TRAVEL: things to do in Maui

The best thing to do when the thermometer reads -9°C? Dream of warmer places! Which is exactly what I am currently doing, and you should be too. Our week in Maui was definitely one of my favorite trips ever and we got to experience so much. The island has lots to offer and even though we explored quite a bit and were out and about every day, I still feel like we need to go back for round two some time in the future. After all, we didn’t get to see the sunrise up on the vulcano – that alone is reason enough, right?

If you are thinking about visiting Maui or are currently planning a trip, then definitely check out the list below of my personal favorite things to do in Maui!

• It is hard to pick a favorite day or thing we did, however, the Road to Hana is a definite must if you are ever on the island. The nature is incredible and in this case, it is safe to say “the journey is the destination”!

• Swim with sea turtles ♥ The best place to do so is Maluaka Beach, aka “turtle town”. The Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles are impressive to say the least.

• Speaking of turtles, you have to go snorkeling in Maui. We booked the “discover Molokini” trip (6:45 am until 12:30pm) with Trilogy on a catamaran sailing ship, which was perfect. The crew was so nice, helpful and knowledgable about the marine life around Hawaii, there were only about 12 other people on the boat with us and all of the equipment as well as food and beverages (loved the Big Wave beer) were taken care of. The price was 129$ + tax per person.

• Dinner at Mama’s Fishhouse is perfect for special occasions. It doesn’t come cheap, but the atmosphere is so perfect and the fish probably the freshest you’ll ever eat.

• Pa’ia is a super cute and colorful little town right along the North Shore with lots of surfers and hippies. Definitely worth a stop, especially because of the many bikini boutiques and Café Mambo – amazing breakfast burritos and supposedly the best fajitas on the island.

• Of course, Big Beach is a must. Do me a favor, however, and don’t stop at the fruit stand close to it. We paid 35$ for 1 coconut and 1 pineapple. Such a rip-off. Along the Road to Hana you can get the exact same thing for 10$ or less!

• Early morning beach walks were one of my favorite things during our vacation. In Maui, everyone goes to bed fairly early and also gets up early. We did the same and loved walking for miles along the beaches. Lots of which were actually pretty deserted, and so picture-perfect!

• Even though we didn’t actually see the sunrise at the Haleakalā crater, is is supposed to be a truly magical experience. Even with terrible weather, it was special somehow and I know we’ll try our luck again the next time we visit.

• Taco Tuesday at Fred’s Mexican Café in Kihei is also a must if you love tacos as much as I do. 5$ margaritas and large beers as well as 3-5$ tacos make for a pretty amazing dinner. Expect there to be a wait and the audience is anything and everything. We still had lots of fun though and the shrimp and ahi tacos were to die for!

• A stop at the General Store and Deli at the Ma’alaea Harbor is also fun. We did that after our snorkeling trip for lunch. They have the prettiest postcards ever, the fish burger and salads are delicious, and you can also stock up on some Hawaiian snacks.

• Honestly, shopping was not at the top of my agenda during the trip. We did stop at the Shops at Wailea (which were really close to our hotel) one day and I bought a few goodies for friends at Soha Living, which is a Hawaiian interior brand. Cute, beachy stuff at fair prices.

• Other than that, of course I would recommend to stay at the Four Seasons Resort at Wailea, which was simply amazing or in the general Wailea area, which is beautiful and usually has the best weather around the island. A detailed hotel review is coming up tomorrow.