Heather & Justin
Things To Do
Hana Highway
One of the most gorgeous drives in the world. A rental car is a must and you'll need a full day to make this drive. Go slowly, and when you see something that interests you stop and go look! You'll find waterfalls, black sand beaches, and at the very end, the tiny town of Hana that feels like another world. The perfect lazy day in tropical paradise.
Old Lahaina Luau
This is Heather's favorite luau in all of Hawaii! If you're looking for traditional Hawaiian entertainment, book tickets here!
Front Street
Lahaina is a small little town known for its restaurants, shops and art galleries. It's fun to stroll Front street for some window shopping and then stop in one of the many places for a bite to eat or a Mai Tai.
Haleakala Crater
You're in Hawaii, so make it a point to visit a volcano! Haleakala is a long dormant volcano and the most popular thing to do is to book a sunrise tour. Head to the summit to find yourself above the clouds. Sunrise tours here are popular (and completely spectacular!), but don't overlook sunset, either.
Surfing Goat Dairy
Here's something you won't expect to find in Hawaii - a goat farm that produces their own cheese! This is great for adults AND kids. Go take a tour, feed the goats, and then do a cheese tasting. It's so good!
MauiWine
You know we love our wine! For all our wine lovers out there this is a fun stop. Located in Upcountry (ie, up the volcano) this little winery has some great options, but their specialties are the pineapple wines they make. Only in Hawaii! Make a reservation for a tasting - and remember, you can bring bottles of wine home in your checked luggage.
Ali'i Kula Lavender
Heather LOVES lavender, so this is one of her favorite spots on the island. Standing in the middle of hundreds of rows of lavender and breathing in that scent is heavenly. Come take a tour, pick up some lavender goodies to take home, and grab some lunch or pastries.
Sail Trilogy (whale watching and boat cruise)
Every year whales migrate from the south pacific up to Alaska and back again and Maui has a front row seat. Admittedly, the end of April is the tail end of whale watching season, but there's still a good chance you'll get to see one or two. There are dozens of tour companies, but we love Trilogy, mostly for the underwater hydrophones they use to listen to the whales sing. They also have plenty of snorkeling tours if you want to get out onto the water!
Kai Kanani Sailing
For those of you, like Justin, who want to get out on the water this company is located only about 10 minutes from the Wailea resorts we listed. They do all sorts of snorkeling tours. Try one to Molokini - the crater just off the shore of Maui is the choice spot for snorkeling!
coconut information farm
Okay, so we haven't tried this one yet ourselves, but we saw it on a TV show and now it's number one on our list to try this trip! It's a family run farm and cooking school that teaches adults and kids where coconuts come from, how to harvest them, and how to cook with them. You can even learn how to make your own coconut milk and bring a bunch of goodies home with you!
Iao Valley
Iao Valley is a sacred site for ancient Hawaiians - and a really gorgeous nature experience for us. If you want to get out into nature you HAVE to come here. Iao Needle is the main attraction, and there's a short (1/2 mile) paved path to get up close to it. Iao Stream is gorgeous, flowing down from the mountains. It's worth going for a walk in this tropical forest because it's unlike anything we have on the mainland.
Pukalani Superette
Do you like heading into grocery stores in different destinations? We do, and we often come home with way too many salts and oils and who knows what else. This is a fun, kitschy stop that will get you into the heart of Hawaiian culture. This mom and pop grocery has been in operation since 1955 and they carry all sorts of local specialties. Come for the famous chili chicken (or tofu, if you're veggie like us), bentos and lau lau. There's also a ton of local products like ice cream, hot sauces and Dill ranch pretzels.
Maui Ocean Center, The Aquarium of Hawaii
This is super popular with the kids (and, okay, adults too). It's a tiny aquarium where you can come to see all the native coral, fish and sharks of Maui. Full disclosure - Heather won't go near here for the shark tunnel, but if you like sea life, this is the place to go. The highlight? Turtle Lagoon, where you can get up close and personal with the honu (Hawaiian sea turtles).
Maui Humane Society - Beach Buddies Program
Do you love dogs like we do? How about doing some good on your vacation? The Maui Humane Society has a program where you can sign up to take a shelter dog out with you on your adventures around the island. Maybe go for a hike, or play on the beach, or take your new friend out to a dog-friendly restaurant. It's a great way to give a shelter pet a fun day out with some socializing!