When you go up to Haleakala for the sunrise--take a blanket with you from your hotel room and wear your warmest clothes (long jeans, jacket or sweater) or you'll freeze your okole off. (Take shorts, t-shirt & flip-flops along to change into later.)
I prefer Kauai over Maui, mainly because I went to Maui in the 70s when it was FANTASTIC, fun and quirky (and Kauai was beautiful, but oh so boring for a youngster.) Later, Lahaina got "discovered" and turned into a crowded street lined with phoo-phoo shops and some of the really fun and <then> uncrowded beaches became overdeveloped with huge, ugly hotels.
I drove the road to Hana a few times, spend a couple extra bucks on a convertible and stay overnight if you can.
In Maui visit Mala Ocean Tavern (Mark Ellman is one of the star chefs in the islands) definitely(!) for the dessert--'Carmel Miranda'
Kauai lends itself to a more laid-back lifestyle--hit the local casual places like plate-lunch stands; Puka Dogs; fresh (!) fish taco places--and maybe Roys for a bit of an upscale (albeit noisy) dinner experience.
Kauai came back nicely after getting whacked hard by a hurricane years ago and is my second choice among the islands (the Big Island is still #1 in my book)
Lots of good ideas given by other visitors above. Make sure you do the tourist stuff and get some snorkeling in fo' sure.
Best local contemporary Hawaiian music in my opinion--Hapa...here's a Youtube video of the sunrise over Haleakala to their song 'Haleakala Ku Hanohano' (Haleakala Stands Glorious)
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRGyaBVwzRw"]YouTube - Haleakala Sunrise[/ame]
Here they perform it on a PBS special:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SwhM7h73_U"]YouTube - HAPA performs Haleakala Ku Hanohano (from PBS Special)[/ame]
Aloha, enjoy!
I prefer Kauai over Maui, mainly because I went to Maui in the 70s when it was FANTASTIC, fun and quirky (and Kauai was beautiful, but oh so boring for a youngster.) Later, Lahaina got "discovered" and turned into a crowded street lined with phoo-phoo shops and some of the really fun and <then> uncrowded beaches became overdeveloped with huge, ugly hotels.
I drove the road to Hana a few times, spend a couple extra bucks on a convertible and stay overnight if you can.
In Maui visit Mala Ocean Tavern (Mark Ellman is one of the star chefs in the islands) definitely(!) for the dessert--'Carmel Miranda'
Kauai lends itself to a more laid-back lifestyle--hit the local casual places like plate-lunch stands; Puka Dogs; fresh (!) fish taco places--and maybe Roys for a bit of an upscale (albeit noisy) dinner experience.
Kauai came back nicely after getting whacked hard by a hurricane years ago and is my second choice among the islands (the Big Island is still #1 in my book)
Lots of good ideas given by other visitors above. Make sure you do the tourist stuff and get some snorkeling in fo' sure.
Best local contemporary Hawaiian music in my opinion--Hapa...here's a Youtube video of the sunrise over Haleakala to their song 'Haleakala Ku Hanohano' (Haleakala Stands Glorious)
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRGyaBVwzRw"]YouTube - Haleakala Sunrise[/ame]
Here they perform it on a PBS special:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SwhM7h73_U"]YouTube - HAPA performs Haleakala Ku Hanohano (from PBS Special)[/ame]
Aloha, enjoy!
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