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Family Guide to Hawaii

Suggested Itineraries by Donald P. Ryan, Ph.D.

The number of visitors and return visitors to Maui attest to the island's great popularity. Its appeal lies partially in the fact that it can be full of high-energy fun like the highly developed Waikiki/Honolulu, with all of its amenities, yet still green and relatively tranquil. Here are some suggestions on how you could organize a day or more on the “Valley Island.”

One-Day Itineraries

Few people come to Maui for just one day, but should it happen, there are a couple of reasonable options. Take a day tour with Roberts Hawaii ( 539-9400), Polynesian Adventure Tours ( 877-4242), or Ekahi Tours ( 877-9775). Consider spending your day out at Lahaina and nearby Ka'anapali. The old former whaling town of Lahaina is historically interesting, with plenty of shopping and good places to eat. The lovely beach at Ka'anapali will provide you with a pleasant dose of Hawaiian sun and sand. Alternately, you might try combining a visit to Lahaina with a trip up the 'Iao Valley to get a taste of the island's natural beauty.

Three-Day Itinerary

Day One: Spend a leisurely morning at a beach in the vicinity of your hotel. Head out to Lahaina for lunch and an afternoon of fun sightseeing and shopping. A stroll down Front St. is a good place to start.

Day Two: Take a morning drive up through Maui's upcountry to visit spectacular Haleakala Crater ( 572-4400). Pause at the visitors' center and admire the awesome beauty of the largest dormant volcano in the world. Have lunch on the way down in Makaweo or Kula or perhaps down below in Kahului or Wailuku. Continue your adventure by traveling up the 'Iao Valley. Savor the jungle-like atmosphere, the soaring cliffs, and the famous Needle before returning to your hotel.

Day Three: Relax at your hotel. Do a little shopping or some light touring such as a fun and educational visit to the Maui Ocean Center in Ma'alaea ( 270-7000), a trip to the Whaler's Village Museum in Ka'anapali ( 661-5992), or an excursion on the historical walking tour of Lahaina ( 661-3262). Regret, but not painfully, that your visit to this beautiful island was much too short.

Five-Day Itinerary

Day One: Enjoy the beach and the vicinity of your hotel. Check out Lahaina if you're up for it.

Day Two: Wake up extra, extra early to catch the amazing sunrise at Haleakala. If the thought of such an early start is unappealing, enjoy your breakfast first before heading up the hill to experience the fantastic vistas characteristic of this volcanic “house of the sun.” If you're super-sporting, you can arrange for a thrilling downhill bicycle ride from the crater with such adventure companies as Maui Downhill ( 871-2155) or Haleakala Bike Co. ( 575-9575). Find some lunch, and then head up the 'Iao Valley for some more of nature's finest.

Day Three: After a big day at Haleakala, give yourself a rest. Go shopping, play a round of golf, or hang out at the beach. Relax as Maui demands.

Day Four: If you're up for some more adventure, get in your car or take a tour along the famous road to Hana. Pass through beach towns like Pa'ia, and get ready for the winding scenic journey on Hwy. 36 that has everyone talking. It's an all-day round-trip, so get a reasonably early start. The drive takes a bit of concentration, and you'll want to take advantage of scenic lookouts, roadside waterfalls, and sites at such places as Ke'anae and Wai'anapanapa. Enjoy the town of Hana and continue on to 'Ohe'o Gulch and the Seven Sacred Pools if you like. The pools are within Haleakala National Park ( 248-7375) and you might ask a ranger if and where it might be safe to go for a dip if you're so inclined. If you'd like to keep driving, consider a visit to the Palapala Ho 'omau Church in Kipahulu to see the gravesite of Charles Lindbergh.

Day Five: A successful trip to Hana deserves a day of deceleration. Take it easy, shop, visit the Maui Ocean Center, or otherwise take pleasurable advantage of your last day … for this visit, at least!

Hawaii — “The Big Island”