Aloha Maui

There must be a whole vocabulary in Hawaiian for the myriad types of rainbows on the island. Traveling to Maui in the beginning of the year has its perks - it's the off-peak season and flights and accommodations are relatively cheaper. However, you have to contend with the wet season. On the other hand, you will be rewarded with stunning rainbows. We saw double rainbows, rainbows with really intense hues and halo rainbows, all in one day. And don't be discouraged by the wet weather forecast, there is still plenty of sunshine in between the rain. 

WHERE TO STAY

It doesn't rain all day but it's vital to choose the right spot to stay to make the most of the sunshine. The driest part to stay on Maui is on the Western side (from Lahaina to Kihei). Lahaina's where all the big condo properties and hotels are situated. It's a good place to base yourself if you are a first timer in Maui. Properties like Honua Kai have great facilities - swimming pools, hot tubs and slides for the kids. It's also right next to Kaanapali beach. The in-house restaurant, Dukes serves good quality food. Try their eggs benedicts and calamari. 

BEACHES

Be sure to try the black sand beaches as well as the white sand beaches. If you want to get away from the condo action, Big Beach in South Makena Road, Kihei, is idyllic and has plenty of white sand. For those with young kids, we heard that Baby Beach has calm waters. The black sand beach in Waianapanapa State Park, Hana, has beautiful shiny black pebbles. It is probably not the best place to swim but it is great for photos and exploration. 

MAUI FRESH

Not surprisingly, you can always tell about the culture of a place through its food. Fish factors big in Hawaii and the fish and seafood you order in Maui will always be extremely fresh. Fish Tacos is popular here. A good casual place to sample fish Tacos and other seafood is The Fish Market Maui. 

We ordered the calamari steak (picture above) which was extremely juicy and not at all overcooked. Servings of food usually come with sticky rice and macaroni salad. Another good dish to try would be the Ahi Poke or Tako Poke. Fresh sashimi salad, seasoned with soya sauce and seaweed. 

You are bound to notice fruit stands when you drive around the island. Pineapples, avocados, coconuts, guava and mangos make good snacks on your drive. 

A lot of the stands work on an honor system. The fruits stands are unmanned, but be sure to put payment in the buckets. Look out for farmer's markets where you can pick up fresh fruits, vegetables and local jams. The Honokowai Farmer's Market in Lahaina is open on Mon Wed and Fri (7-11am). I was on the lookout for local fresh markets (like the wet markets in Asia) but I was disappointed to hear from a local that they do their grocery shopping at Safeways. We insisted on trying local produce in Hawaii and we found out that you can buy local grass-fed steaks at Long's Drugs Pharmacy. (how bizarre!) 

On a hot day, cool down with some Hawaiian Shaved Ice. They come in many fruity flavors and you can even add ice cream.  If you want to try it like a local, drizzle some condensed milk on top.