Maui, Hawaii
Snorkeling with Sea Turtles
I always heard people say that there is something special about Hawaii and it’s something you can’t put into words. Once I arrived in Maui, I understood what they meant. My mom treated me for my 29th birthday and we stayed for a week at the Sheraton Hotel Resort and Spa. It was incredible. This hotel was filled with so many different activities to do.
Transportation:
The Island is so vast! if you plan on doing activities outside of the hotel, then you will definitely need a rental car. We picked ours up at the Enterprise located right outside our hotel. You can book here.
Road to Hana
Sightseeing/Activities
Road to Hana - A MUST. Now, first things first, if you are anything like me and get motion sickness, I highly suggest you rent a car and do it yourself. Going on a charter bus with a tour might not be the best idea. When looking around at tours though, I came across a few I was interested in. Click here to browse the different tour options. I opted for driving my mom and I and boy, I am so happy I did. Those roads are WINDY. However, it was one of the most thrilling things I have done. I drove the entire loop in 12 hours. Most people stop at Hana and then turn around and go back but I kept driving through. If you want to do this too, start your day early. I listened to Shaka Guide for my drive so I knew where I was going/what I was seeing. It’s an app you can download that you have to pay for and it’s great! Highly suggest it. There is just too much information for you to try and remember it all and do on your own. Leave it to the professionals. If you love nature, water falls, hikes, the ocean, and wild life - this is the activity for you!
Watch the sunset/sunrise at Haleakala National Park - You are quite literally above the clouds when visiting Haleakalā Volcano and endangered Hawaiian geese can be spotted as well. It’s about a 2 hour drive from Kaanapali, where most of the resorts are at. I left mid afternoon to make sure I had plenty of time to get there and find parking. I suggest you do the same as parking can fill up quickly. The entrance to the National Park is free. Keep in mind, you are going to be in elevation that is 10,000 ft up and the roads are incredibly windy. If you are afraid of heights, I suggest not looking out the window because you will be driving very close to the edge of the cliff so please be careful.
Scuba Diving at Black Rock Beach - What I loved about staying at the Sheraton is there was a concierge that knew all the activities to do and within close distance of the hotel. I love the ocean and scuba diving so I definitely opted for the shore dive. If I had more time, I would have done another dive elsewhere. Upon looking, there are so many dive spots you can choose from. I read all about them here. For this specific shore dive though, you do not have to be certified to go. You do however have to do a pool test to get familiar and see if you are capable of going out into the ocean. They do this for safety reasons. You need to learn about the equipment and how to use it. Once you get familiar in the pool and the instructor clears you for the dive, the adventure begins! I got to see sting rays, eels, sea turtles, fish and so much more. It was epic. Note: If you’re interested in Scuba Diving and live in the Los Angeles area. I recommend getting certified at Eco Dive Center.
Luau Hawaiian Dinner Show - Ok super touristy I know but it was offered through the hotel and I had never been to one before so I was intrigued. I think it was a great show with fantastic dancers! The authentic Hawaiian food was delicious as well. 10/10.
Maui Chocolate Farm Tour - This was a great activity to do outdoors. I really wanted to immerse myself in the culture of Hawaii and was fascinated with the process of it all. It lasts about 1.5 hours and is a guided tour. They take you through their farm so you can see the cacao trees and how it is all fermented and prepared. Then at the end, you taste test 9 different chocolates at their chocolate bar. You can book your tour directly through the website. Highly recommend if you’re into this sort of thing!
Maui Tropical Plantation - What I loved most about this tour was how wheelchair friendly they were. My mom accompanied me on this one and the tram ride had a ramp for her to easily get on and off. The cost is about $25 and it takes you throughout the entire plantation. You make a few stops along the way and see all their different animals and trees/fruits they grow. I got to taste such a delicious coconut from their tree. Yummy! Lasts about 40 minutes. You can book here.
Maui Dragon Fruit Farm - I love fruit and thought this would be the perfect thing to do. I will say, it was not wheelchair friendly though so keep that in mind if you are traveling with or are someone who is handicap. The tour lasts around an hour and you get to walk through the farm and see all their different fruit trees and what they are growing. At the end, you are taken to a farm style type table and given samples of all the fruits to try. I got to taste Dragon Fruit, Star Fruit, Guava, Papaya, Passion Fruit, Oranges, and Pineapple. Even had a glass of their delicious dragon fruit juice. Book your spot here.
Food:
Foodland Grocery Store - I definitely recommend this for your poke bowl needs. I know it might sound different going to a grocery store for Poke but trust me when I tell you, Foodland has some of the best poke I ever had. Although expensive, it is delicious!!
Olowalu Juice Stand - I saw this juice stand on the side of the road while driving back from the Farm Tour and had to pull over. It was all fresh made juice that was so tasty! I got the green juice with pineapple. They accept both card and cash.
Haleakava - I kept hearing how Kava is super popular in Hawaii so I, of course, needed to try it. If you don’t know what Kava is, it is a crop grown in the Pacific Islands. I went to this Kava Bar to try the best of the best and it did not disappoint! It totally elevated my mood and produced a feeling of relaxation. Upon research, I read that several studies have found kava may be useful in the treatment of anxiety, insomnia, and related nervous disorders.
Honu Oceanside - If you are looking to treat yourself to a nice dinner by the ocean, I highly suggest this place! The food, drinks and atmosphere was 10/10. Ask for the catch of the day. The fish is amazing.
Hula Grill - On my last night in Maui, I ate at this restaurant because it was nearby my hotel and wow! I wish I knew about it earlier. I got the fish tacos and I was in food heaven. Highly suggest if you’re in the Kaanapali area.
Monkeypod Kitchen - Another great spot in Kaanapali as well. Great food and delicious beer!
Coffee:
Cafe Cafe Maui
Bad Ass Coffee
Hawaiian Village Coffee
Island Vintage Coffee
Sunset at Haleakalā National Park
