Travel

• Costco, Walmart, K-mart, Old Navy, Borders, and some of the other big-box stores have sprouted around around the Kahului Airport. Stock up on groceries and other essentials at these stores. It will save you time and money. If you feel energetic after your inbound flight, do it before driving to west Maui. But if you're tired of travel or just want to get the sand between your toes ASAP, you can always do it later.
• Bring your Safeway Club Card. Many of the club prices at the Lahaina Safeway are half of non-club prices. Without the card, Safeway isn't worth the 10-minute drive.
• The best guidebook for the island is Maui Revealed by Andrew Doughty & Harriett Friedman. They eat at every restaurant, swim every reef, do everything and see every site, and tell it like it is. You can visit their Web site at www.wizardpub.com. It's also available at www.amazon.com and other online stores. Each suite has its own copy for your use while you're here.
• The Airport is about 45 minutes from the Kulakane. Stop in Lahaina for a snack and to drive past the shops to plan your upcoming shopping expeditions.
• If you're arriving from the mainland US, Canada or other points east, the time zone change will probably have you wide awake early on the first morning after your arrive. This is a wonderful time to explore the nearby Honokowai neighborhood on foot in the cool dawn (or pre-dawn) hours and start your day like a local. Take a short walk to Lava Java Coffee Roasters (formerly Badass Coffee), just 200 yards south on Lower Honoapiilani Road. Grab a cup of coffee and a copy of the Maui News. If the tide is low, walk back to the Kulakane along the beach. Settle in with your newspaper and coffee on your private lanai, or sit on the seawall and watch the colors of Molokai and Lanai change as the suns rays begin to reach them. Often, the local sea turtles (honu) will be visible in the water just a few feet beyond the sea wall. Many Kulakane owners and guests go for walks or runs in early morning. It is a wonderful time of day in Honokowai.
• If you are planning to make the drive up to Haleakala summit to see the sunrise some time during your stay, you'll find it easiest to do it on one of your first few mornings, before your body has adjusted to the local time zone and the more powerful force of "island time." (Also be sure to read up on the Haleakala sunrise experience before you go. The road to the summit is long and winding, and summit temperatures at dawn can be at or near freezing. Really.)

Food

All of the Kulakane units have fully equipped kitchens and access to two very nice outdoor gas grills near the office and laundry. Pantries in the units have a mixed cache of cooking oil, condiments, spices, coffee filters, storage bags, paper plates, etc.

As discussed under Travel above, the most economical places to buy groceries are Costco (near the Kahului airport) and Safeway in Lahaina (for Safeway Club Card holders). When you need only a few items or are just too relaxed to drive to Lahaina or Kahului, there are some local options. The Star Market on the corner of Lower Honoapi'ialani Road and Route 30 (0.6 miles) is the closet grocery store. Prices will seem high, and they are, but that's common on the island. (Anything that isn't grown here must be shipped in.)

There is also an ABC conveniece store just 1/2 mile south of the Kulakane. The store carries snack food, a few lunch items, and a large selection of beverages.

Wonderful fresh fish is available at the Fish Market, just a few block south of the Kulakane. Try their chowder; it's different but great everyday. The fish tacos are also highly recommended. Their prices are reasonable and the service is outstanding. It's open from 10 - 7 every day and 12 - 6 on Sunday.

Honokowai Okazuya & Deli is just a few doors down from the Fish Market. Advertised as the "best take-out in town" it truly is. They offer a wide range of stir-fried dishes, steamed veggies, salads, hot and cold deli sandwiches, burgers rice bowls and pastas. Prices are good; only cash is accepted, and when they get really busy they stop answering the phone, so you have to walk or drive down to the store and place your order in person. 665-0512

Fresh produce is available just down the street in at the Farmer's Market. It's just a vegetable stand at the side of the road with all local produce. Select from several types of bananas, pineapples, corn, avocado, tomatoes, etc. open 7 - 11 am, Mon, Wed & Fri.

Associated with the Farmer's Market is an organic food store and deli in the strip mall across from Honokowai Beach Park. It is just 200 yards from the Kulakane. In addition to organic groceries, they offer prepared foods for take out or eating on site. The staff are friendly, and many of the customers are locals.

Restaurants abound, but some of our favorites are:

The Gazebo for breakfast and lunch, especially the fried rice. It's about 4 miles to the north Park at Napili Shores and walk through the resort toward the water. You can't miss it. You'll see the line of people waiting for tables. Just grab a cup of coffee or tea from the bar and enjoy the view.

Maui Tacos is a great place to stop for a bite after a snorkeling expedition. Located in Napili Plaza, Lahaina, and Kihei, Maui Tacos offers "Mexican food with Mauittude." The walls are adorned with photos of visiting celebrities, from Alice Cooper to chef Emeril, Sharon Stone and Michael Douglas. Don't bother to change your clothes - swimwear is de riguer and it is not entirely clear that shoes are really even required. Elegant? No. Just great Muai-Mex food.

Moving up the elegance and price scales, Sansei (at Kapalua and Kihei), offers outstanding sushi and many cooked dishes based on japanese food, generally with a new twist. Sushi lovers should not leave the island without a trip to Sansei. Reservations are recommended anytime.

For an elegant but expensive dinner, it is difficult to beat Roy's Kahana Grill, located one mile north of the Kulakane in the Kahana Gateway shopping center. We have never had a meal there that was short of fabulous. A fun alternative is to go to Roy's for dessert after eating a light dinner in your Kulakane condominium. The chocolate lava souffle' is rich, delicious, and not to be missed. Reservations recommended.

Lahaina has a multitude of fun places to eat, including Cheeseburger in Paradise, Longhi's, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Coolers and Kimo's.

Golf

There are about 20 courses on Maui ranging from moderately difficult to "golfing to the death." Wind is the most impressive factor in Maui golf other than maybe the gorgeous views. Play early in the day to avoid the strongest winds, which in the afternoon can blow steady at 30 miles an hour or more, strong enough to blow a high ball back to you. Practice low, line drives before you come, or take a lesson in wind management from one of the many fine teaching establishments. Most of the courses are Bermuda grass, which has a putt-altering grain. Greens fees run from over $200 to less than $30, most are in the $140 neighborhood. Elleair (formerly Silversword) is a good value at about $75 including cart. It's about 30 minutes southeast, in Kihei.

Just to the North are the three courses of Kapalua, home of the Mercedes Open, and just to the South are the two Ka'anapali courses.