SOUTH MAUI - Maui: Including Molokai and Lanai - page 294

west side as well as the south side of the island. Every single tour is geared to the indi-
vidual's specific ability level, and owner and head guide Tim Lara perfectly fuses adven-
ture and sustainability with a deep-rooted respect for Hawaiian culture and surroundings.
The guides are all accomplished watermen and women who are active in volunteering in
the local community. The company was awarded the silver level of certification by the
Hawai'i Ecotourism Association. While the private component can be pricier than a group
tour, it's guaranteed to be a cultural, historical, environmental, and thoroughly enjoyable
tour which will exceed your expectations. For South Maui, Hawaiian Paddle Sports offers
three-hour excursions in both outrigger canoes and kayaks, which depart from Makena and
incorporate snorkeling, paddling, and storytelling. Trips cost $149 per person for the out-
rigger canoes and $109-159 per person for kayaking depending on the size of your group.
If you're an Ironman triathlete on vacation, tackle the Molokini Challenge where you leave
at the break of dawn and make the 3.5-mile channel crossing to Molokini Crater (condi-
tions permitting).
KIHEI
Though the actual location of your kayak tour is variable, Big Kahuna Adventures
(1913 S. Kihei Rd., 808/875-6395, www.bigkahunaadventures.com , 7:30am-7pm Mon.-
Sat., 7:30am-5pm Sun.) in Kihei Kalama Village can arrange a half-day kayaking excur-
sion if you enquire at the office.
Down the street in the Island Surf building, ask Surf Shack (1993 S. Kihei Rd., 808/
875-0006, www.surfshackmaui.com , 7:30pm-3pm daily) about its combination packages
of surf lessons and kayak excursions if you want to spend a full day out on the water.
There is a second location at the north end of Keawakapu Beach (2960 S. Kihei Rd.) open
8am-5pm daily.
WAILEA
While there are a number of options for paddling tours in Wailea, the one that focuses
the most on Hawaiian culture is Hawaiian Outrigger Experience (808/633-3547,
www.hoemaui.com ) operating from Wailea Beach. A play on words, the acronym, HOE,
translates as “paddle!” in the Hawaiian language. From the moment you begin this tour,
you will realize this is as much a cultural experience as it is about spending a morning on
the water. In addition to the time you'll spend snorkeling with honu (Hawaiian green sea
turtles), you'll gain authentic cultural insight from instructors who are not only richly in-
grained in the Hawaiian community, but also exude the genuine spirit of aloha.