maui underground

hana lava tube

the next time you find yourself traveling down the world famous hana highway, consider taking a detour to explore the hidden caves of hana where lava once flowed deep beneath the earth. the ka'eleku cavern, aka the hana lava tube, is estimated to be over 1000 years old and is believed to be the 18th largest lava tube on earth.

if you have ever meandered through the thurston lava tube at volcanoes, the hana tube is a bit longer at two miles and is tall enough to fit a 6 story building. as adventures go, the self guided tour sounds relatively mellow so you don't have to be an experienced spelunker to make the trip underground since pathways have been cleared and guide rails lend a helping hand.

ti leaf maze

and, for those who prefer to stay up where the sun shines, additional amusement can be had by wandering amongst the red ti leaf plants which form an island style botanical maze on the property.

happy traveling!

treasure hunters in paradise

take one part da vinci code, mix in the amazing race, add the islands as your backdrop, and the intoxicating result is ravenchase adventures. if you have ever daydreamed about cracking codes while racing around the island, the time has come to gather a few friends and sign up for ravenchase's next treasure hunt to hit the pacific.

alas, there is no million dollar prize waiting for the winners, but the victorious team scores bragging rights and a hard earned trinket or two for their efforts. it's truly all about the journey for goonies at heart who must decipher clues with only a treasure map to guide them (and a few actors placed strategically along the way) to hidden nooks and crannies around the island which tests not only your teamwork skills but your knowledge of both the terrain and arcane of hawaii.

races typically take two hours with town and waikiki as the primary playground, however the neighbor islands are getting a little ravenchase love with recently rolled out adventures taking place on the big island and maui.

entry fees start at $25 for kama'aina ($35 for non-residents) and hit the $60/75 mark if you want to join the two day quest for the golden gnome race scheduled on oahu the weekend of june 16th (be sure to read the fine print before booking your reservation).

learn a few winners' tricks while living vicariously with the midweek team who raced all the way to the number one spot last year.

summertime goodness

sam, melody & becky of wings hawaii have been busy bees lately what with their new boutique opening in haiku, an expanded keiki line, and a new tee just for the fellas. the shop is located in the pauwela cannery and stocked with all the delightful goodness that has made wings a staple of island girls everywhere.

vintage heart charms + ti leaf bangles

and don't forget to take a peek of designer samantha howard's ocean worthy jewelry line filled with pieces like these vintage charm necklaces and organic ti leaf bangles.

{update | jan 2010: find your way to paia which is the new home of the wings hawaii flagship boutique}

the old church house

i may wax on and on about modern but i have a soft spot for rustic when it's done right. at first glance, the old church house in upcountry maui appears to have been lovingly restored, but the reality is that it was really built from the ground up not quite as long ago as the dwelling's architecture would have you believe.

the one bedroom has a charming cottage style which is difficult to find in the islands (as previously noted dated thrift store tropical seems to be the favored style of most vacation rental owners). details like wood floors, exposed beams, an antique chest transformed into the kitchen sink, and an ocean view porch make it seem like this island getaway belongs in the pages of a pottery barn catalog (but with 21st century touches like wi-fi, an ipod ready stereo & stainless steel appliances).

the picturesque property is between makawao and haiku and located off a private road with an expansive lawn to loll about complete with larry the horse and a family of happy little ducks in residence.

rates start at $185 with a minimum of 3 nights.

maui bath house

spring cleaning is a good time to weed out your beauty closet since cosmetics and all those half empty bath and hair products cluttering up your space since the 20th century definitely do not have an infinite shelf life. the upside is that with all that questionable stuff out of the way you can treat yourself to one of the many beauty lines made in hawaii.

if you have ever stayed at one of the ooh la la resorts in the islands, chances are good that your bath was stocked with pampering treats from maui tropical soaps. they recently introduced a luxe spa line with a very yummy sounding honey scrub. the ingredient list is simple - maui sugar, maui honey and kukui nut oil blended together for luscious exfoliation.

the new line also features superfatted spa soaps with fair trade shea butter combined with organic tropical oils in scents like hana ginger, maui mint and night blooming jasmine.

fyi - orders of $50 or more score complimentary shipping or stop by their shop in kahalui to sniff out your favorites in person.