites, sparkling pineapple and grape wines, as well as a specialty raspberry dessert wine.

To get to the winery from Central Maui, take Hana Highway (Rte. 36) to Haleakala Highway (Rte. 37). Heading up the mountain, stay on 37 all the way to Keokea. Drive past the Henry Fong Store on the right and continue on the narrow road 5.1 miles to ‘Ulupalakua. The winery is just past the ‘Ulupalakua Ranch Store. The King’s Cottage Tasting Room is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (expect for major holidays). Tours are available daily at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.

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