Until the Honua Kai's Spa is open you'll have to settle for this

If heaven and earth collided, it would be the Spa Grande. One step inside this massive 50,000-square-foot sanctuary and it’s easy to tell that this is no ordinary spa. From its luxurious decor and furnishings to its distinctive treatment options, this is one spot where rest and relaxation are serious business.

The pampering begins right away with a dizzying array of hot tubs, plunge pools, jet showers and aromatic baths—and that’s before the actual treatment even begins. The spa’s “East Meets West on the Shores of Maui”motto is carried out by balancing both Eastern and Western principles, while infusing ancient Hawaiian beliefs into the mix as well.Move from one culture to the next as you rinse in one of the Japanese furo baths, dip into the Roman hot tub or unwind with a Hawaiian lomi lomi massage.

Taking a cue from its surroundings, the spa also utilizes the healing plants of Hawaii cultivated and processed here on Maui. So for a slice of heaven right here in paradise, dip into the Spa Grande.

First Place:
Grand Wailea Spa
Grand Wailea Resort Hotel&Spa
3850Wailea Alanui Drive
Wailea, Maui
808-875-1234
Second Place:
Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
3900Wailea Alanui Drive •Wailea, Maui
808-874-8000

Third Place:
Heavenly Spa by Westin
Westin Maui Resort & Spa
2365 Kaanapali Parkway • Lahaina, Maui
808-667-2525

• ISBN13: 9780967007243
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Product Description
A guide for families and outdoor adventurers alike, Maui Trailblazer 2009 covers all of the island, and includes day trips to the neighboring islands of Molokai, Lanai, and Molokini.

Clear directions and concise descriptions lead to all of Maui’s well-known attractions, as well as to hidden discoveries that Trailblazer readers have come to expect.

137 different hikes and strolls to tropical rain forests and remote valleys, coastal bluffs and lava caves, Haleakala crater and the Hana Highway, cascading waterfalls, beaches, ridgetops, towns, whale-watching perches, historic sites, and archeological ruins.

Among the 44 snorkeling spots are hike-to coves and the secret places that tour boats go.

Kayakers can pick from about 20 put-ins.

Surfers can select from 38 beaches and decide whether to boogie, board, or body surf. Onlookers will find the best places to watch the surfers, windsurfers and kite-boarders ride the big ones.

The text is complimented by 10 maps and 240 photographs. Driving tours-nine of them-take readers to all the attractions, natural wonders, and historic sites.

A Resource Links section provides numbers for free visitor information and recreational outfitters, as well as hand-picked accommodations and local restaurants to suit every budget and taste bud.

A Best Of section lets you pick the right activity to suit your mood and the day. Appendices include free hula shows, farmer’s markets, what to pack, climate, history, fauna, and a Hawaiian glossary.

This new and completely revised third edition for 2009 includes a Trailblazer Kids section for adventuring families. Maui Trailblazer: Where to Hike, Snorkel, Paddle, Surf, Drive

Every time we mention the Road to Hana to folks someone wants to drive it in their rental car.  If you read the fine print on your rental agreement you can NOT go to the very south end of Maui – the roads are not paved and there is NO cell service.    If you drive to Hana the shortest way back is around the south end of Maui – doubling back is hours longer.  ALL rental cars now have GPS hidden in them and they can tell if you do go there – and get zapped with a huge repair bill.

Let a tour van service drive you and your family and you will thank me after they drop you off at your resort after the sun sets and you are just beat – and you didn’t drive.  We have taken Valley Isle Excursions so many times I’ve lost count – they are fantastic.  Their van picks you up as the sun rises, takes you for breakfast, drives you until lunch time, see Hana, then they drive the south Maui route to a winery, and then they head back to your resort.  This is an all day event and it is just a blast.

You definitely want to sit in Captains’ chairs during the ride since the van sways left and right about 700 times during the day.  Your van driver will stop at fruit stands and flower gardens during the day and you will learn more about Maui than any book can teach.

Vendor: Valley Isle Excursions
Product: Hana Classic Tour *
Description: The road to Hana is one of the most breathtaking drives on earth, fifty two miles, 617 curves, 56 one lane bridges, pineapple fields, spectacular cliffs, bamboo jungles and waterfalls. Enjoy an informative narrated tour of the Famed Road to Hana and beyond. Stop at waterfalls, stroll unique sand beaches, stop at the Wainapanapa State Park, see Charles Lindbergh’s Gravesite, and Swim at the Pools of O’heo . Lunch is served at the Hana Fresh Farmers Market where guests can shop for fresh fish, fruit and vegetables. *
Operates: Daily
Departure Point: Pick-up and return from hotel or condo.
Duration: All Day
Equipment: Luxurious Tour Vans with individual captains chairs and vertical viewing windows.
Capacity: Maximum of 12 passengers.
Inclusions: Continental Breakfast, Buffet Style Hot Picnic Lunch.
Menu: Breakfast: Bagels and Cream Cheese, Fresh Fruit, Muffins, Juice and Coffee.
Lunch: Hot Baked BBQ Chicken Breast, Macaroni Salad, Fresh Garden Salad, Bread Rolls, Dessert, Assorted Beverages (Vegetarian Plates available upon request). Served on tablecloths with china and silverware. Complimentary cold beverages served all day.
*Restrictions: Not recommended for pregnant women or small children.

Click here for more information or to order.

• PolarizedPlus2 Technology All Maui Jim Sunglasses block glare and UV from all angles, manage blue light, and then boost colors for unmatched color, clarity, and contrast.
• Polycarbonate Lens For intense sports activities and active lifestyles, Maui Jim Polycarbonate lenses are optically correct to ensure crisp optics. Theyre lightweight, comfortable, extremely impact resistant, and feature Clearshell scratch-resistant coating.
• Beta-Titanium Alloy Contains titanium, aluminum and vanadium for maximum strength and flexibility.
• Eye Size 65, Bridge 18, Temple 135, 8 Base.
• For Oblong, Round, Oval, Diamond, Pear face shapes.

Product Description
Island Origins
In the early 1980s, a small company began selling sunglasses on the beautiful beaches of Maui, Hawaii. However, the sunglasses quickly proved to be no match for the Hawaiian sun’s severe glare and harmful ultraviolet rays. Everyone wanted sunglasses that would eliminate glare without distorting the beautiful colors of the island scenery. Since no other sunglasses on the market could meet this specialized need, the company developed their own… More >>

Ka’anapali Sunglasses

• ISBN13: 9780756632397
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Product Description
Packed with insider tips for every visitor – from the top 10 beaches to the top 10 golf courses, restaurants and night-time hot spots – this guide provides the insider knowledge every visitor needs.

Top 10 Maui, Molokai & Lanai

Right around Thanksgiving humpback whales start arriving in Maui.  Early December is an ideal time to visit Maui -- just before the busy holiday season and when fellow tourists are just starting to shovel snow back on the mainland.

Anyway the Honua Kai is the place to stay and you can see whales from your villa, if you have an ocean view.  I found some great YouTube shots of whales -- we see this kind of stuff all the time when we go whale watching on Maui.

Enjoy…

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QidyXq0fw8U

For you surfer folks here is Jaws which starts in December too:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yX_uVQ9OKA

This is why Maui is the #1 island in the world
and the #1 destination too!

What are you waiting for?  Book your stay at the Honua Kai with me and you will get the lowest rates possible:

Honua Kai Owner’s deep discount reservations
that you can use too -- just click the above icon

Click here to make a reservation. You will be asked for “Enter Membership Number” please type in 60001X and make your reservations.   If you have specific requests like a view or floor you can call 877-662-2809 and a reservation agent will help you -- give them my Ambassador Number of 60001X to get the owner’s discount.

Disappointing meals (and there are a lot of them on Maui) can totally ruin a dream vacation. Don’t leave your planning to chance or rely on slick advertising-driven guides. Other tourist books with their capsule “reviews” don’t come close to the insight you’ll get from opinionated, knowledgeable restaurant critics who live on Maui.

Food journalists James and Molly Jacobson are two big-city-exiles who live on Maui and dine out an average of 11 times per week. Their honest, take-no-prisoners review guide is written with the philosophy that people who love to eat and prefer not to waste money on bad food should know the truth about Maui’s well-marketed dining scene.

Tens of thousands of elated and relieved visitors have trusted Top Maui Restaurants (both the online version and previous editions of this book) to guide them to the best eats on Maui.

In this 2010 edition you’ll find:
* The top romantic restaurants worth the splurge.
* The best inexpensive but tasty places.
* Hidden gems you wouldn’t find unless a local revealed the secret.
* A user-friendly reference to help you fulfill any food craving.
* Insider secrets and tips to help you get the most out of your Maui vacation.

NEW for 2010: A brand new Top Maui Tips section with useful, insider information to get the most out of your Maui vacation. Our best recommendations for planning that special wedding or anniversary event. Includes our top picks for great activities and cultural events.

Dining out on Maui is more expensive than any place else in America. For less than the price of a bad breakfast, this handbook could save your vacation. Top Maui Restaurants 2010 from Thrifty to Four star: Indispensable Advice from Experts Who Live, Play and Eat on Maui

Maui Arts & Cultural Center

Don’t be a carpetbagger and visit Maui without learning something about Hawaiian and Maui culture – lucky for you there are many places to pickup some culture while staying on Maui.  Try to imagine life on Maui without the Maui Arts & Cultural Center; It can’t be done.

Celebrating its 16th anniversary this year, the MACC is the undisputed cultural center of Maui.

It will come as no surprise to island residents, who have seen their children grow up dancing hula, or ballet, in the studios, then have watched many of the greatest dance artists in the world set foot on the same stage in Castle Theater.

“On behalf of all of us at the Maui Arts &Cultural Center, we are happy that our community enjoys the wide spectrum of programs we offer,” says Hokulani Holt, kumu hula and the MACC’s director of cultural programs.

“We invite our friends and neighbors to come and enjoy some familiar or new experiences with us.Mahalo for this great honor.”

With a leadership change this summer that made Art Vento executive vice-president of operations and Teri Freitas Gorman executive vice-president of external affairs, the center’s tastes are as far-ranging and diverse as its multi-ethnic island home.

Popular artists like Jimmy Buffet, Journey or Sheryl Crow have packed the outdoor amphitheaters in recent months with crowds approaching 4,000. The moon, the palm trees and the balmy night air add their own contributions, making the experience unique for the artists as well as the audience.

In the mean time, the annual season presented by the MACC has brought the wide world of culture to our shores, from classical and jazz giants to artists sharing the distinctive voices of their distant homelands.

Maui Culture

Hawaiian culture—its dance, its music, its mana—has long been the bedrock of theMACC’s programming, fromits Ho‘onanea Music Series to its free Ki Ho‘alu (Slack Key) Festival, sponsored by The Maui News.

“Since opening in May of 1994, the MauiArts&Cultural Center has welcomed more than 3.2million people,” notes Freitas Gorman. “MACC is also Maui’s largest classroom with more than 21,000 students annually learning through its Can Do!Days and arts education programs. Last year alone, nearly 236,000 people participated in over 1,000 activities including performances, films, exhibits, classes, teacher workshops, student band concerts and amphitheater events. The Center’s visionary inaugural slogan, ‘It’s for all of us,’ has certainly become a reality.”

First Place:
The MACC
One CameronWay
Kahului, Maui
808-242-7469

Second Place:
Old Lahaina Luau
1251 Front St.
Lahaina, Maui
808-667-1998

Third Place:
‘Ulalena
Maui Theatre
Old Lahaina Center
Lahaina, Maui
808-661-9913

The history and culture of Maui and its fun to watch too!

We have seen ‘Ulalena many times – its a great show and oozes with Maui culture and folklore – I highly recommend adults see this; kids are bored to death.

When “‘Ulalena” opened almost 11 years ago, its Cirque du Soleil-inspired way of blending old and new, using dazzling stagecraft and technology to convey ancient myths and Hawaiian history, was considered bold and original. With some of the island’s best dancers, singers, aerialists and musicians bringing mythical gods, historical figures and even forces of nature to life, the dazzling production casts a spell bigger than the sum of its parts.

Beginning with the ancient creation chant, Kumulipo, it is not just a history lesson, but a journey into the soul of Hawaiian culture. Economic conditions dictated a reduction in weekly performances, but other challenges, including new competition have just energized “ ‘Ulalena,” which will celebrate its 11th anniversary later this year with special bargains for kamaaina.

The new “ ‘Ulalena” is greener, cutting energy costs by 60 percent, and fresher, which you’ll notice on a return visit. Its local connections run deep. “When ‘‘Ulalena’ was created, the purpose was to have a tourist show which inspired and gave local people pride and honor of the local culture,” says General Manager Dennis Preussler. “We wanted a show kamaaina would attend when guests visited, not just drop off and pick up.We feel these awards help to validate ourmission and we are going to work hard in the future to improve andmaintain our show.” “It just might be the perfect time to rediscover this Maui favorite,” says Maui Scene theater columnist Sky Barnhart—“and maybe even be blown away.”

First Place:
‘Ulalena
Maui Theatre, Old Lahaina Center
Lahaina, Maui
808-661-9913
ulalena.com

Second Place:
Maui Onstage
Historic Iao Theater
Wailuku, Maui
808-244-8680
Third Place:
Cirque Polynesia
Hyatt Regency Maui
Ka’anapali, Maui
808- 667-4540