For more than a decade "Maui" has been the magic word for the ultimate in vacation travel. The country's top travel publications have again and again voted the "Valley Isle" as the best island, the best get-away vacation, and the best spa location.
Maui's magic is still going strong, and, in 2005, Maui not only means the Valley Isle, but also the two other islands composing Maui County -- Molokai and Lanai.
Veteran travelers are not only returning to Maui (where new restaurants, new activities, and new events are calling visitors back), but they also are branching out and venturing across the ocean to explore the "Friendly Isle" of Molokai and the "Pineapple Island" of Lanai. With good reason too, as both islands are adding accommodations, dining options, and shopping experiences.
Getting to Maui is easier than ever, with more direct flights available. Hawaiian Airlines, (tel. 800/367-5320; www.hawaiianair.com) has added nonstop service from San Diego to Maui; Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays, (tel. 800/448-3333; www.pleasantholidays.com) the largest tour packager to Hawaii, and American Airlines, (tel. 800/433-7300; www.aa.com) have teamed up with a non-stop flight from Chicago to Maui; Continental Airlines, (tel. 800/523-3273; www.continental.com) has daily nonstop service from Houston to Maui; and Aloha Airlines, (tel. 800/693-2302; www.alohaairlines.com) has daily service from Reno to Maui (with a brief stopover at John Wayne International Airport in Orange County, California) and daily service from Sacramento (with a stopover at Burbank Airport). This is in addition to direct flights that have long been available.
Akaina Aloha Tours, (tel. 808/879-2828; www.akinatours.com) has started a public transportation system, Holo Ka'a in central, west, and south Maui. Fares range from $1 to $5 with monthly passes and senior discounts available. The air-conditioned buses run from 4am to 10pm daily.
If you are interested in fitness and health, a great time to go to Maui is during September, when the LifeFest Maui at Wailea takes place. The three-day event features lectures and panel presentations by leaders in the health and wellness field (Dr. Deepak Chopra, Bob Greene, Dr. Julian Whitaker, and others), plus ocean sporting events, fitness activities, a health and wellness expo and sumptuous gala dinners. All resorts and condominiums in Wailea will be offering special package rates. For more information, call 808/875-8411 or visit www.lifefestmaui.com.
Hawaii chef and restaurateur D.K. Kodama, owner of Sansei Seafood in both Kapalua and Kihei, just opened a new restaurant in the former Kapalua Village Course Clubhouse. Dubbed Vino, (tel. 808/665-1201) Kodoma's new venture signals a "cuisine departure" for the wildly popular restaurateur. "Vino is a 'team-driven' concept featuring comfort and contemporary Italian food and Hawaii's most progressive and progressively priced wine program," says Kodama. The wine list features more than 150 selections -- many of them exclusive to Vino -- from around the world with the emphasis on boutique, quality Italian estate wines, and at least 24 unique wines by the glass are featured daily.
The dynamic dining duo Dana and Michael Pastula sold the Café O'Lei in Wailuku to another husband-wife team, Claude and Carole Lucas. They changed the name to Iao Café,(tel. 808/244-6816) but kept the same imaginative menu of fresh Island ingredients. The Pastulas still have the Café O'Lei Lahaina and the Ma'alaea Grill.
One of the real finds this year is a tiny eatery in the industrial district of Wailuku, AK's Café, (tel. 808/244-8774) at 1237 Lower Main St., where Chef Elaine Rothermel is cooking up creative, healthy cuisine with prices so unbelievabley, eye-popping cheap, you might find yourself wandering back here more than once during your vacation.
In the Kaanapali Resort area, the newest eatery is CJ's Deli and Diner, Kaanapali Fairway Shops, 2580 Keka'a Drive, just off the Honoapiilani Hwy. (tel. 808/667-0968). This hip, happening eatery has prices so low you can't believe you are on Maui (nothing over $12.95 on the entire menu). It's open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Fun In the Sun
The latest in "extreme" sports is Skyline Eco-Adventures' Zipline Haleakala, (tel. 808/878-8400; www.skylinehawaii.com) where participants race at 35mph, 70 feet above a canyon, on a cable stretched 300 feet across the gorge. Harnessed to the waist and attached to the cable, participants "zip" across trees and lush vegetation, taking in breathtaking views of waterfalls below. Owner Danny Boren said they have had clients from ages 12 to 90; the only requirement is that participants weigh less than 300 pounds. Cost is $69 ($59 when booked online).
For an unusual shopping experience, Nanea a'o Kula, 1100 Waipoli Rd., Kula (tel. 808/878-3004; www.mauikulalavender.com), which grows lavender products, is now offering two tours: a lavender garden luncheon tour and a lavender tea at the summit tour. Both include lavender herb tea served with lavender scones, lavender garden orientation, a garden tour, a demonstration on how to cook with lavender, and a visit to Lavender Studio Gift Shop; the luncheon tour also includes a meal.
The Kaanaplai Beach Hotel has a wonderful show that is perfect for the entire family, called Kupanaha. It features magicians Jody and Kathleen Baran and their entire family, including child prodigy magicians Katrina and Crystal, in a dinner show with magic, illusions, and the story of the Hawaii fire goddess, Pele, presented through hula and chant performed by the children of the Kano'eau Dance Academy. For reservations and tickets, call808/661-0011 or check out www.kbhmaui.com.
Molokai
There have been a couple of management changes to Molokai's best-known accommodations. The Molokai Ranch has taken over the management of the former Sheraton Molokai Lodge and Beach Resort -- the properties are now called the Lodge at Molokai Ranch and the Beach Village at Molokai Ranch -- (888/627-8082 or 808/660-2824; www.molokairanch.com) -- and has become a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Hotel Hana Maui (tel. 888/373-2422; www.hotelhanamaui.com) is the only other Hawaii hotel in this group. The new management promises some money-saving packages to these two properties.
As we went to press, Travel Advantage Network purchased Hotel Molokai, (tel. 808/553-5347; www.hotelmolokai.com) and immediately spent $270,000 upgrading the rooms with new phones, televisions, decorations, and roof coverings. T.A.N.'s CEO Brad Callahan said they will be marketing to "blue collar" Americans who want to "maximize their vacation dollars." He said he plans to make this property friendly to the budget crowd, so rack rates may change.
Lanai
The two major resorts on Lanai, The Lodge at Koele (tel. 800/321-4666 or 808/565-7300; www.lanai-resorts.com) and The Manele Bay Resort (tel. 800/321-4666 or 808/565-7700; www.lanai-resorts.com) announced that they have signed a "letter of agreement" with Four Seasons Hotels and Resort for a possible management change. If the deal goes through, formal "re-branding" is expected sometime soon.
Also on Lanai, many new dining options are available: Café 565 (tel. 808/565-6962) and Canoes Lanai (tel. 808/565-6537) in Lanai City and Harbor Café (tel. 808/565-9628) at the Manele Bay Harbor have opened.