Kihei Canoe Club

Here's an activity you won't find offered by any activity broker.

The Kihei Canoe Club invites visitors to paddle their outrigger canoes with club members on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM. They will provide all needed instruction and equipment. No previous experience is required. A donation of $25 per adult is suggested. Plan to arrive at the club site by 7:15 AM as this is a very popular activity and is strictly first come first served. The club is located at the north end of Kihei Road, near its intersection with hwy 310. Just look for the canoes at the south end of the strip of condos. (see the map below)

During whale watching season this is also a great opportunity to sight some whales. Mother and calves often come close to shore in the area and if your timing is right you might get an up close and personal experience with these mighty animals.

Kihei Canoe Club's mission is to revive, develop, perpetuate and promote the Hawaiian traditions...

For more information see www.kiheicanoeclub.com

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Alexander and Baldwin Sugar Museum

The Sugar Factory is a hard place to miss on Maui. Driving from the Kahului Airport to just about anywhere on the island you'll see steam belching from the stacks and the stained and rusty buildings. If you look closely as you pass you'll see a sign that says, "Sugar Museum" and may wonder, "what's that all about?"

Well we finally had to stop and have a look. What we found was a thoroughly interesting journey through Maui's past. The Museum's six rooms of artifacts document how sugar changed the face of the island. For instance sugar led to the construction of Maui's vast (though mostly invisible to the visitor) irrigation system. Maui's ethnically diverse population is due in large part to laborers immigrating to work in the cane fields. In part the politics of growing and selling sugar led to Hawaii becomming a US Territory.

Most importantly the museum exhibits give a face to the people involved in this enterprise, whether they be the sugar barons or the lowly laborers. Did you know that Alexander and Baldwin, childhood friends, started with only 12 acres to plant or that Japanese immigrants signed "labor contracts" which in effect made them indentured servants?

The Sugar Museum doesn't have the flash and glitter of a modern facility, but is well worth the $5 admission fee.

It's located at 3957 Hansen Rd, Pu'unene. Where's Pu'unene? Well if you'd been to the Sugar Museum you'd know it's an old sugar town that's mostly gone today. It's just off highway 311 between Kahului and Kihei, just look for the steam coming from the stacks.

Sugar Museum Website

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Oneloa Beach (West Maui)

Oneloa Beach is a beautiful little strip of sand located within the Kapalau Resort area. Don't confuse it with the South Maui beach of the same name, which is better known as Big Beach.

Oneloa Beach is usually quiet and uncrowded. This seems a bit strange considering the huge number of condo's that sit behind it. It might have something to do with the location of the public access, which is a little hard to find. (directions and map below)

The public access path leads one down to the right side of the beach. You will find a long strip of sand with lava outcroppings at each end. There's a lava shelf here which makes swimming difficult. Walk to the far end of the beach and swimming and snorkeling conditions are usually much better. The beach can be windy and if the surfs up stay out of the water.

Directions: From highway 30 in Kapalua take Office Road until it ends, then turn left. Make a right onto Ironwood Lane and you'll find a small beach access parking lot.

Amenities

• No lifeguards
• No facilities, well there is a faucet at the parking lot
• Good snorkeling, swimming, body boarding
• Parking lot appears to have about 15 spaces
• Dangerous high surf and strong currents sometimes present in the winter

See Hawaii Beach Safety for current conditions and safety tips.


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Haleakala Wilderness Cabins

Haleakala National Park maintains three wilderness cabins available to visitors through an advanced reservation lottery. These cabins are only accessible by trail. The cabins are rudimentary, no electricity, no running water and use pit toilets. A limited amount of firewood is provided along with a propane stove. The cabins have bunks for twelve and cost $75 per night.

Holua Cabin
The closest cabin, lies at 6,940 feet (2,115 meters) in the shrubland near Koolau Gap, 3.7 miles down the Halemauu Trail or 7.4 miles down Keoneheehee Trail. Visitors staying at Holua can enjoy day hikes into the central Wilderness Area. The landscape around Holua supports a native shrubland which colonized the lava flows. There is also a campground at Holua.

Kapalaoa Cabin
Located 5.5 miles down the Keoneheehee or 7.3 miles from Halemauu Trailhead, the cabin lies at the base of the cliffs on the south side of the valley. The view from Kapalaoa takes in brightly colored cinder cones, subalpine plants, and dramatic cliffs. In the spring and summer months, the endangered uau (Hawaiian dark-rumped petrel) can occasionally be heard and seen near the high cliffs. This cabin lies at 7,250 feet (2,210 meters). There is no campsite near Kapalaoa cabin.

Paliku Cabin
Situated at 6,380 feet (1,945 meters), is at the east end of the wilderness valley at the base of a rain forest cliff. The cabin is reached via a strenuous 9.3-mile hike on Keoneheehee Trail, 10.1 miles on Halemauu Trail, or 8.6 miles up the Kaupo Trail. Clouds and fog often roll over the top of the cliffs behind Paliku. The extra moisture makes this spot exceptionally cool and lush. There is also a campground at Paliku.

Requesting a Cabin
Cabins are reserved through a monthly lottery. Each cabin is rented to only one group per night. To enter the monthly lottery, your request must be received 2 months prior to the first day of the month for which you are requesting a reservation. For example, to request any date in May, your request must be received before March 1.

For more information see the Haleakala National Park Website

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Tedeschi Vineyards

Tedeschi Vineyards is Maui's only commercial winery. Located in the Ulupalakua region of Maui's "Upcountry" Tedeschi Vineyards makes a beautiful side trip. Driving the winding road to the winery you'll climb and dip amid lush rolling hills and ranch land and enjoy incredible vistas of Maui's central valley and the West Maui Mountains.

The winery is part of the Ulupalakua Ranch, a 20,000 acre working cattle ranch. Here paniolos, Hawaii's cowboys, still herd cattle on horseback. Ulupalakua Ranch has a rich history, but that's another story.

In 1974 Emil Tedeschi, a California vintner leased a portion of the ranch to be used for vineyards and a winery. While waiting for the first grape crop, Tedeschi experimented with pineapple wine. In 1977 Maui Blanc Pineapple Wine was released. Maui Brut, released in 1984, was the wineries first grape product. Today the winery sells wines made from grapes, pineapple, passion fruit and even raspberries.

The tasting room is located in the "Kings Cottage," one of the most historic buildings on the island of Maui. The cottage was built in 1874 specifically for the visit of Hawaii's king David Kalakaua. The King visited the ranch often afterwards. The centerpiece of the Tasting Room is an eighteen-foot-long bar cut from the trunk of a single mango tree.

The tasting room is open seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Three free guided tours of the winery are offered each day at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.

For more information see www.mauiwine.com


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Haleki'i and Pihana Heiau

Haleki'i and Pihana Heiau are two of the most accessible of Maui's remaining pre-contact Hawaiian structures of religious and historical importance. Located about 1/4 mile inland on a hill between Wailuku and Waiehu, they overlook Iao Stream, Kahului Bay, Wailuku Plain and Paukukalo Hawaiian Homestead.

According to the State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources a heiau is a Hawaiian religious structure which centralized the ceremonies and rituals of old Hawaii. The construction of a heiau was directed by the highest chiefs and required a great expenditure of organized labor. The ceremonies and offerings at a heiau were overseen by a priest or kahunas.

Haleki'i translates to "house of images." It is believed that Haleki'i heiau was a chiefly complex with images placed on the terraces. Kahekili, chief of Maui, lived and worshiped at Haleki'i during religious observances in the 1760s.

Pihana, or Pihanakalani, translates to "gathering place of high supernatural beings." Pihana is recorded as a luakina heiau. Luakini heiaus were dedicated to the god of war, and were built for success in war.

In 1819, the traditional Hawaiian religion was abolished. At this time the images were taken away and the heiaus were abandoned.

Today, a visit to the site begins at a paved parking lot. A short walk up a pathway leads to the Haleki'i site. To the left are the original foundations of the heiau. Notice the terraces on the hillside below the foundations. To the right is a foundation reconstructed in 1958 for a replica of one of the buildings.

About a 1/4 mile walk along a well marked path takes one to the Pihana Site. As you walk look at the hill ahead and to the left. Along its slope you can still see part of the original stone retaining wall. Near the end of the path turn left and walk up the hill and you're at the Pihana site. There's not much visible here other than a marker erected by the State. But consider for a moment, it's believed that human sacrifice took place here.

To find Haleki'i and Pihana Heiau Drive past the Wailuku Industrial Area toward Waihe'e, turn left on Kuhio Place and then left on Hea Place and up the hill.

This is definitely an off the beaten path side trip. When we visited during mid-afternoon we had the site all to ourselves.

Maui Museum's article.

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Big Beach and Little Beach

Big Beach, officially named Oneloa Beach, and also called Makena Beach, is one of Hawaii's most fabulous strands of sand. It's two thirds of a mile long and 100 feet wide, with transparent waters and a magnificent view. In a Hawaii Magazine anniversary poll, Big Beach was named the number one favorite among its readers.

Little Beach is to the right of Big Beach. Little Beach is also known as Pu'u Ola'i Beach, after the lava outcropping you must hike over to get to it. It's an 1/8 of a mile strand of beach that's great for snorkeling and diving. It's also very crowded. Why, you ask is it so crowded? Because even though public nudity is illegal in Hawaii, that law is generally ignored here.

To find Big Beach and Little Beach drive past Wailea and Makena till you see the signs for Makena State Park. There are two paved parking areas for Big Beach and an unpaved one farther along that is sometimes open.

Services and Amenities

• Sandy beach
• Portable toilets
• Picnic tables
• Paved parking lots
• Shady areas
• Hiking trails
• Good swimming, snorkeling, body boarding
• Seasonal high surf

Cautions:
Monitor ocean conditions closely. Strong currents and surf possible. There's a steep dropoff from the beach to deep water. Obey all postings and warnings.

Here's an aerial view of Big Beach and Little Beach supplied by Blue Hawaiian Helecopters.

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