You absolutely adore the sun and sand of Hawaii and crave a Maui vacation this year. But your piggy bank is running dangerously low. So, what are you to do? My advice is “go anyway.” But keep your costs under control.
A Maui trip can be reasonable if you follow a few tips from a guy who’s been a couple dozen times over the years. So, here are some sugge(Also, please visit responsibly. The scars from the Lahaina fires are still fresh. If you go, please don’t stop to take photos of damaged areas, and don’t pry into people’s lives. Have fun, but try not to be too boisterous. Also, please try shopping and dining at locally-run places, versus the big chains. That way you’ll probably keep more of your money on the island, where it can do the most good. Mahalo!)
WHEN TO GO
The Sandbar lobby bar at the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa. Photo Courtesy Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa
Mid-week fares are often better than weekends, so keep that in mind. Travel experts tell me frequently that it’s best to depart for a trip on a Tuesday or Wednesday, versus Friday afternoon or Saturday. For Hawaii, it’s critical to keep the high seasons in mind. It can be very expensive on Maui in winter, when Canadians like to get away from the cold and many Californians like to get away from what they THINK OF as cold. January, February and March or Easter might be tough if you’re on a strict budget. But things quiet down in April when the weather warms up in the places most Hawaii tourists come from. Prices often pick up again in summer, when kids are out of school. But the in-between months of April and May can be pretty good for deals. Ditto for September and early October. I rented a car on Maui a few years ago in September for 10 days and I think it was about $150 USD. That’s an absolute steal.
HOTEL SAVINGS
Sunsets are magical at Napili Beach, Maui. JIM BYERS PHOTO
I love the Wailea Beach Resort and the Fairmont Kea Lani down in Wailea. I’m also crazy about the Napili Kai Beach Resort on west Maui. But they can get pricey, especially in high season. You can almost always save a bundle by renting a hotel or condo in a lesser-known spot, or by staying a block or two from the beach in more popular areas. One solid option for folks who want to explore the funky town of Wailuku and the Iao Valley is the Wailuku Inn at Ulupono. It’s a fine B & B and they do a great job at breakfast. There’s a large porch where you can relax and enjoy the garden views. There’s a nice beach about 10 minutes down the road in Paia if that’s your thing. Condos in the Kihei area are some of the best bargains, often well under $200 USD a night. If you squeeze two couples into a two-bedroom unit, you can make it work pretty well. Kihei beaches are nice, but it can get a bit windy, and it’s also a little on the touristy side. One option I suggest is one of the smaller hotels on Napili Beach, pound for pound the best beach in Hawaii for my money. Hale Napili has many units that face the water and has a cute, homey feel. There’s no pool, but they have shuffleboard and BBQ’s (another great way to save money on Maui) and you’re a 17.5 second walk from the beach. 18 seconds if you ate too much at breakfast.
IF YOU’RE A MAUI LOVER AND HAVE ANY MONEY-SAVING TIPS, PLEASE LEAVE A NOTE IN THE COMMENTS SECTION AND I’LL POST SOME SUGGESTIONS. MAHALO/THANK YOU
RESTAURANT AND FOOD DEALS
1054 Togoshi Sushi in Kihei, Maui, Hawaii. JIM BYERS PHOTO
You’ll find tons of food trucks all around the island, many of them trackable via Facebook pages or food-related apps. There’s a large grouping of them just outside the Maui airport, including a fine Southeast Asian place I love called Thai Mee Up. You’ll also find food trucks in Honokowai/North Ka’anapali, on Lower Honoapiilani Road, and down in Kihei. For established restaurants, you can’t get a better value than at Sam Sato, a low-key, long-standing Asian place in an industrial area of Wailuku. In Kahului, Tin Roof serves outstanding food. My wife and I ordered fabulous chicken mochiko and took it to nearby Kanaha Beach Park, which has excellent views of the West Maui mountains. Back over on the west side of the island, south of Lahaina, you’ll find Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop, where they make fantastic pies and huge, New York-style deli sandwiches. They like to call it glorified grandma comfort food, and I think it’s a brilliant description. It’s a great spot to go if you’re tired of fish tacos and blackened mahi mahi sandwiches. Joey’s Kitchen makes delicious Filipino-style food and has two outlets; Napili Plaza and Whaler’s Village in Ka’anapali. 1054 Togoshi Sushi is a lovely, funky, family run place in a secluded strip mall in Kihei. All of those places are owned by locals. If you want to splurge on a lovely restaurant (and this is true the world over) such as Merriman’s Kapalua or the incredible Mama’ s Fish House in Paia, try going for lunch instead of dinner. You can often get the same food but for considerably less at noon than at 7 p.m. It’s also good to look for happy hours. Hey, this is the US. They not only invented happy hour, they’ve perfected it.
WHAT TO DO FREE (OR NEARLY FREE)
The Polynesian Show at the Shops of Wailea, Maui, Hawaii. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Maui is filled with great things to do that don’t cost much. They do a great keiki (Hawaiian for children) show every Tuesday night at the Napili Kai Beach Resort, with young girls and boys dancing in grass skirts or pounding their chests and flexing their muscles as if they were a fierce warrior going to battle. It’s adorable, and the accompanying musicians are very good. It’s just $10 for adults, $5 for kids 6-12, and free for resort guests. They do free hula shows with folks of all ages a couple days a week at the Cannery Mall in Lahaina. The mall also has free hula lessons, ukelele lessons, ti leaf lei-making, and more. The Shops at Wailea, a beautiful outdoor shopping area, has free Polynesian shows every Tuesday and Thursday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. I went to one last October and it was terrific. Many hotels on the island also have free entertainment, although it might cost you a couple bucks for a nice rum drink on the patio. Walking the beach is free, of course. Snorkeling won’t cost you a dime if you buy your mask and snorkel in advance or if you stay at a hotel or condo that has them already.
HOW TO SAVE
There are hundreds of copies of free tourist magazines and brochures available in racks a few feet from the baggage claim areas at the Maui airport. You’ll find a mind-boggling number of coupons and ads for discounts on everything from ziplining and whale-watching trips to restaurants offering free appetizers and desserts. Be sure to check the Internet for hotel or restaurant specials, too. For food, the best deal on the island is Costco, located near the airport. They have great meat and, locals tell me, the cheapest gas on the island. If you like to snorkel, bring your own from home and save rental fees. Or, if you’re at a hotel or condo, see if they have some you can use. If you don’t own your own, it’s sometimes cheaper to buy inexpensive snorkel gear at Costco or the nearest Safeway or ABC store. Snorkel trips can set you back a good deal of cash. They’re a lot of fun, but sometimes the fish you find just a few feet off the beach in Ka’anapali or Wailea are as pretty as you’ll find on a $50 or $100 excursion. When I was last at Kapalua Beach, I spotted a huge turtle on a quiet morning just 10 feet offshore.
GOLF DEALS
The Maui municipal golf course at Waiehu. JIM BYERS PHOTO
If you’re a golfer, I highly recommend the Pukalani course on the slopes of Mt. Haleakala (House of the Sun). It’s a good bargain. Even better from a scenery standpoint, although not in the greatest condition, is the municipal course at Waiehu, about 10 minutes past Wailuku. Non-residents pay $65 US for a round, and just $32.50 for the twilight rate. The course has more holes on the Pacific Ocean than any layout on the island. There are engaging locals, and it’s a great place to take young golfers, too. If you want to play one of the big boys such as Kapalua, aim for an afternoon or twilight tee time for substantial savings.
