Things to do for Free in Maui

Last post I said that I would publish some great things to do for free here in Maui. Of course there are great Maui activities that you can pay for, and I will cover some of them, but not everything great will cost you a lot of money in life. One qualifier... public transportation is not great here, so you will still need to rent a car while in Hawaii, unless you really don't want to see more than your hotel room and pool - which should be a punishable crime. And of course, gas prices here are not cheap. You're looking at between $3.50-$4.00 per gallon, depending on grade and island you're going to.

I'll start with with both my wife's and my favorite drive. It is the drive around the North/East side of the West Maui Mountains. This drive is exceptionally beautiful. I know many will say that you should start from the Lahaina or Kapalua side and drive East. However, I am partial to starting in Wailuku and making our way around to the North from there on State Hwy 340. On this drive you will have vast ocean views over rocky cliffs, green bouldery hillside that will remind you of Scotland or Ireland, lush tropical vegetation, and an old Hawaiian village. Despite some of the narrow, bumpy & winding roads, this area of Maui is so peaceful. Be sure to stop along the way to get out of the car and take it all in. Also, some rental car companies here have restrictions on where you can drive on the island, please be forewarned.

Free Maui Activities?

My mother-in-law has been visiting us here in Maui for the past several weeks. She came over for the birth of our second child, but how can you come to Maui and not be a tourist? This also gives us a great opportunity to be tourists ourselves. No matter how much one tries to take advantage of living in paradise, life seems to crowd in and prevent the enjoyment that living here can bring. So really now we have an excuse to take in the island beauty.

Over the next few days I will write and share about some of our tourist excursions. Believe it or not, there are some great things to do for Free while in Hawaii - not all Maui activities will cost you an arm and a leg. So we'll talk about that some too. Tonight we're going to a Luau in Wailea... which is not one of the "free" activities, but I'll report on that as well.

Winter's Back!

We are coming into my favorite time here in Hawaii. The winter season is so refreshing an enjoyable, particularly in Maui. The trade winds are blowing, the humidity is subsided and some small rain showers to round everything out. Overall a very enjoyable climate. I also heard that the Whales have started to make an appearance in our wonderful waters. This also means that the whale watching tours will soon be taking off. My wife and I went out on a boat last year to see the whales. I will say that we were both pleasantly surprised with the adventure. We definitely are looking forward to this upcoming season to get back out there to enjoy the sun and the brilliant blue seas, and of course the massive beautiful beasts!

Overwhelmed

Today is a good day. It's clear, sunny and beautiful here in Maui. It's warm, though not too hot. I try not to take for granted that this is my home. I step out of my front door and look straight into the splendor of the West Maui Mountains. I take a walk down my street and am in awe of Haleakela rising out of the mighty Pacific. I am grateful that this is my home. You know though, after living here for years there is still so much to see and do. I anticipate checking off the list.. the hikes, the tours, the snorkel spots.. Maybe one day I'll have seen all of Hawaii from the air. One day. Until then I will enjoy today and thank God for the air I get to breathe here in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Being September 11th we want to take a moment and honor all those that fought for the safety and preservation of life just eight years ago. May we not forget the threat that we were under then and still remains today. The worst thing we could do is to ignorantly move forward thinking that things have been resolved or the problem of terrorism is behind us. Never forget. They haven't.

Hello all... sorry for the lack of correspondence over the past few months. My wife and I have been traveling plenty and maintaining a blog fell to the bottom of the list. But we should be back! Of course things at Ohana Fun have been going great and moving forward! I look forward sharing this and more with you soon, including some of the fun activities we have been able to participate in both in Honolulu and Maui recently.

Royal Lahaina Beach Luau

Here at Ohana Fun! we love to take part in many of the activities that we offer. After all, how can we hand-on-heart recommend something that we have not tried? Last night we were guests at the Royal Lahaina Luau, at the Luau Gardens and my, what fun it was!

From the start we were treated to creation's finest as we watched the warm afternoon sun slip below the horizon as the cool island-breezes played with the palm fronds. As the light faded the show from the stage began to dazzle.

But first it was a trip to the buffet where typical Hawaiian fare catered to all tastes and left no-one hungry. Central to the buffet was the Pulled Pork but special mention should go to the Mahi-Mahi which was, for me, a highlight. A variety of Island deserts to finish with really did sweeten the deal.

And to drink, sir? If you somehow escaped the pre-show drinks and evaded the many bars on the way to your table you could not manage to avoid the attention of the waiters who made it a point of pride not to leave anyone without. If rum's your thing then your smile will be fixed for the evening. The mai tais were to perfection, but the bar staff are equally adept with your drink of choice. A good selection of virgin drinks complemented the menu adding options for everybody.

Seated comfortably, the show began. The live band provided the sounds as a backdrop to a walk through history from Tahiti to Hawaii, narrated through dance. We discovered how Hawaiians trace their ancestry and along the way we experienced the different dances, costumes and music of this beautiful culture. The dances ranged from mellow to the exotic with a highlight being the fire dances.

The whole show was slick, engaging and with great variation. The end came all too soon and I was left wondering to myself where that time went! The evening was a sensual feast and I left exhilarated and completely absorbed in the fun of it all. If you're in Maui and only have a few days, I would mark the Royal Lahaina Luau as a priority for one of your evenings! You wont be disappointed.

Maui Rain!

What a wonderful day of constant rain!  A refreshing break from the heat of the last couple of days, almost like we're not even in Hawaii.  So it's a good day to be in the office.  Get some work done... a day of brainstorming even.

It's nice actually to get some peace and quiet.  It seems like every conversation I get in lately is about the economy, and the "economic situation".  I'm not sure how I feel about this.  You know, certainly it's a good reminder to spend wisely, but we also need to keep fear in perspective.

Most of our information on this "economic situation" comes from a media blast that doesn't completely reflect the reality that we live in.  However, we buy into it.  We yield ourselves to the constant drone of "hard economic times", it scares us into a corner, and we're saturated in fear and greed.  But we don't want that.  We want to live free.  We need a reality check, absent of propaganda.

You know, my wife and I were on a flight from LA to Maui last week, and yet again I was shocked at how full the plane was.  There sure still seems to be ample of travelers, and travelers to Hawaii none the less, in these "economically difficult times".  Don't get me wrong, I know that there are people suffering out there due to some economic situations... my problem is that these sufferings are a result of greed and people not living in reality.  We need a reality check.

Or maybe you need a Hawaiian vacation!  Actually, maybe I need a Hawaiian vacation!  That's more like it... I need to get on some of these Maui activities.

A Happy Hawaiian New Year!

We at Ohana Fun! just want to wish you all a happy New Year. Now that the holidays are over, everyone is buckling down again and getting down to business - which is Maui, Big Island, Kauai and Oahu activities of course.

We always want business to be fun and trust that this coming year will be a prosperous one for people, and that you all would have fun! Make sure you take time for family and enjoy those vacations. Especially you should take some time out and make your way to for some great family Hawaii activities and attractions.

Do not be overwhelmed. Do not fall prey to the economic hysteria. Press forward. How do you eat an elephant? The same as anything else, one bite at a time.