Mother's Day Lunch at Seascape Ma'alaea Restaurant

If you planned ahead to celebrate Mother's Day with a Maui vacation, we applaud your excellent taste in destinations! You may feel like just being on Maui is a good enough way to celebrate, but why not plan the details for your May 13th?

The Maui Ocean Center (MOC) is hosting a delicious lunch at their award-winning ocean view Seascape Ma'alaea Restaurant. They have a fabulous lunch menu prepared just for this occasion, so you can treat that special mom in your life with an amazing meal, a breathtaking view, a great opportunity for shopping, and a chance to tour through the many beautiful marine exhibits at the aquarium.

If you'd just like the lunch without the aquarium visit, that's no problem. You don't have to get admission to the MOC to get into the restaurant. Just make your way to the restaurant's exterior entrance, and enjoy the tranquil ocean view and soothing breeze when you get inside. Their culinary team has worked extra hard to come up with especially tasty Mother's Day choices. Tip: Seascape gets great reviews on their drinks.

If you'd like, you can make a reservation by calling (808) 270-7068. The special menu will be provided between 11am-2:30pm

For you marine life enthusiasts, the aquarium really is a must see. Browse the Maui Ocean Center website for directions and all kinds of information about their events, programs, exhibits and the incredible work they do. It is their mission to facilitate conservation efforts for Hawaiian marine life to keep the ecosystem healthy for many generations to come. You'll see sharks, turtles, countless fish species, and an amazing collection of corals, among other fascinating creatures. Admission is a reasonable $22.95 for adults and $16.95 for kids aged 3-12.

Whatever you choose to do, have a fantastic Mother's Day! If you are in need of Maui accommodations, we provide gorgeous beachfront condo rentals in Kaanapali. You'll find our contact information at the bottom of the page, should you need our assistance. Mahalo!

Aqua Adventure Maui Snorkel and Snuba Activity

Most Maui visitors will agree that the main attraction here is the ocean! But as a visitor, how can you be sure you're making the most of it? This technological age we live in gives us quick access to business listings, and more importantly, reviews on their performance. On that score, Aqua Adventure is the best performer. They are fantastic, and if you don't believe us, you can check out their Yelp listing or the long list of enthusiastic testimonials on their website.

Aqua Adventure will take you on an exciting snorkeling and snuba cruise where you'll get three hours of time in the water at one of two gorgeous destinations. You'll also get a continental breakfast, and deli lunch, with beer, wine, Mai Tais and soda available. You'll be led by certified instructors on guided dives where you will be outfitted with excellent quality snorkel and snuba gear. You can also buy underwater cameras, t-shirts, trip DVDs or videos and wetsuits.

To maintain their standard of the best personalized service, they take out small groups. The cost for adults, age 13 and up is $101 for snorkeling only, and $151 if you want to try both snorkeling and snuba. As for kids, snorkeling only is $76 and the snorkeling with snuba is $126. Kids aged 2 and under can attend free. They operate seven days a week, check-in time is 7am for their 7:30am departure time, and you'll be back at noon. The morning is the best time for snorkel and snuba because the weather is calmer and the water clarity is higher than at any other time of the day. Also, the sun is more intense here than most other places visitors are coming from, and prime sunburn time is between 12-2pm. In any case, bring sunscreen. Don't forget, we're close to the equator!

As for your stay, if you haven't booked your Maui accommodations yet, we can provide you with breathtaking beachfront Kaanapali condo rentals. For more ideas on things to do during your stay, check out our Maui events calendar. If you need assistance, our contact information is located at the bottom of the page. Mahalo!

Maui Film Festival

The much anticipated 13th Annual Maui Film Festival will take place from June 13-17, so if you're a film buff who is planning a Maui vacation during the summer, you might want to schedule your trip around those dates.

Guests can choose from among 35 screenings, some of which will be held at the Celestial Cinema, which is an open-air, Dolby Digital-equipped theater with a 50-foot-wide screen located on the driving range at the Wailea Gold and Emerald golf courses.

Aside from the many exciting films that will be featured, guests can also partake in culinary events like a Taste of Chocolate at the Four Seasons Wailea. There is also a Saturday Filmmakers Brunch, a Sunday Surprise Celebration, and Taste of Wailea event. Passes range from $36 all the way to $7000, depending on how much you'd like to experience at the film festival.

If you want to learn more, visit www.mauifilmfestival.com. The festival will be accepting film submissions up until May 10th, so if you've made a film that you'd like to present, click here for details on the submission process.

Past events have included a wide range of big celebrities and spectacular films, so a lot of great things are said about this festival. In fact, it seems to be generating substantially more momentum every year, and why would that be a surprise, considering that Maui is a favorite vacation destination among celebrities as well. If you've got to attend a film festival somewhere, Maui no ka oi (meaning Maui is the best)!

Speaking of which, if you are in need of Maui accommodations for your vacation, feel free to browse our website for listings on beautiful beachfront condos in Kaanapali. If you need assistance, our contact information can be found at the bottom of the page. Mahalo!

Explore a Maui Lava Tube in Hana

A day trip to Hana is usually considered one of the highlights of every complete Maui vacation. The drive itself is an adventure, and after navigating the many twists and turns of the road, visitors often feel accomplished. The emerald green rainforest is filled with singing birds and breathtaking waterfalls, and the coastline cascades down sheer rocky cliffs overlooking the turquoise ocean. There is plenty of natural beauty, and just about every guest will find themselves wondering where to stop on their journey. 

One of the many excellent places to explore in the Hana area is the famous Hana Lava Tube at Ka'eleku Caverns. This unique experience allows you to journey into a broad lava tube and see the natural patterns in which lava had dried while forming the passages. Follow the moss and ferns through the forest floor and descend into the corridors of lava rock. Investigate the rare lava stalagmites, and stalactites that almost seem to be dripping from the cave ceiling. These are the art forms of Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire and volcanoes.

Handrails provide safe easy access for the whole family. The tour itself is self guided and open 7 days a week, every day of the year, from 10:30am to 4pm. There is no waiting period, so you don't have to worry about losing time during your Hana trip. The tour is about 40 minutes long, and costs $11.95 per person, with free passes for children 5 and under.

Pleasantly, there are no mosquitoes or bats in the caves. We do recommend bringing covered shoes for balance and protection. The terrain isn't extreme, but it is natural and a bit rocky in places, so you wouldn't want to stub your toe. Flashlights are provided for the tour. Also, this is a great spot to take a break for lunch. Above the caves, the grounds are beautifully tended and feature sheltered picnic tables. As an added bonus, the grounds are also home to the one of a kind Red Ti Botanical Garden Maze. See if you can find your way to the center!

If you're taking the road to Hana from North Maui (through Paia, Haiku) the Hana Lava Tube is located just past the mile marker 31, left onto Ulaino Road, and 0.4 miles to the visitor center entrance. If you pass signs for the Hana Airport, you've gone just a tad too far. For a map with directions, visit www.mauicave.com. If you have any further questions about the Hana Lava Tube tour, call (808) 248-7308.

Looking for beachfront accommodations? We have an assortment of lovely Ka'anapali condo rentals. If you have any questions or need any assistance, please contact us using the information at the bottom of the page. Mahalo!

Guided Whalewatch with the President of the Pacific Whale Foundation

Embarking on a whale watching trip is easily one of the top highlights of a Maui vacation in winter or spring. The first time you see a magnificent humpback crowning the surface of the water sending a plume of spray into the air from its blowhole, or launching itself into the air in a playful breach, will be a moment you will likely never forget in your lifetime. Avid whale watchers return time and again to witness the grace and beauty of these huge mammals, during their migratory cycle in Hawaii's warm waters. Any chance you have is a great time to take up this safe adventure, but tomorrow will be exceptionally special.

On Saturday, April 14th, the Pacific Whale Foundation is offering a one-of-a-kind whale watch with their President and Founder, Greg Kaufman. Guests will board Ocean Freedom, the Pacific Whale Foundation's cutting edge ocean raft, at Lahaina Harbor. This vessel is of the finest modern design, streamlined for a safe, smooth ride, and is equipped with safety handrails and a restroom.

The cruise will depart at 9:15am and return to Lahaina Harbor at 11:15am. During your remarkable journey, Kaufman will provide unique insights and information on the whales, their behavior and the surrounding ocean. With a lifetime of experience among these incredible creatures under his belt, there is no better guide than this author and renowned researcher. Kaufman will also share with guests, his favorite methods of photographing the humpback whales. In addition to the incredible trip, each guest will receive a free autographed copy of Humpbacks of Hawai'i: The Long Journey Back, by Greg Kaufman.

Passes for this cruise are $59.95 per adult and $44.95 for children from the ages 6 to 12. If you happen to be a Pacific Whale Foundation Member, you'll save 20% off of the cost of your pass. The Pacific Whale Foundation would like to note that this activity is not recommended with people with back or neck problems, kids under 6 years of age, or pregnant women. To reserve your seat on the cruise, call (808) 249-8811 ext. 1, or online at www.pacificwhale.org.

If you have not yet found accommodations for your stay here on Maui, we'd be happy to help you with that. Feel free to browse our oceanfront resort rentals. If you're traveling with friends or family, we also have a variety of three bedroom West Maui rentals. If you need any assistance, please contact us with the information at the bottom of the page. Mahalo!