Hawaiian Fam Trip

Blues Sky Hawaii and Maui Visitors Bureau offered a 6 night familiarization trip to Maui, Moloka'i and Lana'i. I had been to Maui twice before but not to the other two islands. I had heard about them and felt that this would be a great opportunity for me to become an Island Specialist on these three islands.

We arrived in Maui and were met at the airport by Jerry Carter and Brian Pringle, from Blue Sky Hawaii and taken by Speedi Shuttle to our hotel for the first two nights. On arrival at the Sheraton Maui we were shown to our rooms and later that evening met for a welcome reception presentation with Chris Kai’aokamalie, Director of Sales and Leisure with Maui Visitors Bureau. Here we were given our schedule for the coming week and were introduced to Hawaiian music and dance by a wonderful group of young Hawaiians.

Our group of 20 met Wednesday morning for an Aloha Welcome Breakfast and then followed the property inspection, hosted by Peggy Odenback. Director of Leisure Sales. The inspection concluded with a video feature of Hawaii and a Maui workshop that gave us incite into Maui’s rich culture and Aloha Spirit.

We departed the Sheraton by bus with Roberts Hawaii who took us on a tour of West Maui that included Kapalua Resort, Napili, Kahana and Honokowai. Our lunch was hosted by Napili Kai Beach Resort and a site inspection followed. This hotel is perfect for families with its beautiful beach and excellent rates.

We were taken to Lahaina Town, a National Historic District that included visits with
Friends of Moku’ula and free time to shop and explore Front Street. There are two nice museums, the Heritage Museum and the Baldwiin Home Museum if you have the time. We were picked up by Roberts Hawaii and taken to Ka’anapali Beach Hotel for a site inspection and checked in for the Kupanaha Show and Dinner. If you are into magic, you will love the show.

On Thursday we departed the Sheraton early with Roberts Hawaii and taken to Lahaina Harbor to get on the Maui Princess Ferry for our journey to Moloka’i. The trip takes about and hour and a half. I rode up on top in the open air and the ride was very refreshing. The waves got considerably larger and sprayed over the ferry as you got out into the channel.

On arrival at Kaunakakai Harbor, on Moloka’i, we were transported by shuttle to our continental breakfast and site inspection at the Hotel Moloka’i, hosted by Gregg Fraser, General Manager. This older hotel is located right on the water and is in the process of being renovated. For families that want to get away from everything this hotel would be a great choice.

Moloka’i is the fifth largest Hawaiian island. Its western tip is a mere 22 miles from O’ahu and is about 38 miles long and 10 miles wide and has over 88 miles of coastline. Nowhere on the island are you more that 5 miles from the ocean. On this island you can find ancient Hawaiian fish ponds, rain forests, and nestled at the east end are St. Josephs and Our Lady of Seven Sorrows, two churches designed and built by Father Damien who worked with exiled lepers in the late 1800’s. You can whale watch, scuba dive or snorkel off Hawaii’s only 28-mile pristine, barrier reef, or hike trials that few have traveled. Camp on a beach, explore the highest sea cliffs in the world, or just enjoy the unhurried, non commercial life style, with no traffic lights or buildings taller than the palm trees.

This evening we checked in at The Lodge with a site inspection that followed. This
property is situated in the middle of Moloka’i Ranch . The two- story Lodge in the town of Maunaloa is rustic and comfortable with an infinity pool. We were staying at the Beach Village which is located about 10 miles from the Lodge, down a dirt and gravel road that ends at the beach. Here we found Hale accommodations that are tents, wooden structures with canvas wrap, that are on raised wooden platforms and are 350 to 500 square feet. These environmentally friendly tents include solar-powered lights, ceiling fans, queen beds and spacious lanais. Private bathrooms are in each hale but there are no TV’s or radios in the tents. There is a pavilion where you can eat, drink and socialize.

After breakfast at Kaupoa Beach Village, we were picked up by The Lodge shuttle and taken to Moloka’I airport for our Island Air flight to the island of Lana’i. Lana’i is 98% owned by Castle and Cooke, Inc. and they have developed the island as an enticing resort destination. There are two very exclusive, five star resorts on this island. It is the smallest of the Hawaiian Islands that is open to visitors.

Lana’i, Moloka’i and Maui have ocean currents moving through a protected channel between them with fresh water streams that flow into it that make it a favorite destination for the humpback whales, who migrate to Hawaii each year from December through April. These three islands make up Maui Nui county, and since it is the only county with more than one island open to visitors, it is the only one with regular boat traffic between its islands.

Upon arrival we were taken to Lana’i Pine Sporting Clays/Lana’i Pine Archery Here we had our delicious box lunch and a presentation to learn Lana’i’s secrets and charms. The rustic 14-station clay course is situated on the northwest section of the island. The course allows shooters to tackle a variety of target angles, and the 12-target range offers the excitement and challenge of archery at its best. I found that skeet shooting can be great fun.

We took a leisurely tour of Lana’i city and then arrived at our destination for that evening, the Four Seasons Resort at Manele Bay. After the site inspection we had free time to swim in Hulopo’e Bay, or lay on its famous white sandy beach. I chose to explore the tidal pools of Hulopo’e Bay. Dinner this evening was at the Ocean Grill and was hosted by Lana’i Visitors Bureau.

The Four Seasons Resort is a stunning tropical resort with panoramic views of the Pacific and nearly white-sand beach voted one of the most beautiful tropical beaches in the world. This resort has everything from intimate courtyards, exotic gardens, and precious Oriental antiques to massive hand-painted murals.
Saturday morning each of us was given a complimentary choice of a spa treatment, tennis lesson or 18 holes of golf. I chose the massage and I wasn’t disappointed. The spa has recently been renovated and offers a full menu of spa activities, fitness equipment and sauna and steam rooms. There are body and facial treatments, hairstyling, manicures, yoga and acupuncture.

We took the ferry that afternoon over to Maui and was picked up by Roberts Hawaii and taken to the Renaissance Wailea Beach Resort. Located on the pristine shores of Mokapu Beach, this 15 acre resort rests at the foot of Mt. Haleakala. We had a site inspection that ended at the oceanfront gardens for the Wailea Sunset Luau. This show features a traditional Hawaiian hula and a Samoan fire knife dance finale. The menu included tropical fruit, island salads, Huli Huli Chicken, Lomi Lomi Salmon and Kalua roasted Pig, grilled fresh fish and of course Poi.

Sunday we took a sightseeing tour of Iao Valley that included the Iao Needle, a lavender farm with over 200 different lavender plants where we had lavender scones with lavender tea, and then on to the Tedeschi Winery, Maui’s only vineyard and one of two in the state. This evening we had a farewell dinner hosted by the hotel and the Maui Visitor’s center. The evening was a little sad because the hotel staff found out that day that it would be closed around the middle of January.

Monday morning we walked down to the Grand Wailea Resort for breakfast and a site inspection at this wondrous resort. This 40 acre resort has spacious guest rooms, award-winning cuisine, the spectacular Spa Grande and a huge activity pool, the Wailea Canyons, featuring valleys, waterslides, caves and the world’s only water elevator.

WE had the afternoon free to enjoy the beach and pools or shopping at the Renaissance before our flight home hat evening. This was a great fam trip that I thoroughly enjoyed. Blue Sky Tours and the Maui Visitor’s Center went the extra mile to help us realize the inter beauty of the islands.