ISLAND ACTIVITIES

First of all, all you need is nearby. Most within walking distance or a short drive that does not involve traffic. You can walk to great restaurants, shops, and even golf. A short drive (or shuttle) takes you to tennis and other activities like horseback riding, train rides, and hiking. http://pacific.bcentral.com/pacific/stories/1999/09/13/focus2.html
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FOR CHILDREN: (or adults), the swimming pool is number 1 on the list, a good spot for swim lessons. Walking along the path, sand castles on the beach, the sugar cane train at Kaanapali, Tropical Plantation-coconut chopping and train, shopping at Lahaina, and many movie theaters. The only "must do's" are our pool and beach. Four Seasons (short walk) has a Kids Day Camp - I'm not positive, but I don't think you have to stay there. Wailea and Makena Tennis clubs (just down the street) have kids programs, and there are several sitting services in the yellow pages.

Babies/Toddlers? Polo Beach is a good choice for young ones - the units are kept extremely clean and all units are constantly updated with new carpeting, paint, appliances, furniture etc. Several of our units have large video collections (for the "down" times while sitting), and while our ground floor units offer easy lanai access to the pool, spa, lawn and beach, the second and third floor units (while not too high) have a lanai wall and railing to help prevent escapes! Most important though the sandy beach is perfect for playing and its proximity is unbeatable (as is the ease of reaching the beach front pool and spa). Further the security in the Wailea area and in articular at the Polo Beach Club is probably the best on the island.

SIGHTSEEING: There is so much to see, it takes many trips to see it all, but taking the walk through the Iao Needle park, the road trip to Hana with the waterfalls on the way, don't forget to pick up a cassette tape in Kahului of what to see on the way, Twin Falls, and shopping at Lahaina. Kids or adult golf(5 18's nearby, 6 close by, and 5 more at Kaanapali/Kapalua). Just playing in the sand at our beach is probably the best though (for kids and everyone). Our swimming pool, spa, and sun deck is ocean front, and you can walk/jog on the beach path. There's are excellent art galleries at The Shops of Wailea, and Wednesday and Friday nights are artists night there and in Lahaina. Tropical plantation tours, Sugar cane train, horse back riding either upcountry or at Makena Stables, movie theatres- in Kihei or Kahumanu Center in Kahului. Boy, it's just about endless. Surfing, body-boarding and body surfing, wind surfing, snorkeling - all right in front. Beginning surfing at Cove Park, advanced surfing all over. We've been going for 20 years and have not done it all. There are also sitting services in the phone book, and free activity guides in the office or around town.  Whale watching is best during the January to April period. You can often see them right from the units or the beach.

FISHING: There are many spots for fishing, both from the shore (beaches and points) and fishing excursions from nearby harbors. The best and closest is Maalea Warf. Many companies offer chartered trips and are based at Maalea.

SNORKELING: Some of the best snorkeling on the island is just a short swim north to Wailea point, and a short swim south to "Medievals reef", both basically right in front of the Polo beach club.

TENNIS: is available at Makena or Wailea. Wimbleton West - the Wailea Tennis complex is about 1 mile and has about 14 courts! (They may still have a grass court). Restaurant and Pro shop. About 2 miles south is the Makena Tennis complex 808-879-8777 (by The Maui Prince Hotel), approx. 8 courts, but what we like best is renting the ball machine for an hour. Fill it up (gathering sweeper included), and it shoots perfect backhand or forehand shots to you. Don't even need a partner. Harrison Ford was getting a lesson from then same Pro as us one week. If you need a partner, (and Harrison isn't around), the best bet is to call the Wailea Tennis Club (808-879-1958) when you arrive (or even before) and sign up. They will find you someone else who wants to play and you can schedule a time. Ask about round-robbins, and other options.

SURFING: and windsurfing are excellent, from advanced to beginner. Right on our beach is body surfing, boogie boarding, skim boarding, and windsurfing, and surfing is just one peak to the south. (Of course conditions depend on how good the surf is that is hitting Maui at the time). There is a great beginner surf spot down the road in Kihei called Cove Park - right off the main road before Foodland Market. This is where our kids learned to surf and has to be one of the easiest, funnest, and quickest learning waves on the planet. Easy access and relatively safe. Rental boards available at Local Motion or Honolua surf shops. Intermediate surfing at 1,000 peaks between the cave tunnel on the way to Lahaina, and Olowalu. Hundreds of other spots around the island depending on ability. Lessons available at several places in the yellow pages including Maui Surfing School 875-0625, and Emerson at 874-1183.

GOLF: Across the street is the Wailea Blue Course with pro shop, restaurant and bar. There is a discount for our Polo Beach guests and our Ekahi guests. (Great after 12 rates). Next to that are the Wailea Gold and Emerald courses with clubhouse, restaurant, bar, pro shop. Five minutes down the street are the 2 Makena courses - our favorites - also with twilight rates and sometimes morning foresome rates. Towards Kihei is the Elair (Silversword) course (low rates all the time, but not a resort style course, but still great). Pukalini, Sandlewood (to be renamed), Maui Country Club, Kaanapali North and South, Kapalua Bay, Plantation, and Village courses, 2 more courses on Lanai (Manele and Koele), The Dunes at Kahului, and the Waiehu public course just past Wailuku.

NEW: ZipLine. Upcountry in Kula. 5 rides across canyons - thrilling. Book early, popular. 878-8475, www.skylinehawaii.com