Maui For Romance

I recently attended a press briefing in San Francisco regarding Maui and its immediate neighbor, Molokai, in Hawaii.

Maui is an important place in the Hawaii travel picture.  I have a robust article on Maui.  My most recent article on Hawaii is about the lovely and little visited Molokai.

So, what is Maui emphasizing for 2008? The theme is Romance Me Maui.  This is partly because Maui is the most popular of all the Hawaiian Islands for marriages.  An estimated 43 percent of the marriages by out-of-staters in Hawaii occur on Maui.   A sunset ceremony on the beach is the single most desired request for a Maui wedding.

There are many venues in Maui, from the upscale Wailea to the hidden Hana, accessible only after a long drive.

I have enjoyed a drive all the way around the island, which is a full day excursion, but lets you see the back side of the volcano and the rustic cattle grazing terrain that few people see.

Maui can accommodate a lot of visitors--some 2.3 million a year.  Even if the numbers drop slightly due to the declining economy, Maui won't be hurting.  It may amount to a little "right-sizing" to keep the island's balance between its own identity and what it presents to a visitor.

The representative from Molokai relayed to me her biggest challenge, which is when visitors drop into this remote island with no plan for lodging.  Rooms are limited on Molokai, so plan in advance.  The Lodge at Molokai Ranch was a good choice, but it has gone out of business.  Hotel Molokai would now be my choice.  The wonderful mule trip down the leper colony and a hike into a remote taro-growing valley with a guide are highlights of a Molokai trip.