Maui!

[Cheddarbob14]

My wife and I are celebrating our 10 year anniversary by traveling to Maui! First time to Hawaii for either of us, and no, our 2 "tax deductions" aren't coming with us. Any suggestions on what to do? We have a couple excursions planned, including the road to Hana. Any orchid vendors on the island I should be visiting. When hiking, any specific areas to maybe see some orchids in the wild? What kinds are native to Hawaii? So excited, we said when we got married that this was our 10 year anniversary present to each other, and for it to be actually happening is a great feeling. Thanks for any input, will throw some pics on here at some point

[Bohata]

Looks like fun! As an isolated island region, Hawaii has few native orchids. But tons of non-natives brought by man.
Have a great trip!

[Leafmite]

I believe it is possible that this place might be on maui.

Exotic Orchids of Maui, Hawaii - Order Orchid Plants Online

(I have done orders from them--the plants they send are fabulous)

[Cheddarbob14]

I did look into EOOM Leafmite, found an old thread here that mentioned they weren't accommodating to the general public. Just tried calling them and the 1st thing they say on voicemail....."We are not open to the general public"...oh well. I did just find this place though, added bonus that it's right off of the road to Hana


Tropical Orchid Farm

[Leafmite]

That is too bad about EOM. I know they do commercial orders and you need to buy $100 worth for an order so maybe they are more of a commercial operation.
I am glad you will get to see Tropical Orchid Farm.
I do not know if you will be anywhere near any of these (or where exactly they are located in relation to Maui but here are some other orchid places:

Kawamoto Orchid Nursery is located in Honolulu
H&R is located in Waimanalo (wherever that is)
Carmela Orchids Hakalau, HI 96710

It has been many years since I was there but they sold orchids and other plants in many of the gift shops, all packed up to take home.

Have a great trip!

[estación seca]

I was there years ago, so I don't know the current nursery situation. As mentioned, almost all the orchids are non-native. There are a lot of interesting plants to see in the wild, though.

Maui has lots of different climate zones due to the prevailing trade wind direction and high mountains causing a rain shadow. It is semi-desert in the east and wet, wet, wet in the west. Stop at various parks and hike around looking at stuff. Be sure and go to the top of Haleakala (it's cold there!) and see the silversword plants. If there will be a good moon the top of Haleakala is amazing in the moonlight. When I was there last local kids were skateboarding down the mountain under a full moon (some 30 miles of steep downhill!!!)

There are a lot of old Hawaiian temples called heiaus that are not far from the road. They are shown on most maps. They are still in use; many people leave flower offerings. There is usually interesting vegetation to look at if you hike to see them.

If you are interested in plumerias, there is a way to bring cuttings back. Friends who visit Hawaii do this regularly. Take 8"-1 foot (25-30cm) cuttings with a sharp knife. They bleed white latex at first; if you have a container of water to dip the cut end into, the flow stops quicker. Clean them well with soap and water. I buy some rubbing alcohol as well and wash them down with that. Carry them to the Maui county agricultural inspector, whose address will be readily available. (Each island is a county.) The inspector will examine them. If they are pest-free they will give you a phytosanitary certificate, seal them in a bag, and you can carry them home. Declare them at the airport. Rooting plumerias in the fall/winter in the northern US is problematic, but you can do it with bottom heat. If you haven't rooted plumerias before, water in a jar leads to few losses but takes longest. Put them in jars with a couple of inches of water, changed often, and put them in a warm and sunny spot. It may take 6-9 months but they almost all root in water this way.

[No-Pro-mwa]

I'm jealous. I hope you have a good time. I was in Honolulu a very long time ago. It's a very beautiful place and I would love to go back some day.

[Cheddarbob14]

I spotted an orchid......in my morning mojito at the Plantation House!

Will have some cool pics and stories when I get home

[Cheddarbob14]

Starting at top left, working to the right.....
1) Random cool tree we walked past while "accidently" finding a snorkeling hotspot on our 1st attempt at driving the Road to Hana. We attempted to take the northern route and found out about 2/3 the way to the beginning of the road to hana, the road was completely closed. Stopped back at this place having seen quite a fee cars, and beautiful, lush forest I wanted to walk through. Turns out it was the path to Honolua Bay, a nice snorkeling area this time of year, surfers paradise when the weather shifts in the winter.

2) Pic overlooking Honolua Bay, stopped at a couple food trucks where the pic was taken from, shrimp tacos and coconut gelato for lunch!

3) Little rainstorm at Molokai, right before sunset, from the beach at our resort.

4) The view from #18 tee box at The Plantation Course in Kapalua. I will never see a more beautiful golf course in my life. Incredible panoramic views everywhere. If you golf, worth the outrageous greens fees, a bucket list course for sure.

5)Random bay/beach while we were stuck for temporarily closed road on our successful attempt at the road to Hana. A few days before we got to Maui, a roackslide had taken out, completely, about 40 or so meters of the outside (westbound lane). Crews were repelling to remove leftover loose rocks.

6) Me being a "tree hugger" lol. This was about halfway up our 2 mile hike at Haleakala National park, along the 7 sacred pools. Check out how the branches to the left actually grew their own tree trunks! Beautiful hike, 1 80ft waterfall about half a mile up, not long after this tree you find yourself in a bamboo forest, which leads you to the grand prize, a 200 ft breathtaking waterfall. Pools are closed to swimming indefinitely, some years ago, a father and daughter were swept over some falls while attempting to cross when a flash flood hit, surviving wife/mother successfully sued. Signs all over the place now severely limiting your views of most of the pools, if younfollow directions.

7) Random waterfall, about 50 ft tall, 1 of many on the road to Hana, this one was right off the road.

8)The reward at the end of the 2 mile hike at Haleakala, was very surreal, almost fake, as if we were on a movie set. Most beautiful thing I've ever seen in person.

9) Random scenic shot on the "forbidden by rental car companies" south side of Maui. We followed advice of locals and did the full loop, instead of turning back. Strongly suggest you do the same if ever there. Like a completely different environment, free range cattle everywhere, little to no traffic. Road was a bit bumpy for a little while, but nothing like it used to be apparently.

10) Can't remember the proper name, will call it a "wash out ", a place where severe flash flooding occurs seasonally, you can see why as you zoom in, came across a few of these on the south side.

Don't have any pics of the ziplining on my phone yet. Was my wife and I's favorite excursion. 15 minute can ride up the mountain/dormant volcano, followed by a 5 min, crazy ORV ride, then a walk across this incredible suspension bridge that at it's peak, is 350ft off of the ground. Oh, and then the ziplining, and random hikes through the rainforest start! All together about 1 miles worth of hikes between the first 3 or 4 "zips". Tandem lines so my wife and I went side by side every time. The first couple(we've never been) were so crazy we never really took the time to enjoy the scenery, too busy screaming as we flew across the valleys!

Also did a Trilogy snorkeling tour to Molokini Crater and just off the shores of McKenna. Paid extra for the snuba diving, which was a cool experience. Great day, breakfast, lunch, snacks, and drinks (including 2 adult beverages on the return trip) included. Under power most of the time, but did go organic and sailed for the last 1/2 hour or so.

To be continued...

[voyager]

My brother and sister-in-law vacation regularly on Maui.
last year they spent a week of their Hawai'ian vacation here on on B.I and visited with us. This year we are going to Maui for a week in early November while they're there. It's just a short hop from Hilo to get there, plus we get kama'aina rates.

We did 2 weeks on Kauai'i when doing Hawai'i vacations before moving here to B.I. And, a week on Moloka'i last year, just to see how the neighbors live.
So far, O'ahu is the one I'd go to only for medical or business reasons, or just to pass through on my way to somewhere else.
I expect out visit to Maui next month will be enjoyable.
Here's hoping your Maui visit will be enjoyable.

Maui orchid vendors:

Exotic Orchids of Maui
Tropical Orchid Farm
Fragrant orchids of Maui

There are others listed but do not seem to be active anymore.
I intend to visit them all while we're there.

EDIT:
As usual, I'm a day late and a dollar short.
You've already been there and returned home.