All quarantine long, I've held on to the thought that I am SO thankful I was able to do so much traveling last year! I truly don't know if/when traveling purely for the sake of leisure (and, internationally) is going to be so easily accessible again (for even more escapism: check out my travel posts from South Africa / Europe (France, Portugal, Spain) / and, eventually, I will blog about Japan!)
Then literally RIGHT before we all went into quarantine, my sister Galina invited me on her trip to Maui. Really the deal was, I flew out to CA for a few days, helped her decorate her new apartment, and she flew me to Hawaii (quite the deal and I am very spoiled.) Wow am I so grateful for that little tropical adventure before being stuck inside forever.
Front to back, we had an amazing trip. We weren't there for long, but really packed it in, did some unique things, and I just feel like we did Maui right, you know?? I wanted to share about a few specific things that made our trip so memorable, and will forever be my "Maui Must-Do's", in case you find yourself planning a trip to Maui soon (or just dreaming about it!)
Mai Tais during Aloha Hour at Barefoot Bar
Maui is pricey, there's just no way around it. If money is no object to you, by all means, skip this one (and if that's the case, bless you.) If you're looking for a way to cut costs but still eat and drink really well - take full advantage of the happy hours that are offered at nearly every restaurant and bar! Galina and I spent an afternoon walking from one happy hour to the next (from the Hyatt Regency, where we stayed, along the path to Whaler's Village), which culminated in an early dinner. You'll have to do a bit of planning (they seemed to all have different schedules - some a bit irregular) but for Mai Tais on sale, it's totally worth it!
Hulopoe Beach, Lanai'i
2. Take the ferry to Lanai'i.
Shout-out to our Uber driver for this one! For about $60, you can take a ferry from the Lahaina Harbor to the nearby island of Lanai'i. The ferry ride is ~45 minutes, and not only is it a beautiful sightseeing experience on its' own, if you're there during whale season, it's low-key a fantastic way to whale watch, without doing/paying for a whole expedition! Be ware though, if you get seasick, it can get a little rough. From where the ferry docks, it's a short walk over to Hulopoe Beach - an absolutely pristine place to spend the day. Especially coming from Maui, it feels like your own private beach! Just pack whatever food, drinks, etc. you need for the day, and you'll be all set. While you're there, you can sneak onto the grounds of The Four Seasons Lanai'i and stroll through the insanely beautiful pool/garden area...and after casually researching the nightly rate, add a stay there to your bucket list. Several people advised us the best way to really see Lanai'i is to rent a jeep and drive around, which we didn't do, because (see next point.)
Made it to Hana!
3. Rent a jeep & drive the road to Hana.
This is such an incredible way to spend the day! The Hana Highway is a 64.4 mile-long stretch of road that goes from Kahului in the center-ish of Maui to Hana, on the Eastern Coast. The drive goes through the lush jungle of Maui, and couldn't be more picturesque - you'll pass waterfalls, ocean views, walking trails, and stunning vegetation. I would highly recommend renting an open jeep for the drive (our hotel helped us with this!) You might get caught in a tropical rainstorm (as we did!) but hey, life's about learning to dance in the rain! Keep in mind, the full drive literally takes a full day, (you can't drive very fast on the windy cliff roads) but even doing it partially is worth it! There are many points of interest along the way (this website was super helpful for that), so you can plan your drive around how much time you have. Our favorite was a stop at the quaint Halfway to Hana hut for really great banana bread. :)
Impeccable gardens at The Four Seasons Lanai'i
4. Try the poké from Safeway.
This never lets me down. Both times I've been in Hawaii and asked the locals for the best place to get poke, people say Safeway! Which is a grocery store, by the way, if you're not on the West Coast. It never disappoints! They have a poké counter, adjacent to the seafood counter, which is set up hot bar style, so you can get any quantity of the myriad types of poké they offer (SO many!) It's a great way to try different kinds, and figure out what you like. Picking out up a couple containers of poké and seaweed salad makes for an excellent picnic, along the road to Hana, or on the beach in Lanai'i.
5. Hike a coastal trail at sunset.
I wish we could have had a full day to dedicate to an epic hike in Maui, as I know there are many many options. But driving back to our hotel from the road to Hana, I noticed several short walking trails right off the road, along the coast. A bit more of a casual "hike" option, if you're short on time or rushing to make a dinner reservation (us!) but you won't skimp on views! This stretch of the Maui coast, from Kahului to Lahaina on the North side of the island, at golden hour, is indescribable, and had to be my favorite vista from the trip. (Was trying to approximate exactly where I took this photo - Waihee Ridge Trail, Honolua Bay Access Trail, and Mahana Ridge Trail are all right along this corridor and would be great options for a sunset stroll!)
*Note - This list doesn't include sunrise at Haleakala. We opted to skip it this time, because we had done it previously. It is one of the most spectacular things I've ever seen, also one of the most freezing. It does require some planning ahead of time (I believe now you need to apply for a permit several months in advance?) You'll also have to plan an early, early morning wake-up (I'm talking - 1:30am.) So, feel it out depending on your trip. I would say it is a lifetime must-do.
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