There is something about getting off a plane, feeling the sweet warm tropical breeze, looking up at the crystal blue sky and listening to the hum of the palm trees. as you exit the small airport, a friendly greeting by local men and women with big smiles offer shell lays around your neck. Aloha and welcome to Maui.
Maui has a great laid back island feel but it is also mixed with a ton of tourists especially over the holiday season. As usual our approach was to ignore, seek out quieter spots and if we couldn't find them make sure we were heading out early to beat any crowds.
The island is filled with amazingly lavish restaurants, serene beaches, windy roads and a ton of stuff to do or not to do. the choice is yours!
Some of our favourite highlights include:
TRY:
EAT:
Wailea:
Kai Wailea- $$$- located at the shops at wailea. 3750 Wailea Alanui, Wailea, Maui, HI 96753
fresh fresh fresh sushi. served family style so everything comes out at different times and meant for sharing. service is good, but can be slow when they are very busy. highly recommend the rock shrimp tempura roll, seaweed salad and the ahi poke. YUM! make a reso!
Pa'ia:
Mama's Fish House- $$$$-
just off the mile marker 8 off the Hana highway- look for Mama's Fishing Boat
I think I eat out a lot and this is hands down one of the best places I have ever eaten at in my life. they have an amazing concept, they have a team of their own fisherman that catch all the seafood and everything on your plate is fresh within a 24 hour period. How lovely is that! Everything is good here, service impeccable. Make sure you make a reservation well in advance!
Lahaina:
Mala Ocean Tavern- $$$
1307 Front Street, Lahaina, Maui 96761
Another great restaurant, the small but cozy deck overlooking the ocean is a perfect spot to sit an enjoy brunch, lunch or dinner with a fancy cocktail. Would be a great spot to catch the sunset! Great service and food is fresh & light, try the gelato of the day that hails from a local producer Ono Gelato Company....to die for!
SLEEP:
While the start of this trip was at a time share in Kihei, and the latter was a beautiful rental property at the Papakea Resort that we found on VRBO. There are many options you can choose. You can go the route of finding your own vacation rental through the almighty VRBO, which offers a ton rentals ranging from low to high end. Or of course if you require something on the high roller side you will not be disappointed with what the island has to offer.
Wailea:
Four Seasons Maui at Wailea- We saw Billy Crystal there!
Fairmont at Kea Lani
Grand Wailea (A Waldorf Astoria Resort)- check out the Spa Grande for some amazing but pricey spa services!
West Maui:
Westin Maui Resort & Spa
Hyatt Regency Resort & Spa
Ritz Carlton Kapalua Resort - Located near the world famous Kapalua Golf Course
Maui has a great laid back island feel but it is also mixed with a ton of tourists especially over the holiday season. As usual our approach was to ignore, seek out quieter spots and if we couldn't find them make sure we were heading out early to beat any crowds.
The island is filled with amazingly lavish restaurants, serene beaches, windy roads and a ton of stuff to do or not to do. the choice is yours!
Some of our favourite highlights include:
TRY:
- A surf lesson with Zack Howard- friendly, laid back and gets you right out surfing the waves. Zack and Cody are great teachers, patient and give you all the basics you need to learn how to "hang ten".
- Drive the Road to Hana, but leave early in the morning to avoid all the tour vans and other late departer's. We left around 7am enjoying the road to ourselves with a few stragglers behind us. Notable stops: Honokalani Black Sand Beach at Wai'anapanapa State Park just before Hana & my favourite the 2 mile hike through a mix of rock, gravel and an insanely large bamboo forest to see Waimoku Falls. This is located at the Haleakala National Park (Kipahulu Area) about 12 miles past Hana.
- Rent snorkel gear and visit the many beaches and coves that Maui has to offer. Our best spots were just off Big Beach (Makena Beach) where we swam with 2 seas turtles and a ton of bright, striped, dotted tropical fish and up around Napili Bay where there was a nice mix of reef, schools of oddly shaped fish and sea turtles swimming in slow motion. National Geographic-ish!
- Haleakala National Park (Summit Area)- best at sunrise or sunset, the drive up is long and windy, but the views from the summit at 10,000 ft are stunning. Be prepared for the wind, it gets cold so dress warmly!
- Visit Pa'ia- a vibrant little surfer hippy town, with some awesome boutiques, local artisan shops, gift shops, cafes & restaurants.
 |
| view from the summit at the haleakala national park |
 |
| makena "big" beach |
 |
| waimoku falls |
Wailea:
Kai Wailea- $$$- located at the shops at wailea. 3750 Wailea Alanui, Wailea, Maui, HI 96753
fresh fresh fresh sushi. served family style so everything comes out at different times and meant for sharing. service is good, but can be slow when they are very busy. highly recommend the rock shrimp tempura roll, seaweed salad and the ahi poke. YUM! make a reso!
Pa'ia:
Mama's Fish House- $$$$-
just off the mile marker 8 off the Hana highway- look for Mama's Fishing Boat
I think I eat out a lot and this is hands down one of the best places I have ever eaten at in my life. they have an amazing concept, they have a team of their own fisherman that catch all the seafood and everything on your plate is fresh within a 24 hour period. How lovely is that! Everything is good here, service impeccable. Make sure you make a reservation well in advance!
Lahaina:
Mala Ocean Tavern- $$$
1307 Front Street, Lahaina, Maui 96761
Another great restaurant, the small but cozy deck overlooking the ocean is a perfect spot to sit an enjoy brunch, lunch or dinner with a fancy cocktail. Would be a great spot to catch the sunset! Great service and food is fresh & light, try the gelato of the day that hails from a local producer Ono Gelato Company....to die for!
SLEEP:
While the start of this trip was at a time share in Kihei, and the latter was a beautiful rental property at the Papakea Resort that we found on VRBO. There are many options you can choose. You can go the route of finding your own vacation rental through the almighty VRBO, which offers a ton rentals ranging from low to high end. Or of course if you require something on the high roller side you will not be disappointed with what the island has to offer.
Wailea:
Four Seasons Maui at Wailea- We saw Billy Crystal there!
Fairmont at Kea Lani
Grand Wailea (A Waldorf Astoria Resort)- check out the Spa Grande for some amazing but pricey spa services!
West Maui:
Westin Maui Resort & Spa
Hyatt Regency Resort & Spa
Ritz Carlton Kapalua Resort - Located near the world famous Kapalua Golf Course
 |
| one of the may rainbows you will see |
 |
| the last sunset of 2011 |
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