In your opinion.....

I know, open question! I may even being really asking for it here. However, when I vacation on Oahu, I like to do nothing more than to jump in my jeep and cruise to a beach to lay on all day. I like to slow down and enjoy a carefree, scheduleless day.

But since this is my first trip to Maui, I feel that I should at least experience a couple of things unique to Maui.

So, if you had to pick the top three things to see, what would they be and why? Also, I have an eight year old daughter coming with me. What is a must see for her?

In your opinion.....

Hi Lisa.

I miss talking with you, I hope you are doing well.

With your daughter, I recommend going to Paia and watching the windsurfer%26#39;s, Drive to upcountry the town of Makawao is very cute and artsy (I think you will like it), and eat at Pollos (I think that is the name) a little Mexican restuarant, very good, and drive up to Haleakala.

I like the luaus myself, but not sure IF you did one on Oahu. Also I personally say skip the aquarium, I thought it was not worth the money.

Hope this helps!

In your opinion.....

Take her to Kapalua Bay in West Maui and take her snorkeling! She can see fish within just a few feet of the beach. And tons more just a little farther out. And it doesn%26#39;t get deep fast either. And if shes not a strong swimmer you can still get her one of the kickboards with a window in it.

Our boys also loved the horse ride in Napili but you may to see if shes big enough though.

And a Haleakala sunrise is always a must in our book but some of it%26#39;s grandeur may be lost on her.

if you%26#39;re daunted by the idea of ';sunrise'; on haleakala...it%26#39;s worth seeing ANY time of day IMO. %26amp; the scenery%26#39;s so interesting enroute...always seemed a shame to me to do the drive in the dark!

Good suggestions above. Here%26#39;s my .02 in no particular order:

Iao Valley!! Can hardly wait to take my 8 year old son in October!

Front Street Lahaina. Yeah, I know it%26#39;s just a street dominated by chessy storefronts, but it%26#39;s preety cool anyway. And the Banyon tree at the south end is a must, especially for the little one.

Makena, south. I absolutely LOVE this part of the island, partially b/c it%26#39;s somewhat isolated and less crowded, but also because it%26#39;s so unique. Check out Ahihi Cove and the entire Ahihi-Kina%26#39;u preserve. Also Big Beach.

Whatever list you come up with, ask your daughter to pick something from the list. I have been amazed by the responses I have received from my daughters when going to Maui! For example, they are very happy just lying around the hotel pool, when I thought they would want to go out and experience something unqiue that they can%26#39;t do back home!

I have found that long drives, such as Haleakala and road to Hana, can be pretty taxing for them at that age. They tend to like crowded places, like shopping on Front Street, and eating at crowded restaurants like Cheeseburger in Paradise, rather than %26#39;getting away from crowds%26#39; like I am more inclined to do. So, guess what, we go to the crowds for now because that is what they like.

The youngest one has liked for years to go to Hilo Hatties off Front street in north Lahaina and pay the money ($10?) to open an oyster and get a pearl. The ladies there ring a bell and make quite a production out of it as if she just struck gold. The places that do this from stalls on the street don%26#39;t seem to have such a %26#39;show%26#39; involved.

Lahaina Dad

snorkel, Haleakala and Lahaina...

With the 8 year old here%26#39;s what I suggest:

1) snorkeling at Kapalua Bay

2) must visit to Big Beach (be careful of those waves OK?)

3) trip to Haleakea (sp) in midday....stop or call the Kula Lodge and make dinning reservations....what could be better than sitting on top of mountain having dinner and quality time with your daughter.

Bonus:

Go down to Makena area and spend extra time snokeling around Grand Wailea (north by Rennaisance) or exploring some other great south Maui (Wailea or Makena) beaches. Road to Hana could be great but it all about the trip and not the destination....You could really be worn out and bummed out by the end of that. I wouldn%26#39;t do it...stress!

iao valley , yes..

and lahainia, yes....i think so.

don%26#39;t know you or your kid...but haleakala, iao %26amp; lahaina ..are no brainers for me %26amp; ANYBODY i%26#39;d take...

%26amp; yes, some snorkeling too...

it%26#39;s the BEST thing for a kid that age i think..eye to eye with the fishes%26amp; turtles? gotta do THAT!

I agree with Lahaina Dad. Those are the exact type of things I liked doing at that age. Just playing about in the pool and going in Hilo Hatties as many times as possible to see how many shell leis we could get lol!