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Oahu Big Island Kauai Lanai Intro to Hawaii Other Destinations |
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Hawaii Travel GuideBest Places to Visit in Maui |
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Hawaii |
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Oahu Big Island Kauai Lanai Intro to Hawaii Other Destinations |
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Hawaii Travel GuideBest Places to Visit in Maui |
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Where are the Best Places to Visit on Maui?Haleakala National ParkWe think that every visitor to Maui to should visit its breathtaking Haleakala National Park. We describe this adventure, and provide maps and photographs in our section on Haleakala National Park . The Road to HanaMany visitors to Maui enjoy the beautiful drive to Hana, a delightful village on the southeast coast of the island. We provide details on the drive and the village, in our section on the Road to Hana . Clicking the map symbol next to each attraction will show you their location on our detailed Maui map.
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What Else Should We See in Maui?Clicking the map symbol next to each attraction will show you the attraction's location on our detailed Maui map. Whale WatchingMaui is a home to humpback whales in winter (November
through May) so consider a whale watching cruise You may enjoy cruising with
Whale Watch Maui
http://www.whalewatchmaui.com/ , which is associated with the Island Marine
Institute, although there are other companies that offer similar adventures.
Cruises last a couple of hours and, generally, you need to be at the gate about
a half hour before departure. Check with your provider. Most whale
watching cruises leave from Lahaina, a scenic town that was a well-know whaling
port in the 19th century
Lahaina Historic District – a former whaling portIn the early 19th century Lahaina was the seat of power in the Kamehameha Kingdom of Hawai'i. The village evolved into a major whaling port later in the century and today, Lahaina is a tourist town. Lahaina offers modest museums, several restaurants and an attractive and pleasant setting. Be sure to see the Banyan tree in the town square. It was planted in the late 19th century and over time has grown into Hawai'i’s largest banyan tree (or at least, that is the consensus - and it is enormous). The port is very active and serves as Maui’s main center for ocean excursions and diving trips. Most dive related activities start in early morning when the water is calmest. The Trade winds often start blowing in the afternoon, making diving more difficult and cruising less smooth. Diving – Molokini and LanaiJust three miles from Maui, Molokini Crater is one of the Island’s most
popular sites for snorkeling and scuba diving. One side of the Molokini
Crater’s summit extends slightly above sea level protecting the dive site from
the wind and waves. The bottom of the crater is shallow (approximately 40
feet) and the underwater life can be spectacular
Many companies provide diving tours of Molokini and some, such as Quicksilver, http://www.tombarefoot.com/maui/quicksilver_charters.html provide an additional stop in Turtle Town, another popular location for snorkeling and scuba, which is often populated with sea turtles. We highly recommend the Trilogy http://www.sailtrilogy.com/)which provides dives in Molokini, Kaanapali, sunset sails off Lahaina and an excursion to Lanai. The Trilogy goes to Hulopo’e Beach, a great little a snorkeling site in Lanai, The day also includes lunch and a van tour of Lanai’s old plantation town (there is not much to see in Lanai City, so go for the diving). Also, see our section on Lanai .
Maui Ocean CenterThe Maui Ocean Center is a great family adventure as includes the largest
tropical reef aquarium in the Western Hemisphere
The aquarium's goal is to preserve Hawai'i’s native marine life and the
aquarium, quite naturally, is focused on the denizens of Hawai'i's section of the
Pacific. Most visits last around two hours. There is an on-site snack shop
and restaurant, although you might not want to eat a relative of someone you
just saw. For more information, visit the aquarium's website at: ‘Iao Valley and State ParkThe 'Iao Valley is one of Maui's most visited attractions
Maui Tropical Plantation
You might want to combine this stop with a visit to the 'Iao valley. See this site for more information http://www.mauitropicalplantation.com/ .
Atlantis SubIf you are looking for a great way to view tropical fish and underwater Maui but do not want to dive, perhaps you should consider a ride on the modern, spacious Atlantis submarine. In Maui, the Atlantis submarine departs from Lahaina. You will board a shuttle boat to the submarine dive site. The entire activity takes approximately 90 minutes total, about 45 on the submarine. The Atlantis dives approximately100 feet deep and provide panoramic undersea views through large view ports. Kids 12 and
under $42 and adults $84.. Atlantis and variety of providers sell tickets online
and you may find a discount available online. Size restrictions apply and all
passengers must be able to ascend and descend a vertical ladder to enter the
submarine.
ParasailingIf you haven’t tried it, you may really like it. In Maui the event is
entirely water based (no taking-off from the beach). You are supported while
airborne with a harness attached to a parachute and tethered to a very long line
(from 400 to 800 ft) that is attached to a boat. Rides last about ten minutes
and are exhilarating. A number of companies provide this service. Ask your
hotel concierge or staff at the front desk for a recommendation. Between
December and May there is no parasailing available in areas where there are
whales. Helicopter toursMaui is an extraordinary sight from the air. Most flights offer views of beautiful scenery and exploration of the areas of Maui you just can't get to, or sometimes even see, from the highway. If you want spectacular views of Maui's visual treasures, consider taking a helicopter tour. There are a number of helicopter services available and we suggest evaluating the providers of helicopter rides based on their safety records and other factors that may be important to you. Also, consider asking your concierge to recommend a company that meets your criteria, as well as to arrange your flight.
We list providers of helicopter rides below. (Please note that we have listed them for you only as a convenience. The listings should not be considered as a recommendation on their safety or suitability.)
Luaus
Oh so touristy, but so much fun in the right setting! Although a variety of
authentic Hawai'ian cuisine is offered at most luaus, we look for those featuring
an Imu ceremony, where a pig that has been charcoal roasting in an underground
pit is uncovered and served to start the feast. Be prepared to spend
from $60 to $100 per adult (depending on the "luau package") and, thankfully,
less for kids. Before you make a reservation, do a little homework and find out
what types of food are served and the type of entertainment presented. The
professionalism and enthusiasm of the luau staff have a lot to do with the
success of any luau, so ask around for recommendations. If you need information about another travel destination, try our Destination Guide Index or Googling ThereArePlaces.
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| Hawai'i: | Oahu Big Island Kauai Lanai Intro to Hawaii Other Destinations | |||||||
Macadamia nut groves near Kahului, Maui
