Similar to my post on Oahu, I have found that Maui’s hotel and resorts charge A LOT. On top of that, you are more than likely paying for a standard hotel room. We stayed at an AirBNB while in Maui. We ended up finding a fairly priced apartment/condo in Wailea. While there wasn’t a whole lot to do in Wailea, it was fairly central for all the things that we wanted to do. I will say there was a few cute restaurants and shops near the Harbor in Wailea. It was fun being able to walk and grab ice cream most night (who am I kidding, every night). I will say that If we went back, I probably would try and stay in the Lahaina area. The area is a bit more touristy, but it seems like there is a lot more to do as well. On top of that, the weather ALWAYS seemed nicer over on this side of the island. Every single time we would leave Wailea it would be raining. Then as soon as we got to Lahaina, it would be sunny and beautiful. That could have just been the random weather, but that’s the impression I got. I did read that the father into the island you are, the more susceptible to rain. That is because the clouds seem to cluster near the top of the mountain range. And what do clouds do? They produce rain.
In Maui, every single beach must have a public access point. So even the fanciest Resort you can think of, has an access point. So don’t feel like you aren’t allowed to go to certain beaches. Literally every single beach is open. Compared to Oahu, the beaches seemed a lot more accessible and open to the public. a few days on the island, we would literally wander around the island, until we found a beach that we liked. Finding beaches, is super easy too. Since they are EVERYWHERE! I will say that I noticed a few topless girls while at some of the less crowded beaches. I’ve even heard of a specific “Nude beach”. Although I will note that I’ve heard most attenders are older men and women. And by older, I mean 65+. Please be aware of beach closings while here! They are usually fairly well marked. But you can also find the listings online. We were a bit surprised when we tried to go to a certain beach and found a “closed due to sharks” sign. They close the beaches for a reason.
My favorite beaches were the ones where you needed to put some effort into getting there. The Red Sand Beach in Hana is a perfect example. Like every single travel blog you may have read on Maui, they are going to tell you that you have to do the Road to Hana. And this is true. This is an absolute must if you are coming to Maui. While I am not going to touch on it too much here, don’t let that say it’s something you can skip. Check out my entire post dedicated just to the Road to Hana.
While there, make sure you snorkel as much as possible. Maui has some amazing reefs that match their beaches. I was lucky enough to see my first sea turtle while snorkeling. I do wish that I would have paid for a tour to bring us out past the beach. While we did get on a boat, we only happened to fish. Next time I’m going to plan a day trip to the Molokini Crater. From what I’ve researched, this natural crevice is a haven for marine life. The crater acts as a natural barrier to protect the wildlife from it’s surroundings. Make sure that you bring your own snorkeling gear. You can get nicer cheap sets on Amazon for a lot less than you would pay to rent. Or paying tourist mark up prices! I think we were in the water about every day, so it is definitely worth the investment.
A luau is something that everyone should experience at least once. While I will say that it’s a really fun experience, it’s also extremely expensive. We saw drums of the Pacific at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa. As of right now their cheapest adult ticket starts at $125 USD. To be even semi-close to the stage and get the whole lei experience, expect to pay closer to $165 USD. No joke, I literally upgraded our tickets in order to get the flower lei….If you take into consideration that you are getting unlimited drinks, and delicious meal and a show, it makes you feel a little better about what you spent. All over the islands there are different luau’s all unique in their own way. Make sure you do some research on all the possible luau’s that you can see before you by. Personally, Drum’s of the Pacific appeared to have the most fire involved, so I went with that one. They did really put on a great show, and I get to learn a lot about Hawaiian culture. Plus the buffet of food was AMAZING!
While I understand that off shore fishing is not everyones cup of tea. Please try and get on a boat at some point during your trip! It’s such an amazing way to see the islands, and really lets you see the islands from a different perspective. Since we booked a fishing charter the boat was a little more expensive. But we had to pay for the fishing aspect as well (obviously). I surprised my boyfriend with the trip as a gift, and he loved it. With both had the opportunity to catch Mahi Mahi. The amazing part is once we got back to the harbor, there was a local restaurant that cooked your catch for you.
We actually found Nakalele Blowhole by accident. We had time to spare on our last day in Maui, so we just started driving around the West side of the island and saw that a substantial amount of cars were parked here. Right off of the road there were a bunch of different vendors selling delicious smelling food and drinks, so we decided to stop. I’m glad we did, because it was a nice little break with AMAZING views. After grabbing some snacks, we head down to the blow hole. As you can tell by my attire, I was prepared for a small “hike”. While I wouldn’t normally call this trek a hike, there is a lot of dangerous rocks, waves, and a bit of an incline. So more appropriate shoes would have been nice! Do be careful! People have died here from not being aware of their surroundings.
Where to Eat
Maui Brewing Company– How can you not go to the Maui Brewing Company while on Maui? I’ve been to the restaurant 4 times between Oahu and Maui. While the restaurant is located on Waikiki Beach on Oahu. On Maui the location I visited is located on top of a beautiful hill overlooking the ocean. The restaurant overall is super cute, and a really fun atmosphere. I loved that they had other local beers, besides their own. Try one of their flights to figure out which one you prefer. Make sure you spare a night to get dinner here. If possible, try and get a seat outside in order to take in the scenery.
WowWow Lemonade– I’ve had this on Oahu, but they have one on Maui as well. You may have seen this their cups ALL over Instagram. In order to get the cup, you do have to pay a pretty penny. But the cup is nicer than you would expect, and actually made of glass.
Pacific’O- We stopped here after our morning of fishing, and it did not disappoint! We were able to give them some of the fish that we just caught, and they would use that instead of whatever they had on hand. It really doesn’t get any fresher than that! I got the fish tacos, and I still think about them a few years later. The restaurant was a tad spendy. Which we should have figured since the place was located right on the beach, and they are known for their farm fresh food. Regardless, it was well worth the extra money!
Food trucks, food trucks, and more food trucks!
