About Town: Mercedes-Benz Championship at Kapalua
By Ceri Mobley, PGATOUR.COM Associate Site Producer
Aloha. Welcome to Maui, and welcome to the 2009 season of the PGA TOUR.
As the 2008 winners battle it out for first-victory-of-2009 bragging rights at the Mercedes-Benz Championship at Kapalua, Maui, you will be watching -- perhaps wearing a lei -- and certainly ringing in the new year in style. So get ready to sit back in the glorious Hawaii weather and tee off 2009 alongside the PGA TOUR's elite with some travel tips from PGATOUR.com.
SOMEWHERE TO SNOOZE
Hawaii highlife: If you're prepared to follow your favorite golfers all the way to America's 50th state, then you're probably prepared to spend some big cheese on your home away from home. If that's the case, then there's no other hotel to choose than the five-star Four Seasons, Maui at Wailea. Only a 30-minute drive from the tournament, rates range from about $650-$1,100 a night.
Other options
• Tropical villas: Kapalua Villas -- one-, two- or three-bedroom chalets on the Plantation Course with prime views of the ocean and the rolling fairways range from $470-$900 a night.
• Lahaina Shores Beach Resort: This three-star tourist favorite in West Maui is only 20 minutes from the event. With countless restaurants and activities in the area, it's the perfect compromise for a couple (or family) looking to do more than exhaust themselves walking -- and watching -- the golf course. Rates start at $200 a night.
SOMEWHERE TO SNACK
Gazebo Restaurant at Napili Shores: Beachfront dining with a side of relaxation and only a few minutes from Kapalua, the Gazebo, though small and out of the way, has become a favorite of locals and tourists alike. With menu samplings such as BBQ Kalua pork and avocado burgers, this little beach hut diner works up waiting lines up to 45-minutes long (but the view-while-you-wait can't be beaten). Note that it is only open for breakfast and lunch though (7 a.m. -- 2 p.m.), so perhaps grab a to-go box for later on.
Ritz-Carlton's Kai Restaurant: The Ritz-Carlton's Kai restaurant offers world-class sushi and sashimi with only the freshest fish, and for those in your party who prefer meat of the land (or just meat prepared with some heat), Kai's menu isn't limited to sushi; Japanese cuisine from filet mignon to asparagus tempura should keep everyone from going hungry.
Cilantro Mexican Grill: You might remember from last year that this PGATOUR.com writer has a little bit of a thing for Mexican food. (If there's a good restaurant in the area, I'll find it.) Cilantro Mexican Grill, located in Lahaina, will whet your appetite with pineapple salsa, margarita shrimp and cilantro chimichangas (how good does that sound?).
The Plantation House: Popular for Maui weddings, The Plantation House combines delicious island cooking with traditional Hawaiian hospitality. And while the food will leave you more than satisfied, it's not necessarily the main event. The restaurant's Kapalua location means diners get to eat their fill while deciding whether to enjoy views of pineapple fields, neighboring islands or blue waters painted pink by the unmatched west Maui sunsets.
SOMETHING TO TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT
If you can think of something to do (that doesn't involve snow), then Maui can likely serve it up. So if you plan to make the trip for the Mercedes-Benz Championship, then try not to leave these activities off your list:
Surf's up: Ever wanted to learn what that term really means? Well, in Maui, you can. And if you're going to take a lesson, why not be a pop-culture junkie and take it at the Royal Hawaiian Surf Academy, made famous by its moment in the spotlight on MTV's "Living Lahaina." They have eight experienced instructors and offer lessons three times a day for groups of up to four people or individual instruction.
Maui Ocean Center: If trying your hand at balancing a board over a swirling swell didn't work out for you (or you'd rather admire the ocean than frolic in it), then check out the Maui Ocean Center. Located about 30 miles from Kapalua it's Hawaii's primo aquarium and is open 365 days a year. If you're feeling really brave (post surfing attempt), the Ocean Center also offers shark diving -- note that you do have to be age 15 or over and scuba certified to participate in this activity.
Haleakala National Park: The park, situated on the southeast side of the island, is quite a drive from Kapalua (around an hour), but it's absolutely worth it. And if you plan to go, make sure you double check the alarm clock because you simply can't miss the sunrise. Atop the Haleakala summit, you'll see a completely new side of Maui -- for a start, you'll be so high up that the sprawling ocean views become sprawling clouds, a blank canvas for the light-and-shadow show that early-morning nature will put on for you. (Bring a jacket.)
Horseback riding: To cap off your Maui (and Mercedes) experience, organize a horseback trail ride in Lahaina. There's no better way to experience the island than to travel through it, but let's face it, you miss out in the car, and very few of us have the energy to appreciate things on foot. So take to the saddle and enjoy a west Maui mountain trek as the sun sets over the Pacific. Can you think of a more perfect way to say goodbye to Maui?
STICKING AROUND?
You'll certainly be making a long trip to visit the Mercedes-Benz Championship, so a few days before or after the tournament to take in some post-holiday R&R wouldn't be amiss. If you do plan to spend more than the four tournament days in the area, then be sure to check out the following Maui attractions:
• The Hana Highway -- If you've heard of Maui, you've likely heard of the Hana Highway, a 60-mile road that leads into and out of Hana. Along the way (roughly a three-and-a-half-hour ride), you'll encounter mountain bridges, cliff-side ocean views and, most importantly, waterfall after waterfall after waterfall. If driving on winding, narrow roads for that long has you reaching for the travel-sickness bag, but you still want to have the experience, then think about a helicopter tour and take it all in from the sky.
• Whale watching -- From mid December to mid May, the warm waters around the Hawaiian coastline become the temporary mating and calf-rearing home of the Alaskan whale population. These whales travel around 3,500 miles to enjoy the Maui marine life, so the least you can do is arrange a little trip to see them. The whale-watch cruises last a couple of hours and cost much less than you think. If looking out into the Pacific Ocean doesn't make you feel small enough, seeing one of the world's largest inhabitants leap out of it certainly will.
But really, to get the most out of "sticking around," I suggest another week in Hawaii with the TOUR. Catch a plane to Oahu and watch these guys give their all at the Sony Open.
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