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About Susan J

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Susan J., budget traveler extraordinaire, inherited her Yankee frugality from her mother and it has served her well on trips across the US and the UK. Whether scoping out the nightlife scene or searching for that perfect pair of shoes, Susan loves writing and travel. She has lived outside of Seattle, Washington, and in Boston, Massachusetts and Albuquerque, New Mexico. She recently returned from a trip to Hawaii, where she made full use of her Go Oahu Card!

Blog posts written by Susan J

History of Lahaina

December 6th, 2007 by susan j

11272007sunsetk.jpgSunset in Lahaina
Photo uploaded by Go Card USA

Though Maui is known for its sunny climate and gorgeous beaches, there is more to the island than sun and surfing. In fact, Lahaina (pronounced lah-HIGH-nah) was once the capital of Hawai’i and still maintains much of its rich culture and history. Here’s a quick overview of Lahaina’s fascinating history.

Lahaina, which means “cruel sun,” began as a whaling town. By the mid nineteenth century, Lahaina had as many as 1,500 sailors in port. Perhaps most famous of those sailors was Herman Melville, who chronicled the period in the novel, Moby Dick.

The whaling town served as the center of government for nearly fifty year until the mid-1800s, when the capital was relocated to its present location in Honolulu on the island of O`ahu (pronounced oh-AH-hoo). In 1893, American settlers overthrew Hawai’i’s constitutional monarchy. Hawai’i became the 50th state admitted to the United States in 1959.

Lahaina features attractions including Maui Surf Clinics, the Wo Hing Museum, and the Baldwin Home. For more on Lahaina, check out this virtual tour of historic Lahaina. Happy travels!

Planning a trip to Maui? Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the Go Maui Card.

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Maui’s Hana Highway on TripAdvisor Top 10

December 4th, 2007 by susan j

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Hana Highway, Maui
Photo uploaded by *amelia*

TripAdvisor’s Top 10 US Attractions for 2007 includes some of the most beautiful and exciting places in the United States. We’re thrilled to note that Maui’s Hana Highway made the list.

You can see from the photo above that it offers lush, tropical foliage, plus gorgeous coastal views. Over 170 TripAdvisor users have reviewed this scenic drive, so click here to read their perspectives on Hana Highway.

Planning a trip to Maui? Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the Go Maui Card.

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Join Us on Facebook

November 29th, 2007 by susan j

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Image uploaded by Go Card USA

Since we’re avid travelers and web surfers, it was only a matter of time before we succumbed to the tempting, time-bending world known as facebook. If you’re already on the site, then we’d love to connect. Adding us will help you stay to date on special sales, travel news, and other tidbits. So, what are you waiting for? Join us on facebook!

Planning a trip to Maui? Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the Go Maui Card.

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Happy Thanksgiving!

November 20th, 2007 by susan j

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Photo uploaded by jackfrench

Where are the 27+ million travelers headed this Thanksgiving? Condé Nast Traveler is holding an online poll to uncover reader’s favorite destinations for Thanksgiving travel and (no surprise) Hawaii tops the list.

Of course, not all of us are lucky enough to be jetting off to warm, sunny Maui for a relaxing break. If you’re headed to home for the holidays this week, then you’ll want to check out travel editor Peter Greenberg’s travel tips. Happy travels, and happy Thanksgiving!

Planning a trip to Maui? Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the Go Maui Card.

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Friday Art Night in Lahaina

November 13th, 2007 by susan j

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Michael Kollwitz performs at Friday’s Art Night event
Photo uploaded by Michael Kollwitz

Every Friday between 7 and 10 pm, Lahaina’s art galleries open their doors along Front Street and host “Art Night” This weekly tradition dates back to 1989 and features gallery shows, demonstrations, strolling musicians, refreshments, chats with the artists, and more. Click here for more information.

Planning a trip to Maui? Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the Go Maui Card.

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History of the Baldwin Home

November 7th, 2007 by susan j

This brief overview of Maui’s Baldwin Home comes courtesy of our Hawaii Destination Manager, Kathy Stafford:

Dwight Baldwin, a Christian minister, traveled to Hawaii to be a priest at Lahaina’s oldest church, Wainee Church. In 1830 Dwight Baldwin and his new bride came to the island of Maui, from Durham, Connecticut. Dr. Baldwin gave up his family’s wealth to live a more humble life on Maui.

Some of the roles that Dwight Baldwin took were as Doctor, Veterinarian, Dentist, and Priest. When the patients didn’t have enough money they would pay Dr. Baldwin with arts, furniture, and other possessions. When Dwight Baldwin came to Hawaii he came with very little furniture, all the furniture in his home were all made from resources or as gifts from patients. The minimum amount of money that the Baldwin family made in a month was $100.00. Dwight Baldwin learned to speak the Hawaiian language, and used some of the Hawaiian medicines.

The Baldwins moved into their Lahaina home in 1838, and lived there for 33 years. The walls were made out of coral, stone, and hand-hewn timbers which were 2 feet thick. The second floor wasn’t added until 1840 after they had 6 children, they did have eight but two of them died before the age 3. Since the Baldwin house was a Christian house, Mr. Baldwin believed that their doors should resemble Christianity, so the doors all had a cross on it. People say that “he was a man of natural talents,” and that he didn’t just prosper himself, but he prospered others. Dwight Baldwin helped the Hawaiians in many ways. For example, he healed the Hawaiians from their illnesses, cared for them, and respected them, and soon after he gained their respect.

Planning a trip to Maui? Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the Go Maui Card.

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Halloween in Lahaina

October 18th, 2007 by susan j

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Photo uploaded by Teo

Lahaina is known throughout Maui and beyond for its spectacular Halloween celebration and this year promises to be no exception. Organizers predict that more than 20,000 people will turn out for this annual event, starting with the kids parade at 4:30 pm and going well into the evening.

Other activities include Halloween-themed crafts and activities and and food & beverage booths. This About.com article suggests that revelers arrive early to find parking and bring candy to give out during the kid’s parade.

While in Lahaina, you might also visit the Sugar Cane Train or Maui Surf Clinic.

Planning a trip to Maui? Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the Go Maui Card.

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Maui Voted #1 Island by Conde Nast

October 15th, 2007 by susan j

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Photo uploaded by D’arcy Norman

Conde Nast Traveler recently confirmed what we’ve known for years - that Maui is the most beautiful, inviting island in the Pacific. Maui was listed as its top island, ahead of Kuai and the Great Barrier Reef Islands. Read the complete list here.

Planning a trip to Maui? Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the Go Maui Card.

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Maui in the Media

October 12th, 2007 by susan j

10112007mauipalmbeach.jpg
Photo uploaded by earthman

Given its picturesque beaches and friendly locals, it’s no surprise that travel writers love writing about Maui. Here are some recent write-ups:

  1. Awesome! Maui with teens! on MSN
  2. In the Land of the Lotus Eaters in the NY Times
  3. Why I Loved… Maui in The Indianapolis Star
  4. Great American Beaches in Travel + Leisure

Still need a reason to plan a trip to Maui? Good news: Go Maui Card is offering 20% off now through Thursday, October 18.

Planning a trip to Maui? Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the Go Maui Card.

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Welcome to the Go Maui Card Blog!

October 8th, 2007 by susan j

Like you, we at Go Maui Card are avid travelers who are always on the lookout for travel deals and new destinations to explore. That’s why we started this blog so that we could share new developments in travel, new attractions, and much more. We’d love to have your input on our blogging journey, so feel free to leave comments with suggestions, questions, and anything you’d like to see on this blog. Happy travels!

Planning a trip to Maui? Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the Go Maui Card.

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