Customer Reviews

Maui (Lonely Planet)

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Visiting Maui is an enigma. On the one hand, people visit it for a taste of tropical paradise, for its ties to all things Hawaiiana, and for escape from the ordinary.

On the other hand, people live there, with the tourist-spawned traffic jams, artificial smiles, world-class housing prices (not a compliment), and the lines of bicyclists coming down Haleakala (temporarily suspended, thank goodness).

Tourism is both a blessing and a curse.

Lonely Planet's new version of its guidebook to Maui, Molokai, and Lanai is a roadmap to these three islands (focusing primarily on Maui, of course).

In general, this book does what it is designed to do... introduce visitors to places and events. Whether you are looking for dining, snorkeling, or wine-tasting opportunities; eco-friendly businesses; or just some Maui history, this book will live up to your expectations. It's not as blunt as Maui Revealed (a competing guidebook); you won't find many negative reviews. This volume falls into the traditional, "don't worry, be happy" genre of guidebooks.

First, what do I know? I don't live on Maui. However, I have relatives who homesteaded on Maui in return for land, and still have many extended family members living there. I've visited on multiple occasions, and have been there for business reasons or conferences, including a week long sea turtle workshop. There's a bunch of stuff I've never done on Maui, and a lot I have done: wine-tasting, plays, beach action, Haleakala hikes, diving, Molokini, lounging in Lahaina, and eating plate lunch. So I've been part of both the visitor and local scenes, and my comments stem from these experiences.

In general, this book does what it is intended to do. I would caution you that it puts a positive spin on practically everything (except the Superferry), so be warned.

Here are some specific comments:

- The cover. If you've been to Molokini over the past 5 years, you won't see the Molokini characterized on this cover, with those 4 snorkeling adventure boats, widely spaced. Now, you'll see captains racing for the islet to get to their favorite spot to anchor, and the numbers will be 20+. Your guide will tell you to paddle close to the boat. Really, the experience is highly degraded with the number of operators allowed to exploit this marine ecosystem. Sad. So I wonder about the appropriateness of Molokini unexploited as a cover photo.

- This book has a neat collection of "Island Voices" - real people from different walks of life - featured as vignettes and sprinkled throughout the book. I enjoyed these.

- This volume of the Lonely Planet guide to Maui features businesses and organizations that have an "active sustainable-tourism policy." There's a special index at the end of the book listing these sustainable activities and organizations. Note, however, there is a real difference between "sustainability" and "sustainable-tourism." "Nuff said.

- In a little box highlighting "Plants as Medicine" (p. 49), the authors recommend a book written by Auntie Bea. Yay!

- As the book delves into the various regions of Maui, the authors suggest activities that may fit into a 2 day trip, longer trips, or even "green" trips. These will probably prove useful for many visitors to get their visit jump-started.

- The section on Haleakala does a nice job reminding visitors that, although they are visiting a tropical paradise, the summit is over 10,000 feet above sea level. "Slippahs", shorts, and t-shirts are not part of the recommended dress code here, especially when the fog and clouds blow in, and if you've ventured down Sliding Sands trail, you'll quickly note how you've underdressed or are wearing inappropriate shoes. On the other hand, to stand in the crater, watching the clouds roll toward you, and breathing in these same clouds... magical. The fleece and windbreaker, however, will increase your ability to enjoy this experience!

- "In the 1960s, while tourism brought much-needed cash into the new state, it also brought further erosion of traditional Hawaiian culture, which was increasingly replaced by mainland American culture" (p. 250). I agree with this comment, totally. The exploitation of Hawaiiana for profit, however, has not ebbed. Catch this mistake: "No art form is more uniquely Hawaiian than the hula" (p. 256). However, the photo accompanying this comment, with dancers with coconut shell bras and Tahitian hats, is not Hawaiian luau! It is giving tourists what they want, and part of the "...further erosion of traditional Hawaiian culture." So it goes, on and on and on.

- Sometimes there are statements that seem to come out of left field, particularly overly broad characterizations:

"People are fairly early risers, often taking a run along the beach or hitting the waves before heading to the office" (p. 251). Although many people run or surf, the majority of locals do not. This image, however, gives tourists the "Blue Crush" perception of life in Hawaii.

"In the greater scheme of Hawaiian places Maui is considered the more sophisticated sister... It is no coincidence that the current governor of Hawaii... was the former mayor of Maui County" (p. 251). Folks in Honolulu, home of the majority of governors, will find this capture of the "sophistication crown" a bit presumptuous.

- Top picks for souvenirs? Aloha shirts, lavender body lotions, Maui-made crafts, pineapple wine, Maui chocolates, ukuleles, and hand-blown glass (p. 272)? Does this seem like "...further erosion of traditional Hawaiian culture, which was increasingly replaced by mainland American culture"? Just a thought. I'd say consumerism isn't the necessary souvenir here: memories, photos, and experiences are more like it. Probably the most common souvenir is the Hawaiiana-theme t-shirt!

- Kudos to the authors for discussing the problem with robberies of cars. This pain in the rear, for tourists in rental cars and locals alike, is a blight on the islands. Why the police departments aren't more aggressive in curtailing this problem is beyond me. Just look at the broken windshield glass in the parking lots... it's turning into the new Maui sand!

- "Read this book, now forget it!" This little reminder on page 283 (close to the end) should be moved closer to the front. It's a reminder that Maui is a place to be discovered, and not simply an experience programmed to have you at point A in time X.


Whew! This might seem critical, but I repeat that "...this book does what it is designed to do... introduce visitors to places and events." It's not perfect, but no travel guide is.

I often tell friends visiting Maui that I know where they will go and what they will see in that 3-5 day visit. It's not that big of a place, and books like this tend to encourage folk to visit all the same places. It's the same with Oahu.

So the Lonely Planet guidebook to Maui will give you a great deal of information about this small speck of land in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It won't tell you much about the nearshore and off-shore ocean environments. It really features Maui as a playground, and not a living place. And since thousands of people visit Maui every week to do just that (play), this book will work for them.

Aloha.

I just returned from Maui and took this book along with me as a companion book to Maui Revealed. I'd heard so many good things about Maui Revealed but I wanted to have a more basic book to cover all the basics. This book was perfect for that purpose and also gave some great basic information that Maui Revealed missed. I also liked all the information about green options in Maui. While I can't go as far as to say that I'd take this book as the ONLY guide to Maui, it is a great companion novel for the other books that are out there and one I'm glad that I had with me!

This Maui guide is okay. Some very helpful information on sites, restaurants, and attractions. It is well organized and would be helpful while traveling. I have been to Maui four times, so was surprised that it wasn't a bit more inclusive. (lots of places I've been - to eat/stay weren't listed). Also, the photographs, to me, are lacking. So many are small and look rather similar. Not as many as I'd like seemed to really showcase the island's beauty.

Well, I'm headed there eventually, maybe NEXT summer, since we've always wanted to go to Maui.

Travel guidebooks are a matter of taste. It's like shoes--you have to try on several pairs until you find one that fits perfectly.

A good guidebook is your constant travel companion, like a pet dog. You'll refer to it all the time, consulting it, more than reading it like a novel. You want accurate information FAST, and access to information is critical.

Printed on a semi-matte paper stock, in full color, this pocket-sized guidebook crams a lot of information in its 304 pages. Published by Lonely Planet--my favorite publisher of guidebooks, along with Insight Editions--this book is organized by location, and in the back portion of the book, has all the reference information.

The type is small but readable, and the use of color to highlight the text is done well: it draws attention but doesn't distract.

Color-tabbed on the pages' edges for easy access to each section, this book covers as astonishing amount of information in one compact volume.

As with any guidebook, it's best to at least skim through a few pages to get a sense of how they handle the material. I tend to avoid text-heavy travel guidebooks with ONLY text in b&w and few photos, since I think color is essential for a travel guidebook, and the use of color in the text throughout makes it an easy reading experience. But the key issue, always, is the text. Is it accurate? Is it informative? Is it useful? Is it practical? Do you TRUST it?

Ideally, guidebooks should be updated annually, but I suspect most of the material covered in this book will not change much, so I suspect this third edition is more an enhanced and revised version, building on what's gone before, which is fine.

One real highlight of this book: the extensive and liberal use of maps. Essential. Indispensable, even.

Bottom line: I tend to pack light when I'm traveling, because less is more when it comes to baggage fees these days. (All the airlines nick you for that second bag and third bag--expect to see first bag charges to become the norm with almost all carriers this year.) But this is small enough to pack and pocket-sized, so it'll fit in one of my cargo-style shorts or trousers.

Maui, here I come!

I can't believe that I've lived on the West Coast for nearly 14 years and I still haven't been to Hawaii! I've always wanted to go, but planning a trip is a little more complex and intimidating than most destinations. After all, there are seven different islands. Can I choose just one, or should I visit many? What does each have to offer? How much time should I plan on spending in the Islands?

To get a start on answering my questions, I ordered the Lonely Planet Guides to both the big island of Hawaii and to Maui. I wanted to read up on both of these major Hawaiian destinations to see what they have to offer individually and what sounded most appealing to me. Well, that was answered quickly enough--it all sounds fabulous! Seriously, after reading up on both islands, I'm convinced that any trip to Hawaii for any amount of time would be an amazing vacation. The Lonely Planet Guides were an excellent resource for basic research and initial trip planning.

The first thing you'll notice are the STUNNING photographs on nearly every page. These books are beautifully produced, and it really does make you want to rush straight to the airport. In addition to all the photos, there are generous and clear maps within the pages. The guide is organized by sections or neighborhoods on the islands, such as Lahaina, Central Maui, and Halakala National Park. This makes it easier to explore specific areas. Those sections discuss activities that can be found in the specific areas: festivals, restaurants, shopping, accommodations, etc. The book is so jam-packed with information (including all sorts of diverse sidebars and special sections) that it's almost overwhelming and too much to take in. That's not a complaint.

Two things I'm always interested in are restaurant and hotel reviews. I thought the restaurants were very well handled, as well as lots of other information on the local cuisine. However, the information on accommodations wasn't as thorough as I'd like. I would probably look to another source to augment my planning. Another area of interest for me is snorkling and diving. I was pleased with the overview within the book. Overall, the Lonely Planet Guide is an excellent travel guide for anyone planning a trip to Hawaii. I think I know what my New Year's resolution is going to be!

I've been to Maui before, so when I picked up this guidebook I immediately looked for some of my favorite spots. Unfortunately, the ultra-budget hotel I prefer wasn't listed in the book, probably because it is lacking in many basic hotel amenities.

But aside from that I found a guide that listed all the places I'd been, as well as illuminated a few new ones. No matter what kind of trip you want to take to Maui, this guide book offers great suggestions. Interested in ocean life? Dozens of great snorkeling spots. A land lubber? Just as many hiking trails. Want to pamper yourself and never be out of reach of room service? The only limit is how much you want to spend.

This is my first Lonely Planet guide, and I am impressed. I can't come up with any complaints. Although I found that my first experience on Maui was exhilarating because of my lack of knowledge(take a drive to the volcano without looking at any pictures before-hand to see what I mean), this book provides lots of tips on places that might otherwise be overlooked.

We used the lonely planet Maui guide to plan a vacation to Maui. It is was superb. As with all guidebooks, some of the restaurants and shops were not updated, but that was to be expected.

As a native Texan on a fixed income with steadily increasing bills, the idea of going to Hawaii has been a tantalizing dream but far from reality. This year, with the Left Coast Mystery Convention scheduled in Hawaii, the impossibility of going has been more obvious than ever. I suspect the issue has become even more pronounced for many possible attendees.

But, the dream lives on. Hence, the travel guides are always fun to look at while hoping for the lottery numbers to finally pay off. This one, released by "Lonely Planet" last September is another good one from the publisher full of lots of information and stunning color photographs.

The book opens with a short chapter on the "Best Maui Experiences." Suggestions for things such as the best location to luau "Old Lahaina Luau" or the best treats "Komoda Store & Bakery" and the best beach "Big Beach" along with the best hike "Sliding Sands Trail" and numerous other best things and best places are listed. In each case there is a color photo, a very short description and a page number that will take readers to the longer listing and explanation found elsewhere in the book.

"Island Itineraries" begins on page eighteen with suggestions for various mileage lengths or days available for exploration. Color maps are included and there are references to the additional itineraries at the start of each regional section that are in more depth.

The third chapter is on "Outdoor Activities & Adventures." It covers where you can do what in alphabetical format. From "at sea" to "ziplining" the book has got you covered with locations, types of activities, plenty of information and as always plenty of color photographs.

This leads to a ten page chapter on "Green Maui." Environmental issues are important on the islands and this is where readers learn about steps being taken, options available, and what can be done by tourists and others to protect the fragile environment of the islands.

Beginning with page fifty-one, the book is divided into regional sections. "Lahaina" begins this part of the guide book with a brief history on the culture, some maps, and suggested tours and things to do. This same format is used throughout the regional parts which are labeled as "West Maui, Central Maui, South Maui, North Shore & Upcountry, East Maui, The Road To Hana" and "Haleakala National Park." The park section includes many pictures of fascinating Sliding Sands Trail and the Volcano Crater.

The regional section concludes with a nearly thirty page chapter on "side trips" covering "Lana'i & Moloka'i." Lana'i is covered again as it was in the beginning of the regional section before moving on to location such as the "Polihua Road," the "Munro Trail," and "Kalaupapa National Historical Park" among others.

Short chapters on the "History & Culture" of the area, foods, "Festivals & Events" and planning your trip are near the end of the book. A directory of resources and general information along with an eight page index close out the travel guide.

Comprehensive and flashy, this book certainly creates the impression that it is outlining all the usual places and things and not covering real hidden gems that many tourists don't know about. Additionally, the type face is extremely small and as such is very hard to read. Both could be addressed simply by expanding the book somewhat.

Despite those concerns, this is a good book. Written by Glenda Bendure and Ned Friary, this travel guide is a colorful and highly informative book sure to help you plan and enjoy your trip. It may not be the only book you want for the trip but it certainly is a strong start.


Kevin R. Tipple (copyright) 2009

Lonely Planet guides are generally very good and this guide on Maui is one of the finest jobs they've done yet. The beauty of the color pictures really makes the book all the more enjoyable to use, it becomes a treat in itself. The book is also packed with well organized information and great reviews about places popular and secluded, large and small that will really help the adventurous traveler plan their own perfect trip. The road to Hana chapter is also really cool and it even shows what adventurous secluded turn-offs one might want to take (or might just want to read about here!)
There are also many other itineraries laid out to help one get a sense of what they can do, and of course you can plan so much on your own with the help of the information here on places to stay, places to eat, things to see.
The book itself is great to look at and to read and might even be worth a read for those who are simply interested in Maui (but of course, if you are like me, after reading you might feel a bit inclined to start planning a trip of your own...)

This was the first experience I had with Lonely Planet guides. It's a great one to have. I really appreciate the specific and complete table of contents. The book features plenty of detailed maps and is color coded depending on the area of the island(s) to make navigating the book simple. 'Top Picks' and 'Highlights' features are color coded in boxes through out. "Best Maui Experiences' are featured first, as can't misses and are pretty on target in my personal opinion. There are just enough pictures and the book is overall very user friendly and easy to read. Inside the front cover is a 'Quick Reference' that has the 'How to use this book' key and other helpful quick to find info that can be appreciated.
The one thing this guide lacks is a depth in the actual reviews. There are no personal opinions or objections given. I was used to that from first reading Maui Revealed by Andrew Doughty. This guide book is more of a reference book than it is a guide in my opinion. More complete and user friendly in my opinion than DK Eyewitness Top Ten Maui, less opinionated/personal than Maui Revealed. We will be taking this one along on our next trip to Maui!