Hi All,

Hope everyone is doing well.

Getting my vacation plans ready for Summer 2010! I have a friend-of-a-friend helping us with a two week camping trip on Hawaii's Maui and Lanai islands. He's actually going to be our guide - I wanted to get some insight from the knowledgeable BNA members to see if I should make changes to the itinerary before it's too late.

Everyone help me so much for my Thailand trip, figured I have to return for help in Maui!

Thanks in advance for the help!

Day 1: Arrive at Maui airport (OGG). Drive from airport on way to Lahina where you will camp.
Day 2: Head to Lahina for 3.5 days
Day 3: Snorkeling and swimming with spinner dolphins off Lanai Take shuttle up to Lanai City where we will have dinner.
Day 4: Awake for our second day on the beach - time can be spent relaxing and swimming/snorkeling the great coral reef, swim through coral arches, take a hike up the cliffs to the other side of the island where you will stand on top of a 350 foot sea cliff over looking the blue pacific and viewing Maui from a distance.
Day 5: Head for the Ferry back to Maui. Upon return to Maui we will have a nice lunch in the town of Kihei and then head to Kapalua where you will experience your first taste of cliff jumping and some more great snorkeling. Back to Lahina for dinner and hostel.
Day 6: Rent a surfboard or take a surf lesson - hike to the top of the 10,000 foot Haleakala volcano and sleep inside of the crater - explore underground lava tubes.
Day 7: Hike out of the crater and then off to Haiku. Explore the town of Paiai.
Day 8: Visit the Lavender farm on the side of Haleakala - head to swinging bridges for a bit of jungle hiking and swimming/cliff jumping.
Day 9: Relax
Day 10: “Road to Hana” - fresh, hot banana nut bread and smoothies - stop at Wainappanapa state park and explore ... swim in the underwater caves - see the black sand beach - and a big cliff jump.
Day 11: The seven pools and the largest waterfall in Maui - hike through the bamboo forest. Visit Venus pool - check out red sand beach.
Day 12: Back to airport and seeing the seldom traveled southwestern side of the island - wine tasting on the way back including the famous pineapple wine and get a tour of the facility.
Day 13 & 14: My g/f and I are flying out a few days later and spending three days/two nights in a Marriott resort before we head back to Philly.

In general, I think it's a good itinerary.Personally, I think your trip would be too action packed for me, I tend to slow down when I get to Hawaii because it's a very mellow place. I usually build in time for sitting on beaches, ambling around on hiking trails slowly, and drinking alcohol in scenic spots. But that's just my style.

I see that you have two days on the road to Hana and I think that's a very good idea. Lots of people do it in one day and that's way too rushed. There's a nice campground out there on a cliff above the water - can't think of precise place but looked ideal when I saw it.

I think you mean "southeastern" when you talk about pineapple wine. It's up on the slopes of the volcano. It's the southwestern corner of the eastern side of the island. It's nice to do, but I didn't think the wine was that amazing. Still it probably works well on a last day.

As to towns in the Maui part of the trip: Lahaina is kind of pricey and touristy I think. I liked Kihei though touristy, it's much cheaper generally than over by Lahaina. Of course the Hana side is the most quiet and I think if it were me I'd spend more time there. However, since you have a friend there, I'm sure he'll give you guide you well as to where to go.

The Lanai part of the trip sounds really great. I wish I were going there.