Itinerary for Maui – Experience the Aloha Spirit
- Day 1 (7 schedule items)
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- Maui No Ka Oi
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Hawaii’s second-largest island is, as the locals say ‘the best.’ It offers striking beauty, a range of activities for all ages, cultural history and a peaceful vibe.
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- A Maui, HI
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[Full Description]
The island of Maui is one of the islands of Hawaii, which is part of the United States. It is the second largest of the eight major islands in the archipelago and considered by many to be the best. Any resident of Maui—in fact, many people in Hawaii—will tell you this.
Quintessential Maui experiences include seeing the sunrise from the summit of Haleakala, sunning on the beaches in Kaanapali and Kihei, driving the Road to Hana through lush rainforest and watching humpback whales during the winter in the waters off Maui. It’s also incredibly family friendly. West Maui is the main tourist center of the island, home to most of the island’s resort destinations. Lahaina is an old whaling town on Maui’s west coast, with a charming (though touristy) feel these days. Nearby are the master-planned resort areas of Kaanapali and Kapalua.
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- B Marriott Wailea Resort, Hawaii
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While I recommend driving up to Lahaina later in the evening and exploring this old whaler’s town, you’ll experience a truer sense of the Aloha spirit by staying further down the coast in Wailea. The setting is less hurried, the scenery more break taking.[Full Description]
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- C Blue Water Rafting, Maui
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This one is not for the faint of stomach. It’s a high adventure tour and truly offers you the opportunity to get up close and personal to sea turtles, dolphins and the Molokini Crater. We’ve gone out with BWR several times and have never been disappointed. Not recommended for kids under 7.[Full Description]
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- D Makena State Park, Maui
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With its seemingly endless expanse of golden sand beach and perfect bodysurfing waves, this beach is a must-see. Big Beach is the number one spot for sunbathing and swimming. Little Beach, a five-minute hike up and over rocks, is a world-famous nude beach. It also has the best boogie-boarding and bodysurfing on the island; hence the large numbers of young local boys dispersed amongst the nudists. Always watch the weather reports and posted signs. Makena can get rough, and the shallow break makes it easy to get bumped around in the waves.[Full Description]
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- E Sansei Seafood and Sushi, Maui
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When on Maui (and also on Oahu), we also make Chef Kodama’s Sansei part of our visit. Sansei is great for couples, families, any group of any size. Tip to visitors: get there before 5:30 p.m. and a discount (20%) is offered. A must try: the King Crab Ramin rolls![Full Description]
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- Maui Hi! - Lahaina
- Day 2 (8 schedule items)
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- The Road to Heavenly Hana
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In my humble opinion, to miss Hana is to miss the jewel of Maui. It’s a drive, but it’s worth it (and even better if you can spare an extra night and stay at the Sea Cottages at the Hotel Hana Maui). Part of the experience of heading to Hana is the ride itself – crossing bridges, stopping at beaches, climbing to or just viewing waterfalls, checking out the overlooks, sometimes experiencing a sudden rain shower, and mastering more than a few hairpin turns keeps it interesting. A local once told me that Hana makes Hanalei (one of the most-laid back locals on Kauai) look like a busy metropolitan city and that really Hana is where locals go to “get away from it all”.[Full Description]
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- F Hana Cassette Guide, Maui
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Hana Highway may sound fairly non-threatening - after all, it is only 55 miles long - but once you've driven the road, you understand exactly how long 55 miles can be. As one of Maui's major attractions, tourists from around the globe make the wild and wooly drive daily, but most people miss the majority of the attractions. For that reason, it's wise to purchase the guided-tour tapes or CDs, available through this company for USD20. Some of the highlights of the drive include hidden pools and waterfalls, hiking trails, exotic fauna and Waianapanapa State Park, with its amazing black sand beach.[Full Description]
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- Hawaii-Guide Four Falls of Na’ili’ili-Haele
- Hawaii-Guide for Ching's Pond
- G Kahanu Gardens, Maui
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If you are driving too fast on the Hana Highway (which, by the way, is a real no-no), you will miss this garden entirely. Students of botany or natural history will definitely want to keep an eye out for it. On the 123 acres of cultivated gardens, one can view an ancient stone structure thought to be a former king's residence, as well as the largest grove of breadfruit trees in the entire world. Many of the plants and trees in the garden, such as the taro plant and the breadfruit tree, served an important purpose in the day-to-day life of the ancient Hawaiians. Reservations required. Admission: USD5 per person.[Full Description]
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- H Hasegawa General Store, Maui
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Not just a store, but THE STORE in Hana. A great place to pick up whatever you might need once you’ve made the drive. Our personal favorite and always a must-do at Hasegawa’s: spam musubi![Full Description]
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- I Oheo Gulch (aka. Seven Sacred Pools), Maui
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One of the most magical natural wonders in the world, this destination is also known as The Seven Sacred Pools. It is located about three hours along the twisting Hana Highway, past tiny Hana town, sits a one-lane bridge. Oheo Gulch is made up of many waterfalls and pools, one leading into the other. Conditions allowing, it can be a fantastic place to swim. The pools are of varying sizes and elevations, and lead straight out to the ocean. Note: Do not swim in the pool nearest the ocean. Admission is free.[Full Description]
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- Ka'uiki - Hotel Hana Maui
- Day 3 (5 schedule items)
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- J Haleakala National Park, Maui
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How often can you look out over the clouds from 10,300 feet while still on the ground? Haleakala (House of the Sun) is awe-inspiring and well, dormant for now. While there are several options for experiencing the volcano (dawn bike tours, etc.), but we have found the best way is just to get up and get on the road by 8:30 am. Of interest: you can actually camp within the national park. NOTE: If you have small kids, the sunrise tours start in the very early hours of the morning (~ 4 am), can be very cold and often disappointing – but for many who have seen the sun rise atop Haleakala, inspiring. Always bring warm clothes (jacket, hat, long pants, socks are highly recommended) regardless of when you visit.[Full Description]
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- K Kula Lodge Restaurant, Maui
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Renowned for its sunset views, mouthwatering menu and reasonable prices, this restaurant does big return business. It serves contemporary cuisine with the Pacific Rim accents that seem to be required of all Maui gourmet rooms. Fish fans will want to savor the catch of the day, while meat eaters might want to get down to business with a hearty Black Angus steak or a rack of lamb. The breakfast and lunch menus are varied and extensive, though not as impressive as the dinner spread.[Full Description]
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- L Kula Botanical Gardens, Maui
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The Lodge is a great place to stop as you make your way down the volcano. A must try: the banana-macadamia nut (or, banana-mac-nut) pancakes.
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- M Tedeschi Vineyards, Maui
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Sure wine on Maui might sound a little odd, but this one is a fun place to stop can get a taste of, well, pineapple wine. There are other varietals, and it’s a good point to rest as you continue down from the Upcountry. Note: I would not recommend this for wine aficionados.[Full Description]
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- N Mama's Fish House, Maui
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One word: ONOLICIOUS (really really good). Yes, it’s expensive, and yes, you should make reservations, but it’s really a must do on your trip to Maui. We love the food, the setting, all of it.[Full Description]
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