First off, you should understand that Kamaole Beach Park II is one of the nicest beaches I have ever been to in my life (and I've been to quite a few beaches). Kamaole Beach Park II is nearly half a mile of golden sand that is met by gentle ocean waves, calm enough to go swimming in, and warm as bathwater. But, if nearly half a mile of beach isn't quite grand enough for you, you can walk a few stairs and across the grass over to Kamaole Beach Park I, which is nearly twice as long as Park II, and tends to be a bit more crowded. On the other side of Kamaole Beach Park II, you will find Park III, which is smaller than the others but just as lovely.
While Kamaole Beach Park II may be the Hale Pau Hana's backyard, the frontyard is the conveniently located S. Kihei Rd. where you will find a Whalers General Store, S and Q's Coffee and Shave Ice Shack (yum), the Cinnamon Roll Place (also yum), and several other fun shops and restaurants. If you travel further down the road it will lead you to several more shops, boutiques, tourist activities, surf shops, restaurants, grocery stores, a farmers market and more. Additionally, Kihei's overall location is ideal for those seeking to soak up some sun. Located on the West shore of Maui and residing in the rain shadow of Haleakala (one of Maui's mountains), Kihei receives less annual rainfall than most other parts of the island.
The view from Omi's.
After our exhausting journey the previous day, Aaron and I started our first, groggy morning in Maui by jumping straight into the warm, salty ocean. If that didn't wake us up, nothing would! Next it was to the farmer's market for produce, and Foodland for any additional food items. When on the islands you will generally find a better selection of food at Safeway or Costco, but since we had not yet picked up a rental car and were traveling by foot, Foodland was more reasonable in terms of distance. As for refreshments? Nothing better than sitting on the lanai sipping on rum and Pog. We had food, drinks, the beach and each other, and for the next several days we woke up early, went running on the beach, swimming in the ocean, ate delicious home-cooked breakfasts, started drinking much too early, lounged in lawn chairs reading from our books, baked in the sun on the sand playing games of smashball, jumped in the ocean to cool off, ran across the street to S and Q's Coffee and Shave Ice Shack to share a coconut and mango shave ice topped off with haupia (coconut cream), then back to the beach until our stomachs started rumbling. For dinner we would grill up steak or chicken, make a kale salad loaded with tons of fresh veggies and fruits, and to accompany our meal: a glass of wine. After dinner we typically dunked ourselves in the Hale Pau Hana's pool and watched the sunset. But we weren't done yet! Next was crossing the street for some ice cream and a stroll down the moonlit beach. After a few days of this general routine we decided to go exploring and make a visit to one of my favorite towns on the island, Lahaina. But first we needed a car!
If you've ever rented a car, you know it can be expensive. But not if you're thrift savvy! Kehei Rent-A-Car offers roughly (emphasis on the "roughly") used vehicles for a fraction of the price of what a newer rental costs. We were given a 2004 Nissan Seneca that looked as though it had gone through just about everything shy of being totalled. Banged up, scraped up, torn up, and I'm not even sure how to describe the smell, but for a five day rental it was just over $100 after tax (and they shuttle you to the airport)! We were ready to explore and head to our first destination: Lahaina.
Once the royal capitol of the Kingdom of Hawaii, Lahaina is rich in culture and bountiful in its natural (and less natural) attractions. From it's beautiful beaches, Lahaina harbor, and of course the famed banyon tree located on Front St. at Banyon Court Park. Once in Lahaina, you may want to rent a board and go surfing, sit under the banyon tree and read about the history of the tree and fort on one of the various plaques posted throughout the park, or just enjoy a stroll down Front Street. While Lahaina is one of the most visited towns on the island of Maui be sure to watch out for tourist traps! Don't expect to find any sale racks in any of the shops or anywhere reasonably priced to eat (except for maybe the Burger King located just across from Banyon Court Park.) But, knowing me and my thrifty sense of direction, there are ways to enjoy yourself in Lahaina on a budget. Throughout Maui and the town of Lahaina you will find coupon books that contain discounts for popular activities, shops, and restaurants. Additionally, if you're looking for something yummy to eat and don't mind dining a little early, check out happy hour at any of the popular restaurants on Front Street. My personal favorite is Kimo's. Right on the water, and featuring daily specials in addition to their already discounted happy hour menu, you can enjoy a Mai Tai right on the water as you watch the waves rolling in and the sailboats swaying in the tropical breeze.
Aaron and I enjoying Mai Tais at Kimo's
We made one other visit to Lahaina during our stay in Maui, as well as a trip to Wailea and a few other popular beaches. Wailea is for the upscale country clubber, as easily recognizable when taking a walk through The Shops at Wailea. Luis Vuitton, Gucci, and Tommy Bahama are just a few of the shops you will find here. They didn't have any discounts for these shops in the Maui coupon book, but it's still fun to explore and see how other travelers are spending their
However, if you drive past Wailea's grand resorts and lush golf courses, past the roadside taco trucks and coconut stands you will find your way to Big Beach and Little Beach. Aaron was itching to go surfing despite disappointing swell reports, but he was able to find a few rideable waves at Big Beach. Here the ocean meets the sand with a bit more intensity than at Kamaole Beach Park II, but you will still find people swimming, and occasionally getting pummeled by the harsh breaking saltwater.
Next door you will find what at first glance appears to be a beach very similar to Big Beach, but with a keener eye and a closer look you may get more than you bargained for. Disregard the name, because what Little Beach lacks in size it makes up for in personality (and we all know size doesn't really matter, right?). You guessed it, Little Beach is a haven for those who like to bask in the buff. Like Big Beach, Little Beach shares the same golden sand and strong blue waters, but only at Little Beach is it socially acceptable to tan your cheeks or bronze your... I'll let you finish the sentence.
On the eve of our departure we decided to hit the town and treat ourselves to a nice cocktail in Kihei. Though we only planned on going out for one drink, I suggested we walk. Glad we did, because late night happy hour at Three's encouraged more than one drink each. With happy hour from 9-10:00PM, Aaron and I strolled up right as it was getting started. Regularly priced cocktails were $12.95, but happy hour special shaved off nine of those dollars. Exotic and gourmet appetizers, sushi rolls and more all at 50% off - we scored, big. And that wasn't all. Think pseudo live music and professionally trained salsa dancers, all seamlessly interchanging partners between songs. We weren't entirely sure what we had stumbled upon, but we liked it!
It was a perfect end to our perfect week in Maui. But our trip wasn't over yet! Next stop: Kona on the Big Island.
xo.
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