Aloha,

Well, the much anticipated Hawaiian family vacation is close. We are taking our 3 daughters 5, 2 and 4 months to Maui on Sunday. We are also bringing a nanny to aid in critter control and to give me and my wife some real vacation time as well. We are staying the first 8 days on the ground floor of the Whaler at Ka'anapali, 50 feet from the sand. The next 7 will be spent with a bunch more of my family at a house on the beach in N. Kihei.

We aren't planning on doing anything. I am so stoked for that. The plan for all 15 days is to just relax, and hang around the beach, pool , hot tub, do some reading and take naps. I am really pumped to play with my kids on the beach, they already love the beach here, I can't imagine how much they will enjoy 78 degree ocean. It will also give me some time to just enjoy them being little, without a bunch of yardwork, remodeling, real work, house chores, and other BS taking my time.

Trying to force little kids to do the sightseeing thing generally sucks, because they aren't used to the travel and heat, and it is easier on everyone if they are happy( the key is just getting proper nutrition and sleep). So we can't stray too far from home base (but the nanny will allow for a lot of time away for my wife and I). I personally am happy about that, I don't care to look at stuff on vacation, I like to take it easy, or do something that gets me involved (in this case: skimboarding, fishing, surfing, boogie boarding, snorkeling, cliff jumping, general ocean stuff).

So anyways, the wife and I will have some chances to get away, alone and together. What are your recommendations for snorkeling?

Dinner?

Bank fishing (fly or gear)?

What was your favorite beach to hang at? I like Makena because of the big shorebreak for skimming (and it is just freakin' beautiful), but I don't want my kids venturing out there. Do you like DT Fleming?

Do you know any short activities that your kids loved?

What is the best technique to get those timeshare panhandlers to leave you alone?