Island Hoping

[darthmom]

does anyone know any updated info on the ferry, and if it will be going to kona also soon?

[KonaKat]

Ready Mapbooks of Hawaii are the best. Here's a link where you can order them, but they have them in most stores like Walmart, Borders, etc. (Don't think they have an Oahu edition unfortunately, but Big Island, Kauai, Maui.

HawaiiMapSource.com Order Form

They are very detailed and have all the points of interest, streets, subdivision names, parks, schools, etc. in them.

[whynot?]

Originally Posted by darthmom

does anyone know any updated info on the ferry, and if it will be going to kona also soon?

I searched the Honolulu papers and other online business publications over here because I'd kind of lost connection to this story. The most recent reference I could (easily) find was in the Pacific Business Journal from December 2008: High court hears Hawaii Superferry arguments - Pacific Business News (Honolulu): That article says "late 2009."

The fact that it's not in the news and that so many other Superferry issues are (Environmental Impact Study, deficit operations, sudden dry-docking, etc.) tends to augur for even more delay. Almost nothing in Hawaii happens "on time;" not even having your schedule mentioned means it's more dream than reality.

[kixette]

Hi y'all!
We're going to Oahu for 11 days in August, and since this is our second trip, we thought about taking the ferry over to Maui to spend a night.
I looked at the web-link, and the ferry / hotel specials, only thing was Maui Prince and Starwood or something like that.
How about some advice from the locals? We'd like to take our rental car over there, and find a hotel that is not a resort. Spend some time driving around, maybe a nice meal, go home the next day. It's four of us, (me, boyfriend, sister, 18-year old niece), Is this doable or just too much for an overnight trip? The ferry looks like it will be fun to ride, and I can only imagine how beautiful the scenery will be.
Thanks!

[whynot?]

Originally Posted by kixette

Hi y'all!
We're going to Oahu for 11 days in August, and since this is our second trip, we thought about taking the ferry over to Maui to spend a night.
I looked at the web-link, and the ferry / hotel specials, only thing was Maui Prince and Starwood or something like that.
How about some advice from the locals? We'd like to take our rental car over there, and find a hotel that is not a resort. Spend some time driving around, maybe a nice meal, go home the next day. It's four of us, (me, boyfriend, sister, 18-year old niece), Is this doable or just too much for an overnight trip? The ferry looks like it will be fun to ride, and I can only imagine how beautiful the scenery will be.
Thanks!

Yeah, that's doable. We've had friends come over for just two days. You'll be a little limited in what you can see on Maui, but it can be done. The ferry should be more "fun" in August than midwinter -- it gets pretty rough in the Pailolo Channel sometimes. But the ferry goes all along the length of Moloka`i and that should be gorgeous. Bring binoculars.

I don't know exactly what you mean by "not a resort." You might want to try a condo if you're looking for something less, um, touristy. There are a couple of B&Bs if you're looking for something more rustic. I don't know if they have a minimum number of nights, though.

The ferry comes in and goes out of Kahului Harbor. The Maui Prince is at Makena in South Maui; the Starwoods I can think of are in West Maui -- either is about 45-minute drive to Kahului. Is there a particular part of Maui you want to see or stay in? And what kind of place/atmosphere are you looking for?

[kixette]

Thanks Whynot! Well, maybe a B&B is along the lines of where I'm looking for. Thanks so much for the info, I will do a search on Kahului.
I know abolutely nothing about Maui, knew nothing about Oahu either but sure had fun driving leeward and windward and exploring all the little towns and country side. I just don't want to stay at something like I could find in Waikiki, less touristy. We don't care about nightlife at all, we are in bed at 10:00 when we are here in Texas, when I was in Oahu I had a hard time staying up past 8:30 but I was up by 5:30 every day. My thoughts on that are who would want to sleep during the day when the weather and everything is so scrumptious!

[whynot?]

There is NOTHING on Maui like Waikiki. Even the most resort-y areas of Maui are far less densely populated and our highrises are 12 stories max, I think. And it's a good thing you're asleep by 10 because there are very few places open after that. (And I don't recommend being on the roads then, either.)

Kahului is the main port and airport (and hospital) town. Consequently, it is a sort of charmless collection of warehouses, car dealerships, rental car headquarters, big box stores, etc. People do live there, but there are few beaches and hotels. Wailuku House is a B&B in nearby Wailuku, but its web site says it has a 3-day minimum. Worth checking if you're interested -- things are really slow here. (Link: Wailuku Guesthouse, Vacation Lodging on Maui, Hawaii)

And here's a link to the Maui B&B association: Maui Bed and Breakfast Association in Maui, Hawaii - the finest accommodations on the beautiful island of Maui . Most of these appear to be in Lahaina/West Maui, and here's one in Kihei that't not listed there: Maui Bed and Breakfast - What a Wonderful World Bed and Breakfast in Maui . We've just had a purge of our entire vacation rental system (especially B&Bs, inns, and rental houses) in Maui County and are basically starting over, so call to check on any property you're interested in. Many have gone out of business or have not yet gotten their licenses. (Long story. You don't want to know.)

Also, if you decide to go with one of the ferry packages, I rather like the Maui Prince and the Starwood properties. The Prince is an older hotel that's in a fairly secluded area just south of Wailea ($$$$$ resort area) and just north of "Big Beach," one of the finest on-island. Starwood operates a Westin Hotel and a Sheraton hotel that I can see from my house. They're both nice. The Westin is in the thick of the Kaanapali resort, next door to a smallish shopping center called Whaler's Village, and the Sheraton is adjacent to and atop Black Rock, about a half-mile down the beach walk from the Westin hotel. (Kaanapali proper is kind of a 1970s "strand" of hotels, condos, and timeshares on an outstanding beach -- particularly from the Westin to the Sheraton.) Just north of Black Rock, Westin has also opened two brand new timeshare Villa resorts that are also very nice and on a great beach.

I know I mentioned the drive, but South Maui (Kihei/Wailea/Makena) and West Maui (Lahaina/Kaanapali/Napili/Kapalua) have the largest variety of accommodations on good beaches. It really depends on how you want to spend your time on Maui, I guess. If you're just driving around during the day, an overnight in Kahului or Wailuku might be fine.

I hope this is not TMI. Really.

[kixette]

OH NO! Not TMI - PERFECT info! thanks! I wasn't sure about the prince or starwood, and they truly sound completely up my sisters alley.
I had found a hostel that sounded like if it was just me and my boyfriend would REALLY be fun but with my sister and her impressionable daughter the prince would probably be more fitting.
I think we'll stay two days - so we can explore both sides of the island - when in Oahu we pretty much took turns going up the windward and leeward sides every other day and exploring. We will LOVE Maui I think the slow pace will be perfect.