Top 6 Things to do in Maui

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjR9V5G1XfQ

Island life is the life for me. Maui holds such a special place in my heart. My husband and I honeymooned there 7 years ago, and we had the opportunity to travel back with our three little girls and all of my immediate family this time! It was surreal to relive experiences from our first week of marriage in one of our favorite places on earth. There is so much to see and do in Maui. We’ve only been twice, but feel like we’ve narrowed down our favorite things to do that we would definitely go back to do again. Here are my top 6 things to do in beautiful Maui.

1. Road to Hana

The road to Hana is absolutely beautiful! You will go on one of the windiest and longest drives ever, but the scenery makes it totally worth it! The seven sacred pools is a must. We didn’t quite make it all the way to the Sacred Pools this trip but went on our honeymoon years ago. The waterfalls and black sand beach are incredible here. We did make it to the Waiʻānapanapa state park and found a black sand beach there too. We didn’t stay too long because it started down pouring on us. Be prepared for rain if you drive to Hana! It’s fun to make stops along the way before getting to the city of Hana.  There are plenty of waterfalls to see. We stopped at one pictured above that people in our group got out and swam to. Such a beautiful side of the island!

2. Front Street in Lahaina

Our condo was located just minutes away from Front Street so we found ourselves walking there every day! You will get some of the best food and desserts of your life along this street. Some of our favorite restaurants included: Down the Hatch, Lahaina Pizza Co, Cheeseburger in Paradise, Banyan Treats, Paia Fish Market, and Aloha Mixed Plate. Pictured above is food from Down the Hatch. My mouth is watering just looking at it again: Lobster and crab stuffed grilled cheese and their signature lava lava shrimp tacos, mmmmm! The Banyan tree is also a must see on Front Street. Our kids thought it was so cool and wanted to climb the tree so badly! We got almost all of our souvenirs from shops on Front Street, too. There are so many shops with great items and prices!

3. Luau

The Old Lahaina Luau is well worth the money, even if you don’t drink alcohol like us! The ambiance is so fun and you really get to experience the true hawaiian culture of olden time. Of course, the all you can eat buffet was amazing and the drinks were delish, even without the rum 😉 The only thing missing from this luau was fire dancing. That is always a favorite show stopper.

4. Playing at the Beach

I would dare say the beaches in Maui are some of the best in the world. The water is warm, the sand is soft, and the ocean landscape is breathtaking. We could’ve stayed all day every day if we didn’t run out of food, water and shade! Our kids absolutely loved playing in the sand, though it got stuck in every nook and cranny of my baby. She still had sand in her scalp for a week after our trip! Our favorite beaches to go to on the island are Makena Beach (Wailea), Baby Beach (Lahaina), and Kapalua Bay Beach. Oh how I miss the sound of waves crashing and the warm ocean breeze!

 

5. Swap Meet

A big highlight of our shopping experience in Maui was the Saturday swap meet in Kahului. It’s located right next to the community college and it only costs 50 cents to get in. We had so much fun checking out all the local vendors, eating coconuts/snow cones, and buying one of a kind treasures. Get there early because it ends at 1:00 and you want to make sure you see it all. Some vendors start cleaning up before 1:00 and you don’t want to miss out on such unique gifts and souvenirs. Our favorite item purchased was wooden turtles. Last time we went we got two that represented my husband and I. This trip, we added 3 more baby turtles to complete our turtle family!

6. Nakalele Blowhole

Our hike down to the Nakalele Blowhole was amazing. Did you know there is a heart shaped rock down there, too? We didn’t until we passed by some people who told us to look for it. The perfect photo op! It is a little bit of a hike to the bottom so be sure to wear good shoes. It took us probably 20 minutes each direction. The blowhole goes off every few minutes so you are sure to capture it’s brilliance. We did this hike right at sunset and just before a storm rolled in. It was beautiful!

Maui, we can’t wait until we see you again!