Maui? Big Island?

[alcina]

I am trying to get a good sized family trip together and would love some tips for Maui.

1 - a ceremony to celebrate a marriage will be involved, so we'll need someone to help with organizing that whole thing
2 - several scuba divers in the mix who will want to dive more days than not
3 - want to include two or three days/afternoons of land based activities for the group. One should be golf :icorolley...are there volcanoes on Maui - my Hawaiian geography sucks, sorry.
4 - accommodations...ideally it would be a nice small one on the beach that was economical, but that's probably too much to ask for! A good pool & pool bar are essential as several members want only to laze in the sun.

timing is flexible and the year is either 2006 or 07...that's how close we are to deciding!! lol When would be the nicest conditions/fewest other people?

I appreciate any and all help...oh, and we aren't commited to Maui, I just thought that would be the best for the divers

 

[Charlie99]

1. Weddings and vow renewals is a big industry on Maui. The Yahoo Yellow Pages should bring up several names. www.justmauied.com is an example.

2. Lots of good diving in Maui. Some claim that Hawaii (aka "The Big Island") has better diving, but both islands are excellent. Maui has more topside activities and is better suited for a group with non-divers.

3. Lots of golf. There are at least 2 PGA tournaments here every year one in Kapalua (N. of Lahaina/Kaanapali) and one in Wailea (S. Maui).

Haleakala is a 10,000' / 3,000m dormant volcano. It hasn't erupted for a few hundred years. The big island is the place to see active lava flows.

4. Economical and Maui are rarely used in the same sentence. 2 tank dive trips are around $120. Hotels are relatively expensive. For larger groups, condominiums are cost effective. Vacation Rentals By Owners website is a good place to look for bargains.

One basic decision is whether to stay in West Maui or South Maui. West Maui is more touristy, with the big Kaanapali resort, and the quaint town of Lahaina. South Maui has the beach town of Kihei, which is mostly condos, and the upscale hotels and resorts of Wailea.

There is good shore diving in both S. and W. Maui. Boat diving from W. Maui/Lahaina is mostly trips to the island of Lanai, about 6nm to the west. Boat diving from S. Maui is mostly trips from Kihei boat ramp to Molokini for 1 tank, followed by something off back along the shore of S. Maui.

Maui doesn't have much in the way of a slow season, since the hotels and resorts will book in conventions for those weeks. There are a few really busy times --- Thanksgiving, Christmas through New YEars, latter half of February and early March, the weeks either side of Easter. The summer (late June-August) is surprisely busy, since many families come during the school vacation period.

Slower than normal weeks are scattered around ---- early December, after the Thanksgiving crowd but before Dec 15; mid January, early May, 2nd half of September (after US labor day, but before mainland weather gets bad).

August and September are the hottest, most humid months.

The range of water temps is rather small. This year was a bit warmer than most, with the coldest being around 76F/24C. Some years, February will be down around 72F/22C. Warmest is low 80's/upper 20's.

Charlie Allen

 

[alcina]

Wow! Thanks for the info - it's great.

So now I am going to add the Big Island to this conversation and hope for more input.