Just a Short Trip to Maui

Ok, so I had a very quick five day trip to Maui but it was as sweet as the
pineapple that still grows there! If you make it to Maui… or shall I say
when you make to Maui, If you want to snorkel Molokini Crater, go early,
I mean early! The earlier, the less likely you are to be snorkeling in a parking lot
of boats. We had the place to ourselves and it was just beautiful. Also, head to
turtle arches also known as turtle town to be graced by the large Hawaiian green
sea turtles You can also find eagle rays, white tip sharks, if you’re lucky and
the famous humuhumunukunukuapuaa state fish!

If you’re staying on the Lahaina or Kaanapali side or just want to take go out on
the water there, check out sailings to or around Lanai. They have great snorkel
spots and you may get lucky and spot a school of spinner dolphins! I was once snorkeling
off shore and a school swam past, I couldn’t believe how fast, playful and cognizant they
were of us in the water!

Ok all that snorkeling must make you hungry right? If you’re into healthy food and you’re
on a bit of a budget. I highly recommend Down To Earth! They have a full food bar of
vegan food that is so delicious that sometimes I wonder…. how do they make it so ono?!

Also head to Costco right from the airport to get some great fresh fruit, salad and fish
especially if you’re staying in a condo. You can even find ahi and the Hawaiian favorite,
poke which is ahi and scallions, shoyu. Pick up the chocolate & coffee gift souvenirs as
they are inexpensive compared to the shops you’ll find as you walk around. Make sure to
get some for yourself… they are pretty good!

Head to Hula Grill on Kaanapali Beach and order the
crab wontons and fish and chips…trust me when I say this, they are so good! Fish & chips made
with ono fish and a spicy sauce and the wontons you dip into a wasabi sauce. All that and a view
of the ocean at a very moderate price! Go and let me know what you had!

A day of Dining on Maui

Raise your hand if you like food!  Raise your hand if you like food with a view of the ocean!!  Naturally, who wouldn’t?

 

When I think of all the lovely places on Maui where one can dine with the sites of the beautiful Pacific before them, it amazes me.  Let pick a few of Evalani’s favorite’s!

 

It’s breakfast time … you can either golf before or after.  If you plan to golf at the Gold or Emerald golf courses, make certain to reserve your tee time!   Even if you don’t golf, go to The Seawatch Maui restaurant for breakfast in Wailea, on the South side of the island.    Have a seat outside and enjoy the greens of the course and the blues of the ocean.  The breakfast menu has nice diversity from lox to the best french toast I’ve had since I was just a child.   The prices are very reasonable especially when you consider where you are!

 

It’s lunch time … lunch, just stopped into the Whaler’s Village after taking a stroll on the beach.   This is in Kaanapali, on the West side of the island. Go to Hula Grill and ask to sit in the sandy outdoor area.  The tables are in the sand and you can feel free to kick off your shoes and enjoy one of their specialty drinks.   I always order the crab wontons, they are delicious and not too heavy.  Then you must try their fish and chips.  They make them with Ono fish with is flaky and thick with a spicy/sweet light sauce to dip them in.  They are the best fish & chips I have ever had anywhere in the world.  They have a signature dessert but  it scares me because it’s so huge… a must share.  Lunch there is not expensive, you have a front row seat of the ocean and they usually have a local performer at different times throughout the day.

 

It’s dinner time …  make it an early dinner for this location and make reservations if you want to get in!   Mama’s Fish House is unique in that it is made of a lot of woods.. koa.  It sits in a cove of sand overlooking the ocean and the seafood is truly amazing.  Get there a bit early so you can walk around, enjoy a Hawaiian beverage at their bar before your table is ready.  You should be carrying your camera most of the time while  on Maui but make sure to bring it to here.  Ladies will want to dress up a bit… perhaps a nice new Hawaiian dress or that cocktail dress you haven’t had a chance to wear since you arrived.  Men, buy a Hawaiian shirt if you don’t have one already.  Reyn Spooner is a really nice brand and has a conservative and unique look; locals consider this a pretty formal Hawaiian shirt.  I’d suggest what to try  but Mama’s Fish House changes their menu regularly.   They are a bit pricy but this is special treat to be had.  It is past the airport going East by a famous area called Hookipa which is where the great windsurfers can be found.

Here’s to great dining experiences on Maui!

Great Snorkeling On Maui

Ok, it's been a while but that's what can happens when you're cruising Greece with a group of clients. My mind is now on snorkeling and diving. One of my favorite spots for snorkeling and beginner diving is in a place you don't have to pay to go to or even get on a boat to get to.

Nestled between the Wailea Renaissance and the Wailea Marriott is the lovely Ulua beach. This beach has a nice sandy area to sit on. Make sure to bring beach blankets because there are no beach chairs there. To the right, you'll find a lava reef that is teeming with marine life! You don't have to go far out at all to see the reef and all its residents. This is a very calm area to snorkel and dive. I suggest very early in the Morning. There are fewer people, the reef is calmer and the water is more clear.

You can dive forty or even fifty feet here and not be too far out. You'll see dive teams there. I got certified on that beach and had snorkeled there countless times before that. If you're not a diver or snorkeler, you'll be happy there to. The water has a sandy bottom and again, it's calm.

You can find all types of fish from the pencil fish to the humuhumunukunukuapuaa, (trigger fish), and even some honu, (sea turtles). There is a parking lot as you drive towards Ulua, another reason to go early, it fills up. The beach has a rest room and outdoor showers. I like to go for lunch to the Onion grill at the Renaissance. It's by the outdoors by their pool and is casual. You must try the Maui onion rings, they are big, delicious and sweet!