Aloha……………..
(Yellow Hibiscus with Maui Sunset in the Background. Picture taken by Deb)
In the midst of a polar vortex and a pandemic, who isn’t thinking about somewhere tropical……………and travelling again? We’ve been to Maui a few times, not nearly as often as many of our friends’ annual treks, but none the less fell in love with the quiet lush island.
The Tradewinds dump most of their moisture on the Hana side, leaving our favourite area, Wailea, mostly dry. Even though Maui has wonderful weather, it is not hot all the time. We prefer to go during February/March as compared to January or June. We are always amazed that the warm waters on Maui shores and the crisp waters off the Canadian coast share the same Pacific Ocean.
Sunsets are watched, revered and cheered around the island at Happy Hour or while cooking dinner, so if you are arriving after that time, be prepared for dark, regardless of the time of year.
We seem to arrive at Kahului Airport in the pitch dark. Maui is the type of place where a vehicle rental is required, so have that organized and be ready to hop onto a shuttle bus.
If you like to rent a condo as we usually do, stop at the local Safeway (bring your members card) and then carry on. It’s true, sometimes you can run into Steven Tyler in Safeway – our friend did and has a picture to prove it! Condo rentals have some type of evening key service or very clear instructions and we have never had any problems figuring it out.
One trip, we again arrived late, and planned to stay in the artistic hippy dippy town of Paia for a couple days. Paia became a surfing haven for hippies in the 60’s. We loved walking around the colorfully painted town, the beaches, visiting shops and restaurants. Beware, a lot of restaurants in Maui close fairly early. That trip, we made it to the Flatbread Company with only minutes to spare before closing. The open fire oven is beautiful, and they made some of the best Gluten Free pizza we’ve ever had.
Maui is everything they say it is. Hiking, biking, cycling, golf……. sandy beaches, waterfalls and volcanos. Mount Haleakala (dormant volcano) is worth an early morning visit and can take several hours to drive there. The morning we went, there was a heavy fog; so, remember to bring some warm clothes. If you don’t feel like driving, there are cycling tours up and down.
We love staying at the Wailea Ekahi Village with 4 pools and direct beach access, it’s our favorite condo complex. Friends love Kihei, Menehune Shores, and the Sugar Beach area, while others prefer the hotel district in Kaanapali. Condos are sometimes managed by a company, but many are owner direct rentals to tourists. Check reviews and Trip Advisor to get current and up to date information. Previous renters often leave coolers, books, water and sand toys.
Upscale hotels dot the sandy beaches around the “Shops at Wailea”. We love walking along the beach and stopping for a drink or meal at the Grand Wailea, Fairmont Kei Lani, or the Andaz. Ulua Beach is a really close walk to some incredible snorkeling and diving, while Makena Beach is just a short drive south of Wailea. Makena State Park not only has beaches, make time to hike around the lava fields. Bring food, water and sunscreen because other than roadside food stands or trucks there are no stores.
The other direction from Wailea lies Lahaina, Kaanapali and Kapalua. All beautiful in different ways. Lahaina is a busy town with the largest Banyan Tree in the Untied States. Hustle and bustle with lots of options if you are looking for absolutely any kind of tour, sunset cruises’, or rentals.
Kaanapali has 3 miles of incredible beaches with more big hotels and dining options than maybe any other part of the island. Keep driving and you’ll reach Kapalua. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel and golf course lends to the serene and sophisticated, while wind and kite surfing are bigtime sports on this side of the island.
Golf courses abound all over Maui and are stunningly beautiful. We aren’t golfers so can’t comment on them but do enjoy their beauty. The Road to Hana is everything the tour books say it is. Focus on a few sights that you really want to see and enjoy. If you’re lucky you will travel at about 25 km an hour, the road itself is at times one lane and has hairpin curves.
Humpback whales put on spectacular performances December to April so watch the water for them. Turtles do meander around minding their own business if you happen to be snorkeling or diving at the same time. We were certified in Maui, diving with the turtles and colourful show of fish. Do bring an underwater camera/casing of some type, you won’t regret it.
Considering Maui is a relatively small island, the food choices range from Food Trucks to Bistros to Fine Dining. Some of our favorites (in no particular order):
The Restaurant at Hotel Wailea (formerly Capische)
Bring money. Maui is a bit costly, but know that going in, even though there is a Costco near the airport and outdoor markets scattered around.
Maui isn’t the place to go if you are looking for nightlife (except for the luau). It’s just a laid back, stay active during the day kind of place.
There really is so much to do in Maui; but reading by the pool, walking the beaches or watching the sunset and water glisten are possibly some of our favorites. Because we usually go during our Canadian winters, the green grass and palm trees, the hibiscus and bougainvillaea are showstoppers that our eyes keep returning to.
For now, we will stay home, maybe make a Mai Tai – put a little umbrella on top and think about the tropics!
