Flying Hawaiian Air to Maui this weekend and renting a car. This travel is designated "fun trip".

Not doing any aerial mapping, SARs or sailing upwind wind in the notorious Pailolo channel. This is a mini vacation, the supreme commander (wife) has ordered it.

Mission Profile Planning;

Has anybody been to Molokini? Have flown over it many times in various aircraft and this time would like to take a tourist boat and snorkel. Comments?

Drive to the "House of the Sun" (Haleakala Mountain) also seems interesting?

Actually saw a few whales left here on Oahu. But, after 30+ years of seeing whales I really do NOT want to go on a guided tour. But, I am not calling the shots.

My bottom line guidance, I was told, is I must be completely stoked and "enjoy myself".

Please comment and thank you for reading my travel plans.

Mokokini is awesome and I'd highly recommend it. http://seafirecharters.com/ is the outfit to go with without a doubt.

Haleakala was kinda cool but not as cool as I had hoped; pretty much just like watching the sun come up from the top of any other mountain. I you decide to do it get up early enough that you have plenty of time to get to the top even if you get stuck behind a slow driving tourist. It is also really cold. I thought I was a tough Idaho boy and would be fine in a hoodie and a fleece jacket but I froze.

Whale tour...meh. We went out with Pacific Whale Foundation at Ma'alaea. Saw a few whales and it was kinda cool but now that I've done it I don't feel the need to do it again...till the wife makes me.

Road to Hana was kinda fun but needs to be at least a couple day trip IMO. We did the loop in one day and didn't get to do half of what we wanted to.

Lahina was a fun day trip and is where the younger crowd hangs out, and those wanting to hang out late into the night.

There is a hang-glider/para-sailing launch point that we happened upon. https://www.google.com/maps/@20.7124921,-156.3036989,474m/data=!3m1!1e3 We watched several tandem para sail launches and I really wanted to do it but we didn't have time. Will do it next time for sure! Can't remember the name of the outfit but I'm sure it would be easy to find.

Got to try Mamas Fish House on the other side of island spendy but good. Golf course south of Kehi has a really nice restaurant for evening dinner. Road to Hana will make u car sick with all the curves pretty drive tho. I guess the nudy beach is gone with new hotels and such and Pineapple Hill restaurant burned down been awhile since I have been there I agree with Whee Molkina is a great trip. Dive shops used to offer supervised scuba dives with a introduction lesson and no certification required. Pay to have the instructor to take videos....looks really cool when u get home

http://mamasfishhouse.com/

Check out Sky View Soaring at the Hana airport. Rides over the Haleakala crater in a Diamond HK36 Super Dimona motor glider. He's the only commercial operator authorized to soar over the crater, by virtue of killing the motor and soaring silently. It was well worth it when I went a couple years ago. Pro tip: Drop the wife off at Travaasa spa while you're flying! Then get plate lunch at Pranee's Thai. If you go a bit further to Kipahulu, you can visit Charles Lindberg's grave site. If you do go that far, drive the whole loop around east Maui, and be sure to do it clockwise. The backside road through Kaupo is in the best shape it's been in in decades. If you think you'll be spending much time in Hana/ Kipahulu, PM for more details.
Aloha,
-DP

p.s. to DonC- Still some good nudy beaches left!

Wow guys! Thanks for the information!

Will take me a while to sort through your guidance!

My wife will wonder how I got so smart all of a sudden.

Big Mahalo!

The chief just sent an unclassified message confirming the weekend of the 19-APR.

I am really stoked already after reading the posts above. The guidance jump started some cool ideas.

Thank you Don! Thank you Whee. Thank you DP !

Walked up to Makapuu lighthouse looking for whales this morning. Did not see any. The trades are smoking right now, 20-30 kts. Rabbit Island is showing some size and shape! I clicked photograph with a thrashed android!

Molokini is good fun and done by noon. I did the Haleakala Sunrise under complete protest. Getting up and leaving Kapalua at 2:30 am did not sound like much of a vacation day! It was AWESOME. One of those events we still talk about and won't ever forget.

Favorite places to eat are; Mala Ocean Tavern in Lahaina, Sea House Restaurant in Napili, Sansei & Plantation House in Kapalua for Bloody Mary's, Monkeypod Kitchen in Wailea.

DCO-65 wrote:Molokini is good fun and done by noon. I did the Haleakala Sunrise under complete protest. Getting up and leaving Kapalua at 2:30 am did not sound like much of a vacation day! It was AWESOME. One of those events we still talk about and won't ever forget.

Favorite places to eat are; Mala Ocean Tavern in Lahaina, Sea House Restaurant in Napili, Sansei & Plantation House in Kapalua for Bloody Mary's, Monkeypod Kitchen in Wailea.

Hi DCO-65,

You guys really know how to live! You are going to be there in a few days! Way cool!

I have flow my airplane to Kahalui and Hana many times. My old neighbor (at the airport) is Jim Nabors (Gomer Pyle), he used to fly a Chieftain to his farm in Hana. But, it is sold now to the Island Conservancy, they also own Palmyra Is.

You rock Dude! Mahalo, big time!

DCO-65 wrote:Molokini is good fun and done by noon. I did the Haleakala Sunrise under complete protest. Getting up and leaving Kapalua at 2:30 am did not sound like much of a vacation day! It was AWESOME. One of those events we still talk about and won't ever forget.

Favorite places to eat are; Mala Ocean Tavern in Lahaina, Sea House Restaurant in Napili, Sansei & Plantation House in Kapalua for Bloody Mary's, Monkeypod Kitchen in Wailea.

If you go to Sea House in Napili - be prepared for a line. People get there super early.

One of my favorite places to eat is a little seafood market called Eskimo Candy in Kihei. It's in the middle of a commercial area, but they have the best crab cakes I've ever had in my life. http://www.eskimocandy.com/

If you're on the North Shore, everyone likes Mama's fish house in Paia, but I like Paia Fish Market.

I'll be in Maui Monday-Friday.. also at the wife's request.

C hris

sticknrudder wrote:

DCO-65 wrote:Molokini is good fun and done by noon. I did the Haleakala Sunrise under complete protest. Getting up and leaving Kapalua at 2:30 am did not sound like much of a vacation day! It was AWESOME. One of those events we still talk about and won't ever forget.

Favorite places to eat are; Mala Ocean Tavern in Lahaina, Sea House Restaurant in Napili, Sansei & Plantation House in Kapalua for Bloody Mary's, Monkeypod Kitchen in Wailea.

If you go to Sea House in Napili - be prepared for a line. People get there super early.

One of my favorite places to eat is a little seafood market called Eskimo Candy in Kihei. It's in the middle of a commercial area, but they have the best crab cakes I've ever had in my life. http://www.eskimocandy.com/

If you're on the North Shore, everyone likes Mama's fish house in Paia, but I like Paia Fish Market.

I'll be in Maui Monday-Friday.. also at the wife's request.

C hris

Me getting very hungry for some sea food and plate lunches! I can NOT pass up Mahi Mahi or Ono Bra!

I may have put my diet on hold!

Thank you Chris. What kind of aircraft is that?

Have never had time to Hana for a glider ride but have heard good things about this guy.
http://skyviewsoaring.com/

DCO-65 wrote:Have never had time to Hana for a glider ride but have heard good things about this guy.
http://skyviewsoaring.com/

I never knew about Skyview Soaring. With the NE trades the lift must be unreal over there!

But, I remember lots of precip too around Hana. Great airport.

Thank you Sir!

8GCBC wrote:

sticknrudder wrote:

DCO-65 wrote:Molokini is good fun and done by noon. I did the Haleakala Sunrise under complete protest. Getting up and leaving Kapalua at 2:30 am did not sound like much of a vacation day! It was AWESOME. One of those events we still talk about and won't ever forget.

Favorite places to eat are; Mala Ocean Tavern in Lahaina, Sea House Restaurant in Napili, Sansei & Plantation House in Kapalua for Bloody Mary's, Monkeypod Kitchen in Wailea.

If you go to Sea House in Napili - be prepared for a line. People get there super early.

One of my favorite places to eat is a little seafood market called Eskimo Candy in Kihei. It's in the middle of a commercial area, but they have the best crab cakes I've ever had in my life. http://www.eskimocandy.com/

If you're on the North Shore, everyone likes Mama's fish house in Paia, but I like Paia Fish Market.

I'll be in Maui Monday-Friday.. also at the wife's request.

C hris

Me getting very hungry for some sea food and plate lunches! I can NOT pass up Mahi Mahi or Ono Bra!

I may have put my diet on hold!

Thank you Chris. What kind of aircraft is that?

Diet? It's all healthy on the island...

It's a Mustang.

Chris

sticknrudder wrote:
Diet? It's all healthy on the island...

It's a Mustang.

Chris

"Roger that"! Cool P51 Bro!

Mahalo.

I'll backup the Molokini vote. We did the intro dive with scuba instructor and it was the best.
Paia fish market is good and very reasonable, I'll hit that one every trip.
the guidebook Maui Revealed will tell you more than enough to keep you busy and help you find all the secret waterfalls you could ever want to see.

m7flyer wrote:I'll backup the Molokini vote. We did the intro dive with scuba instructor and it was the best.
Paia fish market is good and very reasonable, I'll hit that one every trip.
the guidebook Maui Revealed will tell you more than enough to keep you busy and help you find all the secret waterfalls you could ever want to see.

Thank you M7. Appreciate the comments!

If you want to snorkel, go to Ahihi bay if you are on that end of the island. Go past the little "pocket bay" right beside the road and look for the next parking area on the right. Not much of a beach but nice snorkeling. If you want to rent snorkeling gear while on the Kahului side I strongly recommend Hawaiian Island Surf and Sport, 415 Dairy Rd, Kahului, HI 96732. Great people and a really good selection. Also rent paddle boards, and kite boards ( instruction classes offered). ONe of the best kite beaches is beside the airport.

If you are renting a condo, your first stop of the plane will probably be the Costco for supplies. Also probably the best fish on the island....Really.

We hiked the Haleakala crater a couple of years ago and it was a great hike. Start early, and be aware of the weather. We nearly ran out of daylight in Feb. You can park at the 8,000ft level at an overlook and hitchhike to the summit then you don't have to hike back up the extra 2k in shifting sands. AM temp at start 34F.

Good whale watching out of both harbors on Maalaea or Lahina.

There is a pretty funky FBO at Kahului that rents 172's.

Don't know if you can land at the Leper Colony airport on Molokai without permission but it has a really long paved runway if you happen to rent.

Hi TomD,

Big Mahalo Bro! I am reading you comments closely.

I have known several people on the Kalaupapa Peninsula. Landed there many times. We have had access to cars, trucks etc. Molokai Island is very familiar. I caught a Yellowfin Tuna in front of the Kalaupapa Lighthouse with my catamaran. Sailed there many times from Oahu too. If you read about the Caravan that crashed off Kalaupapa, my friend was the pilot, Clyde Kawasaki, I bought an Aztec from him.

OR, you could fly your drone carrying a 10 lb multi spectral camera over hundreds of acres of sugar cane... hot, dirty, sticky in 35 mph winds! (Yes, I did)

SkySteve wrote:OR, you could fly your drone carrying a 10 lb multi spectral camera over hundreds of acres of sugar cane... hot, dirty, sticky in 35 mph winds! (Yes, I did)

Who is the prime contractor for the little ship? Looks familiar!