Honeymooning in Hawaii: Maui Guide
Aloha, everyone!
If you are wondering if the trip to Hawaii is worth it, the answer is… YES!
We spent our honeymoon in Hawaii and I can honestly say the islands will forever hold a special place in my heart. Before embarking on our adventure we researched what island would be the best fit for us. We landed on Maui because this island offered the most versatile food and adventure.
I think it is safe to say we made the right choice.
We spent two weeks in a Jeep traveling to different beaches, mountains, volcanoes, and restaurants.
After eating purple bread, my pallet is forever changed, for the better!
On our first day we headed to Wailea. This is where you will find several major resorts and some amazing beaches. One of my personal favorites was Secret Beach.
For our transportation throughout the trip we decided to use the Turo App to rent of car.
Luckily, a friend made the recommendation and it was a cost saver. The Jeep we rented came with beach towels, beach chairs, and a cooler. Finding a car with beach towels will save a lot of room in your suitcase… just sayin’!
After a long morning of people watching at the beach, we headed to Monkey Pod to grab a Mai Tai and some pizza. This restaurant was well worth the wait. This is the best Mai Tai on the island.
We spent the afternoon at Po’olenalena Beach Park. This is a great place to grab a beach chair and park it for some sun and relaxation.
I would suggest wearing shoes because the sand will quite literally burn your feet. The race to the crystal blue water will be a healing experience, I promise.
On the next day of our trip, we decided to test our new marriage and take the Road to Hana, also known as Divorce Highway. These roads are not for the faint of heart and I would not recommend this journey to anyone who experiences motion sickness.
I would suggest starting the day at the Ho’okipa Beach Park. Hop out of the car to get a great view of sea turtles and local surfers.
From there you just follow the road all the way to Hana Town. There are plenty of stops along the way to see waterfalls, beaches, banana bread stands, and of course shaved ice. We downloaded the Shaka Guide App before leaving our Airbnb and were able to use the app as a GPS. Once you turn on your location services, the app will give you directions as you approach different landmarks. It even had parking recommendations that saved us a lot of time and frustration! The app tells stories of local legends and culture and truly makes you feel like you are a part of the story. I would recommend downloading the app or mapping out your adventure ahead of time. Cell service on the Road to Hana is very touch and go!
We spent the next several days of our trip exploring different beaches and relaxing by the pool. We chose to stay at an Airbnb to have creature comforts such as a full kitchen and access to a washer and dryer, you can purchase day passes to many resorts to make use of their pools and beach access. Our favorite was the Fairmont. They have several pools, some that cater to families and others that are adults only. We also enjoyed the Andaz.
My favorite part of this resort was the snorkeling as well as the amazing restaurant, Morimoto. We enjoyed sushi, champagne and the ocean breeze.
We found the snorkeling at the Andaz Maui resort to be picture perfect! I would highly recommend booking your snorkeling excursions in Wailea. My husband and I snorkeled our way around the entire island and the sea life here was by far my favorite! We saw at least a dozen sea turtles and countless fish.
Before snorkeling anywhere in Maui, I would highly recommend signing up for the snorkel report!
On their website you can sign up for a daily report sent straight your email every morning. The email updates you about the weather and water safety level of each area. There is also helpful information on where to rent snorkel gear. We were lucky and our airbnb with stocked with snorkeling gear of all sizes as well as sunscreen and coffee. Can’t complain about that!
Once we spent a few days resort hopping, we decided to explore Lahaina Town. This town has a lot to offer. It’s a great addition to your trip if you enjoy history, art, shopping, and EATING! We hit the road early and drove over to Lahaina Town around 8:00AM. We started our day early to make sure that we could find a good parking spot and beat some of the crowds. This was a full day of walking around popping in and out of art galleries and local shops. If you want the perfect Hawaiian shirt, this is the place to go.
We enjoyed a juicy burger at Cheeseburger in Paradise and watched a sail boat race.
Once the crowds started to pick up, we decided to hit a local brewery and cool off. The heat here is no joke!
One of my favorite spots was the Waikiki Brewing Company. My go-to was the Skinny Jeans IPA.
I enjoyed it so much I have been trying to find a way to have it shipped to South Carolina; I will keep you posted!
If you are anything like my husband and I, there can be a lot of fun had just riding around in the car. Make a good playlist and roll out! We spent a lot of time driving the west side of the island. The Shaka Guide App led the way and they did not lead us astray. There were stunning lookout spots, the Nakalele Blowhole, shaved ice stands, and some of the most stunning landscape I have ever seen. These sights will take your breath away.
Overall, this trip was one that changes your life. I will forever be grateful for the amazing people I met. The Hawaiian lifestyle is one to be revered. The people of Maui love the land, sea, culture and visitors in a way that we should all strive for.
I love a list, so if all that was too much to read, I will list out all of our favorite spots under their appropriate category.
Food:
Frida’s Beach House
Mala Ocean Tavern
Monkey Pod
The Plantation House
Morimoto Maui
Drinks:
Monkeypod
Hula Grill Kaanapali @ The Whalers Village
Cafe O’lei at the Mill House
Things to Do:
Order Poke at the local grocery store
Drive the Road to Hana
Visit Maui Tropical Plantation for a tour of the farm
Visit Lahaina Town
Play a round of golf at the Plantation Course
Haleakala National Park
Visit Turtle Town
Things to See:
Nakalele Blowhole
Banyan Court Park
Haleakala National Park
Ko’olau Forest Reserve
Ho’okipa Beach Park
Kamaole Park
Po’olenalena Beach Park
Pa’ako Beach (Secret Beach)
‘Ahihi-Kina’u Lava Field
Napili Beach
Seven Sacred Pools
Snorkeling Spots:
Ka’anapali Beach
Kapalua Bay
Airport Beach
Kihei
Wailea
