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| ByNancy Schretter: Spectacular views of Maui. |
Maui is a popular port of call for many cruise lines, including Holland America, Princess, Carnival and Norwegian. The island is filled with exciting activities and adventures, but Maui’s spectacular scenery is not to be missed. It’s a large part of what makes The Magic Isle so special.
Many
cruise passengers choose to take a driving tour that showcases Maui’s
beauty. These types of excursions are readily available through the
cruise lines and private tour companies. Those who prefer to go it
alone can easily rent
a carat Maui’s Kahului Airport or another
convenient location and explore Maui independently.
There
are a number of great road shows on Maui, some longer than others.
Here are three of my favorites:
1.
Climb to Haleakala’s Summit. Haleakala
National Park is one of Maui’s most surreal places. At 10,023 feet
high, Haleakala (House of the Sun) is the earth’s largest dormant
active volcano with a crater that spans over 19 square miles.
Haleakala is a sacred spot for Hawaiians and those who come here will
quickly understand why. It’s an amazing place.
There
are many ways to see Haleakala. One of the peak travel experiences of
my life was watching the sunrise from Haleakala’s summit. If the
conditions are right, making the nighttime drive and watching the
morning sunrise can be a peaceful moment of spiritual renewal. It’s
nice to know I have company – Mark Twain stated that this
experience was “the sublimest spectacle of his life.” Getting out
of bed at 2:30 a.m. to see this can be difficult, but it was well
worth it. Norwegian Cruise
Line offers both sunrise and sunset tours of
Haleakala, as do private tour companies. If you go at sunrise, stay
in the park to hike, stop in at the Haleakala Visitor Center and look
for the endangered nene (Hawaiian goose) and the threatened Haleakala
silversword plants that grow only at this location.
If
seeing the sunrise isn’t possible, simply take a tour or drive up
Highway 378 (Haleakala Crater Road) during the day. Actually, there’s
nothing particularly simple about it. Ascending steeply from sea
level to over 10,000 feet, Haleakala Crater Road has over 30
switchbacks as well as blind turns and steep drop-offs without the
benefit of guardrails. Bring warm clothing for your excursion. If
you’re driving instead of taking a tour, fill up your gas tank
before making the trip and check on current conditions – although
the weather changes constantly. Other popular excursions allow
cruisers to see Haleakala by bike and on horseback.
2.
Take the Road to Hana. Like
all of these routes, the Road to Hana is all about the journey. Take
the time to savor the experience. If your ship is remaining in Maui
for two days as Norwegian Cruise Line does, this trip is
quite easy to do. Norwegian offers multiple Road to Hana tours, or
you can rent a car and go it on your own. Fill up your car
with gas and plan to arrive at around 7 a.m. in Pa’ia. Have
breakfast at Charley’s Restaurant or stop at the T. Komoda Store &
Bakery on Baldwin Avenue in Makawao to pick up a few tasty pastries
for the road. Then head out on the Hana Highway (“the Road to
Hana”) before most of the crowds arrive. You’ll benefit from the
early start, as many stops near waterfalls and scenic overlooks have
a limited number of parking spaces.
There
are lots of roadside stands, waterfalls, corkscrew turns, one-lane
bridges, wayside parks, botanical gardens and picture-perfect spots
along the journey to Hana. Some of the best include Kaumahina State
Wayside Park, Honomanu Bay County Beach Park, Ke’anae Arboretum,
Ke’anae Peninsula Lookout, Wailua and Wailua Valley Wayside Park,
Pua’a Ka’a State Park, Ka’eleku Caverns, the Hana Lava Tube,
and the tiny town of Nahiku. Hike the Waikomoi Ridge Trail and don’t
miss walking along the black sand beach and exploring the freshwater
caves at Wai’anapanapa State Park. In addition, stop to sample some
freshly baked banana
bread at Aunty Sandy’s Keanae Landing Fruit
Stand or Halfway to Hana.
The
one-way drive to Hana can easily take three or more hours if you’re
planning to stop along the way. Don’t just rush to Hana – the
stops are a large part of what makes this drive so much fun. After
arriving in Heavenly Hana, take the time to browse through the over a
century-old Hasegawa General Store, take a swim in one of the many
pools at Ohe’o Gulch (sometimes called the “Seven Sacred Pools”
although there are dozens more) and stroll along Hamoa Beach –
regarded as one of the country’s most stunning strands.
3.
Wind Your Way to Maui’s ‘Iao Valley. Many
Maui shore excursions include a visit to picturesque ‘Iao Valley.
On your tour, you’ll travel through Wailuku and then curve north
into the majestic ‘Iao Valley, an eroded volcanic canyon-like
caldera shrouded in rainforest. This region is home to the 4,000-acre
‘Iao Valley State Park and the ‘Iao Needle, a rocky
vegetation-covered pinnacle rising 1200 feet up from the valley’s
floor. If you’re renting
a car while
visiting Maui, this is a quick and easy drive. Plan to spend several
hours up here hiking and exploring the area – it’s magical.
Located along Iao Valley Road, the 35-acre Hawaii Nature Center
features a lovely rainforest walk and numerous exhibits providing
information on the life of native Hawaiians and the history of the
‘Iao Valley area.
If
You Go:
*
If you think you might want to rent a car while your ship
is visiting Maui, make your reservation in advance. Rental cars are
readily available on Maui, but they can be in high demand. Companies
such as BudgetRent-a-Car have
offices at Maui’s Kahului Airport and in Wailea.
*
For more information on planning your visit to Maui, go to The Magic
Isle’s website at www.visitmaui.com
by
Nancy
Schretter Managing Editor of the Family
Travel Network.
