MAUI HOTELS and PACKAGES

• Sheraton Maui Resort and Spa
• Outrigger Aina Nalu - Lahaina

Easter 2012

Fly with Virgin Atlantic to Las Vegas staying at the MGM grand Hotel from just £65 per room per night Then onto Maui (Honolulu) with Hawaiian airlines staying at the Outrigger Aina Nalu - Lahaina - Total cost(2 adults): £2899 for the ideal luxury Easter holiday to Maui.

May 2012

Fly on American airlines from either MANCHESTER or LONDON Heathrow to Maui from £2999 incl tax(2 adults) Stay at the Days Inn Maui Oceanfront and have a 2 night free stopover in Los Angeles staying in Andaz West Hollywood on your return journey.

September 2012

Regional offers from Manchester , Birmingham, Edinburgh and Glasgow to Maui with Continental Airlines book a luxury holiday package and stay at the Sheraton Maui Resort and Spa from £2899 (2 persons)

The best place to truly appreciate Maui’s beauty is from the ocean that surrounds her. It not only allows you to take in the whole island, but also to appreciate the miracle that was created from a volcanic eruption, millions of years ago, which formed the paradise island we know and love today. Maui has two sister islands Molokai and Lanai which are very easy to travel to by ferry, there are two ferries daily to Molokai and five daily to Lanai. The journey to Lanai takes about 45 minutes, and 1hour 30 to Molokai. You can also fly to both islands with regional airlines.

LANAI

Lanai once known as the pineapple island was home to the largest pineapple plantation in the Pacific, although much of its outlying fields have been reclaimed Lanai city still has the look and feel of an early twentieth century plantation town. This is an excellent place to start your tour of the island. It will take you a couple of hours to cover the town, which is charming and very friendly, it is built around a tiny city square, there you will find local art galleries, boutiques, restaurants and coffee shops. There are many rental agencies where you can hire a four wheel drive to do a self guided exploration of the islands wilderness. For those wishing to spend their time relaxing or being pampered the islands two luxury resorts offer a variety of options including world class spas and award winning restaurants. For those golfers the experiences of Koele and Manele must be played to be believed!

There are two luxury resorts on Lanai which are truly spectacular. If you prefer something smaller and more intimate then Hotel Lanai is known as Hawaii’s little inn, with its fresh innovative cuisine and its premier dining experience!

MOLOKAI

If you’re looking for the old Hawaii this is it! If you’re looking for the real Hawaii it doesn’t get better than this! Once you arrive on Molokai it makes you feel that Maui is a bustling metropolis! It’s like stepping back in time 50 years!

There are lots of fascinating things to see and do here and “Aloha” is not just a word but a way of life. While the main attraction for many visitors is the hike to Kalaupapa there are foot print free sandy beaches or many miles of mountain biking trails to challenge you!

If you are very adventurous and looking for something unique to try then why not take a late ferry to Molokai and take the once a day trip to Kalaupapa on a mule! Make your way down 1,7000 feet of sea cliffs (the highest cliffs in the world) then arrive at a remote peninsula that used to serve as home to those with leprosy. There is one hotel on Molokai and plenty of condominiums, private beach houses or bungalows to rent. Also some quite unique B&Bs to chose from.

HALEAKALA

Whether you spend a day or a few days here you will not be disappointed and will wish you had longer to spend in this beautiful place full of natural beauty. Your visit here will renew your spirit of adventure being surrounded by landscapes, subtropical rain forest and the unforgettable experience of hiking the back country, here you will learn things about yourself you did know existed! The weather on any given day can be unpredictable and changing, temperatures range from 27oc to a low of -1oc at the summit. The coastal Kipahulu is milder and wetter with a daytime average of 21-27oc year round.

The national park Haleakala is divided into three parts the wilderness area Kipahulu the part which stretches along the coastline and the summit.

MOUNTAIN –WILDERNESS AREA

Here you can day hike, spend the night in a tent or at one of the two wilderness camp grounds, or reserve one of the three historic cabins along the trail(a permit is needed for overnight stay) We recommend you stop at the visitors centre to discuss your plans as the weather can be severe and is always unpredictable and changing, certain seasonal restrictions may apply. Your adventure will take you from brown to red cinder cones hundreds of feet tall in dry desert air to red and greens native ferns hidden in the cloud forests! At night the stars cover the sky, an amazing sight of pure unspoilt beauty.

KIPAHULU AREA

This area of the park stretches along Maui’s eastern coast. It’s lush and green here, you will find lots of freshwater falls and pools in this natural place full of beauty and relaxation. Hiking here is very rewarding, its self guided so a stop at the visitors centre is very recommended as there are lots of cultural demonstrations going on, as well as orientations and park program which teach you how the Hawaiians that have lived here for hundreds if not thousands of years live their lives and gain further insight into their culture. The rangers and volunteers may be seen to demonstrate local crafts, planting native plants, mending thatched houses or farming traditional crops.

You are responsible for your own safety in the natural area so please look out for the caution signs and warnings from the rangers. Streams can be very unpredictable and flash floods are common and can cause injury. It’s lovely to swim in the cool pools adjacent to the ocean, unfortunately due to rough conditions it is not safe to swim in the ocean within the national park however beautiful it is to look at!

SUMMIT AREA

Some visitors go to Haleakala to see the sunrise over the crater which has to be seen to be believed ! When ever you visit this area it is about 32 degrees cooler than at sea level with the winds making it feel cooler! As you head up to the summit you may see Haleakala silver sword and geese as well as a eco system, forests of eucalyptus and countryside where cattle’s graze and beautiful wild flowers grow.

Whatever you spend your time doing at the summit you will be surrounded by native animals and plants, the rare species of Hawaii thrive here. You may chose to hike in the desert landscape or spend a few hours looking for native birds, the landscape around you will be like you’ve never seen before deeply sculpted, richly colourful and visually expansive! As impressive as daylight is, at night the summit takes on a new dimension, once the daylight turns to darkness it show’s off its brilliant clear starlit night sky.

As there are no facilities to buy food or drink in the park please take your own with you, please check the US national park service website for health and safety concerns at the summit. There are several tour companies that operate within the park, some of the things they offer are downhill biking, horse back tours and guided hikes.