When I Went: Oct. 29-Nov. 5
Was That the Best Time of Year to Go? It was the off season, so it wasn’t crowded at all, which was really nice! None of the activities we wanted to book were sold out. The beaches weren’t packed. The downside to going then was, no whale watching, which would have been absolutely amazing.
Why I Went There: Honeymoon!
Who Went With Me? My husband, Aaron
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We Stayed Here: Outrigger Aina Nalu
You Won’t Want to Miss: The Old Lahaina Luau was incredible! Beautiful views, delicious food, and a wonderful show. This luau tells the story of Hawaii and the Hawaiian people, so you learn a lot. It was fantastic. The dancers were all so talented! Also, rent a car and drive the road to Hana. It takes up an entire day, but it’s worth it. Breathtaking views. I recommend driving all the way around the whole island, not just to Hana and back. It’s a bumpy ride! But, there is nothing like it. Take your time and stop at all the attractions along the road. Grab some fresh coconut juice and pineapple smoothies from the roadside vendors. They’re all so friendly.
Eat Here: Merriman’s! The views are picturesque. Like stepping into a magazine. Seafood pasta is delicious!
Play Here: We rented skim boards from a local. He met us wherever we were! He was so professional and relaxed. Very cool guy. We golfed at Makena. Great oceanfront course. I definitely recommend snuba! It’s like some new scuba/snorkel hybrid. You are attached to oxygen tank on the boat, but can dive down 20 feet. We went to watch turtles and it was so fun! The freedom of scuba without the heavy tank.
If I Went Again: It would have been great to go in March to go whale watching. Also, I would have liked to take the boat to Lanai and spend a day there. So many amazing things to see, so little time!
How Did You Get There From Dallas? We flew on Alaskan Airlines, first to Seattle, then to Maui.
Other Tips For Fellow Travelers: If you go zip lining, opt for the forest zip line, not the mountain one. Definitely rent a car. Maui is big and activities are very spread out. You will appreciate the freedom of having a car. Plus, it’s a must to drive the road to Hana! I recommend buying or renting a GoPro. It’s like a helmet cam. Not only does it capture every moment (and times you can’t hold a camera, like zip lining), but you also don’t have to spend time thinking about snapping pics, which can take away from the actual moment. Just turn on the GoPro, and go! Oh, and get the water proof case!
