Hawaii - Jeff Campbell [286]
LUAU & DINNER SHOWS
Drums of the Pacific ( 667-4727; Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa, 200 Nohea Kai Dr; adult/child 6-12 $86/49; 5-8pm) Ka′anapali’s best luau includes an imu ceremony (the unearthing of a roasted pig from an underground oven), an open bar, a Hawaiian-style buffet dinner, and a flashy South Pacific dance and music show.
Kupanaha: Maui Magic for All Ages ( 661-0011; Ka′anapali Beach Hotel, 2525 Ka′anapali Pkwy; adult/child 6-12 $79/29; Tue-Sat) Illusionists take a Hawaiian slant adding legends through hula and chants to the usual magic at this dinner show.
Shopping
You will find more than 50 shops at Whalers Village ( 661-4567; 2435 Ka′anapali Pkwy; 9:30am-10pm) shopping center, selling all sorts of goodies ranging from beach mats to designer clothing:
Blue Ginger ( 661-1666) For light and breezy women’s wear, check out the cheery Hawaiian-designed blouses and dresses here.
Gecko Store ( 661-1114) Everything from T-shirts to toys crawls with pictures of friendly Hawaiian geckos. You’ll be amazed at what geckos can do.
Honolua Surf ( 661-5455) This is the place to pick up Maui-style board shorts and other casual beachwear for both men and women.
Totally Hawaiian Gift Gallery ( 667-4070) If it’s made in Hawaii, you’ll find it at this shop, which sells everything from tropical decor to koa bowls.
Getting There & Around
Aloha Toy Store ( 662-0888; Fairway Shops, 2580 Keka’a Dr; 8am-5pm) rents Kawasaki motorcycles ($129) and Harleys ($169).
Maui Bus ( 871-4838; ride $1) connects the Whalers Village shopping center in Ka′anapali with the Wharf Cinema Center in Lahaina hourly from 6:30am to 8:30pm, and runs north up the coast to Kahana and Napili hourly from 6am to 8pm.
The free Ka′anapali Trolley ( 667-0648) runs between the Ka′anapali hotels, Whalers Village and the golf course about every 20 minutes between 10am and 10pm.
The resort hotels offer free beach parking, but the spaces allotted are so limited they commonly fill by mid-morning. Your best bet for beach parking is at the south end of the Hyatt, which has more slots than other hotels. Another option is the pay parking at Whalers Village – get your ticket validated by making a $10 purchase at any shop or restaurant and the first three hours are free. Parking is free at Kahekili Beach Park.
HONOKOWAI
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Squeezed between its trendier neighbors Ka′anapali and Kahana, Honokowai is all but bypassed by most visitors. Granted it’s condoville – a mile-long stretch of condos form the village center. But don’t write it off as a place to stay – it’s convenient, affordable and low-rise, and the ocean views are every bit as fine as in the upscale resorts to the south. Another perk: this is one of the best places on Maui to spot passing humpback whales right from your lanai.
Orientation
North of Ka′anapali, the road forks. If you want to zip up to the northern beaches, bypassing the condos and resorts, the main road is Honoapi′ilani Hwy (Hwy 30), which has a bicycle lane. The parallel shoreline road is Lower Honoapi′ilani Rd, which leads into Honokowai.
Sights & Activities
In the center of town, Honokowai Beach Park has a fun playground for kids and makes a nice spot for picnics. Forget swimming, though. The water is shallow and the beach is lined with a submerged rock shelf. Water conditions improve at the south side of town, and you can walk along the shore down to lovely Kahekili Beach Park (Click here) at the northern end of Ka′anapali. Rent a snorkel from Boss Frog ( 665-1200; 3636 Lower Honoapi′ilani Rd; per day from $3; 8am-5pm) before you set off.
Sleeping
Kuleana Maui ( 669-8080, 800-367-5633; www.kuleanaresorts.com; 3959 Lower Honoapi′ilani Rd; 1br from $145; ) The most value for the buck in Honokowai. The rooms are a bit small but not claustrophobic and the amenities are generous, with full kitchens and entertainment centers. You’ll find plenty of space