We are going to Maui in July. We are debating between a condo (with ac) in Lahaina and a small cottage in the Haiku (with ceiling fans). We were wondering anyone has any comments about the advantages or disadvantages of staying in the Haiku area vs. Lahaina, especially relating to the lack of ac in the cottage in July. We are traveling with our two daughters age 25 and 17. I appreciate any advice you can give. Thanks.
Has anyone stayed in the Haiku area before? Lahaina vs...
When we visited last September, the weather was a few degrees cooler in Haiku than Lahaina I believe AC is of less value @ Haiku. But more importantly, IMO these two locations offer completely different Maui experiences.
Lahaina is probably the most touristy location on the island, a small town with lots of people, shopping, restaurants, etc.
It%26#39;s quaint and only 10 blocks long so it%26#39;s not obnoxious by any means. Lahaina is not generally known for its beaches so you could be driving to a good one, but there are a multitude of world class beaches and great snorkel spots nearby (5 to 45 minutes drive).
On the other hand, Haiku is not touristy at all. Rather, it%26#39;s a rural / residential area a few miles inland of the north shore, where the beaches are great for windsurfing but not snorkeling. It is closer to Hana, the funky little towns of Paia and Makawao, and the rest of Upcountry esp. Haleakala. Significantly fewer tourists, along with fewer dining and shopping alternatives.
Ultimately I guess it depends on what you%26#39;re going to Maui for. For a typical tropical vacation on the beach, you want to be west (Lahaina, Kaanapali, Napili, Kapalua) or south (Kihei, Wailea, Makena). On the other hand if you are less fond of the tourist stuff, and more of an outdoor person preferring hiking and exploring, seeking quiet and / or off-the beaten-track places, Haiku is a good home base.
Last year we spent a week based @ Kapalua, followed by a week @ Haiku. We did the typical Maui / beach stuff the first week, snorkeling and shopping all day, and dining out almost every meal. The Haiku week was spent discovering and relaxing at our pool, and we cooked most of our own meals. We enjoyed both weeks immensely because of the diversity of the overall atmosphere and experience, and we also got to experience a lot more of the island without so much driving.
I hope this helps a little, and that you enjoy your vacation.
Has anyone stayed in the Haiku area before? Lahaina vs...
Bump
We stayed in Haiku a couple of years ago in November. The place we stayed was www.hookipabayview.com -- our hosts were lovely and the property was unbelievable.
It was fantastic. It is definitely a different side of the island -- shacks interspersed with beautiful properties. There is lush vegetation and everything smells FANTASTIC.
We only had fans, and the only complaint we had was that because part of the cottage was open-air, it got a little damp inside on the one day when it rained all day (not wet, just humid). We tossed the sheets in the dryer and were happy campers. We were not there very much during the day, so I can%26#39;t really comment on the fans vs. a/c but we never found it too warm. Haiku is a bit upcountry. We actually found it a bit cool in the evenings.
The best part of staying in Haiku was the scenery. We had a beautiful view on a beautiful property. You definitely wouldn%26#39;t get the same experience in Lahaina.
It was a bit of a drive to the more populated part of the island -- about 45 minutes to Lahaina -- but the drive was quite scenic and never seemed that long.
One thing I would say is that if your kids are going to want to go off on their own, being off in Haiku is probably not the most convenient. There isn%26#39;t much to do in that area. There is one really good restaurant in Haiku (Colleen%26#39;s) but not much else, to my recollection. Paia isn%26#39;t too far from Haiku, and there is more to do there (restaurants and shops) but it%26#39;s definitely not a super busy area.
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