1st time visit to Maui..what to do?

[sephoir]

You can hardly go wrong and chances are that whatever you do and where ever you decide to go you will still enjoy Maui a whole lot. One of the best list I've seen of the places that and things that I personally enjoy the most are:
1. Haleakala National Park
2. Horseback Riding on Maui
3. Maui Eco-Tours, Hiking & Nature Walks
4. Maui Bicycle Tours
5. Maui Night Entertainment

[leavingcali]

Eat at Mama's Fish House at sunset. Very pricey, but worth it.

Purchase the book "Maui Revealed." This series is amazing...lots of great info, hotel and restaurant ratings, etc. The best guide book I have ever read.

Definitely snorkel. I've swam with sea turtles everywhere I've snorkeled in Maui, from Ka'anapali down to Wailea. It's always an amazing experience. Once on the Big Island a turtle swam up to me and let me gently caress its back. WOW!! They are peaceful, beautiful creatures.

Go to Big Beach for the day and play in the waves and lay on the expanse of golden sand. It might be my favorite place in this world. Go to Little Beach if you wanna go nude or see some nudity. Grab some ono nachos at Jawz...yummy!

As another poster remarked, everyone's gotta do the Road to Hana at least once.

Just be there and feel the aloha. Hawaii is a very spiritual place for some--if you stay present, you'll experience the aina and mana in a way that will change your life.

[mauimate]

Snorkel til you drop at Black Rock. Go around the point and you will see plenty of turtles and an occasional ray. Try mile marker 14 for the black sand beach snorleling. Honolua Bay is outstanding for snorkeling. Kapalua beach is great for tanning and the snorkeling is good. Did I mention that I love to snorket? MUST eat at the Paia fish market. Great food and less expensive than Mama's. Hula Grill and Lelani's on the beach at Kaanapali is a wonderful experience. Did I mention that I like to eat? Breathe the air, swim in the surf, and chill out, its all good.

[whynot?]

Welcome to Maui and to our marathon, jxn3000. I've been watching this thread because I am always curious what frequent visitors like most, and as someone who lives here, I agree with most of the suggestions.

I know that mauimate's "snorkel til you drop" was meant in good fun, but even though you must be fit to be a marathoner and snorkeling isn't rocket science, it's important to pay attention to basic safety rules. Black Rock in particular has some wicked riptides, and I have seen experienced swimmers struggle trying to beat against them. If you can't make progress from one side to the other, get out and walk to the other side and try the other direction. (Just thread your way through the Sheraton property.) The water around Black Rock is fairly deep, and even though there are usually quite a few people there, it's best not to swim alone. Sadly, a 43-year old man from California drowned there earlier this week. COUNTY / IN BRIEF - Mauinews.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Visitor's Information - The Maui News

And while most return visitors are well aware of Hawaii's love of the aina, or land, we also love our water and the creatures in it. Please do not approach the dolphins, seals, or turtles. If they swim toward you, the polite (legal) thing to do is stop and let them pass. It is also illegal to feed them or touch them. Here is a brief NOAA guide for observing them: Hawaii Viewing Guidelines: Overview - Office of Protected Resources - NOAA Fisheries . The sea turtles are protected by the 1973 Endangered Species Act, which includes fines up to $20,000.

If you follow all of the advice here, you will be very busy indeed. I'm seeing more serious runners in Ka'anapali every day now. We always walk down and cheer at the finish. Best wishes for a fun stay and a great finish.

E komo mai.