This was our first Airbnb experience and thanks to the wonderful time that we had with Silvia and Jeff's place, this won't be our last.
We absolutely appreciated their quick responses to ANY question that we had.
Their knowledge of the island is fantastic. I had a plan on what to do in Maui and they provided comments that helped us adapt to every day.
We have stayed in Cancun, Costa Rica, and Jamaica, and this was our best experience of all. Of course the island had a lot to do with that, but Silvia and Jeff made us feel at home, in their home. We could not have asked for anything better in their fine home.
The pictures that they provide are EXACTLY what you can expect. The beach chairs and boogey boards were put to use many times.
We only used the air conditioning at night - we like a cold bedroom - and were very comfortable.
The wifi worked great, which was definitely appreciated for the few times that we used our electronics.
The building staff did a great job keeping the grounds clean, lawn equipment ready, and grills clean and ready for us to bbq.
Parking was easy every day.
The central location of their home made getting around the island quick and easy.
As far as notes about what we did on the island:
Drove to the top of Haleakala during mid-morning. It was cold and VERY windy, but well worth the visit. Note that there is very likely a line to enter the park and be prepared to your credit card ready to pay the $25 entrance fee, unless you already have a park permit.
Lavender Farm - a fun visit to learn more about lavender farming. The cart tour was well worth the cost.
Road to Hana - there is a reason that there are t-shirts with "I survived the Road to Hana" on them. We went completely around the island, clockwise. Note that if you get the least bit car sick, take some motion sickness meds before starting the trip. The northern section was easy enough and the one lane bridges were not a problem to negotiate with a little patience. After we completed the southern section, we were told by some locals that they discouraged the southern section. This is because there are some serious stretches of one lane travel. We had multiple instances where we had to back up and stop literally on the side of the hill with barely any room to pass. One car passing in the opposite direction had the driver's mirror dangling and they said that a vehicle hit their car along this road and kept going. However, the road eventually opens to a reasonable one lane road through some very beautiful country, where it is much easier to pass.
Maui Wine - after "finishing" the Road to Hana, a stop for refreshments was needed. The staff was excellent, the wine great, and every table on the lanai had some sort of game ready for you to while away the time.
Towns - we really enjoyed wandering around the towns.
Lahaina - we were there in the late afternoon, which was perfect. The banyan tree is visited by hundreds of Mina birds at sunset. The tree itself is worth visiting, but adding the birds was very enjoyable.
[Lower] Paia - Front street was great to walk and shop
Wailea - it was fun to drive around and look at the houses with "money". "The Shops at Wailea" is an outdoor shopping mall that is fun to walk. One quirky place to eat was "Island Gourmet Markets", which the best way for me to describe is it is like Whole Foods. We ate really good hot meals in the deli, bought Macadamia Nut souvenir treats, and spent more than $25 to get our parking slip validated, thus free parking.
Makawao - This is a small upcountry town, but has some of the best prices. The drive is worth the trip.
Beaches - as previously stated, we've visited other places, but the Maui beaches are the best. There are too many to specifically mention.
The Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve south of Makena is well worth the visit if you want to see what an untouched lava field is like. The drive is a "Road to Hana" type experience with numerous sections of one lane road. It is all about the destination, but note that there is no cell service there, no fuel stops, and a porta potty at the end.
Maui Tropical Plantation - we took the tram tour, which we found to be informative and "good enough". If you've ever been to a "pumpkin patch" in the fall, where there are activities galore, this is what you'll experience. We're glad that we went for the knowledge gained, but we would definitely not return.
Iao Valley State Park - a short drive from Kahului, a small parking fee, a smallish parking lot, and a short walk to see some cool geology and learn about the battle that occurred here.
The Pools at 'Ohe'o / Pipiwai Trail - The pools was an easy hike from the parking lot and well worth it. This is another National Park area and the park permit receipt from the crater worked to get in here too. Note that you must have the credit card used for the receipt when you enter the park. The Pipiwai Trail was fairly strenuous and we were fighting head colds, so we only got to Makahiku Falls before turning back. The fresh rain turned the trail to mud, which influenced our decision to turn back early, however, most people continued up the trail. We'll return to do this another day.
Whale watching - this was a highlight. While there are numerous charters, we took the Pacific Whale Foundation sunrise tour from Maalaea. We saw numerous whales breathing, quite a few flukes, and at the very end, one breach.