Hawaii - Jeff Campbell [304]
Coffee Store (Map; 875-4244; Azeka Mauka, 1279 S Kihei Rd; per min 20¢; 6am-6pm Mon-Sat, to 5pm Sun)
Hale Imua Internet Stop (Map; 891-9219; Kama′ole Shopping Center, 2463 S Kihei Rd; per 15min $3, then per min 15¢; 8am-9pm Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm Sat, 10am-9pm Sun)
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SWIM WITH THE FISHES
The sharks are circling. Some 20 of them, to be exact. Blacktip reef sharks, hammerheads and, gasp, a tiger shark. And you can jump in and join them. Shark Dive Maui ( 270-7000; 2hr dive $199; 8:15am Mon, Wed & Fri) takes intrepid divers on a daredevil’s plunge into Maui Ocean Center’s 750,000-gallon deep-ocean tank to swim with the toothy beasts as aquarium visitors gaze on in disbelief. You do need to be a certified diver and because it’s limited to four divers per outing, advance reservations are essential.
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Kihei Police District Station (Map; 244-6400; Kihei Town Center, 1881 S Kihei Rd; 7:45am-4:30pm Mon-Fri)
Lipoa Laundry Center (Map; Lipoa Center, 40 E Lipoa St; 8am-9pm Mon-Sat, to 5pm Sun)
Longs Drugs (Map; 879-2033; 1215 S Kihei Rd; 7am-midnight) Kihei’s largest pharmacy.
Post office (Map; 879-1987; 1254 S Kihei Rd)
Urgent Care Maui Physicians (Map; 879-7781; 1325 S Kihei Rd; 7am-10pm) This clinic accepts walk-in patients.
Sights
KEAWAKAPU BEACH
The queen of Kihei’s many attractive beaches, this sparkling stretch of sand extends south from the southernmost part of Kihei to Wailea’s Mokapu Beach. Less visible than the main roadside beaches, Keawakapu Beach (Map) is also less crowded.
With its silky soft sand, it’s a favorite place for people doing sunrise yoga and wake-up strolls and it’s also an excellent spot for a sunset swim. Mornings are the best time for snorkeling; head to the rocky outcrops that form the northern and southern ends of the beach. If it’s winter, keep an eye out for humpback whales that come amazingly close to shore here.
There are three beach access points, all with outdoor showers. To get to the south end, go south on S Kihei Rd until it dead-ends at a beach parking lot. Near the middle of the beach, there’s a parking lot at the corner of Kilohana and S Kihei Rd; look for a blue shoreline access sign on the makai side of the street. At the northern end, beach parking can be found at the side of Mana Kai Maui.
KAMA′OLE BEACH PARKS
Kama′ole is one long beach divided into three sections (Kam I, II and III; Map) by rocky points. All three are lovely golden-sand beaches with full facilities, including lifeguards.
Water conditions vary with the weather, but swimming is usually good. For the most part, these beaches have sandy bottoms with a fairly steep drop, which tends to create good conditions for bodysurfing, especially in winter.
For snorkeling, the south end of Kama′ole Beach Park III has some nearshore rocks harboring a bit of coral and a few colorful fish, though it pales in comparison to the snorkeling at beaches farther south.
KIHEI COASTAL TRAIL
Want to leave the crowds behind? Take this lightly trodden footpath (Map) that runs south from Kama′ole Beach Park III and winds a half-mile along coastal bluffs to Kihei Boat Ramp. At the start of the trail look for the burrows of ′ua′u kani (wedge-tailed shearwaters), ground-nesting seabirds that return to the same sites each spring and remain until November when the fledglings are large enough to head out to sea. Benches set in pretty places and interpretive plaques identifying native plants enhance the walk.
CHARLEY YOUNG BEACH
Hidden off a side street, this neighborhood beach is Kihei’s least touristed strand. It’s a real jewel in the rough, broad, sandy, and backed by swaying coconut palms. You’re apt to find fishers casting their lines, families playing volleyball and someone strumming a guitar. It also has some of the better bodysurfing waves in Kihei. Beach parking is on the corner of S Kihei Rd and Kaia′u Pl. To get to the beach, simply walk to the end of Kaia′u Pl and follow the steps down the cliff.
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS HUMPBACK WHALE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY
The marine