Best Banana Bread on Maui - HOP to it

They said it was a fool's errand to try to name the best banana bread on Maui. On any given day, the "best" may change due to baking conditions. Maybe the day we visit is especially humid and throws off the preparation. Maybe there was a bad bunch of bananas. Or the water was "funny." You get the picture. We barreled ahead anyway. For the most part, we've been eating banana bread on Maui for years, so it's not like a single bad visit is going to throw us off. We have plenty of institutional knowledge on this topic. Here then are our five favorite banana breads on Maui.

We're going to take the wimpy way out and declare a tie for the title of the best banana bread on Maui. Both Aunt Sandy's and Julia's are ridiculously good.

Aunt Sandy's Banana Bread (Road to Hana, mile marker 17)
What makes Aunt Sandy's so good? No one is really sure. We think it's probably the locally ripened bananas, but Aunt Sandy may put a little magic into her bread. It's always super moist, not too sweet and the texture is divine. We know people who, because of a craving, have driven out to Hana just for Aunt Sandy's, bought a couple of loaves, and drove home. Crazy! (Aunt Sandy's Banana Bread)

Julia's Best Banana Bread (Kahakuloa)
If you think the Road to Hana can be a tough drive, it ain't got nothing on the Kahekili Highway. You can reach Julia's from both Lahaina and Wailuku, traveling in opposite directions. But the highway from both directions is rough. Hairpin turns on a one-lane roads with a deathly drop down a cliff into the ocean is no one's idea of a fun drive. But the payoff, arguably the best banana bread on Maui, is so worth it. There's nothing fancy about it. It just tastes darn good. (Julia's Best Banana Bread)

The rest...

Grandma's Coffee House (Haiku) Located way upcountry in Haiku, getting to Grandma's from the west side is a bit of hike, but you won't be upset you made the drive. Right about now, you're probably wondering if it's a prerequisite to drive for hours for banana bread. The answer is no. Just keep reading. Anyway, Grandma's is an old school shop with wonderful breakfast and coffee... and banana bread. At Grandmas's there a number of varieties of banana bread, but we stick with the classic. Again, for some reason, the banana bread here has "something" that just makes it better than most banana breads you'll find on the mainland. (Grandma's Coffee House)

Four Sisters Bakery (Wailuku)
Located in a tucked away building in Wailuku, Four Sisters can be a little hard to find, but trust your GPS. Getting here is nothing compared to Julia's or Aunt Sandy's! Once you find it, order one of everything. They are probably best known for their butter rolls and their malasadas. But the banana bread is truly fantastic. Try the mango bread, too. You won't be disappointed. As the Wailuku location is fairly close to the airport (about 15 minutes away), many people will grab the banana bread as gifts for friends and family back home. If you do this, we recommend packing it in your suitcase or it might not make it back! (Four Sisters Bakery)

Sweet Aloha Baking Company (Lahaina)
Better known for their amazing cinnamon rolls, Sweet Aloha Baking Company also makes fresh banana bread every day. On top of the standard banana bread, they also make it with chocolate chips (our favorite) and macadamia nuts. We recommend eating the cinnamon rolls right away and squirreling away the banana bread for a nice mid-day snack. (Sweet Aloha Baking Company)

Do you have a favorite place for banana bread on Maui? Please share in the comments below.

High-End Suites and Villas at Maui's Finest Resorts

Just for kicks, we thought we'd compare the high-end suites and villas at Maui's finest resorts that are available to the general public. We know resorts hold back certain suites to VIP's and dignitaries, but these are all available for booking by us common folk via the internet... assuming we can afford a few thousand a night. Unless otherwise noted, we set the cost by attempting to "book" the rooms from 12/23/18 - 12/30/18.

Four Seasons Maui (Wailea)
Maile Presidential Suite with "complete suite experience service"
$20,000 per night (approx.)
This massive 4,000 square foot (plus lanai), three-bedroom/three bathroom penthouse suite features a 180 degree view of the ocean and your own personal assistant for the length of your stay. Transportation to/from the airport is provided via either a luxury SUV or a Tesla. Daily breakfast, either buffet-style at the restaurant or via room service and one private dinner are included. You'll also receive two 50-minute massages. The master bathroom has a private, cedar sauna. The lanai is large enough to hold a full dining table, sofas and lounge chairs and overlooks the ocean. You'll receive twice daily housekeeping and evening turndown service. This is one of the places for which we needed to look at alternative dates. For this article, we were able to "book" from 11/25/18 - 12/2/18, which is not yet prime season. (Four Seasons Maui Suites)

Fairmont Kea Lani (Wailea)
Three-bedroom Oceanfront Villa
$7849 per night
These two-level, three-bedroom/two-bathroom 2,200 square foot oceanfront villas feature two master bedrooms with full marble bathrooms, a second floor lanai and a private courtyard with your own wading pool, barbecue, dining table and lounges. There's a fully stocked gourmet kitchen, as well as a washer and dryer. You also receive daily breakfast from the hotel's Kea Lani Restaurant and complimentary guest parking. (Fairmont Kea Lani)

Grand Wailea
Napua Royal Suite (one bedroom)
$7,074 per night (plus $30 resort fee)
For over $7,000 per night, you'd think the resort fee would be included, right? We get upset paying a resort fee when the room is $120! So what does seven grand a night get you? Start with a room that measures in at just under 2,000 square feet. Actually, let's start at the airport. When you land, you'll receive car service to the resort. Upon arriving at the hotel, you'll have a private check-in and a personal concierge for the length of your stay. You'll have access to two private lounges, which include a complimentary continental breakfast in the morning, tea in the afternoon, drinks and hors d'oeuvres in the early evening and dessert bar at night. The private, covered lanai has stunning views of the ocean, with a large dining table and lounge chairs. Of course you'll have access to the rest of the immaculate Grand Wailea grounds. If this isn't enough for you, there's also a 2-bedroom Grand Suite, but for information on it, you need to contact them directly. (Grand Wailea Napua Tower Suites)

Ritz-Carlton Kapalua
Ritz-Carlton Presidential Suite
$4,930 (plus $35 resort fee)
Checking it at 2,560 square feet, the one-bedroom/1.5 bathroom suite features two large lanais with full ocean views and the master bathroom has both a marble soaking tub and a shower, as well as a state-of-the-art TOTO bidet-style toilet. You also get full club access, which includes continental breakfast, all-day cocktails and soft drinks/juices and snacks and evening hors d' oeuvres. It was hard to find open dates to get a room rate, but the rate we show here is for January 23, 2018, which was the day the article was written, we imagine if you're booking in advance it would be a lot more! (Ritz-Carlton Kapalua)

Ho'olei at Grand Wailea
Deluxe Ocean View Three Bedroom Villa
$4795 per night
Located at the highest elevation of the property, this three-bedroom/3.5 bathroom villa is equipped with a private elevator, attached garage, full kitchen, barbecue and two lanais with panoramic views of the ocean. Though these villas are "homes," the grounds contain a full-service concierge, a swimming pool with a waterfall and gym facilities. In addition to that, you also have access to everything the Grand Wailea hotel offers, including a gorgeous pool, spa facilities, restaurants and beach access. (Ho'olei at Grand Wailea)

What's the nicest place you've stayed in? Indulge us in the comments below...

Even Humpback Whales Vacation In Hawaii!

All kinds of visitors flock to Maui for vacation. We’re not just talking about people. In the winter, humpback whales seek out the sub-tropical weather of the Hawaiian Islands. That’s right, even humpback whales vacation in Hawaii. The surrounding waters of Maui are center-stage for these majestic creatures. Not that you need incentive to visit, but it’s all the more reason to book a Whale Watch Tour with us at Hawaii Ocean Project. We’ll provide front-row seats to the sheer awe and beauty of our favorite finned-friends at the height of whale watching season.

Having finished their summer feeding frenzy in Alaska, humpback whales make the 4-8-week trek to Hawaii for their annual winter migration. Some of the early birds can be spotted in November. But by February, their numbers are in full swing, meaning the time is now. Pods seek out the warm and shallow waters of the Au’au channel between Maui and Lanai – otherwise known as whale watching central. With the added protection of Molokai, the trifecta of Maui County provides shelter from natural predators, making it the perfect environment for their winter breeding purposes.

The ocean is a big place, but the great thing about humpback whales is that they’re kind of hard to miss. More often than not, they make their presence known. Mothers are in the midst of teaching their young how to swim and develop motor skills. You may see a calf by itself, but the mothers are always standing by; they let them off their training wheels for a bit and wander off so calves can experience their existence. Humpbacks not only enjoy the warmer climate, but also the safety of the environment.

Hawaii is a National Marine Sanctuary for humpback whales. Vessels are not permitted to approach a humpback within 100 yards, meaning if we were to stumble upon a pod, we would immediately cease our engines so as not to disturb them. Human presence has disturbed their existence long enough. Humpbacks were near the point of extinction at the height of the whaling industry in the 1800s. Through active conservation efforts, their population bounced back and in 1973, humpback whales were taken off the endangered species list. We are doing our part to keep it that way.

We are not out to prod or provoke. It’s called whale watching, after all. Nevertheless, it’s all about the safety of observation, a safety for both visitors and pods. They get to enjoy the freedom to repopulate and raise their young undisturbed, and we’re lucky enough to observe (the latter, not the former).

We’re not kidding about front-row seating. At any given moment, you can spot calves frolicking and playing. Even the adults put on a show with their near-constant breaching. They like to spy hop – peek along the surface to see what’s going on around them, so be sure to give them a wave. Adults come up for air every 10-15 minutes, while calves do so every 3-5 minutes. The name of the game isn’t whether you’ll see any, but how many you can keep track of.

We may try to keep our distance, but that doesn’t stop humpbacks from getting closer themselves in a phenomenon known as “mugging” (a polite use of the term). By law, we cannot proceed until they’re in safe distance, though we’re sure our passengers won’t mind the close encounter. Frankly, we don’t either. Since it’s mating season, male pods are often in competition over the chance to court the female, and the females themselves are known to seek nearby vessels as a way of escaping the attention. We’re not necessarily out on the water to provide an exit strategy, but we’ll happily oblige.

Humpbacks sing quite the song in the surrounding waters of Maui. Whale sightings are guaranteed this time of year. In fact, they’re numbers are so high in concentration that we embark on 4 tours daily for visitors to get the most out of the experience. You’ll be joined by our very own crew of marine naturalists to help pinpoint our finned friends for you, though since it’s peak season, you might beat them to it. In any case, they’re on board to narrate their history and biology while you have your eyes fixed on the ocean. The time for a whale watch tour is now. Book early and book online to save on a whale watch charter you’ll never forget.

Best Mountain and Road Biking on Maui - HOP to it

Whether you bring or rent a bike, there are many options for those looking to bicycle on Maui. For the best mountain biking, you'll want to head upcountry. For road biking, you'll find plenty of bike paths or roads with wide shoulders to accommodate you. In this article, we will recommend three road and three mountain bike rides that you can do without going through an activity service. Click here to download a (slightly outdated) PDF map of Maui with bicycle paths highlighted. The map is only a photo of a map, so it's not all that clear, but it's fine for an overview. Stop by a bicycle shop to pick up an actual map.

MOUNTAIN BIKING
Maui has some outstanding mountain bike paths, but if you want to ride on the best, you're going to need to head upcountry.

Kahakapao Loop (Makawao Forest Reserve)
Drive just past Makawao Town (be sure to visit Komoda's for some tasty baked treats in Makawao before or after your ride) and you'll find this popular mountain bike trail. It's roughly six miles long with around a 1000' elevation gain. Unless it's wet, which creates a sloppy terrain, it's a good trail for all levels, from strong children to adults. If you have kids, we recommend doing the trail counter-clockwise. Otherwise, go clockwise, the descent will be a little more fun. (Kahakapao Loop)

Polipoli Springs Loop (Kula)
Located in Kula, the Polipoli Springs Loop is one of several mountain bike trails in the Polipoli Spring State recreational area. This loop covers the popular Mamane trail, which many consider to be the most fun part of the Skyline Trail (listed below). This ride can get technical, with some areas of rocks and boulders, so make sure you're prepared. The Polipoli Springs area is generally quite nice before 10:00 AM, but after 10, it is almost always covered with clouds. So we recommend waking up early and hitting the trail first thing in the morning. (Polipoli Springs Loop)

Skyline Trail (Haleakala Summit)
The crown jewel of mountain bike rides on Maui, the Skyline trail up at the summit of Haleakala is a once-in-a-lifetime ride so fulfilling you may do it twice. You start at the summit, where it's freezing (literally) cold, then you head down. As such, unless you plan on riding back up, you'll need to park one car at the summit and another at the Rice Memorial Park pick-up point in Kula. You'll encounter different terrains on the ride including loose volcanic cinder, forest, grass and gravel. One of the nice things about this trail is that tour operators are not allowed to go up there. So you won't find yourself behind a large group when the trail turns to single-track. Before you do this one, make sure you do your research. It can be tricky at spots, but it's so worth it! The views are simply breathtaking. (Skyline Trail)

ROAD BIKING
Some people don't like road biking on Maui because dedicated bike lanes are rare. But, most of the roads do have wide shoulders and biking is legal on highways.

Haleakala (Paia to the Haleakala Summit)
Amazingly, Haleakala is not considered a steep climb by avid bikers. We've only done this ride once (once is enough!), but we think it's pretty darn steep. With that in mind, even experienced bikers say the climb is relentless. If you're going to do this ride, know that roads are well paved and drivers are on the lookout for riders (mostly going downhill) so it's fairly safe from a traffic perspective. One issue is the weather. If you start in Paia, you're basically starting at sea level and ending up at 10,000 feet. Along the way, you may encounter heavy winds and even sleet, especially in the winter months. The ride from Paia is about 35 miles to the summit. (Haleakala Summit Ride)

Maui North Shore Greenway Trail (Kahului to Paia)
Compared to the other two rides in the "road" section of this article, this one is a piece of cake, but it's also quite cool. The ride from Kahului to Paia is only about 7 miles. You can stay on the trail, which takes you behind the airport, if you want to beeline to Paia, but we recommend you veer off the trail into the neighborhoods along the ocean. Spreckelsville and Baldwin Beach are amongst the stops you can make. This ride is flat the entire way and is safely tucked away from the highway, save for about a 100 meter stretch just prior to hitting Paia, making it a great family ride. The way Paia traffic is nowadays from Kahului, riding a bike may actually be faster than driving a car! (Maui North Shore Greenway Trail)

West Maui Loop
You can start this loop, really, anywhere between Kapalua and Kahului. Even from out in Kihei/Wailea, though from there it isn't technically a loop. The ride essentially goes around the West Maui Mountains, affording you incredible views of the ocean and the mountains. In total, the loop is about 60 miles. Outside of the mountain part of the ride, it's relatively flat. If you do it, the folks at West Maui Cycles recommend you start early in the morning and go clockwise from Lahaina and counter-clockwise from Kahului so you'll avoid the heavy afternoon winds.

By the way, did you know that you can now save $10/person on our Maui Princess Dinner Cruise or a Snorkel Adventure to the island of Lanai? Well you can! Just use the promo code VIP20 after clicking on this link: Hawaii Ocean Project Adventures.

Five Romantic Activities on Maui - HOP to it

Maui is a featured destination for weddings and honeymoons. But its beauty and romantic settings aren't just for newlyweds. One doesn't need to be married to explore Maui like a newlywed. Sure, a romantic sunset dinner on an outdoor patio is always nice. But here are some other fun and romantic things to do on Maui with a loved one that will set your hearts aflutter.

Couples Massage
It may be a bit of a cliche, but a couples massage is really romantic. Add in an the allure of Maui and your massage gets taken to the next level. We polled a couple of massage therapists who are NOT affiliated with any these locations and they recommended the following:

Full Moon Hike
If you have an adventurous streak, this might be the one for you. Obviously, you'll need perfect timing to do this hike, as in, there needs to be a full moon and the skies need to be clear of clouds. OK, if both of those are in play, then we highly recommend giving the 5-mile roundtrip (if you're doing it as up and back) Pali Trail hike up to the windmills a shot. You'll still want to bring a headlamp or flashlight with you, but the moon does a great job illuminating the trail. Once you've reached the windmills, the view of of the stars is a sight to behold. It takes about 1.5 hours at a leisurely pace to reach the windmills (both from the Lahaina and the Ma'alaea side).

Full Moon Tide Pools
If a 3.0 hour hike in the dark isn't your thing, then maybe exploring tide pools by the light of the moon is more in your wheelhouse. Here's a list of our favorite tide pools. All of them, except the Olivine Pools would be fantastic with a full moon. The creatures that come out at night are fascinating. Combined with a sunset stroll and some light snacks and you have a uniquely Maui night of romance.

Haleakala Sunrise
Waking up at 3:00 and driving for nearly 1.5 hours to stand in the freezing cold is no one's idea of fun or romantic. But once you reach the summit of Haleakala and see the first glimpses of light peaking out over the horizon, you'll be so thankful you did. Hold your sweetie tight and take in one of nature's true beauties. Two things to note. Most days, it's literally freezing. You'll see ice up there from late fall to early spring, so dress appropriately. Second, you need to make reservations with the National Parks Service or you'll be turned away at the summit. Follow this link to make reservations.

Sunset Dinner Cruise
A romantic three-course meal with table side service and cocktails is just the start of a sunset dinner cruise with Hawaii Ocean Project. With guaranteed deck-top seating, you won't miss a second of the Maui's famed sunset. Add in live music and dancing, and you're sure to spend a romantic evening at sea with the one you love. Book a trip here and save 10%

Sunset Walk
Both Wailea (Wailea Coastal Walk) and Kapalua (Kapalua Coastal Trail) have wonderful paths for a nice sunset (or sunrise) walk along the shore. Both paths are roughly 1.5 miles in length. So if you head out at sunset, make sure you'll be back before the sun completely sets or you bring a flashlight (or use your phone's flashlight app). As a bonus, during the winter months, you may see whales from both locations.

By the way, did you know that you can now save $10/person on our Maui Princess Dinner Cruise or a Snorkel Adventure to the island of Lanai? Well you can! Just use the promo code VIP20 after clicking on this link: Hawaii Ocean Project Adventures.

Marine Life Guidelines: The Importance of Ocean Etiquette

It seems whenever people are near marine animals, they tend to lose composure. I mean, we get it. At Hawaii Ocean Project, we run all sorts of ocean charters that bring visitors within stunning proximity. We see firsthand how visitors react, most of them being their first time interacting with sea life, so all too often decorum is the first thing to go. Fortunately, ocean etiquette is easy to keep in mind. It maintains the safety of observation for visitors and protects the well-being of the animals. Safeguards may not sound like fun, but believe us, you can still have fun while being mindful of our ocean friends. Respect isn’t just a human concern. It’s necessary when interacting with nature.

The main thing we like to emphasize is distance. We do get visitors as up close to the phenomenon as possible, but never at the expense of the animal’s privacy or the safety of our passengers. Distance ensures the safety of both parties. Even on our Whale Watch tours, we will never chase down a whale like Captain Ahab. We could potentially disrupt their migration patterns or worse, get between a mother and her calf. That is a fury we’d like to leave to the imagination. In any case, humpback whales are in such high frequency in the surrounding waters of Maui that they tend to find us. When they do, we shut off our engines and let the spectacle unfold.

That’s what we stress the most on our tours. We are not out to disturb or provoke, and we pass this along to our passengers. When you’re in the water, don’t go searching for active phenomena. Let it find you. There are over 250 species to be found at Molokini Crater alone. Dolphins frolic alongside our Lanai excursions. Green sea turtles pop by on shore from time to time. The ocean is plenty active as it is. We are lucky enough to be able to interact with them the way we do.

You are guaranteed to see a variety of sea life on our snorkel tours. These charters are so frequent, the coral’s residents have become accustomed to our presence, but that isn’t something to take advantage of. Though it’s tempting, do not touch the animals. Just a slight curiosity can run the risk of injuring them. Fish are covered in a slimy coating that protects them from disease and infection. A pet, even a touch, is enough to remove the coating on their bodies and thus leave them vulnerable.

Chasing or prodding fish could agitate them, and an agitated fish will do a lot more than prod you back. The same goes for green sea turtles. Just because they’re slow, it does not mean you can chase them. They’re not ninjas, but they do bite. They are protected under Hawaii state law, as are Hawaiian monk seals – themselves protected under the Endangered Species Act, which is all the more reason for us to leave them be. We are not here to bother, just to observe.

We ask that you do not feed the animals either. It may seem harmless, but giving them food they’re not accustomed to can disrupt their feeding cycles and have serious repercussions for their health. Feeding animals conditions them to receive food as opposed to gathering for themselves, thus changing their natural behavior which they will pass onto their young. There’s an entire ecosystem down there that lives in harmony. We are not here to disrupt that.

Ocean etiquette is a simple matter of respect. Everyone, even fish, deserves our respect. This is their home. We are guests. More importantly, we are stewards. It’s up to us. At Hawaii Ocean Project we are doing what we can to minimize our impact on the ocean. We never dump or litter; we take our trash with us. We tie our vessels down on mooring lines instead of anchoring. We immediately cease our engines if there’s a whale nearby and allow them the peace of uninterrupted passage. It’s all for the safety of these animals and their environment. This isn’t about saying what you can or can’t do in the ocean. It’s about being mindful of a place that millions of others call home.

By the way, did you know that you can now save $10/person on our Maui Princess Dinner Cruise or a Snorkel Adventure to the island of Lanai? Well you can! Just use the promo code VIP20 after clicking on this link: Hawaii Ocean Project Adventures.

Why We No Longer Support Full-Faced Snorkel Masks

We recently updated our policy to no longer allow the use of full-faced snorkel masks, on our snorkel excursion to Lanai. While there is still much-needed research to be done on these trendy masks, we are not comfortable allowing the use of them, on our boats, at this time.

If you are not familiar with the full-faced masks, rather than having a traditional mask, which is composed of two separate parts: the mask (that covers your eyes and nose) and snorkel (tube that clips, on the side, of the mask to deliver oxygen orally from above the water) combination, a full-faced mask covers your entire face with a fixed tube that extends out from the forehead-area for breathing. In theory, these full-faced masks create a wider viewing area, and are easier to operate as a person can breathe "normally," with both nose and mouth, without needing to get accustomed to using a snorkel. However, we believe the dangers of full-faced masks far outweigh the benefits.

In January, 2018, nine people passed away while snorkeling, and diving, in Maui's waters. It is important to note that, in Hawaii, the majority of snorkeling fatalities are visitors, who are inexperienced snorkelers,* and there are many factors to take into consideration, such as age and physical ability. However, at least two of the eight snorkelers (the ninth man was a scuba diver) died while wearing full-faced snorkel masks; a percentage, us locals, find to be alarming.

Fire Services Chief Ed Taomoto told the Maui News: “Recently, we have noticed that a number of snorkel-related drownings, or, near- drownings have involved these new one-piece masks, but it is too early to make any sort of connection to the use of this equipment and drownings. We’re not sure if the increase in incidents involving these new full-face type masks is related to a problem with this design or if there is just more people using this type over the traditional two-piece snorkel set.” Although there is an undeniable correlation, experts are still working on determining the exact causation.

As reported by Hawaii Civil Beat, Dr. Philip Foti, an Oahu physician who specializes in pulmonary and internal medicine, addressed a conference, regarding drowning prevention, in 2017, and stated this about full-faced masks: "...there is dead space ventilation in the device that seems greater than in the standard snorkel tube. That dead space can cause carbon dioxide buildup." This CO2 buildup could cause a person to become disoriented, or, even lose consciousness.

Another issue with the full-faced masks is that they appear to be prone to leaking and fogging up. Rather than creating a tight seal using silicone, around just the eye area, like a standard mask, many (not all) of these masks use lower-quality PVC to create the seal around the mask. As the PVC must cover the entire face, rather than just the eye area, the number of potential failure points is dramatically increased. Some have reported the simple act of squinting may cause leakage.** Because the masks cover the full face, once they fill with water, the user, literally, cannot breathe. Whereas, with a standard mask and snorkel, if the mask fills with water, you can still breath through the snorkel. To compound the matter, with straps that go completely around the head, removing the masks can be difficult. In a panic situation, remembering the steps to remove a full-faced mask may be forgotten.

While full-faced masks continue to sell well on Amazon (and get generally good reviews), and there are activity companies on Maui that will rent them, until further research is done on the full-faced masks, we are not allowing our guests to use them. If you bring one on-board, rest assured, you can still go out using the gear that we provide.

Finally, as an aside, in all nine water deaths, the men were swimming alone. We highly recommend snorkeling with a buddy, whether you're entering the ocean from the beach, or, out on a snorkeling tour with a licensed operator.

Please let us know your experiences with full-faced masks, and tell us what you think of our policy update in the comments below.

*As cited by deeperblue.com: data shows that tourists are 10 times more likely to drown than residents, and that the drowning rate on the islands is 13 times the national average.

**From Hawaii News Now

Winter Adventures With Hawaii Ocean Project!

As one would expect, winter in Hawaii isn’t all that different from summer. Year-round subtropical weather is what makes the Hawaiian Islands a warm winter paradise. You wouldn’t normally associate winter and tropical in the same sense, but that’s exactly what to expect; and is perhaps why Maui is a haven for those seeking to escape the freezing temperatures elsewhere in the world. There’s no reason to spend your winter vacation huddled up in a hotel. From snorkel tours to whale watching charters and dinner cruises, winter is all the more reason to book any of our ocean excursions at Hawaii Ocean Project.

Winter months are wetter in Hawaii, but that’s hardly a deterrent to visit. Temperatures peak at 80 degrees, with lows in the high 60s. Maui does have its fair share of rainy days, but storms pass by rather quickly. Trade winds blow northeasterly, meaning the Northeastern side of Maui bears the brunt of these passing storms, while South and West Maui enjoy the sun. One of the more mystifying things about Maui; it can rain on one side of the island and not have a single drop on the other. Kihei and Lahaina are much more sheltered thanks to Haleakala and the West Maui Mountains, respectively, which is perfect because all of our destination charters take place along the southern stretch of the island.

Winter also happens to be whale watching season. Fresh off their summer feeding frenzy in Alaska, humpback whales make their annual trek to Hawaii for their winter migration. You’re not the only one trying to escape the cold weather! Hawaii Ocean Project takes full advantage of this opportunity with our Whale Watching Tours. These charters cruise right along the Au’au channel: warm and shallow waters that humpback whales specifically seek out to raise their calves, so you’ll see tons of breaches and fins at play. Vessels come complete with a 360-degree view of the ocean so you never miss a thing. Peak season alone is from January to March. With as many as 10,000 humpbacks frequenting the surrounding waters of Maui, we’ll provide you with plenty of reasons to be excited for the winter.

If you’re feeling even more adventurous, we also offer our Lanai Snorkel Tour. Lanai’s coasts are virtually uncrowded for a more private snorkeling experience. Climb aboard our double-decker catamaran and enjoy the show of dolphins who tend to tag along on these excursions. We’ll do you one better – snorkel charters in the winter tend to double as whale watching tours due to the sheer volume of humpback whales. It’s like Christmas morning out on the open waters of the Pacific.

Our charters aren’t without festivities of our own. A Sunset Dinner Cruise can either kick-off those holiday festivities, or serve as a capper to your winter vacation. Our luxury vessel accommodates well over 100 passengers, but the cruise itself is as intimate as, well, a sunset cruise should be. Most charters have docked for the day, meaning the ocean and the pristine view of the horizon is yours for the taking. And that’s only the beginning of the cruise. We have a three-course meal waiting for you, rounds of drinks for those 21 and over, as well as live entertainment to serenade you while you dance beneath the stars.

Whether fall has just begun, or winter is in full swing, at Hawaii Ocean Project we are happy to accommodate your winter stay on Maui. You’ll find that winter is just as good a time for a vacation, if not better. We also offer a dinner combo with any snorkel or whale watching charter for double the fun and adventure. With so many activities to choose from, you might even forget it’s winter. That’s part of the experience.

By the way, did you know that you can now save $10/person on our Maui Princess Dinner Cruise or a Snorkel Adventure to the island of Lanai? Well you can! Just use the promo code VIP20 after clicking on this link: Hawaii Ocean Project Adventures.

A Brief History of the Hula

People often associate hula with men and women in short grass skirts, rapidly gyrating their hips and twirling fire. Unfortunately, that's not hula dancing. That's a Polynesian form of dance, popular at luaus. No, hula, authentic hula, is a slower, soulful dance, primarily performed by women in full, formal dress. It is common to see men dancing the hula, as well, but generally it is a dance dominated by women.

The origins of the hula are murky, at best. The first point of question is where the first hula was performed. The Big Island, Oahu, Kauai and Molokai all claim to be the birthplace of hula. The next issue is who first performed it. Some say Hopoe, a companion of the goddess Hi'iaka, was the first dancer. Others believe it was Kapo’ulakina’u (Kapo), the goddess of fertility who first danced the hula. Finally, a third myth says the first hula dancer was the navigator goddess Laka.

Even though the first hula dancer or even where the first hula took place can't be verified, what's interesting to historians is that these three myths revolve around goddesses. This directly refutes claims that in ancient times, hulas were only performed by men. This claim is further refuted when in 1778, Captain Cook landed on the island now known as Kauai and his crew members wrote about hula dances being performed by both men and women.

Between 1819 (marked by the death of Kamehameha I) and 1874, many Christian Hawaiians considered the hula immoral. So much so that in 1830, Queen Ka'ahumanu, a Christian convert, made it illegal to perform the hula in public places. Upon her death in 1832, many began ignoring the law and again performed in public. In 1874, Kalakaua became king, and during his reign the hula again became officially public. It was performed at both his 1883 coronation and an 1886 jubilee celebration.

In 1893, the Hawaiian monarchy fell. It would be nearly 100 years before the hula again became a part of the government celebrations.

Today, there are two primary forms of Hula. The first, hula kahiko, often referred to as traditional hula, is generally performed in the style used prior to 1894. Much of this form of hula was created in the praise of chiefs and honoring Hawaiian goddesses and/or gods. Hula kahiko does not use modern instruments like the ukulele or guitar. Instead, it uses things like rhythm sticks, gourds carved into drums and rattles, or bamboo sticks cut so they slap together.

The second form of hula performed today is called hula'auana, which combines the traditional form of hula with western influences like melodic harmonies and Christian morality tales. String instruments like the ukulele, steel guitars and bass guitars are often used to accompany the performers.

You can see hulas performed all over the state, from Kauai resorts to Wailea shopping malls to Oahu luaus and public gatherings. See if you can spot the difference between traditional hulas and the modern form.

By the way, did you know that you can now save $10/person on our Maui Princess Dinner Cruise or a Snorkel Adventure to the island of Lanai? Well you can! Just use the promo code VIP20 after clicking on this link: Hawaii Ocean Project Adventures.