What to do in Pukalani, HI

Wailea Resort is named after the ancient Hawaiian goddess Lea who watched over canoe builders on the islands. She was believed to transform into a bird and fly over this area, so the beaches and surrounding countryside are known as the waters of Lea – or Wailea. Whilst now a luxury resort, the area is still popular for kayaking and other water-based activities.Wailea is an expansive stretch of 607 hectares, comprising a dense carpet of tropical plants inland and five beaches dotting the shoreline. There are three world-class golf courses, an impressive tennis club with floodlit courts and exclusive spas offering a full range of relaxing and revitalising treatments.Most people head straight for the biggest of the beaches – a wide expanse of soft white-gold sand. Wailea Beach is the perfect place to lie back with a good book or hide behind a pair of sunglasses and watch the world go by. The paved boardwalk is lined with up market boutiques offering designer beachwear and upmarket dining. The sea is warm and inviting, perfect for a cooling dip or an exploration of the teeming world of fish and other sea creatures on the ocean floor.Snorkelling is incredibly popular and scuba diving classes will bring you face to face with indigenous Hawaiian green turtles. Eco kayaking tours provide a nod to the area’s canoeing heritage, taking you on a three-hour exploration of the coastline, which takes in a deserted tropical beach and a chance to see more of the local sea life.Just a short walk away, the smaller Ulua Beach is a great place to escape the crowds. Clean and unspoilt, it’s home to a colony of Manta Rays – grab your snorkelling gear and dive in to get a great close-up view!Wailea Beach is one of those few places in the world that really lives up to the hype, so set aside a couple of hours to visit this glorious resort on the southwest coast.

At Haleakalā National Park, you can step inside volcanic craters, walk through rain forest and swim in freshwater pools.

Hidden behind a strip of luxury housing, Keawakapu Beach stretches for more than 1,000 metres along the south western coast of Maui. It is a little more difficult to find than some of Hawaii’s more popular resorts, giving it the air of a concealed treasure that is only available to those who seek it out.The Beach is a peaceful spot, ideal for escaping from the crowded tourist trail. Its softly sloping sand-covered ocean floor makes swimming and snorkelling with the kids an absolute joy. There is also a restaurant where you can enjoy some delicious al fresco food straight from the grill as well as any number of grocery shops nearby to pick up the bits you need for an impromptu picnic.Head over at sunrise and welcome in the new day with a spot of rejuvenating yoga on the shoreline’s silken sands. If sun salutations aren’t your style, why not simply take a stroll or jog along the beach and enjoy the glorious view out across the Pacific Ocean.Early morning is also the best time for snorkelling as the waters are clearer and calmer, giving perfect viewing conditions to see turtles and coronet fish frolicking in the shallows. Scramble over the rocks at low-tide to discover a wealth of sea creatures in the protected lava rock pools.A man-made reef 50 metres out to sea makes the Keawakapu coastline a popular destination for scuba divers. The reef was created in the 1960s from a combination of crushed cars, concrete slabs and rubber tyres, and now plays home to a wide variety of sea-life while acting as a breaker against the strong ocean swell.When you’re ready to go home, freshen up in one of the many public showers dotted along the beach before grabbing a bite to eat or jumping back in the car.n get unruly and sandstorms are a defin The beach makes a great retreat, whether for an hour or a whole day. There are no lifeguards here though so be careful if the wind gets up, as the sea can become unruly and sandstorms are a definite possibility.

The Molokini Crater is a partial cinder cone formed more than 150,000 years ago following a volcanic eruption. It has been eroded over the centuries and now forms a protective crescent-shaped barrier, harbouring a coral reef packed with some of the most spectacular sea life in the locality.Local legend has it that the crescent is believed to be the tail of a giant guardian lizard who was chopped in half by the volcano goddess after crossing her in affairs of the heart. The area was an important food source until the early twentieth century, with indigenous residents fishing from the abundant schools and collecting local birds’ eggs. During the Second World War, the distinctive site was used for bomb practice by the American military. Nowadays, however, the crescent and its delicate coral form a protected nature sanctuary.Located just less than 5 kilometres off the southwest coat of Maui, Molokini is only really reachable by boat. Tours on all types of crafts from rafts to yachts leave every day from Maalaea Harbor. Glass-bottomed boats allow glimpses of the abundant fish as they shoot past, while the island itself provides a nesting ground for rare and protected bird species, such as the sea-loving Bulwer’s Petrel. Choose a calm day to avoid choppy water and leave early for a smooth crossing. Be aware that boats aren’t permitted to moor too close to the island itself, as no one is allowed to set foot on the rocky outcrop.Snorkelling and scuba diving are allowed though, with the sheltered pool created by the Molokini Crater making for an unbeatable snorkelling experience. The waters here possess an exceptional clarity for consistently excellent viewing conditions. The entire 7.2 hectares is alive with more than 250 species of animal, including turtles, reef sharks and flamboyant parrotfish. The sea life here is not as timid as usual, enabling you to get a close-up view of some of Mother Nature’s greatest gems. Why not book onto a guided diving trip and see what natural treasures are hidden beneath the waves.

For an impromptu introduction to the local sea life, pack your snorkelling gear and head for the sheltered Maluaka Beach on Maui’s southwest coast. This protected bay provides a calm refuge from the Pacific winds and is home to some of Hawaii’s most beautiful native wildlife, including an array of tropical fish and the thick-shelled Hawaiian green turtles. It is these large native residents who have earned the beach its nickname of ‘Turtle Town’.Come face to face with the turtles at the southern end of the beach, where a coral reef provides abundant feeding opportunities. Clamber on to the rocks and be prepared to hang out for a while before you spot one. The turtles’ brown-tinged shells blend in with the surrounding rocks meaning you may need to acclimatise your eyes before you can see them. They aren’t shy, so a little patience is likely to be rewarded with a personal encounter.The reef provides a perfect spot for snorkelling - just dive in to the crystal clear waters to admire the kaleidoscopic scales of the tropical fish. You’ll find octopus and any number of shellfish here too, as well as more turtles making their way along the seabed. Back on the beach, keep an eye out for hump-backed whales as they swim past the island on their annual migrations.When you start to feel peckish, head back up the beach to grab a bite from the hotel snack bar which is located right on the beachfront. Sit back at the picnic tables on the manicured patch of grass and enjoy the sweeping ocean views from the shade of the kiawe trees. Alternatively, clean up at one of the beach’s public showers and head to the formal surroundings of the hotel restaurant for a sit-down dinner showcasing some of the best of local seafood.Located in Makena Bay on the southwest coast, Maluaka Beach can be a little difficult to find as it is relatively secluded compared to the more well-known parts of the shoreline. You can get here by driving to the end of Makena Road and parking in the nearby car park, which is free of charge.