Day Trips: Central Valley Tour

Alexander Baldwin Sugar Museum Due to high labor costs and the worldwide market, Hawaii’s days as a major sugar player were thought to be over, but the development of “designer sugars” has revived the industry. You can relive the glory days at the Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum (3957 Hansen Rd., at Pu‘unene Ave., 808/871-8058, ). Five dollars gets you into the museum (which is the century-old house of the former superintendent of the state’s largest sugar factory) to learn how sugar is grown and how the founders acquired land from the Kingdom of Hawaii. Kahului Swap Meet (On Saturday mornings only)--for 50 cents, discover fruit, fresh Kula veggies, jewelry, hand-painted shirts and dresses, fresh taro, fruit breads, tropical flowers and lots of junk at bargain prices. At Maui Community College Saturdays, 7 AM - Noon. Continue on to Wailuku ... Bailey House Museum (2375-A Main Street, 244-3326, on the left side past Kahekili Highway)—interesting Hawaiian artifacts and exhibits in an old home of a missionary family. Gift shop. Open 10-4 Monday-Saturday. Adult: $5, Senior: $4, Child 7-12: $1.  Then follow Kaahumanu Road (Highway 32) and turn onto 'Iao Valley Road (Highway 320)… 'Iao Valley State Park A state park in a wonderfully green valley with long, thin waterfalls at the end of 'Iao Valley Road above Wailuku. Nice paved nature trails. Linger and enjoy! Best visited early in the day before the clouds roll in. Return toward Wailuku and stop at… Kepaniwai Heritage Gardens Garden and architectural displays from five cultures that contributed to modern Maui: Chinese, Japanese, New England, Portuguese, and Native Hawaiian. Free. Open 7 to 7.  A wonderful picnic destination. Hawaii Nature Center (875 ‘Iao Valley Rd., 808-244-6500). An admission fee ($6 adults, $4 children)  lets you delve into their interactive science museum, which explains how Hawaii’s plants, animals, and birds made it to the islands.   You can book Rainforest Walks at 11:30 am or 1:30 pm Monday thrrough Friday  ($29.95 aduls, $19.95 children)  which includes a museum visit. Tropical Gardens of Maui Beautiful four-acre gardens with a wide variety of flowers, koi ponds, streams, taro patches and trees from various tropical climates. Nominal $3 admission charge (200 ‘Iao Valley Rd., 808-244-3085. Open 9-5 Monday-Saturday). On the left side of the road, as you drive out of Iao Valley… Antique Shops and Local Restaurants in Wailuku Turn left on Market Street and park in the public lot just north of Market Street. Walk around town and visit the several funky antique shops. Brown and Kobayashi is a must visit for a nice selection of oriental antiques. The historic ‘Iao Theater (circa 1928) In the old section of Wailuku, the theatre hosts fun theater events for enthusiastic local crowds, like splashy Broadway-style revues and musicals. Best of all are the non-Broadway prices: Tickets for most shows start at only $18 (68 N. Market St., Wailuku, 808-242-6969,. Then go back up the hill and turn left on Kahekili Highway. Stop at... Maui Tropical Plantation A huge Maui products store with horticultural displays and cultural exhibits. The Waikapu Grille, with its beautiful mountain view,  is a good place for lunch. Continue on to… Maui Ocean Center The three-acre aquarium and cultural experience takes about two hours to tour the exhibits on Maui’s sea life. Includes live fish, sharks, turtles, rays, and others. The Seascape Restaurant is a pleasant spot for lunch and dinner. Guides refer to the sea creatures by their Hawaiian names. ($24.00 admission price (children 3-12: $17; seniors 65 and over: $21.00; 270-7000). Nearby is the... Maui Golf and Sports Park Miniature golf and bumper boats. (808/270-7000). Restaurant Ideas: Dunes at Maui Lani Golf Course just west of Kahului Kahili restaurant at the Kahili Golf Course Clubhouse, (2500 Honoapiiliani Highway west of Wailuku) Waikapu Grille at the Maui Tropical Plantation Stillwell’s (1740 Kaahumanu Ave between Kahului and Wailuku near the bridge) Seascape Restaurant at the Maui Ocean Center. A Saigon Café (1792 Main Street, Wailuku) Cafe O'Lei Wailuku  (62 N. Market Street, Wailuku)