While on Maui, take a little time for a snorkel trip. While opportunities are abundant (Molokini seems to get most of the attention), one of our favorite locations is Honolua Bay, on the NW shore of Maui. Better protected from the winds and waves than most beaches, it’s the perfect setting for a calm snorkel among the abundant sealife and catch a glimpse of a humuhumunukunukuapua’a (the official state fish of Hawaii, and more fun to say than its common name, the reef triggerfish)! Turtle sightings are common in the late afternoon, too!

You can sign up with any of the many snorkeling cruises. But if you’re staying in West Maui, you can just take the scenic drive north of Kapalua on Highway 30. There is a parking area between mile marker 32 & 33 (see map below) where you can take a short walk through the jungle (don’t be surprised to see — and hear — roaming wild chickens) and enter the water from the shoreline.

A few things to keep in mind:

• This isn’t your typical sandy Maui beach. The shoreline is rocky, so bring appropriate footwear.
• No taking of marine life, coral, or rock.
• Pack out what you pack in! There are no garbage cans, so please keep Honolua Bay beautiful!

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We have rented all our weeks around the Memorial Day weekend, but that doesn’t mean you still can’t have a star-spangled vacation in Maui this year. As of this moment, we still have 3 Ocean View rooms available at the Ka’anapali Beach Club around the 4th of July.

Maui activities around Independence Day are plentiful, but the highlight for many guests is the opportunity to watch the dazzling fireworks rise over the Pacific.

• The Maui Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the 12th Annual 4th of July Fireworks Celebration in Lahaina. Music and activities will take place all day, and fireworks will commence at 8pm.
• Pride of Maui will host their annual “Fireworks Over the Pacific” dinner cruise, departing from Maalaea Harbor at 6:30PM and returning at 9:45PM.
• Closer to the Ka’anapali Beach Club, the highly respected Trilogy will offer a more casual (and therefore, easier on the wallet!) cruise with a great view of the Lahaina fireworks celebrations, departing at 6:30PM from Lahaina Harbor, serving burgers (build your own), snacks, and refreshments (2 alcoholic drinks for the adults are included in the price).

Check our Rental Calendar and reserve your stay now!

Maui Mike’s Beach House looks like a regular surf shop as you are driving down the main highway in Lahaina. But if you pull in around the back of the building you will see a little window where they sell shaved ice. My friend Forrest (who is sort of an organic nut) stops here every day with his girl Amy. They buy their sugar direct from the sugar mill. They only use preprocessed sugar. The blades on their machine are sharpened every 3 weeks, making the ice come out so soft there is no need to punch holes in it to get the topping through. Try it island style (scoop of ice cream on the bottom), then a little tigers blood, coconut, orange dream and top it off with a little sweet cream.

Looking for the best deal on a car rental for your Hawaiian islands vacation? Check out this company: www.hawaiicarrentaldiscount.com. I have used this site many times in my search for the best rate I could find. You fill out their online form, and no credit card is required in advance. They send you a confirmed reservation from one of the name brand car rental companies. I’ve checked the rates on other sites (including the rental companies’ own websites) and most of the time the rate they have provided me is far less. (On a recent strip to Maui over Spring Break, we saved hundreds!) On the rare occasion that you find a cheaper rate elsewhere, just cancel the original reservation — no cancellation fees or penalties whatsoever.