Maui Advice ASAP

I second Mama's Fish House in Paia. It's pricy but so good. My husband maintains that the meal we ate there 8 years ago was the best he's ever had.

When we were there we did not really like Lahania. We were not impressed with "the great shopping" we were told was there. However, we loved just simply walking around and seeing things. Snorkeling was awesome. We didn't get to whale watch but WILL do next time.

Mama's Fish House, can't remember the exact location, but google it, it's not far from Kaanapali. It's expensive but SO good and it is absolutely beautiful, inside and out!
If you like touristy shopping and eating spend a day in Lahaina. Personally it's not my thing but a lot of people love it.
You'll have a great time! We honeymooned at the Kaanaapli Westin, it's a gorgeous area :)

Burgers in Paradise! A must! In Lahania.

Kapalua Bay calm ocean and snorkel right off the beach.

Avoid Road to Hana-unless you like a long drive to no where.

Send a PM to S.H. she lives in Hawaii.

We LOVE Kaanapali!! We've been twice. You'll have a great time.

A whale watching tour is fun. The whales are so amazing to watch. The first time I went on a whale watch it was on a larger boat and i just sat on the top of the boat in awe watching the whales. The 2nd time, we took a boat from Lahania which was small, kindof like a dinghy, you hold on and it was more up close and personal. Either way, watching the whales was awesome.

We like to shop in Lahania which is right down the road. There is a great authentic luau that we enjoyed. I had reservations for the Luau weeks in advance...

It is beautiful there, enjoy yourself!!

ETA: Another hands down winner for Mama's Fish House!! It is great.

We are actually in Kaanapali right now! Been here almost 2 weeks, we go home tomorrow. :( We are here with our 12 month old and almost 3 year old. This is our third trip with the kids, first time DD was 9 months, 2nd time she was 18 months, and this is the 1st time with both kids. We did a sunrise whale watching cruise, which was amazing. This is the peak of whale watching season, so you should be able to see whales from your lanai if you have an ocean view room. We are staying at Kaanapali Beach Club which has a wonderful kids program, with all sorts of crafts and activities for them, so we have been utilizing that a lot. If I remember correctly, when we came with just our 9 month old, we just relaxed and hung out at the pool a lot. She hated the beach but LOVED swimming so we indulged her a bit with that. But my husband and I had been coming to Maui once or twice a year before we had kids, so we had done most of the tourist things and were ok with not doing as much that trip. Front Street in Lahaina is good for walking around, shopping, restaurants, and Banyon Tree Park. We always eat at Bubba Gumps there. Whaler Village is another nice outdoor shopping center to stroll around, and they have free hula shows in the evenings a few times a week. If you go there, eat at Barefoot Grill for casual dining, its off the boardwalk and the tables are in the sand, fun and good food! You will want to check out a luau, we have done the one at the Hyatt in Kaanapali a few times and its good, I have heard Old Lahaina Luau is very good as well. I would definitely recommend the aquarium (I think its called Maui Ocean Center?), the kids really enjoyed that. Get some cheap sand toys for baby to play with on the beach. If you fly into Kahului airport there is a Walmart right there, we always stop for our diapers, sand toys, toiletries etc. Have fun, it is beautiful here!

I can't believe someone told you to avoid the road to Hana! It's a fantastic adventure, but you do need to stop along the way, get out and look around, have a picnic, etc. There are incredibly gorgeous views all along the drive and places where you have to blow your horn as you go around the mountain in case there is oncoming traffic (only one lane). Like many things -it's not that the destination is the end-all-be-all, but the journey is incredible. We stopped and had our picnic lunch at this beautiful Hawaiian cemetery overlooking the ocean and watched a spear fisherman. On the way home saw a whole "fleet" of windsurfers in the setting sun, saw the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific" and gorgeous waterfalls.

DEFINITELY make yourselves get up in the middle of the night (it seems like) and drive up to Haleakala to watch the sun rise! It's breathtaking -but take a coat or something, because it's COLD. It really is worth it to go do it -you're above the cloud line and watching the sun come up is quite memorable. I doubt you can do this with the baby, but there are great bike tours down the mountain.

I really enjoyed diving out at Molokai Crater. I went on a snorkeling boat out there that had sightseers, snorkelers and a few other divers. It was really gorgeous. You and your husband could take turns snorkeling.

If you want to snorkel we really enjoyed the snorkeling in front of the Sheraton hotel. There's a big black rock jutting out and lots of good sea life around there. Also, in the evenings there is a cute little torch ceremony and a diver jumps off the black rock at sunset.

We also enjoyed the beach bar at Sheraton Kaanapali.

If you are adventurous and plan to drive around and explore waterfalls and stuff, get the book "maui revealed", it has a lot of directions of how to find different cool spots and hikes, waterfalls etc. Some are drives you can do, others are hikes. It was a great resource for us!

OH and find out when the swap meet is (Saturday I think) you will find all the same souvineers that they have at the shops for cheaper price :) and good homemade stuff too.

Been to Maui 4 times, once when I was 27 for my bday, once for my honeymoon, once for a babymoon and then again when my DD was 21 months old. I looove it.

Avoid the Sugar Cane Train until your child is into trains...otherwise boring!

Snorkel if you are experienced, if not, don't do it for the first time by yourself. If you can get a babysitter (most hotels offer them and there are a few services on the island that you can choose from ).

Chill on the beach, but bring sunscreen and a tent for baby...or rent baby stuff from www.akamaimothers.com. We rented toys from them last time and it was soo worth it. You can also rent other stuff if you need and the hotel does not provide (high chairs, crib, etc.)

Check out Lahaina in the daytime and share a Hula Pie at Kimo's during sunset. Show the baby the Banyan Tree at the end of Front Street

If baby sleeps well in car, Hana is beautiful. Bring ginger candy or ginger ale if you get carsick because it is a windy road. Maui Revealed is a great book to get like others have said..

Maui Tacos is yummy (in Napili) for a relatively inexpensive Maui twist on Mexican food.

Mama's Fish House is a great splurge.. lunch is cheaper than dinner by a mile, but the view is worth it. Again, might be better with a sitter though. Paia, the town just by Mama's is a cute little bohemian town...lovely.

Brunch at the Hyatt is super yummy.

CJ's Deli is in Ka'anapali in the Fairway shopping center...good for bfast and lunch and very family friendly...we always go for bfast a few times.

I thought Cheeseburger in Paradise was overrated and smelled like a latrine...

I'O or Pacific'Os great for seafood downtown Lahaina.

Kapalua great beach ...Napili is a pretty steep entry...but beautiful...

Maui Ocean Center is good, but I wouldn't spend the money with a 9 month old unless you guys are really into it...it was great for my almost 2 year old.

Enjoy!!

Let the snorkel shops set you up and go to any beach to snorkel.

Lahaina is the very best in the morning. It's calm, slow walking, and not too hot. Stop in for breakfast at the bar overlooking the harbor (sorry I forget the name). Visit the huge Banyan tree and then go inside the municipal building behind it. It has a little gift shop with Hawaiian made goods.

On the tacky but must do list, go to the Hawaiian chain store Hilo Hatties. You will be able to purchase matching shirts or hats as reminders of the trip. And they have the best Kona flavored macadamia nuts anywhere.

Do not overbook yourself. Be sure to be outside, with a glass in hand, to toast the sunset everynight. You can eat later. Everyone does.

Your baby will dictate some of your schedule, so I'd recommend not overloading your plans. Pick one special dining adventure per day, and one outing per day at most. Then, spend your time at the beach, at the pool, relaxing! Have an umbrella drink every day. :-)
Do not go on any pineapple plantation tours - boring, not even fun.
Do go to the beach, sit by the pool, take lots of swim diapers and floatie toys for your baby to play with.
The Maui Ocean Center Aquarium is great for kids. So good that we bought a pass & went 3 times in the week we were there.
The Surfing Goat Dairy is fun - you can go goat cheese tasting & pet/feed the goats. Of course - we did this with our 3 year old, a 9 month old might not love it.
Ono gelato in Lahaina is awesome.
Maui brewing pub in Kahana has good food, easy going atmosphere.
The suggestion to take a vinyl cooler was good advice. Then you can pack milk, fruit, snacks for the beach & everyone is happy. I carried one on the plane as my carry on & was glad to have this.
Take BABY POWDER! After you've been to the beach, towel off, then dust with baby powder. Extra sand just falls right off - it's brilliant. I learned this from my lifeguard sister-in-law from Dana Point!
Have a great time!

We just went to Maui in January but with my 9 year old son. There is a lot to do but with a 9 month old you can't get too adventurous. (My son and husband went ziplining). First check out Hawaiiactive.com. They have great ideas and deals for tours and attractions. When you get to the airport in Maui look for the tourist brochures and books. Take a bunch because they all have discount coupons for many of the activities. Stop at Walmart near the airport for cheap sand toys and some groceries for your room. We stayed in the Westin Time Share in Kaanapli and ate breakfast in the room in the morning to save time and money. Kaanapali is great because you can just walk around on the board walk, do some shopping and hang on the beach and check out the different hotels. The Grand Hyatt has parrots and penguins. Lahaina is great for some shopping, walking around. On Friday nights many of the art galleries have "meet the artist". We met one of our favorite artists there and wound up buying a painting. When you're there make sure to see the Banyan Tree. The Lahaina Grill has amazing food. It was great. We took the Atlantis Submarine. It was really cool and we saw lots of fish. Whale watching is great there too. There is an Aquarium about 1/2 way between Lahaina and the airport but I can't remember the name. We also went to the IO Valley. You can do a nice little hike there. We did 1/2 the Road to Hana - we turned around at Keane (where they had a beautiful black rock beach and great waves and I bought the most amazing banana bread from a little stand). According to my husband, the road to Hana is much better now than it was years ago. We stopped in Paia for boxed lunch first because there aren't many places to stop for lunch. We ate in one of the little parks on the side of the road. For dinner we ate at Mama's Fish House in Paia. It was a great meal and a beautiful location. There are a few Plantation tours you can go on where they show you how the local plants and fruits are grown and usually they have some animals. Some of the hotels in Kaanapali have Luaus and dancing. We went to the Kupahana Magic Show at the Kaanapali Beach hotel. It includes dinner. It is great for children. You can drive to the North Shore to check out the big waves and waterfalls. Of course driving up to see the Haleakala is amazing. Hope this helps! Have fun!

I am married to "AdriasMama", if you don't mind, I'd like to add a few more tid-bits to her response, too. COSTCO!!! If you do not have a membership at Costco, it is advisable that you get one before or after you get to Maui. There is one right outside of the Kahului Airport, not more than an 1/10th of a mile from leaving the rental car area. Take your first left at Dairy Road. If you drive past Krispy Kreme, make a U-turn, then your first right! You will save BIG BUCKS!! Bringing souvenir chocolates back for your friends and family, depending on where you are from, may be cheaper if you were to buy the Caramacs or Chocolate covered Macadamia nuts at your local Walgreens or CVS drug stores. Buying them here and carrying them with you or shipping them home, isn't worth it (plus, aside from the "I bought them on Maui" authenticity, they are available online and cheaper). Okay, on to the "Things to do? / Things to avoid?"; avoid renting a Jeep, unless you absolutely-positively HAVE TO!! It is the most desired & expensive rental car on the islands! You will most likely be in it for a few hours out of your days of stay! It will sit in its parking stall "cha-chinging" as you lay on the beach, or was in our case, marveling at our baby's reaction to her discover of the sand between her toes, the many colorful and singing birds, non-insurance selling geckos, bright, vibrant and ornate flowers, and the way the waves come in and out on the beach. Adria didn't like the sand or the ocean. Most of it was my fault. I introduced her to the ocean in a not-so-gentle way. I carried her in and as I turned her to wave "Hi" to mommy, what must of felt like a tsunami, smashed right into us. The look she gave me, pretty much suggested that she will never become the next surfing champion. Luckily she has changed over the last 2 visits. So this is another bit of advice, introduce your baby to the waves from the beach entry. Let your baby feel the gently washing of the waves against her bottom and her feet. Let her run away and chase the waves, in and out from the sand while you stand between her and the ocean behind you. BE CAUTIOUS of stray waves! Most of Ka'anapali is surrounded by a reef, so the waves aren't gonna wash you away, but the waves still creep in a distance up on shore from passing boats or wind currents. SUNBLOCK!!!! The Tropical Sun is absolutely UNFORGIVING!! You may think that you can lay out under your local California sun all day without getting burnt, but here on the islands, 1-2 hours and you're gonna be hurting!! If you pink up within an hour or two, better find some shade until the next day! Sunscreen on the tops of your feet, too! Advice #?? Don't bring your toiletries with you unless it's absolutely a must have brand. Costco, Walmart, and ABC stores have pretty much all that you will need. There is a fractional difference in price, but not worth worrying about or the trouble of making sure you "got-it-all" in your suitcase or carry-on. Buy SWIM DIAPERS when you get here!!! Most hotels will provide you with a beach bag of sand toys for your kids! If they don't - they suck! We have always gotten free toys, but always stop by the local stores to get a few extra. FLOATIES!!, and an inflatable sit in baby raft. that way you can deflate them and bring'em home with you. AVOID a boogie board! Rent one from the beach cabana guy if you want one. I will finish off with how we see Maui. When we come to Maui, the only thing we do is "nothing"! Be flexible with your schedule, since Baby actually determines what you can or cannot do. Unless you never plan on coming back to Maui, then try to hit the key places; Maui Blow-Hole, Haleakala (bring a sweater and sneakers, it's chilly up there!), Baby Beach, Paia (for a great Ahi-sandwich and some great home-made crafts!) Do not be surprised to see people giving you pot-smoking hand signals (consider half legit, the other half worth a hefty arrest and fine), Lahaina Town & Banyon Tree Park is a must!, small tourist shops are o'plenty, but look first, then mark down where you saw it and how much, cuz most likely, you will find it cheaper at the super market or ABC stores, a Luau is fun especially since you can go up on stage and learn a bit of hula - and the kalua pork is ono! (yummy!). If you can hear the ocean from your room, sleep with the slider open! The sounds of the ocean waves and the early morning chirping birds are as soothing as it gets. Be sure to stop in to the Maui Oceanside Aquarium towards the beginning of your stay. That way your baby can kinda see what she is supposed to be looking for and what creatures live in the ocean (and if you like sushi, what the fishies look like before you get to eat'em! LoL!). Finally - RELAX! Concentrate on baby, your marriage and NOT THINKING ABOUT WORK OR HOME!! You are in Paradise, let petty stressful situations that you may come across - blow where the wind goes, and get back to why you are coming to such a beautiful place! It is the best! P.S. I read some of the other thoughtless suggestions. I SAY NO ROAD TO HANA, NO TO THE DOWNHILL MOUNTAIN BIKING, DIVING, SNORKELING, DEEP SEA FISHING, !!!ZIP-LINING???!!, SEVEN SACRED WATERFALLS/POOLS ARE MORE LIKE 3 SINCE THEY HAD A LANDSLIDE A COUPLE YEARS BACK, AND "LAHAINA" MEANS "HOT SUN", SO PLAN AHEAD! And NO, the locals do not dislike white people! (the not-so-tan one's...maybe). Have a wonderful trip!!

I don't have time to read the responses, so I apologize if I duplicate anything. We've been a couple of times and took a 10 month old once.
*Take a collapsible vinyl cooler with you. Or buy one when you get there. This was a lifesaver to have milk, snacks, food, etc at all times for the baby.
*Go to the bookstore ASAP and buy Maui Revealed: The Ultimate Guidebook. It should be under $20 and will give you the greatest tips ever. Where to eat, shop, self-guided driving tours on the Road to Hana, where to rent snorkle gear, etc. This book is THE best ever!
*Buy a baby floatie with a shade over it. We had so much fun snorkeling while the baby just bobbed along playing in the water.
*Find an independent place to rent snorkle gear. We rented snorkle gear for our family of 5 for a week for not much more than the hotel charges for a couple of hours. You could buy some and take it with you, but it's kind of bulky to pack.
*Take a popup play tent with you. Or buy one when you get there. Our baby took many naps in the tent on the beach while we relaxed.
*Your first stop should be Costco to buy food and supplies. You want to eat out as little as possible. We generally ate breakfast in our hotel room. We then either packed a lunch to take for the day and then ate dinner out. Or if we ate lunch out, came back and had sandwiches for dinner.
*Find a local farmers market and buy local goodies. We bought fresh made jams for our pb&j, as well as homemade breads and fresh fruits & veggies. Really made our breakfasts & packed picnics wonderful. The farmers market is also a good place to pick up inexpensive little hand made souvenirs.
*Pick up the local coupon books wherever you see them and use them for dining out.
*We really enjoyed taking a boat snorkeling trip. With the floatie, it was no problem for both of us to snorkle.
*We also enjoyed going to a luau. A little pricey, but fun.
*We tried to alternate our activities. A day lounging at the pool or beach relaxing. Then the boat snorkeling tour. Another day at the beach/pool. A day at the aquarium. Another day at the beach/pool. Going to the luau. Etc Etc. It allowed us to do fun things, but still have down time.
*Be sure and use sunscreen
*If you buy the book above, you will find lovely drives, hikes, waterfalls and more.
*Maui is SUPER expensive. So the tips above should help you save some money. And don't spend money doing something EVERY day. Enjoy and relax!
Have fun!

I lived there for a short time - LOVE IT!! Reapply sunscreen constantly-especially on ur little one. The sun there is very, very strong At their age, they r going to just love the beach, sand, ocean and pool. Snorkeling is theBEST there. Have fun!

We went to Kaanapali years ago and it was beautiful. Shopping is not my big thing but walking around Lahinia was fun. bubba Gump Shrimp was a cute store. there is a tree well worth seeing down the road from the main stores, near a museum of something. Huge tree that drops limbs to the grounc and grows in place. Very neat to see.I know its right near where the evening dinner cruise boats dock, so ask about those and maybe youll find it. Also, the dinner cruise is fun, and neat to do. You know, there will be all sorts of offers for free or reduced tourist spots by being willing to go see a sales presentation at some resort. it takes a couple hours, and most might not want to go, but some of the places they want to advertise to you are worth visiting just for the experience and sight seeing. Its like going on a fancy million dollar home tour you know youll never be able to buy, but want to oogle at it anyway. And then they give you a coupon for another activity for less and you can afford that! So dont be put off by the people on the street offering free stuff or cheaper tickets to things if you just spend time listening to a sales pitch. Just be sure to say NO at the end,,lol Take sun screen!!!!

Snorkeling and bike tour down the volcano. Also, Hana is beautiful and in my opinion, the best place on the island.

Lahaina was great. I love to shop the touristy places (not everyone's thing, I know). Road to Hana was breathtaking. It does take a long time, but the scenery is beautiful. I did a sub tour and the fish all look blue under water. Wish I would have saved my money on that. Others who went whale watching said that was great. Have fun. Maui is beautiful!