About Town: Maui
By Ceri Mobley, PGATOUR.com Associate Site Producer
Aloha. Welcome to Maui, and welcome to the 2008 season of the PGA TOUR.
As the 2007 winners battle it out for first-victory-of-2008 bragging rights at the Mercedes-Benz Championship at Kapalua, Maui, you will be watching -- perhaps wearing a lei -- and certainly ringing in the new year in style. So get ready to sit back in the glorious Hawaii weather and tee off 2008 alongside the PGA TOUR's elite with some travel tips from PGATOUR.com.
The Mercedes-Benz Championship takes place at The Plantation Course, Kapalua Resort, in the wild and mountainous north-western region of Maui -- one of the Aloha state's more popular vacation destinations. Nestled between lush-green, towering mountain ranges and the turquoise waters of the Pacific Ocean, the course at Kapalua is shielded from a lot of tourist traps but still a drivable distance from most of Maui's big attractions.
But before you hit the golf course (or the beach), you'll need a place to stuff that suitcase.
SOMEWHERE TO SNOOZE
Hawaii highlife: If you're prepared to follow your favorite golfers all the way to America's 50th state, then you're probably prepared to spend some big cheese on your home away from home. And if that's the case, then there's no other hotel to choose than the Four Seasons, Maui at Wailea. A five-star resort, this hotel is only a 30-minute drive from the tournament -- you try finding your own paradise with better access to the world's best golfers. As you would expect from a Four Seasons hotel, guests can pamper themselves with fabulous food, a sensational spa and sumptuous suites. And the views aren't bad either, if you like that kind of thing. (Editor's note: The Ritz-Carlton at Kapalua is closed for renovations until January 7 and thus was not listed as an accommodation option.)
Prepare to pay: If you know to expect luxury at the Four Seasons, you also know to expect a heavy bill under your door when you check out. A visit at this resort ranges from about $650-$1,100 a night depending on when you stay and which kind of room you require.
Tropical villas: If you're going to Hawaii to get away from the morning commute, then a 30-minute drive to the course might not be for you (not that a Hawaii highway has anything in common with big-city gridlock). So check out the Kapalua Villas -- one-, two- or three-bedroom chalets on the Plantation Course with prime views of the ocean and the rolling fairways. Guests can try their backhand at tennis or take a swing on the course. Just because you're here to watch golf doesn't mean you can't play a little, too. The added privacy and homeliness of the villas makes your vacation a little more personal and secluded.
Prepare to pay: The villas are spread out across the course with rates that correspond to location. Ocean-front, ocean-view, partial-ocean-view and fairway-view villas range from $470-$900 a night depending on villa size and setting.
A little more action: If you'd rather have the convenience of a hotel over a villa but don't want all the razzmatazz of the Four Seasons or the 30-minute drive to the course, give nearby Lahaina Shores Beach Resort a try. A tourist favorite in West Maui, this beachside town offers local charm as well as sightseer fun. Only 20 minutes from the event, this three-star hotel sits on a white-sand beach while emerald mountains rise behind it. With countless restaurants and activities in the area, it's the perfect compromise for a couple (or family) looking to do more than exhaust themselves walking -- and watching -- the golf course.
Prepare to pay: Unless you don't mind sleeping in a tent on the beach, then anywhere in Maui will put at least a small dent in your wallet. However, Lahaina Shores Beach Resort won't hit as hard as the Four Seasons. With rates that range from $200-$300 a night, a stay at this hotel will give you the beauty of the landscape and still leave some pocket money for dinner.
While everyone enjoys a stay in a hotel (what's not to like about someone making your bed and cleaning your bathroom?), you'd be pretty crazy to spend all your time there when you're in a place as spectacular as Maui. Even the laziest of couch potatoes would be forced to venture out of the room -- if only to sizzle like a French fry on the sand instead of the sofa. So what are you waiting for?
SOMEWHERE TO SNACK:
If you're in town for the tournament, then you'll need dinner digs for at least four nights. The cool thing about island life is that if you're looking for fancy schmancy, you'll find it, and if you're looking for easy cuisine a la flip-flop, you shouldn't have a problem with that either.
Day one: Unless you're lucky enough to call Hawaii home, it will take you a little while to get to Maui, so chances are, you'll want to take it easy on your first day. Fresh from the airport and ready for island living, head to the Gazebo Restaurant at Napili Shores for some beachfront dining with a side of relaxation. Only a few minutes from Kapalua, the Gazebo, though small and out of the way, has become a favorite of locals and tourists alike. With menu samplings such as BBQ Kalua pork and avocado burgers, this little beach hut diner works up waiting lines up to 45-minutes long (but the view-while-you-wait can't be beaten). Note that it is only open for breakfast and lunch though (7 a.m. -- 2 p.m.), so perhaps grab a to-go box for later on.
Day two: You can't stay on an island in the middle of the world's largest ocean and not eat some seafood, so why not go for the best? The Ritz-Carlton's Kai restaurant offers world-class sushi and sashimi with only the freshest fish, and for those in your party who prefer meat of the land (or just meat prepared with some heat), Kai's menu isn't limited to sushi; Japanese cuisine from filet mignon to asparagus tempura should keep everyone from going hungry. Kai stays open for dinner from 5:30 -10 p.m., which gives you plenty of time to enjoy the tournament and relax a little before filling that hole in your belly.
Day three: You may remember from a weekend in Atlanta for The TOUR Championship that this PGATOUR.com writer has a little bit of a thing for Mexican food. (If there's a good restaurant in the area, I'll find it.) And even though Mexico could not be considered close to Hawaii, there's something islandy about that cuisine that fits just right with a trip to the Pacific. Cilantro Mexican Grill, located in Lahaina, will whet your appetite with pineapple salsa, margarita shrimp and cilantro chimichangas (how good does that sound?). The restaurant's proprietors describe Cilantro as "a fresh take on old Mexico," so even if you're eating it west of the border rather than south, you're sure to enjoy yourself.
Day four: I'm pretty sure I mentioned something about easily finding the Hawaiian fancy schmancy when you're looking for it, so why not save the best for last? Kapalua doesn't only provide the world's best golfers competing for the first TOUR title of the year; it also boasts The Plantation House Restaurant. Popular for Maui weddings, The Plantation House combines delicious island cooking with traditional Hawaiian hospitality. And while the food will leave you more than satisfied, it's not necessarily the main event. The restaurant's Kapalua location means diners get to eat their fill while deciding whether to enjoy views of pineapple fields, neighboring islands or blue waters painted pink by the unmatched west Maui sunsets. See, I told you it was fancy.
SOMETHING TO TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT:
While any one of you would probably be more than happy to spend your time in Hawaii staring at the scenery and sampling every plate in sight, it would be a sin to send postcards home consisting of only that. If you can think of something to do (that doesn't involve snow), then Maui can likely serve it up. So if you plan to make the trip for Mercedes, then try not to leave these activities off your list:
Day one: Surf's up. Ever wanted to learn what that term really means? Well, in Maui, you can. And if you're going to take a lesson, why not be a pop-culture junkie and take it at the Royal Hawaiian Surf Academy, made famous by its moment in the spotlight on MTV's "Living Lahaina." They have eight experienced instructors and offer lessons three times a day for groups of up to four people or individual instruction for those of us who fear we'd look like a fish out of water (or a human on top of it) on a surfboard. The lessons last two hours, and, when you discover you're not the next Kelly Slater, you can have fun doing some shopping in their surf store after you hit the waves (or, rather, the waves hit you). Either way, it's sure to be an experience you won't forget.
Day two: If trying your hand at balancing a board over a swirling swell didn't work out for you (or you'd rather admire the ocean than frolic in it), then check out the Maui Ocean Center. Located about 30 miles from Kapalua (don't be discouraged by the drive; it's sure to delight), the Maui Ocean Center is Hawaii's primo aquarium and is open 365 days a year. Whether you adore sea turtles or just think the frilly fish are super cool, the Maui Ocean Center has plenty to keep you occupied. The aquarium is home to hundreds of species of marine life and is proud to display over 60 exhibits. If you're feeling really brave (post surfing attempt), the Ocean Center also offers shark diving -- note that you do have to be age 15 or over and scuba certified to participate in this activity.
Day three: We land dwellers have a habit of ogling the ocean any chance we get, especially when we're island-bound. But sometimes we forget what the solid ground has to offer. Remind yourself of the wonders of the dry parts of the earth with a trip to Haleakala National Park. The park, situated on the southeast side of the island, is quite a drive from Kapalua (around an hour), but it's absolutely worth it. And if you plan to go, make sure you double check the alarm clock because you simply can't miss the sunrise. Atop the Haleakala summit, you'll see a completely new side of Maui -- for a start, you'll be so high up that the sprawling ocean views become sprawling clouds, a blank canvas for the light-and-shadow show that early-morning nature will put on for you. But in your haste to discover this spectacular National Park, don't forget to bring some warm clothing -- it gets pretty chilly up in that elevation before the sun peeks out from the east.
Day four: Now you know how to appreciate the land and the sea, maybe take some time to combine the two. To cap off your Maui (and Mercedes) experience, organize a horseback trail ride in Lahaina. There's no better way to experience the island than to travel through it, but let's face it, you miss out in the car, and very few of us have the energy to appreciate things on foot. So take to the saddle and enjoy a west Maui mountain trek as the sun sets over the pacific. Can you think of a more perfect way to say goodbye to Maui?
STICKING AROUND?
You'll certainly make a long trip to visit the Mercedes-Benz Championship, so a few days before or after the tournament to take in some post-holiday R&R wouldn't be amiss. If you do plan to spend more than the four tournament days in the area, then be sure to check out the following Maui attractions:
The Hana Highway -- If you've heard of Maui, you've likely heard of the Hana Highway, a 60-mile road that leads into and out of Hana. Along the way (roughly a three-and-a-half-hour ride), you'll encounter mountain bridges, cliff-side ocean views and, most importantly, waterfall after waterfall after waterfall. If driving on winding, narrow roads for that long has you reaching for the travel-sickness bag, but you still want to have the experience, then think about a helicopter tour and take it all in from the sky.
Lanai -- Only eight miles off the coast of Maui, Lanai is an easy day trip for Maui vacationers. Lanai will keep you busy golfing, beaching, snorkeling and exploring historic sites, among many activities on the "pineapple island." There are several boating options for how to get to the island, and if you struggle with that nautical rock and roll, then make sure to pack some Dramamine rather than miss out on one of Hawaii's smallest, yet sweetest, main islands.
Whale watching -- From mid December to mid May, the warm waters around the Hawaiian coastline become the temporary mating and calf-rearing home of the Alaskan whale population. These whales travel around 3,500 miles to enjoy the Maui marine life, so the least you can do is arrange a little trip to see them. The whale-watch cruises last a couple of hours and cost much less than you think. If looking out into the Pacific Ocean doesn't make you feel small enough, seeing one of the world's largest inhabitants leap out of it certainly will.
So really, to get the most out of "sticking around," I suggest another week in Hawaii with the TOUR. Catch a plane to Oahu and watch these guys give their all at the Sony Open.
There will be plenty to do about town.
Get the best deals on the best equipment all at the SHOP.PGATOUR.COM.
WIDGET
PGATOUR.com is part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network