Frog Blog

     Sleeping in a little does not mean you can’t still explore the island and have a great day. In real world terms, Maui is a really small place and you can get anywhere on the island (with the exception of Hana) in under two hours. So even though we decided to have a lazy Sunday morning it couldn’t stop us from taking in quite a bit for the rest of the day and heading down South to Wailea.

     The last thing you want to see when you start out to Kihei from Lahaina when you are starting a late day is traffic for miles. That’s exactly what we got though! Just past Launiopoko traffic light the traffic ground to a halt, bringing the question to turn around or try to wait out what could be an hours long situation. Eh, it’s Maui what ya gonna do? So we decided to wait it out, since traffic was at least moving a little. Now, this whole issue could drive me into a five page tirade about Maui’s complete lack of planning for future traffic and questions about whether or not we really need to close the main highway for five hours plus, every time there is a fatality from a traffic accident, but I will leave that for others. After moving along at a snail’s pace for about a half hour traffic finally broke and we were on our way, but now we were REALLY hungry.

     I don’t usually think of stopping at Ma’alaea for lunch, since most of the restaurants are a bit pricey, but there is this little Mexican joint there …  So we decided to have a stop and try Fiesta Time. There is a Fiesta Time in Wailuku that is more of a take out kinda place that serves some of Maui’s best Mexican food, so I hoped the sit down version would be as good. We ordered at the counter from the menus painted on the wall (on the left hand wall are all the standards and on the right you can find a chalkboard with the specials) and took our seats in the restaurant. In a few moments we were served chips and salsa. The chips weren’t quite as crisp as I would have liked, but the salsa was excellent. In a few minutes we were served our entrees. It was lunch, so we weren’t too adventurous, I ordered the two cheese enchilada plate and Natalie ordered the chile relleno plate. Both entrees came with rice and beans, the rice was nice and soft with a good flavor and the beans were creamy had flavor and were topped with cheese, good stuff I could eat everyday. The sauce for my enchiladas was nice and thick with a smoky and spicy flavor, maybe the best enchilada sauce I have had on Maui, but then again it’s hard to mess up cheese enchiladas. Natalies rellenos were large and fried to perfection with a smoky tomato sauce. The portions were huge and the prices were very tame and we both left stuffed. Since we are purchasing yearly memberships to the Maui Ocean Center, I’m sure we will be back to eat here more than a couple of times.

     Next week I will write more about the Maui Ocean Center, but I can say quickly that it is a great aquarium and at $45 for a yearly pass it is one of the best deals going on Maui!

     With our bellies full, we decided it was time to head down to Makena for some beach time! With a young one in tow (who is not always so into the sand) it’s nice to be able to find places where we can take short walks where Cassidy can cruise along without having to work as hard as he does in the sand. The Makena nature walk is short but is perfect for letting him ramble where he wants and explore the world in safety.

I took some photos of some of the flowers we saw out there with my cell phone, so please excuse the image quality. The beach here is great and usually not too crowded. There are also picnic tables for having a snack at the overlook. We also watched people setting up for weddings and thought that this was a great spot for a beautiful wedding. The beach here is small and very private.

    Speaking of being late …. I am running out of time for this post … I guess I will have to finish it tommorrow

     Looking for the biggest night out on the town in Lahaina? Tuesday night is the night for you! Tuesday??? No really, Tuesday is the night to see and be seen in Lahaina and you don’t have to break the bank either. Two of the best Maui bargains are available only on Tuesdays so don’t miss out!

     Compadre’s Taco Tuesday is a great inexpensive party. Enjoy $1 chicken, ground beef or refried bean tacos from the taqueria window and wash them back with $3 margaritas, coronas or corona lights. Live music is provided by rotating artists playing everything from blues to classic rock to jawaiian jams. The party starts at 4PM every Tuesday and gets crowded quickly with locals and tourists alike. $1 tacos end at 8PM and the band plays to 9 or 10PM.

    9PM seem a little early to end your night? Well, that is exactly when Moose McGillycuddy’s Tuesday night $1 drinks is just getting started. Pay a $5 cover charge and drinks are just $1 until midnight. A DJ provides all the music you need to boogie down on Moose’s two dance floors. Expect to see plenty of beautiful people partying down until the 1:30AM closing time.

     If Moose’s is a little too busy for you, you can try Paradice Bluz for pool tables and comfortable seating or check out Mulligan’s or Blue Lagoon at the Wharf Cinema (all three are popular Maui night spots any night of the week).

     I knew it had to come one day … maybe I just wasn’t expecting it so soon or from Marco’s, but here it is, the first bad Maui restaurant review.

     I have eaten at Marco’s in Kihei a couple of times, and the food was always fine. Nothing too great but always good. With this in mind, Natalie and I decided to stop in and try Marco’s in Kahului. I am always a little leery of any restaurant in a strip mall, but proof is in the pudding. Entering Marco’s we were greeted quickly, seated and given menus very quickly as well. The decor is sparse, decorated in blacks and whites and much more comfortable feeling than I would have expected.

     For starters we ordered the bruschetta. The mixture of basil, onions, tomato, garlic, romano and capers was nice, but the dish was not what we were expecting. The tomato mixture was serv