Travel Diary: Things to do in Maui & Travel Tips for Your Visit

March 31, 2019

Hawaii is a beautiful travel destination, no argument. Yet visiting the Hawaiian Islands was never a high priority for me on my travel bucket list - despite friends and family always telling me about their dreamy vacations.

Last Summer I was so fortunate to win a sponsored trip for two to Maui with the Ka'anapali Beach Resort Association. And it dawned on me: it was a sign that Gordon and I were meant to honeymoon in Hawaii. At the beginning of December we packed our bags to escape the Canadian winter for 9 full days of sunshine, ocean and Aloha. Once we returned all I could think was "why have we not visited Hawaii sooner?" We had an unforgettable time exploring all that Maui has to offer and plan to return again in the near future. In the meantime, I've put together some must-do activities and travel tips for those of you planning a visit to Maui!

---------------------------------------

Take in the Sunrise on Mount Haleakalā
Watching the sun rise to signal a new day is one thing, but watching the sunrise above the clouds at an elevation of 9700 feet is completely different. Whether you drive to the summit yourself or join a tour group, it really is quite the experience and a must-do when you visit Maui. We chose to drive to the top of Haleakala ourselves as it allowed us the freedom of exploring the summit at our own pace, and we didn't find the winding roads of the drive to be too difficult or nauseating. It takes about an hour to drive top to bottom each way, so pack some snacks and enjoy the views after the sunrise!
  • If you are driving a vehicle you must book a vehicle reservation to enter Haleakalā National Park to view the sunrise. Reservations are $1.50 and can be made online up to 60 days in advance of your visit.
  • Entrance fees (per person) need to be paid on top of the reservation fee.
  • Plan to arrive at the summit at least 1 hour before sunrise - this will guarantee you a parking spot and a good viewing spot.
  • Dress warmly (consider a blanket). You are at a high elevation and the temperatures hover around freezing. We packed hoodies, mittens, hand warmers and coffee and still felt cold!
  • Plan this around the beginning of your trip - as you haven't adjusted to the local time yet your jet lag will help you wake up early for the drive. Trust me on this one! 

Snorkel & Cliff Dive at Black Rock
Maui is an incredible location for snorkeling. The waters are a beautiful shade of blue and give a very clear view of the coral and marine life. Our favourite spot to snorkel was at Black Rock in Ka'anapali by the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa. The water is calm and there are so many different fish right by the shoreline so you don't need to swim out too far. Snorkel sets are available for rental by the beach from the hotel, but if you plan to do lots of snorkeling I would recommend bringing or buying your own set as the rental costs can add up. Black Rock is also a popular spot for cliff diving, and if you stay into the evening there is a nightly cliff diving ceremony you can watch!

  • For affordable snorkel rentals, visit Snorkel Bob's or Boss Frog's (Boss Frog's offers $1.50 snorkel sets but they are very, very basic).
  • If you're planning to purchase a snorkel set, Costco in Maui has them at a great price (~$40).
  • It may look silly, but I highly recommend renting a flotation belt for snorkeling! It takes away the stress of staying afloat and you can focus on exploring the water.
  • We also enjoyed snorkeling at Maluaka Beach (also known as Turtle Town for the turtle encounters), but the water is a little more rough and you need to bring your own gear.
  • We didn't make it out to the Molokini Crater on this trip, but it will definitely be on our itinerary for our next visit.

Cruise Along the Road to Hana
The scenic town of Hana is located on the eastern shore of Maui and the drive along the highway is winding and scenic. Before our trip I read that the Road to Hana is more about the trip than the destination, and it really is true. There are incredible views of the ocean and waterfalls, hiking trails and beaches to explore, and you'll find multiple swimming holes along the way. Although the length of the Hana Highway is only 52 miles, budget 3-4 hours to complete the drive each way as you will be making multiple stops and the highway is narrow and full of hairpin turns and single-lane bridges.

  • Plan to start your day early. On our trip we left Kuhului at 7:30 am and were back in Paia around 5:30 pm. By departing earlier than most, we were among the first to arrive at most stops and didn't find it too crowded. I also highly recommend you plan your trip to Hana at the beginning of your vacation as you aren't adjusted to the time change yet.
  • I tend to get nauseous easily and found the hairpin turns of the Hana Highway to be tolerable. Pack some ginger candies or ginger-based Gravol and sit in the front seat if you're worried. 
  • Pack a lunch and lots of snacks in the car. There are stops for food along the way but they tend to be quite busy. We were able to enjoy our picnic lunch with the view in the photo above! 
  • We purchased the GyPSy Guide for the Road to Hana and would highly recommend it. For $5.99 from the App Store it was more than worth the money - the app works offline via GPS and gives you stories, information, and recommended stops along the way to Hana. On the drive back from Hana you also get to learn lots of Hawaiian history. 
  • Pack a good pair of shoes for walking. Some areas are very muddy and rocky. 
  • I would recommend packing beach gear into the car - there are great swimming holes and you never know if there's a spot you may want to stay and enjoy a bit longer!
  • We stopped multiple times on our journey, but our favourite & recommended stops would be: The Ke'anae Arboretum, Ke'anae Peninsula, Nahiku Marketplace (the toasted coconut chips are a must!), Wai’anapanapa State Park (black sand beach & a blowhole), Hamoa Beach (we would come back here for a day!), Koki Beach (for the red sand!), Wailua Falls (a great little swimming hole), and Waioka Pond (a little trek to get here but well worth it!) 

Stand Up Paddleboard in Napili & Kapalua Bay
If you aren't the strongest swimmer but still want to get out onto the water, taking a stand up paddleboard (SUP) out onto the ocean is a great idea. Napili and Kapalua Bay on the northwest side of Maui are known to have calm waters sheltered by coral reefs, so it's the perfect place to SUP or snorkel. The bay is a popular place for families and lots of people enjoy snorkeling thanks to the ideal conditions and clear waters. I could see plenty of fish from my board and a turtle even popped its head out of the water to say hi!

  • SUP rentals are available at Kapalua Bay for $40 per hour, but you can rent boards from many different businesses in Maui for cheaper, especially if you rent for a couple of days. 

Pack a Picnic and Hit the Beach
Maui has many incredible beaches so you'll want to spend a full day or two on the sand by the water. Many hotels offer Cabana rentals on the beach and most condo rentals in Hawaii come with beach gear (coolers, chairs, umbrella, etc.) for you to use. We like to pack a picnic lunch and lots of snacks for the day, and by shopping at a local grocery store you can discover a lot of delicious treats! Here are some of our recommendations for picnic food:

  • Poke - we tried many places but our favourites by far for quality and price were at Tamura's Fine Wine & Liquors and Foodland
  • Hawaiian Kettle Style Potato Chips in Sweet Maui Onion Flavour - you can grab huge bags at Costco for a great price.
  • King's Hawaiian Dinner Rolls paired with Aloha Bakehouse Banana Macnut Peanut Butter (find this at ABC stores!) 
  • Li Hing Mui gummy candies. 
  • Acai and Lilikoi flavour Hi-Chew. 

Indulge and Enjoy a Luau
You can't leave Hawaii without attending a luau! A luau is a traditional Hawaiian feast that is accompanied by live dancing and music. There is pre-dinner entertainment, free flowing drinks from the open bar, and a dinner buffet with traditional Hawaiian dishes. We spent our first luau experience at the Old Lahaina Luau which we read was one of the most authentic in the area. It was a night of great entertainment and the dinner buffet was fantastic!


Enjoy the Sunset at Fleetwood's in Lahaina
Along the waterfront in Lahaina is Fleetwood's, a restaurant and bar owned by none other than Mick Fleetwood. Given the musical influence, Fleetwood's on Front Street is known for their daily entertainment which you can enjoy while grabbing a meal or bites during happy hour. On top of the musical talents, Fleetwood's is home to a daily sunset ceremony on the rooftop starting at 5:45pm (5:30 on Saturdays). We learned a thing or two from the Hawaiian Kumu as we watched the sun set on another beautiful day in Maui.


Karaoke the Night Away at Sansei 
Sansei Seafood Restaurant in Kihei is well known for their Japanese menu, but what many visitors don't know is that they host late night karaoke from Thursday to Saturday starting at 10pm. Aside from having a good time singing some of your favourite songs inside the restaurant, you can satisfy late night cravings as the sushi menu is 50% off. Gordon loves karaoke and I love sushi, so we planned a visit for our last night in Maui. The restaurant was packed and we had a fun night!


---------------------------------------

As you can see there are so many things you can do on a trip to Maui. While this list may seem extensive, there are so many other activities I would have loved to do or areas I would have loved to explore but didn't get to on our honeymoon. That just means we'll be back to this beautiful island again in the near future!

If you've been to Maui and have a must-do activity, please let me know! I would love to add it to my list for our next trip!

You Might Also Like

42 comments

  1. Wonderful things explained. Make a hassle-free trip and enjoy great savings.
    compare airport parking
    airport parking Birmingham

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for sharing the best information and suggestions, I love your content, and they are very nice and very useful to us. If you are looking for the best Copyright Free Pictures, then visit Public Domain Photography. I appreciate the work you have put into this.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow, excellent post. I'd like to draft like this too - taking time and extremely hard work to make a great article. Visit top ten attractions in sydney australia. This post has inspired me to write some posts that I am going to write soon.

    ReplyDelete
  4. The Indian Embassy is very selective and rarely issues 5 and 10 year visas. It therefore helps to apply for the shortest duration of stay, regardless of the fee that is paid. india visa application

    ReplyDelete
  5. The Indian Embassy is very selective and rarely issues 5 and 10 year visas. It Air Charter Services

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great job for publishing such a nice article. Your article isn’t only useful but it is additionally really informative. Your article is very informative and I liked your way to express your views in this post. Thank you because you have been willing to share information with us. Bull Shark Diving Mexico.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Very well written article. It was awesome article to read. Complete rich content and fully informative. The article you have shared here is very informative and the points you have mentioned are very helpful. Thank you so much. Party Staff Hire Melbourne.

    ReplyDelete
  8. This information is meaningful and magnificent which you have shared here. I am impressed by the details that you have shared in this post and It reveals how nicely you understand this subject. I would like to thanks for sharing this article here. Mobile Bartender Sydney.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Superb article.. Thank you for this. Turkey is one of the world’s most popular tourism destinations. The rectangular-shaped country is surrounded on three sides by three different seas. Its shores are laced with beaches, bays, coves, ports, islands, and peninsulas. Turkey is also blessed with majestic mountains and valleys, lakes, rivers, waterfalls and grottoes perfect for winter and summer tourism and sports of all kinds. So apply for turkey visa and explorer more about turkey. Thank you

    ReplyDelete
  10. I would like to thanks for sharing this article here. I am amazed by the way you have explained things in this article. The article you have shared here is very informative and the points you have mentioned are very helpful. Best seafood Kuta Lombok.

    ReplyDelete
  11. This is a great work. Thank you for this work. Travel turkey to explore its beauty. Turkey’s capital city, Ankara, is a sprawling, modern city home to government buildings, commercial businesses, universities, and foreign embassies. Located right in the center of the country and the Anatolia region, Ankara is an important transportation hub, linking nationals and tourists alike to other major destinations in Turkey. However, Ankara is not all business. This bustling city also offers a few historic sites and some arts and culture. So planning to travel India, apply for indian visa online. ndia is one of the countries in the world that attracts many people from various parts of the world. The rich diverse traditional culture, many beautiful sceneries, landscapes, a hub for religious and spiritual issues, over time, has resulted in a surge in the number of tourists each year.

    ReplyDelete
  12. This is an excellent post. travelers from USA who wish to visit turkey, then american citizen need visa for turkey to travel Turkey. The process is completely online. Fill online application, upload documents and photographs, make online payment. Turkey is a paradise in the earth because it contains many tourist places, museums, palaces, islands, beaches, bridges, and landscapes that delight the eyes of the spectators and provide all the comforts of its tourists.Turkey’s capital city, Ankara, is a sprawling, modern city home to government buildings, commercial businesses, universities, and foreign embassies. Located right in the center of the country and the Anatolia region, Ankara is an important transportation hub, linking nationals and tourists alike to other major destinations in Turkey. However, Ankara is not all business. This bustling city also offers a few historic sites and some arts and culture.

    ReplyDelete
  13. This is a beautiful blog post. I really appreciate your efforts. Now the Australian citizens who wish to travel the Turkey now easily opt for turkey visa for australian citizens through online e visa application. India, is full of natural beauties, spectacular landscapes, waterfalls, lakes, wildlife, sealife, mountains, glacier so many places. Everybody wishes to travel across the world, country to country to visit their favorite tourist destinations. Visit & explore the beautiful nation India and e tourist visa india will make your journey very awesome & adventurous. This is one of the most important pieces of information. And I am satisfied reading your post so much information. I am at all times happy for the staggering tips and hints served by you. Thank you

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thank You... This is a fantastic post. apply to the frro visa extension (Foreigners Regional Registration Office) online to get their visa extended and either write the request letter for visa extension india. Visas of all foreign citizens already in India remain valid. Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, no foreigners are allowed to visit the FRRO Office for OCI/Registrations and other Visa related services without a prior appointment until further orders from the FRRO.

    ReplyDelete

  15. Excellent blog,I am a regular visitor to your site and thank you for taking the time to maintain a great site. I will be a regular visitor for a long time. The turkey visa is the must detail for getting the valid visa that can be issued to foreigners who wish to enter Turkey for their tourist purpose. Start applying for a turkey visa. You must know about the turkey visa requirement by making the trip wonderful, enjoy the famous places of turkey and make the trip memorable by submitting the valid documents and get the evisa with in days.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thanks for sharing the great article.
    Getting Pakistan electronic visa from Pakistan was one of the toughest challenges for travelers as they needed an invitation letter and it was presented at the embassy. However, the situation has improved significantly as you can apply for a Pakistani visa online.
    It is not necessary to personally visit the local Turkish embassy or consulate to submit supporting documents and obtain the visa. Here are all the necessary details about American citizen need visa for Turkey. Given the staggering increase in US citizens traveling to Turkey for vacation or business purposes.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Found your post interesting to read. I can't wait to see your post soon. Good Luck for the upcoming update.This article is really very interesting and effective.Impressive!Thanks for the post. South Africa really is many worlds in one. Expect stunning coastlines, huge areas of untamed bushveld, starkly beautiful semi-deserts, lakes, waterfalls, spectacular canyons, forests and wide plains, plus Cape Town, undeniably one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Apply the visa South Africa by the online evisa guide by submitting the valid documents and get the evisa within days as well as Burma visa is an electronic travel authorized guide by online visa application.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Thanks for sharing such a nice post. I'll try to read your all shared posts. I also bookmarked your website to stay up to date with your new published articles. India's famous place has own speciality. The Indian government has decided to start and facilitate the India visa application process for foreigners wishing to visit India by the required documents such as Visa Documents, service provider which actually offers visa services to many many nations, e visa India Conversion, etc., will be sent by registered email and get the evisa. VietnamVisa is a reliable and you get evisa for Vietnam on arrival portal which provide foreign evisa for tourists and evisa for Vietnam with Vietnam e visa service. We provide clients with the fastest, easiest and cheapest way to get a evisa for Vietnam.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Excellent post….
    Russian evisa allow foreign to apply for visa Rusia online in minutes, Russian visa requirements Passport copies, online application form, and other documents required for the evisa can be submitted online. Azerbaijan visa is a reliable and you get e visa to Azerbaijan on arrival portal which provide foreign, An evisa is typically issued within 3 (three) working days of the online application, tourists and business Azerbaijan electronic visa with e visa service. We provide clients with the fastest, easiest and cheapest way to get a e visa to Azerbaijan.

    ReplyDelete
  20. This is a beautiful blog post. I really appreciate your efforts.
    The Visa is for those foreigners who want to visit India for different purposes like tourism, business, or medical purposes. They can apply for Indian visa online.
    If you are trying to plan ahead, you can now book your e visa online application with greater peace of mind. We give you the freedom to make unlimited changes to new applications, at no additional charge.

    ReplyDelete
  21. It’s really a great and useful post. I am satisfied that you just shared this useful information with us. Thanks for sharing wonderful information with us.
    Thank you for this more useful info. Apply for Indian visa to travel to Indian for tourism and business. Travelers around the world who wish to travel to Vietnam should have Vietnam business visa. If they do not have one, they can apply for a Vietnam e visa online . The online platform offers the fast, secure visa services online. All the information about visa requirements to travel to Vietnam is available.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Great post.. Thank you �� online Russian visa application where you can read guidelines and Russian visa requirements to travel to Russia . The process is simple, fast, and secure. You just have to fill the application form, upload necessary photos and documents, make online payment for your Russia tourist visa. Travelers around the world who wish to travel to Azerbaijan required a Azerbaijan electronic visa. Traveler can apply online by submitting the valid documents and get the evisa with in days. The online platform offers the fast, secure visa services online. All the information about visa requirements to travel to Azerbaijan electronic visa is available.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Excellent post. Thank you :) The Race for Covid-19 Vaccination at unprecedented speed so far and continue in 2021, Coronavirus vaccine worldwide efforts to back live normal. And everywhere just the Covid-19 vaccine news that almost every person on this planet is looking at currently. Its become very easy to apply for an Indian tourist visa through its online Indian visa application. The Indian government has introduced the online e-visa (electronic visa) services. So you don't need to visit any consulate or embassy offices to apply for e-visa.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you penning this write-up and also the rest The website is also very good. The foreign travelers who want to travel in South Africa and want to get the visa South Africa by submitting the online documents and filling the visa application form and visiting the places.South Africa is a tourist destination and the industry accounts for a substantial amount of the country's revenue. Burma is a must-see for travelers who like Buddha and beaches, though not necessarily in that order. The country contains thousands of memorable places applied to the by Burma visa application details.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Thank you.. :) More than 200 COVID-19 vaccine candidates are in the race to complete clinical trials at unprecedented speed and also doing some trials of vaccine.. Also can use the Covid-19 vaccine tracker to validate the information about it. If you can apply for India visa online application, it saves your time, you can apply from home, office, just sitting on your couch, or can say from anywhere. You just need a few documents copies so that you can upload them on the online visa application. The process is very simple, fast, secure.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Very informative post.. Thank you for this blog post. all visitors from foreign countries need Kenya evisa application information. This is an online e visa application where you can read Complete kenya visas guidelines and visa requirements to travel to kenya. The process is simple, fast, and secure. You just have to fill the application form, upload necessary photos and documents, make online payment for your tourists and business guide to applying for New Zealand visa with e visa service. We provide clients with the fastest, easiest and cheapest way to get an e visa to New Zealand.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Thank for more useful information than ever before.
    Vietnam e-visas allow foreign to apply for Vietnam evisa online in minutes, Vietnam business visa requirements Passport copies, online application form, and other documents required for the e visa can be submitted online.Russian visa is a reliable and you get e visa to Russian on arrival portal which provide foreign, An e visa is typically issued within 3 (three) working days of the online application, tourists and business Russian visa with e visa service. We provide clients with the fastest, easiest and cheapest way to get an e visa to Russian.

    ReplyDelete
  28. It’s really a great and useful post. I am satisfied that you just shared this useful information with us. Thanks for sharing wonderful information with us. The World Travel and Tourism Council calculated that tourism generated by getting the Estonia tourist visa with the valid documents by filling the online Estonia visa application form. Add tea ceremonies and you’ve got one of the world’s most fascinating countries. Apply the Lithuania visa application form tourist evisa by submitting the valid documents and get the visa for travel in Lithuania.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Thanks a lot for sharing such a wealth of information! So appreciate ways you have shared to do this blog post.The foreign travelers who want to travel in India and want to get the visa India by submitting the online documents and filling the apply for Indian visa and visiting the places. Indian is a tourist destination and the industry accounts for a substantial amount of the country’s revenue. Azerbaijan is a must-see for travelers who like Azerbaijan are famous for fresh, sea air breathing.. The country contains thousands of memorable places Azerbaijan electronic visa details.

    ReplyDelete
  30. This is a beautiful blog post. I really appreciate your effort.
    An electronic visa republic of Turkey is an official travel document similar to the visa issued by the Turkish government to enter and travel with Turkey. The e-visa application system was launched in 2013 by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to replace the old visa sticker and stamp.
    To get Pakistan e visa online without having to visit Pakistani embassy and consulate. The application can be filled online for e-vision in Pakistan. You can apply for pakistan e visa registration through mobile phone, computer or desks, and send the first email as well.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Thanks in support of sharing such an amazing idea, this post is nice, that's why I have read it completely. And you know how to get a UK marriage visitor visa application form where you can read guidelines and visa requirements to travel to the UK. The process is simple, fast, and secure. You just have to fill the UK student visa, upload necessary photos and documents, make an online payment for your Visa Conversion, Exit Permit, etc.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Nice post. The foriegn visitors who wish to travel to turkey, need to apply for turkish visa through onlinee visa portal. One of the best places to visit in Turkey, Cappadocia is the result of a volcanic eruption. Explore the place with a horse ride, take an air balloon ride, and don’t forget to sip on Turkish tea. It is one of the best cities in Turkey that will leave you in awe of it. This is one place you must surely explore if you are visiting Turkey in September or October.

    ReplyDelete
  33. This was a great initiative for students like me who had traveled alone to meet friends. It didn't take long for Facebooks to be exchanged and plans made to enjoy the new city we all found ourselves in. property budapest

    ReplyDelete
  34. This is an excellent post. Visit & explore the beautiful nation India and Indian visa will make your journey very awesome & adventurous and apply online for India tourist e visa. This is one of the most important pieces of information. And I am satisfied reading your post so much information. I am at all times happy for the staggering tips and hints served by you. Thank you

    ReplyDelete
  35. Great post.. Thank you for this work.. you apply online for the online India business visa, it saves your time, you can apply from home, office, just sitting on your couch or can say from anywhere. You just need a few documents copies so that you can upload them on the online visa application.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Superb information article. Thank you . The travelers need to fill up the Kenya visa application form to get the kenya multiple entry visa. Therefor, if the apply online, will get the fastest visa services with 24 hours customer support.

    ReplyDelete
  37. This is a topic that’s near to my heart… Many thanks! Where are your contact details though? E Visa for India is you can obtain online without the need of visiting the Indian Embassy and Consulate. India business visa cost depends on your country, you can check india visa site online. You can apply for india business visa registration via mobile phone, computer or desk.


    ReplyDelete
  38. Wow ! Thanks for such a great article! Please keep up the good work. Your content is decent and informative. Pakistan visa application form filled online within 5 to 10 minutes from your comfort zone and get your visa by email.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Reading your blog post was like delving into the recesses of my own consciousness. Your words mirrored my thoughts, resonating with feelings I've grappled with privately. Amidst the chaos of the online realm, your sincerity stands out, underscoring the importance of authentic human introspection and expression.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Your blog is a breath of fresh air in the online world! The authenticity and passion you pour into your writing shine through, making each post a delight to read. I appreciate the blend of personal anecdotes, practical advice, and profound reflections that you offer. Keep up the fantastic work; you're making a real difference!

    ReplyDelete
  41. Engaging in blog writing on a regular basis is customary for me, and I genuinely appreciate the quality of your content. This captivating article has ignited my interest. I've made a conscious effort to bookmark your website and stay updated with new details, typically on a weekly basis. Additionally, I've subscribed to your RSS feed. Azerbaijan visa for indian with us visa: Simplified process, requires valid US visa. Apply online, submit necessary documents, and await e-visa approval. Explore Azerbaijan hassle-free with dual visas.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Your proficiency as a webmaster truly shines through in the breathtaking loading speed of the website. It’s like witnessing a master craftsman at work, meticulously refining every detail for optimal performance. Additionally, the contents presented are exemplary, showcasing your expertise in this field. Your commitment to excellence is truly admirable, and stumbling upon this weblog feels like finding a beacon of knowledge in a sea of information!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for stopping by! I would love to hear anything you have to say.

Instagram

Find Me on Facebook