Not exactly a diving question

[cruzbound]

Hi all,
Thank you for all your help with my diving questions - I believe I have our diving portion of the trip worked out but wanted to find out if anyone has opinions on a land excursion for us. My hubby doesn't want me to book every day so I can only choose a land trip for one day. I know both options I am considering are long days but we are okay with that, we just want the best one - so, if you had to only pick one, which one would you pick and why? Haleakala (for a bike tour and either a sunrise or sunset) OR the Road to Hana. We have a rental car and my hubby will not do helicopter ride (he did not have the best experience the last one we were on). We will be staying in the Kahana area so I believe both of these options will be all day excursions for us.

Thanks for the help and suggestions.

cruzbound

 

[TSandM]

They're both good ways to spend a day, but the Haleakala trip will give you a view of a part of the island that's quite different from the coastline.

I love the drive around the south end of Maui, but it is a long trip and some of the road isn't great, although IIRC it's all paved now. It does get you to areas that are very remote and empty, not at all like the developed tourist parts of the island.

 

[Tunaman68]

We liked the road to Hana better. We got one of those cheesy guide cd's for the car (which was really awesome) and just took it slowly. We stopped and swam in pools under waterfalls, ate banana bread, hiked in the rainforest, took a couple of the side roads through the jungle to the shore, had the best burger and fish sandwiches at the truck on Hana bay. We spent very little time at the sacred pools as it was jammed with tourists, but for us it wasn't the destination, but the journey.

We drove straight back, and made sure to be headed back before all the seven pools masses started their way home. You can stop in Paia for dinner on your way back. People die for Mama's Fish house, but we've never been. We LOVE the hippie earth muffin vibe of Flatbread Pizza Co. and also find it to be DELICIOUS!!!

We liked the volcano, but aren't as taken by barren/dry landscapes even though the view was ridiculous!!

Another 1/2 day at most option is a drive up into the Iao valley. It's very close to Kahului and can easily be combined with shopping at the mall, Saturday at the swap meet or whatever. You can get some of the rainforest/road to Hana vibe especially if you hike up the stream a little ways.

Have Fun!!

 

[diversteve]

You can stop in Paia for dinner on your way back. People die for Mama's Fish house, but we've never been.

We have and try to every time. It's pricier, has gone a little more upscale in recent years and definitely make a reservation if you don't want to wait a long time. Although it is entertaining watching the surfers/kiteboarders out front for a short while. And there's a decent little beach there also. Welcome to Mama's Fish House Restaurant and Inn - Maui, Hawaii

 

[Scubanoobi]

Road to Hana - a tough drive but well worth it (I did it with a 2 year old). Waterfalls, red sand beach, black sand beach, all nice!

 

[Token]

The road to Hana is great...get started early before the traffic gets heavy. It's not too tough a day if you only go to Hana, but the road gets _very_ narrow and precarious after Paia, so the driver may not have much fun while driving, what with the absolute necessity of keeping your eyes on the road. You have to go a good way past Hana before the driving gets easier.

We did a bus tour to Hana and on around the island. Our driver was full of stories about the island, natural history, etc. One thing he mentioned several times was the danger of rubbernecking tourists, mainly on foot, to take a misstep and fall a loooong way down the mountainside. Be careful out there...

 

[DebtheDiver]

Haleakala is at too high of an altitude to combine with diving. You'd really have to wait 24 hours after diving to go to Haleakala -- which is why we did not do this. There's tons of shore diving on Maui. We had non-diving plans, but enjoyed the shore diving so much, that's about all we did!

 

[Dr. Lecter]

I liked driving the Road to Hana at night, and had to stop on more than one occasion to just look around at Maui under a full moon. My wife, however, was made violently ill by a combo of the constant hairpin turns and my aggressive Jeep driving.

 

[pjhansman]

The road to Hana is fun, although I prefer the the dry-side portion between the winery and Hana to the rainforest side.

I really like the north end loop as well. Starting at the Iao Needle and ending driving thru Lahaina.

Buy a "Maui Revealed" guidebook and enjoy the visit.

 

[Shaka Doug]

If you can swing it, the bike ride down Haleakala is something you cannot find anywhere else on the planet. You can do your own tour or go with a group. When it's over, if you are still lively you can try for Hana counterclockwise... it's pretty awesome! Do it before you start your diving, like day one, and it will be pretty easy to deal with the early start times.

Maybe take one day and DO NOTHING. Just chill on the beach or at the resort or where ever you decide works best. I like a DO NOTHING day... everyone should try it...