Thread: Nonrev Correspondent - Maui

I have to tell you, Adrian, that most of us are very jealous of your life...at least I am!! Good for you to follow your dream and it sounds wonderful. We are going to Maui on Aug 10 (after a few days on the big island)... meeting friends that are staying in the Westin. Unfortunately, they have kids out on summer break and that is why we have to go at the peak part of the year... such high prices! I got a condo at the Maui Outrigger El Dorado for 127.00 a night. It looks pretty close to the Westin.. and has golf for my hubby. Have you seen it?!
I know I sure would appreciate any restaurant, fun suggestions you might share!! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]
Do you think the catamaran ride over to Lanai is worth it?
thanks for your help...
dreaming of Hawaii in Florida...
[img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]

Hi Adrian, welcome aboard
So you packed up and moved to Hawaii. You must REALLY love those Maui chips. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]



Keep'em flying

Hi Adrian and welcome to the group... any tips on the best times to try to standby from LAX or other continental US towns? Is it as difficult as it seems?

Cheers

Aloha Debbie,
Thank you for your note. You are my first non-rev inquiry! Yeah!!
My hubby and I do feel so fortunate to have this opportunity to follow our dream, and live in Maui for a few years. We know it won't be forever, but it's great while it lasts.
As for the Maui El Dorado--I know exactly where it is, and know it's a rather old propery, great golf course exposure, probably no ocean view, but excellent overall location. Yes, it's very close to the Westin. I don't know for sure, but suspect the rooms might be pretty old fashioned, and a little tired. I live right up the hill, just above the El Dorado, but have never seen any of their units. If I can get a chance in the next couple of days, I'll try to run down there and do a little recon for you, and give you an idea what the rooms are like. Before we moved here, we always tried to stay at the Aston Kaanapali Shores, which was very generous with nonrev discounts. We always took a 1 b/r ocean view, and found having a kitchen to be a real help. The location is very good, but it is not on the golf course, as the E.D. is. At the E.D., you can walk anywhere and everywhere you want within Kaanapali. Your friends at the Westin, however, are on a really nice property.
As for the trip to Lanai, yes, I think you should plan a trip there. There are many options, tough. I don't know which catamaran you are referring to, but I think the Teralani goes there some. They have 2 boats, the Teralani 1 and the Teralani 2. T2 is newer and bigger, comfortably hols 125 or so, but they cap off at 45 or 49 people-something like that. Should be very roomy. Their number is 808-661-0365. You can call ahead, or walk up and purchase (right on the beach at Kaanapali, and very near your hotel). They offer a 25% airline discount (I assume to the whole party), and happen to be owned by a F/A and her husband, who live down the street from me. There are many other Lanai options, including taking the ferry from Lahaina. If you want to just go over, snorkel, and hang around to get boat and sun time, take a catamaran. If you want to go over to see the island at all, play golf, etc., take the ferry. It's called Lanai Expeditions. There are 2 very fine golf courses there, Manele, which is down by the water of Manele Bay, and Koele, which is up in the crater. In August, one of our hottest months, making a trip to Koele could be an incredible and cool getaway from the heat.
Speaking of the heat, do make sure your room at the E.D. is air conditioned. You'll need it. As for golf and other activities, pick up a local Maui newpaper, and check the weather on the top of page 2. Watch the winds--whenever I get ready to plan something, I often check to see what the winds are going to be, and plan accordingly. That gives me an idea if there might be rough seas, or if boats and water activities might be forced to close. It doesn't happen a lot, but it does happen. It's also handy for helping to plan golf days, and other outside events.
Not to be missed--"Ulalena" at the Maui Myth and Magic Theater, and "Warren and Annabelles's Magic" on Front Street by Ruth's Chris. Get your tickets from Activity World, for priority seating. 808-667-7777. Plan ahead for W & A Magic. It always sells out. I almost forgot, Activity World offers us a 10% a/l discount. You'll need to tell them a codeword--I think it's "Interline". Or, buy your W & A tickets directly and get a 20% discount, but forego the priority seating. It's a very small theater, so there really are no bad seats. I'd go for the 20%!
For a wider range of airline discount information, there's a really helpful, new service. It's called Aloha Interline Infoline, and it's a 900 number. It's really cheap ($2.50 per minute) and tells you all about more discounts that you would have never thought about, such as restaurants, dry cleaners, motorcycles,etc., and pointers for cheap and free entertainment you wouldn't have known about. The number is 900-950-2200, and is a very good investment. You might spend $5 or $25, but you'll save way more than that by using it.
I hope this helps. Sorry it was so long. I will try to get a chance to go check out the E.D for you, and will get back to you in the next couple of days.
Aloha,
Adrian
P.S. Just a little golf tip for hubby: Kaanapali has 2 golf courses, the North, and the South. If it's a very windy day, it's better to play the South. The North, however, is a little more challenging and interesting course.

Aloha Nic,
Well, that's a good question. The loads are generally a little intimidating, to say the least, but I manage to commute and always have gotten to work...so far. I will say, midweek is usually better than weekends, and we like to encourage nonrev travel in May and October. In May, the Spring Breakers have left, but the summer crush hasn't hit yet. Similarly, October and early November are usually better than the surrounding months, because of the passage of summer, and beating the upcoming holidays.
If you do come in October, try to be here for Halloween. It's a REALLY big deal here. Automobile traffic is barred on Front Street in Lahaina, and it turns into a promenade for the night. Everyone dresses in costume, and there are costume competitions. It's really lots of fun.
Adrian

Wow... so many wonderful tips! I sure do appreciate it. While talking to my mother in law the other day, she said they have stayed at the El Dorado several times. She said it was older, but that they have redone the rooms, which will be fine for us. We are hardly in the room anyway and we are pretty easy to please.
Thanks for the scoop on Lanai and golfing! and everything else! I have printed off your response and will bring it with me!
deb

Hi Adrian...
Just got back the other day and wanted to thank you for your help and suggestions. I had printed out your post and shared it with the Maui bound F/A's on our flight.. and they liked it, too!
We got a great rate on our Outrigger Palms of Wailea condo...and it was gorgeous.. I could have lived in it forever! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]
You were correct about the El Dorado... it was old and not nearly as nice. I would not stay there again. They did not even have enough parking for the condo residents.
But... I did love Lahaina.. what a great little town! We went to see the Warren and Annabelle show and I can tell you that I havent laughed that hard in years! Thanks for recommending it. I loved it and would highly recommend it to anyone visiting the Kaanapali area. I would also recommend Humuhumu's (for short!), The Lahaina Fish Company and the Hula Grill for eats. Oh, and of course, my husbands fave.. Bubba Burgers in Kihei. He can never pass that up in Kauai and loved it on Maui, too! (I had the veggie burger and it was good, too!)
thanks again!

Hi Debbie,
I'm so glad to hear your trip went well. Your experience at the El Dorado was rather what I expected, but I didn't want to seem too pushy about it. As for the Outrigger Palms, I'm not even familiar with it, so will need to go check it out soon. It's always important to know what to recommend!
Isn't Warren and Annabelle's fabulous?? I'm so glad you took time to go. Did you make it to see "Ulalena", at the Maui Theater (until recently, the Maui Myth and Magic Theater)? Great show as well.
I hope your husband enjoyed the golf, and the winds weren't too bad.
Thank you for letting me know about your trip. Hope you're back this way again soon.
Adrian