Maui
Maui, known also as “The Valley Isle” is the second largest Hawaiian island. It is famous for the sacred Iao valley, winding roads to Hana, sprawling Haleakala National Park, its beaches and farm-to-table cuisine. The island is named after the son of Hawaiiola - the navigator credited with discovery of the Hawaiian Islands.
Day 1 : We woke up at 3 AM. Reached the airport around 5 AM. Checked in our baggages, got our QR code scanned and our pre-cleared wrist band. We got our coffee and then waited at the gate for the boarding. We departed at 8 AM PST (5 AM HST).
We landed around 10 AM HST (1 PM PST) at the Kahului Airport which is a regional airport located east of Kahului in Maui County on the island of Maui. Luckily, we were pre-cleared at departure airport and hence we were not required to be screened on arrival in Maui. We still had to get our QR code scanned and show the physical proof (card) of our vaccination. After that, we got our rental car and headed straight to our Hotel in Wailea. We reached around 2 PM.
Fairmont Kea Lani is set on a 22 acres of tropical gardens overlooking the beach. The hotel staff is friendly and the hotel has decor, restaurants, amenities, activities and good service. They seemed to follow the Maui County mandate which requires staff, guests, and resort visitors to wear a face mask covering the nose and mouth while in all public spaces, to maintain a minimum of six-feet of physical separation, and to get temperature checks as an when required. This made us feel very safe.
We just roamed around the hotel and explored it a bit trying to find out what services the hotel had to offer. We tried our luck at the Luana Lounge.
The famous Mai Tai !!
Mojito - Refreshing and what a start to our holiday !!
Day 2 : Today we headed out North to Honolua Bay. This place is famous for snorkeling and diving but the beach is mediocre. Honolua means “two harbors” in Hawaiian, and this bay was historically used by Honolua Ranch to receive supplies and ship products.
Parking can be tough because it is limited to a few turnouts around the area. It should also be noted that the parking areas around these parts are favorites for smash-and-grab break-ins. As is suggested for all locations that are popular with visitors, always take your valuables with you and leave your car unlocked so the dirtbags don’t have to break the glass to find out you outsmarted ’em…lol
We tried having the iconic frozen treat which traces its roots to Hawaii's storied plantation past. To cool off, Japanese immigrants in Hawaii used their tools to shave flakes off large blocks of ice, and then coated it with sugar or fruit juice. This refreshing treat became well-known as shave ice—not shaved ice.
There are lot of family operated coconut farm in the foothills of the West Maui mountains. They promote natural farming and coconut information through educational and interactive tours.
It was so refreshing to have the coconut jelly (Malai) and that was our lunch the day.
We visited Lahaina to see one of the world’s largest banyan trees. We spent our day walking along downtown Front Street, lined with local restaurants and shops (Ref : Google Images).
On our way back from Lahaina, we visited a beach which was covered with loads of black sand and pebbles. It was beautiful and intriguing because they stand out from an average tan colored sand beach. They evoke an element of curiosity and create a stark color contrast with the bright blue ocean waves and lush green plants that surround these sandy spots. The black sand beaches of Hawaii are made of the most common type of black sand on Earth. This type of black sand is formed by volcanic materials and lava fragments.
Day 3 : IAO Valley is located in the Central Maui. It is a lush, 4,000-acre valley offering hiking, sightseeing, a nature center & beautiful views.
It is a historic state park home to iconic Iao Needle. It is a 1,200 feet. This iconic green-mantled rock outcropping overlooks Iao stream and is an ideal attraction for easy hiking and sightseeing.
There is a well-marked, paved pedestrian path leading from the parking lot to view Iao Needle and the ridge-top lookout provides incredible views of the valley.
Aside from its natural tropical beauty, sacred Iao Valley has great historical significance. It was here in 1790 at the Battle of Kepaniwai that King Kamehameha I clashed with Maui's army in his quest to unite the islands. Even with Iao Needle serving as a lookout point, Kamehameha defeated Maui's forces in a ferocious battle that ultimately changed the course of Hawaiian history.
Day 4: Today we started early and cruised along the winding road to Hana. Before heading to Hana we took a stop over at Paia Town. (Ref : Google Images)
For shoppers, Paia offers a great assortment of Maui made products, including jewelry, swimwear, clothing and household accessories. (Ref : Google Images)
It is pretty laid back, surfer hippie town of Maui. While most people breeze by on their early morning drive to explore the Road to Hana, we took some time to discover one of Hawaii's coolest small towns. (Ref : Google Images).
We grabbed our coffee and packed some lunch before heading farther to Hana.
(Ref : Google Images)
On our Road to Hana - We were all very excited to see the giant waterfalls, rainbow eucalyptus trees, bamboo forests, black sand beaches, and more on this all-day adventure. The Hana Highway is a 64.4-mile-long stretch of Hawaii Routes 36 and 360 which connects Kahului to the town of Hana in east Maui.
The Road to Hana is more than just a great drive through a beautiful area of Maui. We had done our due diligence beforehand and decided on a few locations that look the most intriguing and take our time at each location to experience the awe it has to offer.
Three Bears Waterfalls: This is the first waterfall we came across. Literally on the road and along a bridge, these falls are tall, and beautiful. Just past the bridge we found our spot to park. Upper Waikani Falls is often referred to as Three Bears, thanks to the three separate but parallel falls of differing lengths—with the third and smallest being the “baby bear” falls on the right.
Journey through Hana’s wilderness and you’ll be hard-pressed to name your favorite place. Between jungles thick with rainbow eucalyptuses to beaches framed by dramatic sea cliffs, Hana inspires awe after every single one of the 620 turns it takes to get to its heart. We came across this picturesque waterfall, which is very easily accessible and visible from The Hana Highway. You don't even need to get out of your car to see it!
Lemonade Break : The Halfway to Hana Stand is the perfect place to stop and relax on your journey to Hana Town. We got our Banana bread - made fresh from their locally grown bananas. It is a delicious local specialty.
Rainbow Eucalyptus Tress : These trees may look like they’ve been painted on, but these colors are all natural. The multi-colored streaks on their trunk comes from patches of outer bark that are shed annually at different times, showing the bright-green inner bark. This then darkens and matures to give blue, purple, orange and then maroon tones. (Ref : Google Images).
The hike to see Twin Falls is unique and beautiful. These picturesque waterfalls offer a large area to swim at. The lower falls (above) are close to the entrance and relatively easy to access. They're a bit smaller, but picturesque and often overlooked.
This is the second waterfall which is a little farther up the gravel road called Caveman Falls. This pool is much larger, and usually more crowded than the previous falls. It's a bit more difficult to access and a further hike.
If you’re anything like me, lush greenery and thundering waterfalls are the images that come to mind when you think ”tropical paradise.” And that’s exactly what Bamboo Forest, Maui, is: a little slice of heaven on Earth.
The Bamboo is about 3/4ths of the way to the uppermost waterfall (Twin falls). The trail is closed to the base of the waterfall.
It is a wonderful experience to walk on a platform through this stand of bamboo that is about 30 - 40 ft tall, densely packed together. Each bamboo shoot is about 4"-5" tall. Absolutely worth the hike here.
Wai'anapanapa State Park - black sand beach named Pa'iloa. The translation for Wai'anapanapa is "glistening water" or "water flashing rainbow hues", both of which are accurate in describing the powerful contrast between the black, pebble lava field and the deep blue-greens of the ocean.
Formed approximately 960 years ago as a result of molten lava spewing up from underground and flowing toward the ocean, the Hana Lava Tube is one of the most fascinating stops along the Road to Hana.
Day 5 : Today we just chilled out at the pool and the beach. With 120 miles of coastline, Maui boasts over 30 miles of beautiful beaches. On these world famous shores you’ll find white, black and red sand beaches, renowned surfing and windsurfing spots as well as some of the best beaches in the world to simply swim, snorkel and sunbathe.
Many are easily accessible beach parks with lifeguards, picnic facilities and restrooms. Others are undeveloped, "secret spots" found off the beaten path.
The last evening at Maui : Misty waterfalls, sun-kissed beaches, thrilling hikes and trails for adventure— Maui invited us to slow down and savor the company of the one you love. One of the world’s top honeymoon destinations, Maui’s alluring landscapes provide an idyllic setting for intimate and relaxing escapes. Mahalo Maui for your hospitality and Aloha Maui.