hawaii; maui

Maui; the valley isle

Maui was probably my favourite island; it features a huge variety of landscape & packs in a multitude of things to do!  It's absolutely gorgeous, and completely different around every bend!  From rainforest to desert, lava rock to white sand beach, quaint country towns to artsy boutique towns.. this island's got it all.  Some highlights from 7 days on Maui..

{hiking}

Haleakala Crater

There are some fantastic hiking trails scattered over Maui; the highlight for me was Haleakala.  The different minerals left behind from the volcano are displayed in the variety of colours in the crater.  It's a sight to behold, and well worth the trip up - try to go on a clear day!  There are plenty of other opportunities for nature hikes, beach walks & window shopping, no matter what area of the island you're on.  

{food}
I didn't actually eat out too much during my time on Maui, but there are plenty of farmer's markets that are worth checking out!  If you're in the Kihei area, i'd recommend 808 Bistro for a nice dinner out.. their balcony overlooks the beach & it's a front row seat to the sunset.  It's also worth mentioning that the Hula Grill in Kaanapali has fish tacos that rival those of Tacofino (if you know what i'm talking about, this has merit..) 


{beaches}

Secret Beach

Ahh those beaches... they are a bit more scattered on this island, as some spots are quite rocky (aka smothered in lava).  Kihei is prime beach area.. relatively calm surf & white sand beaches.   As you go north towards Kaanapali there are plenty more beaches, but they tend to be a bit rougher and not quite as hot.  There are also some really nice beaches near Paia, but this is where the surf competitions are, so the surf is generally too high for swimming.  Along the road to Hana, you should definitely stop off at the black sand beach and the salt & pepper beach.. so neat to see!!  The red sand beach is also really neat, but it's more novelty than anything - the sand is really coarse on your feet & it's a bit of a hike in to it.  

{sights}

Whale watching

Road to Hana

Maui is packed with amazing landscape.. truly stunning, and around every corner it changes drastically!  If i had to narrow it down to 2 must-do's (because 1 isn't going to happen..) it would be the road to Hana & whale watching.  The road to Hana goes from just outside of Paia to Hana (obviously).  If you can, allow yourself the time to do the whole circle-loop around rather than doing the straight there-and-back route.  You'll be so amazed by the scenery the whole way along that you'll want to stop everywhere.  It's actually so incredible.. but not for the faint of heart or carsick - this road has 620 curves and you'll feel every last one of them.  Whale watching is the other absolute must.  I've never seen anything like it.. we saw at least a dozen whales during our 2-hour tour, including breaching whales and a pair that swam right over to our dingy!  I'd recommend doing the raft-tour (not the big boat tour) with the Pacific Whale Watching Foundation based in Lahaina.  So, so worth it. 



{budget}

As always, Hawaii is never a cheap vacation and Maui is no exception.  You can definitely make the most of your dollar by being conscious of your spending.. cook a few meals in & do some day trips around the island - it's free to look!  To stay on the bare-minimum low end, you're going to need about $25/day for food, at least $50/day for accommodation & $25/day to do something.. like eat ice cream.  

J. 
Design Life.  Inspire Wonder.