Hawaii - Jeff Campbell [266]
HORSEBACK RIDING
With its abundant ranches and a living cowboy culture, Maui’s the perfect place to saddle up. Choose a ride based on the landscape you most want to explore, since all are good, reputable outfitters. The most unusual ride, offered by Pony Express (Click here), meanders down into the belly of Haleakalā Crater. Maui Stables (Click here), near Kipahulu, offers rides through rain forests to waterfalls. Makena Stables (Click here) takes riders up the sunny volcanic slopes near La Pérouse Bay, while Mendes Ranch (Click here) rides high atop the cliffs of the Kahekili Hwy. Families will like the gentle rides at Thompson Ranch (Click here) in Keokea.
TENNIS
The county maintains tennis courts in several towns, free to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. Numerous hotels and condos have tennis courts for their guests. If you’re looking to hone your game, you’ll find world-class tennis clubs in Wailea (Click here) and Kapalua (Click here).
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BEACH BEAUTIES
Ulua Beach (Click here), a favorite for morning snorkeling and diving
Ho′okipa Beach (Click here), where the pros go for surfing and windsurfing
Kite Beach (Click here) for kickin’ kitesurfing
Honolua Bay (Click here) offers top surfing in winter, snorkeling in summer
Ka′anapali Beach (Click here), a happening resort beach with all the amenities
Kapalua Beach (Click here) for calm-as-a-lake swimming and snorkeling
Keawakapu Beach (Click here), the perfect place for a sunset swim
Charley Young Beach (Click here), a hidden gem in the heart of bustling Kihei
Big Beach (Click here) for long beach strolls and bodysurfing
Malu′aka Beach (Click here), the best place to snorkel with turtles
Little Beach (Click here), a hang-out of the clothing-optional crowd
Pa′iloa Beach (Click here), Maui’s most stunning black-sand beach
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A WHALE OF A TIME
It’s not just honeymooners that flock here – turns out humpback whales prefer Maui too. In winter they can be spotted throughout Hawaii but the waters off western Maui are the favored haunt for mating and birthing.
Fortunately, humpbacks are coast-huggers, preferring shallow waters to protect their newborn calves. This makes for terrific whale watching opportunities whether you’re on land or on water.
Whale-watching cruises are the easiest way to get close to the action, as the boats know all the best spots and offer a close-up view of humpbacks demonstrating their hulking presence in leaps and bounds. You can readily join a cruise from a green operator like Pacific Whale Foundation from either Lahaina or Ma′alaea harbor.
Not that you have to join a whale-watching cruise to see these 40-ton leviathans. If you’re taking the Lana′i ferry in winter, a glimpse of breaching whales is a common bonus; snorkeling tours to Molokini sometimes have sightings en route; and ocean kayaking in south Maui packs good odds of seeing these colossals as close as you’d ever want.
From the shore, whale spotting abounds – cliff-side lookouts, west-facing beaches, the lanai of your oceanfront condo, most anywhere from Kapalua in the north to Makena in the south. Two particularly rewarding lookouts are Papawai Point (Click here) north of Ma′alaea and the Wailea Beach Walk (Click here) in Wailea.
Of course, binoculars will bring the action closer. If you’re not carting along a pair, stop by the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary headquarters (Click here) in Kihei where there’s a seaside scope. While you’re at it, check out the whale displays and scoop up the handy humpback brochure to discover the difference between a full breach, a spy hop and a peduncle slap.
Then there’s the music. The Whalesong Project maintains an underwater hydrophone off Kihei – just log on at www.whalesong.net and listen to whales singing in real time. Lucky