Perfect Days #2 - #3 – Makena to La Pérouse Bay

Between the Makena Resort and La Pérouse, so close and yet world’s apart, you could spend at least a week and still regret about not having more time. In Perfect Days #2 & $3 you have choices of relaxed meals, possibly picnics and nearby watersports, golf on one of Maui’s superb links, adventuresome horseback riding and coastal hiking in the La Pérouse Bay area. We add Perfect Days #4, #5 & #6 to cover this section of Maui in order to provide more time for sightseeing, activities and relaxed meals.

Drive on Wailea Alanui Rd. directly to the Westin Maui Prince Makena Hotel  and turn into the public parking lot just past the hotel. Enjoy a casual breakfast buffet at the Café Kiowa surrounded by a pretty Koi pond or an award-winning Sunday brunch served at the Prince Court. Otherwise, if you already had breakfast, head straight for Malu’aka Beach for a day of swimming, bodysurfing, snorkeling, picnicking and relaxation.

Next door, at the North and South Makena Course, designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., you can enjoy 36 holes of superb golf. The Makena Clubhouse Restaurant overlooking Fairway #10 is one of the most pleasant, peaceful lunch spots on Maui, serving very appetizing light lunches with a lovely view of Pu’u Ola’i from the patio. (Alert for dessert fans: the Mud Pie is much better than the brownie.) (See http://www.tombarefoot.com/maui/golf_makena.html) 

For horseback riders, drive down narrow, paved Makena Rd. as it winds around ‘Ahihi Bay, crosses barren lava on the shoreline of ‘Ahihi-Kina’u Natural Area Reserve and passes Makena Stables on the way to the La Pérouse Monument. The Stables offers rides up the slope of Haleakala into Ulupalakua Ranch and, once a week, to nearby La Pérouse Bay including Kalua o Lapa, the last active volcanic vent on Maui. (See http://www.tombarefoot.com/maui/makena_stables.html)

Since Makena Stables is located near La Pérouse Bay, after your horseback ride consider an oceanside walk along La Pérouse Bay and bring along a picnic lunch for a hike to Beau Chien Beach.

For hikers, when Makena Rd. ends, at the entrance to La Pérouse Bay, you’re faced with two hiking choices: the King’s Highway, a desolate trail that follows the oceanside (wear study shoes and bring water, it can get very hot, especially if the trades stop blowing); and the unpaved road toward the ocean that soon leads to white sand pocket beaches set in black lava rock along La Pérouse Bay.

Passing under very welcome shade trees along the shoreline trail, you can have your choice of pretty little white coral beaches, but wait for beautiful, white coral on black lava at Beau Chien Beach. Settle in for a picnic and marvelous snorkeling. Later you might decide to hike further up the trail to the lighthouse at Cape Hanamanioa for great views inland and out to sea.

Return to your lodgings to freshen up for dinner. Depending on how far you have to drive to get back to your lodgings, consider bringing a change of clothing along in your car, use the public shower near the beach at the Maui Prince Hotel and you’re ready for dinner somewhere in Wailea.

For an informal, very satisfying dinner we suggest SeaWatch. Under the same ownership and culinary standards at Kapalua’s Plantation House, you won’t be disappointed on the restaurant’s terrace, starting with pupus and refreshments, and enjoying great views of Pu’u ‘Ola’i and the South Coast at sunset (Come back one morning for breakfast and especially the crab cakes benedict.)