Expert: Stephen Tanenbaum - 1/30/2005

Question
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Followup To
Question -
My husband and I would like to fly to Hawaii in September.  We are 30 and 32.  Another couple may go with us.  I've heard there is a week in September in which there is a festival going on with live bands playing, etc.  What can we expect to pay per person?  Are there some sights we absolutely must see?  How long of a flight will we have to make?  We are from Roanoke, Virginia.  Any advice you can provide is definitely appreciated.  Thanks.
Answer -
Aloha to the Brizendines!

First FYI, this address (simply cut and paste it to your address line) takes you to the Maui section of our modest Author's web site. Maui has been our 'home away from home' these past two decades. I won't bore you with our 'nexus' except to say we've had the good fortune to own two studio apartments at the Royal Kahana Resort. In fact, you will see a nice interior picture on the web site page.

http://cheaptravel.net/vacations/maui/index.html

Now, down to Hawaii basics. I need further info including:
1) Have you or the other couple been to Hawaii previously?

2) How long of a visit?

3) Do you have a preference on which island or islands you wish to visit?

4) What do you envision doing in Hawaii?  Examples: sunbathing, scuba, snorkeling, snorkel boat/rafting cruises, rain forests, biking down a 32 mile high volcano, tennis, golf etc, etc,

5) When you talk cost are you referring to air, hotel/condo, car rental? OR just some of these?

Figure about 4-5 hours of flight time from the West Coast. BUT do NOT be deterred by flight time. You will reap VAST rewards for the journey to America's Paradise!

My quick web search found some one day music festivals. You seem to refer to a ONE WEEK festival and not aware of same. Except for daytime golfing, most festivals like art and film are evening activities for obvious reasons. The outdoor beauty of the Hawaiian islands and water/land recreations activities is meant to be enjoyed each and every day.

I have no personal experience with any music festivals. Entertainment, like a fun fire dance Luau should be  savored in the evening.

Should also note we've visited Maui at least 30 times!

PS: Here are three pix from our recent visit to Maui. Actually, first 3 pix from September. Other pix taken past two years. Again, cut and paste the address. Try second address only if first does not work. Enjoy.

http://imageevent.com/worldromer/brendarecentmauipix?n=0

http://imageevent.com/worldromer/brendarecentmauipix

Look forward to hearing back from you.

Steve Tanenabum
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Answers to your questions:
1)No
2)10 days total, including travel time
3)No preference since we've never been before.
4)Sunbathing/reading on the beach, tennis, hiking, sightseeing, snorkeling, boat cruises such as a dinner cruise or whale/dolpin watching cruises, a luau, rain forests, and shopping.
5)As for costs, I mean round-trip airfare as well as hotel expenses.  As for rental cars, I don't think we would do this since we don't know our way around.  Most likely, we would use taxis, hotel shuttles, or the public transportation there.

Thanks for your help!  -Vickie Brizendine  

Answer
I would recommend you spend your vacation on Maui. My stated prejudice for Maui is well founded. It is an awesome island paradise, both visually stunning with its jutting volcanic peaks including Halaekalaa the state's tallest. For many years Maui has been rated the #1 tropical destination in the world. We have visited Maui dozens of times and have yet to explore all that Maui has to offer. And I say this having made four visits to Moorea (Tahiti) which itself resembles the Garden of Eden.

The ancient whaling town of Lahaina is marvelous for daytime and mostly eveneing vis its with its  quaint harbor, art galleries, restaurants with magnificent sunset views and shop til you drop opportunities.

The islands beaches are varied and include Kapalua, for many years voted best beach in the world, Honoloa  marine preserve and unspoiled big Makenna beach with nearby clothing optional little Makenna beach.

Snorkeling is fantastic as are half day boat trips to extinct Molokini crater, sitting like a half moon, off the west Maui coast and the nearby island of Lanai.

Given the long travel days your 7-8 full days would be most enjoyed on one island. If you are intent on visiting more than one island I would suggest Kauai, the most lush, and hence more rainy, island.

A two bedroom condo would offer super luxury and money savings. I recommend a beach front condo on the west Maui coast that is near Lahaina. If you think of Maui as a figure eight with hotels on the west side top and bottom then Lahaina is west side top. The top west side of the coast offers great hotels, green belts, famed Kaanapali beach AND Lahaina is available for visits anytime since its 2-5 miles from these area hotels/condos.

We go for  amenities driven properties. For example our Royal Kahana Resort studios and 1-2 BR units ALL offer:  A/C, ceiling fans, full kitchens, washer dryers in room, large TV, DVD player and  large balcony (Lanai). The property itself offers: beachfront with both pool, green belt with lounges, sand beach, exercise room, sauna's,  full service lobby with discount activity desk, three Weber barbeques for money saving dinners, free parking, free morning coffee, free Mai Tais and LIGHTED TENNIS COURTS. Location, location, location:  Royal Kahana is located in Kahana which is about 6 miles north of Lahaina town, about 2 miles north of renowned Kaanapali beach with its wonderful Whalers Village beachfront shopping complex and two miles south of Kapalua beach voted best in the world.

Do web research on Maui to learn more about the Valley Isle. You can pick up a low cost copy of our book at half.com for maybe $4 with its in-depth 30 page chapter on Maui. Though written in 2000 much remains unchanged and its overview would be helpful.

I ran a cost check using Pleasant Holidays an outfit that offers discount Hawaii packages. A trip from Roanoke leaves 10am and arrives 6pm. Since Roanoke is not a hub you have 3 flights, only two from Richmond. Return flights leave 2pm and arrive 5pm the next day due to extreme time change of some six hours. So you would either need an 11th day or spend seven full days on the island and depart Maui on day #9 arriving home on day #10. We are finding more and more east coast visitors to the island and all have indicated their total satisfaction with Maui.

You absolutely need a car on Maui. Your hotel is a base from which you will daily explore. Whether visiting a variety of beaches, shopping/dining/walking in Lahaina, exploring the southern west coast with hotels, kayaking or snorkeling from south coast  harbors, taking the ride of ones' life to Hana over 40 bridges and through a rain forest Pull off the road and jump into a waterfall lagoon and at trip's end the seven sacred pools which cascade into the ocean AND you can jump right in. Or taking a ride to the summit of Halaekalaa with hiking on its moonscape summit.
For a first time visit opportunities are literally endless.

On the money side, using the Royal Kahana, all flights and economy car plus super 2 BEDROOM CONDO, full kitchen, full dining room luxury unit the cost for September dates is:

$2,604 per couple total including all taxes. There are one bedroom units with full size convertible sofa in LR, that can sleep four adults at a savings of $297 per couple. Car upgrade for larger four door is not much when shared by two couples.

You may do better on the price after researching, checking NY or LA Sunday Times Travel Sections etc. My pricing was a single effort with a good company that specializes in Hawaii.There are many other condos to choose from with varying rates. I'd strongly recommend one that is beachfront, with many amenities and well located.

A similar vacation to Oahu and its famed Waikiki beach could be as low as $2,000 per couple (no car, since visitors spend the week walking from dense pack hotels to dense pack beach down the street) BUT why visit the most dense pack crowded beach area in the tropics with a basic hotel room when you can get the best for a bit more.

Buy a couple of Entertainment Hawaii editions after you check their contents, found at www.entertainment.com  for Maui. Not all that many coupons for north west Maui but enough like free Teppan meal at Kobe Lahaina, and Hekocks with dinner view of live Luau and one free zodiac snorkel rafting trip (free $70 trip) etc. to make the purchase worthwhile.
Let me know if you have further questions. Mahalo