Tourism is at an all-time high on the Valley Isle: The number of visitors is up, the number of airplane seats coming to paradise is up and the opportunities to have the vacation of your dreams are better than ever.
However, don't count on any last minute deals. With increased demand comes increase in hotel prices: Occupancy on Maui is at a steady 83 percent nearly all year long, and the average room rate is $273.79 (a 13.3 percent increase over a year ago). Hotel room rates on Maui are the second highest in the nation.
No new hotel rooms are being built, yet the number of visitors to Maui continues to increase. That, coupled with the fact that there has been a huge increase in the number of hotels being converted to time shares and condotels, causes room rates to increase.
Of course there are many reasons why all these 2.2-plus million visitors a year are flocking to Maui. If there's a heat-wave on the mainland, it's still a balmy 75 on the Valley Isle; when temperatures dip into the freezing digits in the continental US, Maui is still a balmy 75. Yes, Maui is expensive, but as we say in the islands: "Maui No Ka Oi"! Maui is the best!
Here's a few updates to our latest book, Frommer's Maui 2007. For more, check out the update for Frommer's Hawaii 2007.
Restaurants
Opening in Kihei is Zack's Deli & General Store, in the Mana Kai Resort, 2960 S. Kihei Rd (tel. 808/874-0300), with some 450 different wines, 25 gourmet cheeses, and specialty meats, salads and hot deli take out. Owner Simon Vodjani, who also owns Five Palms Beach Grill and Canoes, promises to make this the number one stop for picnickers.
Down the road in Wailea, at Matteo's Pizzeria, 100 Wailea Iki Dr. (tel. 808/874-1234; www.matteospizzeria.com), chef-owner Matteo Mistura, former chef at Ferraro's, at the Four Seasons Maui, has designed a menu of his favorite Italian dishes including a host of pasta plates, pizza and even meatball sandwiches. In the Shops at Wailea, at The Fire Dragon Bistro Orient (tel. 808/879-6088) Executive Chef John Lo uses his Chinese background for his a range of dishes, like spring rolls, coconut soup, beef broccoli, sweet and sour pork and honey shrimp.
In Lahaina, the latest new restaurant is Blu, 839 Front St. (tel. 808/661-9591), overlooking the ocean. In the kitchen is Chef Maka Kwon, who is the protégé of Maui Chef George Gomes (see Son'z Maui below). Kwon has masterfully combined Mediterranean and Indian foods with a menu full of local favorites like fresh island fish.
Up the road in Kaanapali, corporate executive Chef George Gomes has opened Son'z Maui at Swan Court, in the Hyatt Regency Maui, 200 Nohea Kai Dr. (tel. 808/661-1234; www.sonzmaui.com), in the same romantic location as the former Swan Court (real swans swim in the lagoon adjacent to the restaurant), with a classic cuisine of fresh fish, lobster, steaks and chops. You could make a meal on the appetizer menu alone: Ranging from tiger eye sushi to escargot to Surfing Goat Cheese ravioli.
What to See & Do
For historical buffs, or those wanting to experience Hawaii's rich culture, Maui Nei (tel. 808/661-9494) has two-hour walking tours which journey into Maui's past and explore not only the significant sites in Lahaina, but also the lesser know corners of the historic town. The tour begins with a chant in Hawaiian at the hauola (birthing stone) located in Lahaina Harbor and then walks back in time to the arrival of the first Polynesians. The tour has won the coveted "Kahili Award," on history and culture from the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau. The cost is $40 adults and $26 for kids 10-16 years old.
Molokai
Coffees of Hawaii, 1630 Farrington Ave., Kualapuu (tel. 808/567-9490; www.coffeesofhawaii.net) has several new tours to explore Molokai's only coffee plantation. There is the self guided tour, available anytime they are open form 7am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 4pm on Saturday and 8am to 2pm on Sunday. If you would like a guided tour on how Molokai's coffee plantation combines traditional coffee production with their own unique mechanized approach, take the hour-long walking tour called Morning Espresso Tour (10am, Mon-Fri) for $25. Families might enjoy the 2-hour Mule Drawn Wagon Tour of the coffee fields and through the sorting and processing facility (8am and 1pm Mon-Fri) for $45 adults and $10 children 3-15. While you are there stop by the Espresso Bar & Café and try their signature drink, a Mocha Mamma.
Another agri-tourism tour offered on Molokai is Hawaii Kai Salts, 46 Beach Pl., Kaunakakai (tel. 808/553-3461; www.hawaiikaico.com), makers of Soul of the Sea and Palm Island Gourmet salts. They will arrange a tour of their operation, which pumps seawater from offshore through ultraviolet light filters and a reverse osmosis device. The very salty brine is put into custom-made evaporation pans to dry into crystals, and then dried again.
On the East End of Molokai, Lee Callahan, of Honouliwai Taro Patch Farm (tel. 808/558-8922; www.angelfire.com/film/chiangmai) is happy to arrange a private 1.5 hour tour of her taro farm and explain the ancient Hawaiian technique of taro farming. The highlight of the tour is meeting her water buffalo, Big Foot, who is a major help in working the water-filled fields. The morning tours are $20 for adults, $10 for kids ages 12-15 and free for kids 11 years and younger.
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