When you grow tired of the glitz and hustle-bustle of Honolulu, it's time to focus on the natural beauty the islands have to offer. That, after all, is what makes Hawaii such a distictive destination in the American landscape. Mother Nature pulls out all the stops throughout the Hawaiian islands, but Maui and Kauai are my personal favorites.
On Maui, you'll likely be drawn to the major resort areas, which is fine. Last time, I stayed at the Ritz-Carlton in Kapalua, and it was gorgeous. Expensive, but worth it. And the Kapalua Bay area is fantastic, if a bit touristy. My parents stayed in Kapalua on a number of their 'fam' trips back in the '80's. They loved it, and so do I.
One of the chief selling points of the area is its proximity to other Maui destinations: It's just a short drive to Lahaina, which has some of the best beaches in all of Hawaii. It's one of the surfing capitals of the U.S., as evidenced by the hundreds of surfers that traipse through the town with their surfboards in tow. While you're there, be sure to check out the Banyan tree in the center of town. It takes up an entire city block, and is really a sight to behold.
I recommend having lunch at Cheeseburger in Paradise and ordering . . . well, I don't even have to say it now, do I? Wash down your grub with a local beer while you look out over the water and watch the surfers roll in.
Another point of interest is Paia. Not for the faint of heart, Paia bills itself as an "artist's town," which is true enough, but there's more to it than that. Within ten minutes of our arrival, we were greeted by locals offering various "herbal remedies" for whatever ailed us, along with services like hair-braiding or body-piercing. The grittiness of the town renders it a walk on the wild side; but sometimes that's just what's needed to liven things up. Besides, Paia has one of Maui's few nude beaches, which is always a draw for me.
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