Guide to Maui, Hawaii
Get comfy for this read - The complete guide to ALL things Maui!
Get comfy for this read - The complete guide to ALL things Maui!
Aloha! I am glad you stopped by to check out my blog post on Maui, as there is SO much to do on the island, and so much to learn! I've broken this post down into sections, so hopefully it is a pretty easy read (or easy to jump around at least). If you are considering a trip to Hawaii or are already booked to go, you are in for quite a treat!
Why choose Maui?
A question I get a lot is "I want to go to Hawaii. What island should I go to?" I always recommend Maui, as it is the perfect blend of breath taking views, relaxing beaches, adventurous hiking/outdoor activities, and social restaurants/bars/shopping areas. You won't feel over crowded in Maui - by this I mean that there are no giant boardwalks or party scenes like you might find in other big beach destinations. It is a quiet island that is so blissful and has absolutely magnificent views. The deep blue waters of Maui impress me every single time. On the other hand, Maui is populated just enough to where you also won't feel completely isolated (if that is your goal, I'd suggest Kauai). Maui has its shopping areas, downtown districts with local shops, and great dining options, as there are a lot of locals on the island. Oahu and the Big island are going to be the most populated, followed by Maui, and then Kauai.
Honeymooning? What a perfect destination. Maui is unlike any ocean, beach, or place you will find on the mainland and I can't stress that enough. It's also completely different than the ice blue waters of the Caribbean. Maui (and Hawaii in general) is a true gem with all of its very own unique characteristics.
Getting to / Arriving in Maui
Getting to Maui is pretty easy, but can be quite a haul if you are coming from the east coast. If you are coming from the East coast, you will definitely have one connecting flight, if not two. Direct flights tend to come out of Texas, California, Oregon, Washington, etc. Depending on where you are starting your trip from, you most likely will be flying United, American Airlines, or Southwest.
If you're traveling to Maui, you'll be flying into the OGG (Kahului) airport which is on the northern part of Maui. This makes it pretty easy (and the same distance) to get to different parts of the island where you may be staying. More than likely, you're staying on the west coast (Ka'anapali area), or a little more down south (Wailea area). If that's the case, I'd say it's safe to plan for a 1-2 hour car ride to your destination. Speaking of, you'll need a rental car for your trip, which you can schedule and pick up at the airport when you land. Be sure to have these booked ahead of time, as they sell out quickly during peak seasons. I'd recommend getting a Jeep to get the full island experience and feel like a local ;)
Keep in mind that you'll be going through a time change no matter what part of the states you are coming from (anywhere from 3-6 hours time difference), so it may take you a few days to fully adjust to your new clock.
Activities
Where to even begin with activities... there are so many to choose from! You'll first have to decide if you want your vacation to be laid back, really adventurous, or somewhere in between. One of my personal favorite activities I tried while in Maui was a helicopter tour. I was a bit scared of getting up in a heli, but I figured, if there's anywhere in the world to take a heli tour, it's in Hawaii. I used Pacific Helicopter Tours on Maui to book, and I chose the West Maui / Waterfall tour and it was breathtaking... I can't even describe the views (but I have lots of photos as memories)!
If you are lucky enough to be around during whale watching season, that's another pretty unique sight to see. Lucky for me, I caught the tail end (haha) of the season this year in March and got to see quite a few whales breech! It is so amazing to wake up, sit outside to watch the sunrise (coffee in hand... of course), and see those whales splashing around in the ocean. Pure bliss if I do say so myself. Whale watching season is typically from Dec - Feb, but can trail into March as well. I'd suggest booking a whale watching tour (there are many to choose from), not only for the whales but just for the fun of the excursion! Many of them offer food / drinks onboard and you can make a really fun evening or afternoon out of it!
Another biggie (and most likely freebie) is hiking in Hawaii! If you don't like hiking, well, I suggest you at least try it in Hawaii because the views are unlike most that you'll find back home / on the mainland (my point being that the exercise is worth it in this case)! The most famous National Park on Maui is going to be Haleakala. This mountain is surreal to see at both sunrise and sunset, but takes a bit of planning to make sure you time it just right. No matter where you are staying on Maui, you'll most likely have a few hours of driving to get up to Haleakala in the first place - and you'll want to buy your tickets ($25 per car) as much ahead of time as possible to ensure you can get into the park (they have a set number of visitors allowed per day), and I'd hate for anyone to make the trip all the way there just to be turned away. Also, you'll want to be sure to pack some winter gear - yes, winter - for a sunrise on Mt.Haleakala, it is cold! I sure felt silly packing my hat, gloves, scarf, and heavy coat for a Hawaii trip, but you'll thank me later. Oh, also grab some hand warmers! Tip: If you choose to do the sunrise here, I'd do it early on in your trip so the time change is in your benefit!
That's not the only place to hike on Maui though - there are plenty of options! My personal favorite was the Pipiwai Trail which is on the East coast of Maui. It can be quite a drive as well but oh my goodness is it worth it! This is a 4 mile trail full of bamboo and unique views - but the showstopper is at the end when you come across the most beautiful waterfall ever. I'll insert a picture for this one, because words just won't do it justice (and really the photo won't, either).
One other quick recommendation for hiking (more on the west coast) would be around the Iao Valley State Park. This was incredible as well and has some shorter / easier hikes as well as just great viewing areas. Another place to not miss would be the Nakalele blowhole. This is north of Ka'anapali (NW Coast) and is a quick walk down some rocks to see a natural blowhole which is really quite amazing! Be careful, you might get wet!
Ok, so next up... can you really go to Hawaii without going to a Luau?! There are so many around the island that you can sign up for, and I would highly suggest this if you haven't done one before. It's the real deal - the pig roast, the hula girls, the leis... You can find Luau's at many locations around the island, especially at hotels along the beachfront.
If you're wanting to go adventurous, why not try a zipline? Every single zipline I've ever done (anywhere) has been completely different than the others. It's always different in terms of the views, the height, the length... they really are all quite unique. But again, we're talking Hawaii here - and you just can't beat those views.
There are also some incredible golf courses out on Maui... I mean.. the views alone! Ahh. I could go on and on about the beauty of Maui. But if you love to golf, you'll love it even more here (and you won't even care how many balls you've lost this time).
Driving itself is a treat on Maui, but truthfully, it can be pretty scary, too! The landscape on Maui is so vast just depending on where you are and what your elevation is. As you can probably tell from all the photos in this blog, Maui has it all. Be careful when driving around all the twisty roads up high in the mountains - it really can be scary, especially at night. You'll want to plan to be back near your resort / accommodations before dark.
Last but certainly not least - the beaches! After all, isn't that why you came to Maui?! I'll let these few pics just speak for themselves.
These are just a few activities I wanted to highlight, but there is so much more! Hawaii might be just shy of being the smallest US state, but it sure has a LOT to offer!
Mmm...All this reading making you hungry? If it hasn't yet, it will now. Hawaii has some of the very best food and restaurants in my opinion, and I'd like to share both reviews and photos!
We'll start with my favorite place on the island - Son'z Steakhouse. This is located at the Hyatt Regency in Lahaina (Maui's west coast). This (clearly) is where you'd want to come if you want a delicious steak dinner, a great wine to go with it, and a fantastic and breezy view. The food, staff, atmosphere and all is just perfect here. If you are able, I'd highly recommend Son'z!
Another place you don't want to miss is the Paia Fish Market. There are a few of these around the island, so there is likely one near where you'd be staying. This is a staple in my opinion - and a good one. I prefer the blackened snapper! Oh and I'm pretty sure everything comes with coleslaw... like everywhere (and it's good)! So, if you like coleslaw, you're in luck. If you don't like coleslaw, let's just say I hope whoever you are traveling with does!
Something to note while in Hawaii is that food (and groceries) are pretty pricey - much higher than you'd find on the mainland. The food is really good though, I can promise you that. I definitely recommend stopping at Costco either on your way to your resort from the airport or on day 1 to help stock up for the week!
I'll leave you with one more main restaurant I really liked on the west coast - Merriman's. This is a very upscale dining option that is known for their seafood. I actually chose to have a steak here, which was phenomenal, and oh my I cannot say enough good things about the desserts! If you choose to dine here, a reservation is required, and it is a prix fixe menu.
And finally... you simply cannot go to Hawaii and not get shaved ice! It's a must. I highly recommend Ululani's Shave Ice.
Here are a few other favorites of mine on west Maui (I can't take up all your time going into details on all of these delicious places): Hula Grill, Roy's, Duke's, and Round Table Pizza if you just need a really easy, pizza type of evening. Oh, and if you need a really fun breakfast where you can MAKE YOUR OWN pancakes - stop by Slappy Cake's
If you're staying in Wailea, chances are you'll be staying at your resort more than hopping around for food and restaurants, but 2 that I love are: Humble Market Kitchin and Tommy Bahama.
Shopping
Ok, so I'll try to keep the shopping section short. There are a few places you don't want to miss though! First off is Honolulu Cookie, one of my must-do's every visit. They are the yummiest cookies EVER! Pre-Covid they had samples of every cookie, hopefully they bring that back soon! But do yourself (and family and friends) a favor, and bring some of these back home!
Another good stop was the Maui Candy Company if you're up north on Maui. They have some seasonal flavors which are my favorite (but always change, obviously). The sour gummies are also the best!! This is located up more near the airport (Kahului) and near the mall.
And like I mentioned above - please do yourself a favor and stop at Costco on day 1 or 2 if possible. The prices there are much better than any of the local grocery stores will be, and Costco has everything! Definitely worth stocking up for your stay (and get lots of water - stay hydrated).
I hope this blog post has either 1. Prepared you for your trip to Maui or 2. Helped you decide that you NEED a trip to Maui! In all seriousness, Maui is a really special place and I truly hope each of you will make it to the island at some point in your lifetime. If you have any questions or would like more recommendations, feel free to send me a message here!
Aloha!
