Must Do In Maui

Bucket list trip to Maui – check! We literally booked our trip two weeks before we flew out and it was the best decision we made! I live for last minute trips! So, without overthinking, we booked our flights, a VRBO, and a car, and we were off to the races! We stayed in a condo just north of Lahaina in a town called Kahana and it was quiet, close to the beach and restaurants, and we totally felt like locals just living our best Hawaiian lives.

We spent 7 blissful days in Maui and have compiled a list of things you must do and experience while on the Island. Here we go!

1. Attend a Luau – The Old Lahaina Luau

If you’re in Hawaii, you MUST experience a Luau! It was by far, the highlight of our trip. The evening was immersed in traditional Hawaiian culture (which is definitely something that is fading in the Island life…we found that it is very commercialized and Americanized and our experience wasn’t as authentic as we had imagined). You arrived to a lay and welcome drinks as you strolled the ocean front watching the sun set beyond the horizon. The photo opportunities were endless. The evening continued with hula dancing, historical storytelling of how Maui came to be, and an authentic Polynesian 5-course dinner (catered to our vegetarian needs). Our entire evening was perfection! We highly recommend the Old Lahaina Luau.

A note: Just like everything in Maui, Luau’s book up in advance! Thankfully, when I called a week before we flew to the Island, we were put on a waiting list for the entire time we were on the Island. I think there are quite a few cancellations, because we were offered 3 different days to choose from when they contacted us! However, make sure you call them back as soon as you receive the text message, because these tickets go like hot cakes!

2. Road to Hana

The Road to Hana was a pure magic. The lush rainforest, magical euculyptus trees, and waterfalls, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to a whimsical ferry tale like Fern Gully. Remember to start your drive early! Road to Hana is a full day journey and should not be rushed! Also, expect rain at some point during your drive. You are driving through a rainforest below a volcano, so the weather can change from sunshine to rain very quickly. An absolute must before you embark on your journey is to purchase the Gypsy Tour Guide for the Road to Hana. We name our guide “Gypsy Joe” and we really enjoyed his insight and suggestions along the route! Another thing to bring along, which Joe recommend is water, electrolytes, and gum to help with car sickness. The road is very very curvy, with over 600 corners that snake their way along the coastline. We recommend taking your time, and pulling over (when it’s safe) to take a break. You do not want to have to turn around before your make it to Hana! Here are a few of the stops we made that were 1000% worth it!

1. Ke’anae Arboretum (Free Entrance) After a short 5min walk you can see a grove of rainbow euculyptus trees.

2. Aunty Sandy’s Banana Bread – This bread is sooooo goood! Definitely worth the drive off the highway down in to Keanae. It was the BEST banana bread we have EVER tasted, and bonus, it’s dairy free :)

3. Keanae Lookout – After you have picked up one or two mini loafs of banana bread, We recommend continuing your drive around the peninsula. The view of the ocean hitting the volcanic rock is pretty cool to see!

4. Coconut Glens for Vegan Coconut Ice Cream – On your way back from Hana, stop in at Coconut Glens for a refreshing cup of coconut ice cream!

5. Nahiku Gallery and Coffee Shop – This is a welcomed rest stop, I was definitly starting to feel the beginning of car sickness, but a walk about the shops and a specialty macadamian nut latte to enjoy with our banana bread was the perfect remedy . There are a few local shops along the strip (some have closed since COVID).

6. Kaihalulu Red Sand Beach – This beach is in Hana and it was our favourite! It’s in a hidden cove and its the perfect place for a beach walk, or a picnic lunch.

7. Hamoa Beach – Just passed Hana, this is a beautiful, quiet beach to go for a swim in the ocean or enjoy a break from your drive with a stunning view.

Road to Hana “Misses” – Don’t waste your time.

1. Twin Falls – We missed Twin Falls on our inital drive to Hana because it sneaks up on you really fast and the parking lot was quite busy, so we decided that since it’s close to the beginning of the Road to Hana, we would come back on a later day. So we did, and honestly, it wasn’t what we expected. You have to pay $10 for parking, which wasn’t worth it for us since we were only there for like 10min. We walked to the lower Falls, and the waterfall was raging from all the rain that had fallen earlier and it was stirring up all the sediment in the water that it looked brown. The top falls were closed because they were too dangerous. So maybe if we saw the top falls, then it would have been worth it, but there was no way I was getting into the water, it looked mirky and brown. There are so many waterfalls along the drive that are definitely way more beautiful than the popular Twin Falls

2. Ohe’o Gulch and the Seven Sacred Pools – The Pools were closed when we were there and they are located in Haleakala National Park, so you must pay a $30 entrance fee that you can use for 3-days. We parked and walked the short trail to Ohe’o Gulch and the cliff viewpoint where you can see black sand beaches. It was nice, but it is far to get to, and it wasn’t really worth the entrance fee to us. If you enjoy hiking, there are a lot of trails in the park, but keep in mind that it is HOT, and the weather can change to rain very quickly. We were also tired from driving and new we had a big drive back, so we didn’t stay in the park long.

3. Waiʻānapanapa State Park – You have to purchase an entrance pass with an arrival time, and this can not be done on the same day. We had no idea that you had to do this, so we couldn’t visit the park. However, my friend went and she said that it’s just black sand, and not really worth it. If you don’t have a lot of time, we recommend skipping this park and spending more time in Hana.

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One thing we noticed the moment we landed was how chill it was. As soon as we deboarded to plane and walked into the terminal, it was quiet, laid back, and hot! We were not prepared for the humid heatwave, we honestly figured that travelling at the end of October/early November, it would be cooler, but no, it was wonderfully hot and humid and our little Canadian bodies were in shock lol.