MauiMaui:2010-08-16T23:08:08ZCopyright (c) 2010, V.C.SharkeyExpressionEnginetag:hawaii-guide.com,2010:06:16Mai Poina Beachtag:hawaii-guide.com,2010:index.php/maui/spot/1.5662010-06-16T22:56:35Z2010-06-16T23:12:36ZV.C.Sharkeycarolinachic83@gmail.com
Mai Poina Oe La'u is located at the north end of Kihei. This beach is sort of an extension of Ma'alaea Beach (Sugar Beach), and extends to Kalama Park. The beach is very long with wide sandy areas. Private boats are moored in the bay opposite the beach, there's an old pier at the north end of this beach. Mai Poina Oe La'u is used as a launch beach for the local canoe club. It is also a nice beach for kids, as the swells do not normally get very large at this location.
Tips & Information:
There is very little in the way of facilities at the north end of the beach. The only facilities in this location are the little fruit stands by the side of the road. Restrooms and showers belonging to the resorts are built along the beach. Suda's Store is located across the street. Parking is along the side of South Kihei road.
At the south end of the beach there is more in the way of facilities, a pavillion, picnic area, restrooms and showers.
Highlights:
This is a wonderful beach for walking and playing in the sand and surf. There is very little good snorkeling or diving off this beach, the bottom is shallow and all sand.
It's a wonderful beach to launch a kayak or sailboat and a good all round beach for children. The swimming is excellent at the north end of this beach. Many of the local children play at the north end, it is right across the street from a community center.
At the south end of the beach there is excellent windsurfing. In fact the area becomes positively crowded when the wind is up.
Cautions:
Mai Poina Oe La'u is usually a very safe beach. It is deep enough into the bay that it is protected from almost every direction from heavy surf and wind (except the south end). If there is heavy surf stay out of the water and watch the waves instead of playing in them.
]]>Kaeleku Ulaino Roadtag:hawaii-guide.com,2010:index.php/maui/spot/1.5652010-06-16T22:49:10Z2010-06-16T22:56:11ZV.C.Sharkeycarolinachic83@gmail.com
This is a rough 3.0 mile right-of-way leading from Hana Highway into the coastline at the site of the abandoned village of Ulaino. This road is negotiable by four-wheel drive vehicles or motorcycles but it makes a nice hike too. It begins at Kaeleku and angles to the left through 2.0 miles of lush Hana Ranch pasture before entering the forest. The last mile is an incredibly lush kukui and hala (pandanus) forest that grows in the rough lava terrain. Along the way you'll also pass Pi'ilani Heiau on your right (admission required).
Ulaino village is only recognizable by stone walls, trees and a couple of small houses, having largely succumbed to the jungle. The road ends at a rocky cove along the coastline which is quite scenic as well as a good place for diving. At the end of this 3 mile road is also a small parking lot, and off to the left will be beautiful and stunning Blue Angel Falls.
Tips & Information:
Ula'ino Road is located along the Hana Highway in East Maui. Visitors who plan to drive the Hana Highway should consider picking up a copy of our detailed Hana Highway Guidebook. The above text is an excerpt from our guidebook.
]]>Papalaua Beach - Thousand Peakstag:hawaii-guide.com,2010:index.php/maui/spot/1.5642010-06-16T22:46:22Z2010-06-16T22:49:24ZV.C.Sharkeycarolinachic83@gmail.com
On the east end of the beach, next to the Pali the kayaking is wonderful. Snorkeling is great, scuba diving is excellent, and when the surf is up, this is a great place to surf too.
The calm water area on the east is called "Coral Gardens" and is great for snorkeling and diving. The area on the west is called "Thousand Peaks", a good place for surfing. Thousand Peaks has hundreds of large coral heads in water ranging from 5 feet to 30 feet from the surface. The Coral Gardens area has massive amounts of coral from the shoreline to a depth of 100 feet. The water is generally clear with a gentle (but insistant) current.
This is a wonderful place to launch or land a kayak, even when there is a bit of surf. One option (if you have two cars) is to put in (the kayaks) at M'aalaea and paddle to Papalaua. It takes about 2 hours on a calm day. Make sure it is pretty calm, otherwise you may have to turn back if the wind is not blowing in the correct direction.
Whale watching at this beach during the humpback whale season is great too. You have a full panaoramic view with Molokini and Kihei in the east, Kaho'olawe to the south, and Lanai to the west.
When the waves are here don't go in unless you like to surf. When the wind is up the outside currents get really strong. The water can be pretty cold in certain channels, try not to get leg cramps. During low tide the coral heads may become exposed, exercise caution kayaking, surfing, or snorkeling around them when waves are present.
Theft hasn't been much of a problem here yet, possibly due to parking being so close to the beach and busy highway,. It is still a wise thing to not leave valuables unattended.
Tips & Information:
There are some restrooms (actually port-a-johns) and a phone. There are also a few picnic tables and some of the area is shaded by trees. The nearest food and drink is either Ma'alaea Warf or Olowalu General Store. There are no life guards at this location.
]]>Sugar Beach - Ma’alaea Beachtag:hawaii-guide.com,2010:index.php/maui/spot/1.5632010-06-16T22:34:02Z2010-06-16T22:46:03ZV.C.Sharkeycarolinachic83@gmail.com
The beach is long and wide, just off shore the bottom is sand, sloping fairly quickly to 25 or 35 feet. There is a reef out there, but you have to swim pretty far out to get to it. Usually the water has very little current, even when the wind comes up, which it does most every afternoon. Visibility usually is not the best so this beach is not high on the list for snorkeling or diving. There are also reefs near the Ma'alaea end of the beach.
There have even been sightings of rare, Hawksbill sea turtles crossing the highway to lay eggs (two have been hit by a car several years ago). On the east end you can kayak, wind surf, swim, and sail. This is not a bad swimming beach, but a little deep for small children. The beach is not very sheltered, the afternoon winds tend to discourage activity in the exposed areas.
Most of the beach area is exposed to high winds, especially in the afternoons. These winds can create fast currents pulling away from the beach. Beginning wind surfers have been known to start out near the beach, and get picked up by a tour boat out in the Au'au Channel. Waves rarely are a problem at this beach, there are occasional rip currents when large waves are present.
Tips & Information:
There are no facilities anywhere except the east end of the beach. At this end of the beach there is the Kealia Beach Plaza. There are showers, telephone, and rest rooms that are available to the public. You can also get a bite to eat at several restaurants and food stores on the east end. Parking is generally along the side of the highway, just pull off into firm sand.
An aquarium/visitor center has been built in Ma'alaea. So far this has not affected the accessibility to the west end of the beach near Ma'alaea.
]]>Olowalu Beach - Ka’ili’ili Beachtag:hawaii-guide.com,2010:index.php/maui/spot/1.5622010-06-16T22:27:27Z2010-06-16T22:33:28ZV.C.Sharkeycarolinachic83@gmail.com
There are lots of turtles and a good variety of reef fish. The area has been over fished a lot and the snorkelers have had their impact on the coral. It is not as spectacular as it could be.
There is wonderful kayaking and scuba diving. Snorkeling is also very good. The green sea turtles can be a delight at this location. The surf is normally gentle, but consistent, with scuba diving, snorkeling and kayaking being excellent.
Please do not stand on he coral. Since the coral heads are close to the surface many folks like to sit or stand on them. Please don't. It harms the coral. It is also a bad idea to sit on or touch the coral for any reason. There are some creatures that use the coral to hide in that have pretty powerful stingers, and can give you something to think about should you be careless.
When the waves come in at this location the shallow coral becomes dangerous (the visibility drops to nothing, too). There can be strong currents much further from shore if the wind is blowing.
Tips & Information:
No facilities. The nearest phone, food and drink is at the Olowalu General Store. There are no restrooms here either, and none for beach users at the General Store.
]]>Honokohau Baytag:hawaii-guide.com,2010:index.php/maui/spot/1.5612010-06-16T22:22:20Z2010-06-16T22:34:21ZV.C.Sharkeycarolinachic83@gmail.com
The main portion of the bay slopes into deep water quickly and is reasonably featureless, except for the large boulders.
During the winter (and sometimes in the summer too) there can be very a large storm surf entering into the bay. Because of large boulders, when large surf hits the bay, powerful rip currents can form, (not to mention waves as big as busses hitting the boulder beach). There are also strong currents just outside the bay, swim or snorkel cautiously. If the surfers are out it isn't a good day for swimming or snorkeling. Great surfing though! Be careful and know your limits.
Tips & Information:
-No public bathrooms, showers, tables etc
-No lifeguard or telephone
-There is often a small fruit stand where the road curves
]]>Ulalena at Maui Theatertag:hawaii-guide.com,2010:index.php/maui/spot/1.5602010-06-16T20:17:46Z2010-06-16T20:24:48ZV.C.Sharkeycarolinachic83@gmail.com
Every seat maintains a sense of intimacy and interaction with the performance. Traditional Butoh theatre is blended with acrobatic feats of strength and beauty. Hula is combined with modern dance. Rich costumes, lighting and stage design are woven together into a filagree of fantastic images drawn from Hawaiian legend and history, pulling the viewer out of time and into a place of wonder, experiencing with awe the spirit-filled landscape of the imagination of the ancient Hawaiian story tellers.
The Ulalena Soundtrack is also fantastic. Click the link to obtain it. It's one of our favorite Hawaiian music CD's.
]]>Kamaole Beach Park I, II, and IIItag:hawaii-guide.com,2010:index.php/maui/spot/1.5442010-01-29T15:26:04Z2010-01-29T15:41:05ZJ.C.Derrickjcderrick@hawaiianstyle.orgKihei and is divided into three distinct beach areas. Kama'ole I has the largest and nicest beach of the three with fine white sand and great swimming conditions. There's also a grassy area at the south end for picnics and playing.
Kama'ole II is located a little further south along South Kihei Road and though the beach is a bit little smaller, it still has good swimming.
Kama'ole III is very popular with the locals since the waves here are more consistent making it a great place for boogie boarding. The sandy beach is small but it has a large grassy area, perfect for kite flying, picnics, and relaxing. The sunset photos below were taken at this beach - overlooking the islands of Kaho`olawe and Lana`i.
]]>Kihei Towntag:hawaii-guide.com,2010:index.php/maui/spot/1.5432010-01-29T15:26:03Z2010-01-29T15:47:04ZJ.C.Derrickjcderrick@hawaiianstyle.org
In the early 1900's there were failed attempts to establish sugar plantations on this part of the island. During the 1930's, only about 375 people live in Kihei. The road was not paved and there was little visitor interest in the area. Attempts to sale portions of the area between the 1930's and 1950's were marginally successful. Land was cheap - but no one really wanted to invest in any property here. But as usual, time changes things... by the 1960's when water was finally piped into the area, developers finally realized the potential to attract visitors to this side of the island.
Kihei development began with no real plan - condominiums went up by the dozens - right on top of one another. Shopping centers and strip malls suddenly dotted the once barren coastline. It wasn't long before budget conscious visitors began to realize the great deals available in Kihei, and the expansion continued
]]>Road to Hana Highway road closurestag:hawaii-guide.com,2009:index.php/maui/spot/1.1542009-05-08T17:08:42Z2010-07-01T20:56:43ZJ.C.Derrickjcderrick@hawaiianstyle.org Current Closures and Updates
June 2009
Kaumahina Wayside Park will be closed for maintenance during June 2009. You can read more information about the closure here.
May 4, 2009 - June 1, 2009
Currently the temporary bridge at Paihi Stream (at mile marker 45.5 on Highway 31) is being removed; as can be seen via the updates below, this bridge has existed here for some time. Construction on the new permanent bridge is also being finalized. The bridge is expected to open around June 1, 2009 (extended from the original date of May 25th). This bridge is located between Hana and the `Ohe`o Gulch (see the map), so to access the Kipahulu portion of Haleakala National Park visitors will have to use the Pi`ilani Highway - Highway 31 (aka the 'back route').
October 2006 - October 4, 2008
For well over a year now we've been asked by visitors where the road closures exist along the Hana Highway on Maui. Many read articles about the Pa'ihi bridge being damaged in the October 2006 earthquake (off the Big Island's coast) and assume that's the closure. But it's not. Here's the real scoop on the closures.
Paihi Bridge (between Hana and Kipahulu at mile marker 45.5) is NOT closed, but it does have a temporary bridge that was installed Dec. 3, 2006. The bridge was damaged during the earthquake and torrential rain in mid-October 2006. and is being replaced. It was already slated for replacement before the earthquake.
I think many folks confuse this bridge (which was closed for a few days) and the barricaded bridge, Kukui'ula, which is a half-mile past the 40 mile marker (between Kipahulu and Kaupo). Kukui'ula bridge at Lelekea remains barricaded due to the danger of rockslides beyond this point and Manawainui bridge (the large gulch bridge).
The county plans to stabilize the cliffs between Kipahulu and Kaupo and then work on the rock cliffs above Manawainui. This entire project may take up to two years (or longer) to complete.
You CAN reach the 'Ohe'o Gulch. You CANNOT go beyond the Gulch and complete the "loop" tour that concludes in Upcountry.
]]>Makamaka’ole Fallstag:hawaii-guide.com,2009:index.php/maui/spot/1.5392009-05-04T17:03:47Z2009-05-04T17:16:48ZJ.C.Derrickjcderrick@hawaiianstyle.orgWaihee Ridge trail. The best view is approximately at the one mile marker along the trail. The waterfall drops in several tiers, totaling about 270 ft. in height.
You can also catch a glimpse of the falls on the Kahekili Highway (county route 340) along Maui's northwest coast. Just past mile marker 8 you should be able to see the waterfall down below in a small valley to your left.
If it's been especially dry lately, the falls may not be currently flowing. As can be see via the photographs, it is a two-tier waterfall. Often the lower part of the waterfall is visible even when the upper level is not.
]]>Map of Maui Hawaiitag:hawaii-guide.com,2008:index.php/maui/spot/1.4812008-08-15T19:25:11Z2008-11-11T21:56:12ZJ.C.Derrickjcderrick@hawaiianstyle.orgPocket Map of Maui as well. Our Road to Hana book, Hana Highway - Mile by Mile, also features several detailed maps of nearly all of east Maui.
]]>Maui Waterfallstag:hawaii-guide.com,2008:index.php/maui/spot/1.4712008-08-08T19:55:53Z2009-05-04T17:14:54ZJ.C.Derrickjcderrick@hawaiianstyle.orgWaterfalls on the island of Maui are some of the world's best. Below we've included links to several of the best waterfalls on Maui, most of which you can actually see without a tour or helicopter (all falls visible from the air only are noted).
On the list of Maui waterfalls below, we've included the height of the falls when possible, a rank (out of 5 stars), noted if it's a seasonal falls (dry in summer or too heavy of a flow in winter), and included any additional access information as necessary. If you think you've located a Maui waterfall we've mistakenly left off this list, by all means please contact us and we'll make sure it's added. Be sure to also check out all the waterfalls in Hawaii on our Hawaii Waterfalls page.
