Maui Off The Beaten Path

  La perouse Bay
by briantravelman
 
  • La perouse Bay
      La perouse Bay
    by briantravelman
  •   Off The Beaten Path
    by heitzenrater
  •   Off The Beaten Path
    by trvlrtom
  • The Backroad
      The Backroad
    by mcuriel
  • Hana Highway
      Hana Highway
    by mcuriel
 

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Best Maui Snorkeling

by totaltranquility

If you want to get your snorkeling fix in Maui you are definitely going to the right place. The best snorkeling ever is at "the fish pond". It is a 30 min hike over rough lava, therefore it is not crowded. It is extremely hard to find but well worth it. Wear appropriate shoes for the hike. Tevas are okay. Flip-flops would be disasterous. And don't carry too much stuff. It is a moderate hike. Drive south on Highway 31, turn right on Wailea Iki Drive toward The Shops at Wailea. Note your mileage at this point. Park at the parking lot on the right at Ahihi Bay. Continue down the road past telephone pole #17, and then past telephone pole #18 (not marked). About 20 yards past this pole the path begins. It is not very obvious, very easy to miss. There are (were) a few small splashes of white paint on the water pipe along the edge of the trail. If you look closely you will see the trail. Once...

The Road to Hana

by PeterVancouver

The road to Hana takes you through the USA's largest rain forest. It is 52 miles of twisting and turning road with over 50 bridges and 600 sharp bends so dont imagine you can do it in much less than two to three hours each way. Once you get to Hana, which in itself is really made up of Hasegawa's store and very little else, you will have to come back the same way as you went. For those who are interested, Charles Lindburg is buried just outside of Hana.When driving, make sure you have plenty of gas as you can go at least 50 miles without a sign of a gas station although there is one in Hana. also ensure you pull over for faster cars as they are generally locals who want to get home and dont take kindly to travelling at 20mph behind a tourist. There are a number of places of interest on the route so ensure you have an early start as driving back in the dark is somewhat stressful. There...

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Go to Moloka'i

by heitzenrater

Having been to the Islands a few times you may find your self wanting to venture to some of the less traveled islands. I chose to go on a day trip to Moloka'i. The Molokai-Maui Ferry is the way to go. It takes about 1:30 to make it across, but on the way we witnessed many marine creatures. Whale, Dolphin, Flying fish, and Sea turtles where on the ferry rout. These are by no means a guaranty but I would be amazed if you went in the winter and did not see a whale, or 10. Once on the island it is more of a scenic place. Very "old" hawaii, meaning there are no real touristy areas. No franchisees. Just a scenic island that once you go to you can check off your list. I went with the ferry/ car rental package. I would not recommend going if you don't rent the car. You will not be able to see any of the island, and will just be stuck on a pier that has no beach near it. COST: One way about 55...

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Taking the back road to Hana via Kaupo

by WestMaui

Aloha - If you've been on the traditional Road to Hana, you may want to try the "back way" next time - it's faster to take the southeast roads but they're rougher. From Kihei, take Mokulele Hwy. to Kahului, turn right on Dairy Rd. then turn rt. on Hana Hwy. and another rt. on Haleakala Hwy. up the mountain. Take Kula Hwy. Route 37 south to Keokea. This two-lane road winds around Ulupalakua, past Tedeschi Vineyard Tasting Room & Ulupalakua Ranch store (a nice stop) through dry terrain punctuated by interesting native plants and lots of lava rock. The road is open and driveable but it gets very dusty (or muddy after rains). Between Kaupo and Kipahulu is the roughest part, yes, kind of like a washboard. Views are really cool, though. Take plenty of water. First rest-stop these days is in Kipahulu at the organic coffee farm place. Then you'll come to Pools of 'Ohe'o and the Kipahulu Visitor...

The Red Sand Beach in Hana Town

by AKtravelers

Lots of people drive the road to Hana, but few stop in Hana Town to make the tricky trek to the red sand beach. We stopped there for lunch, managing to down our sandwiches before a cold north rain drove us off the sand. It trulyis red, though it has some black grains mixed in to add a little peppery flavor. We shared the beach with only a few other people, including an old hippy like guy who looked like he had been sitting in the same place since 1969 -- maybe his buzz was just wearing off!

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FOUND ONLY AT THE TOP OF HALEAKALA

by travelgourmet

The silversword plant grows only in the cinders of Haleakala crater. The leaf of a silversword is covered with a dense layer of silvery silky hairs that reflect light and heat and provide insulation against the intense solar radiation and extreme ardity of the 10,000 foot high crater. It resembles the Yucca plant of Southern California, but is actually a relative of the tarweed or sunflower of California, and most likely arrived by seed over a million years ago. In full bloom, it is one of natures most beautiful sights. After the bloom, which takes the plant anywhere from 4 to 20 years before blooming, the plant dies, its work done. If you go to the crater, I hope a silversword is in full bloom for you.

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Awsome Snorkeling!!

by Mstudwell

I've been to Maui multiple times so I've been to almost every snorkeling place on the island, but this off the beaten path location is my absolute favorite! It's a long and a little bit difficult hike (on volcanic rock). It's right near the Nakalele Blowhole, (website below), and actually that how we found it, but site seeing at Nakalele and watching people cutting down a beaten path just off of the road. It's hard to say where the exact entrance is since, there really is no official gate, just a few paths that head west right before you enter the parking lot for Nakalele. The hike itself to the location is also noteworthy, and it's about a 20 min hike through a valley of volcanic rock (it's a flat hike, but it's long because of the uneven ground) I've made the walk in flip flops, but there were more than a few times that I have lost footing, so real shoes or something thicker than flip...

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Natural ocean baths

by trvlrtom

On the north end of the island, heading east on the Kahekili highway beyond Kapalua, there's an interesting shoreline rock formation of several clear water pools surrounded by lava rock and crashing waves. It's a great place to explore a little and take a dip in the water. The walk down the hillside can be a little precarious, and I wouldn't recommend it unless you feel sure footed - there are no stairways. You can't see the pools from the road, so you have to watch for a small area where cars park, past the bellstone around the 21 mile marker. There is a sign that says "Danger - Do not go beyond this point." Follow the trail past this sign to get there.

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Hunt for flora!!

by heitzenrater

So there is no set place to find some cool stuff, you just have to keep your eye open around you. it's very easy to get caught up in the views of the ocean and mountains, and miss out on the little stuff. Take some time and try to get some flower and animal pictures. They might not seem to cool at the time, but looking back on the pictures you will be happy you did.IF YOU LIKE MY POST PLEASE GIVE POSITIVE FEEDBACK, THANKS

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Hunt for wild life!!!

by heitzenrater

So there is no set place to find some cool stuff, you just have to keep your eye open around you. it's very easy to get caught up in the views of the ocean and mountains, and miss out on the little stuff. Take some time and try to get some flower and animal pictures. They might not seem to cool at the time, but looking back on the pictures you will be happy you did.IF YOU LIKE MY POST PLEASE GIVE POSITIVE FEEDBACK, THANKS

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Unique Places in Maui

Top 3 Hotels in Maui

Napili Point Resort  Lahaina

 1 Review and 184 Opinions  We have stayed at Napili Point Condos six times and are returning again this February for a month.... 

 Hotels in Lahaina

Maui Oceanfront Inn Kihei  Kihei

 1 Review and 147 Opinions  What a lovely little facility this is. Maui Oceanfront in Kihei has been recently taken over by Best... 

 Hotels in Kihei

Hotel Hana Maui  Hana

 3 Reviews and 382 Opinions  We were looking for a place to "get away from it all" after our wedding. Hotel Hana Maui was the... 

 Hotels in Hana

260 Hotels in Maui
 
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Reviews and photos of Maui attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Maui sightseeing.

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Off The Beaten Path: Cities in Maui
  1. Lahaina Off The Beaten Path
  2. Kihei Off The Beaten Path
  3. Hana Off The Beaten Path
  4. Kaanapali Off The Beaten Path
  5. Haleakala National Park Off The Beaten Path
  6. Kapalua Off The Beaten Path
  7. Paia Off The Beaten Path
  8. Makena Off The Beaten Path
  9. Kahului Off The Beaten Path

More Cities in Maui

 

Questions and Answers

Jberens802 profile photo

Q:  My girlfriend and I, as well as another couple will be in Honolulu for a convention in March. We would like to spend 3 nights in... 

yvr profile photo

A: You might take a look at the VT travel guide pages to Maui, lots of good information there. 

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