Ever since our honeymoon in the Caribbean, islands have found a special place in our hearts. The cheerful tune of “ don’t worry be happy” still echos fondly in our memories. Isolated from the rest of the world yet bustling with their own vibrant cultures, unique ecosystems and fresh delicacies; no two islands are alike . One such island nestled in turquoise water of the central pacific is Maui.
Checking In
The fragrance of Plumeria greeted us as we got off the plane . As we stroll through the local markets, we were recommended to try shaved ice . We were pretty skeptical about the taste but we were quickly proven wrong. The creamy and nutty flavour of macadamia nuts mixed with honeydew, lychee and mango is irresistible!
Road to Hana
Road to Hana was an incredible journey. As one fellow blogger puts it “ Road to Hana is not about the destination but about the journey. “ It has 600 hairpin turns and 46 one-lane bridges that demand your full attention on the road. We were so grateful that our friend Hugh took on this daring task, leaving us to sit back , put on our favourite playlist and stare out the window.
This scenic road consist of numerous pit stops, it is important to do your research in advance and pick out your favourite , as it is impossible to do them all
We chose the three bear falls (mile marker 19) it is such a beautiful waterfall that resembled mama, papa and baby bear. I would love to dip in but just couldn’t figure out how to get down .
Wai’anapanapa State Park (mile marker 32) aka black sand beach was another exciting stop. There is a cave with super strong currant that almost washed away my sandals. Rainbows will form every few minutes as the wave clash towards the blow hole, making it a very cool photo spot !
Ke’anae Peninsula (mile marker 16) is our favourite spot , as it is less touristy. We pulled out a bunch of snacks and our beach chairs and enjoyed the show of waves against the black lava rocks . The horse stable , grassy pasture near by with the palm trees in the background created a serene mood . It was my absolute favourite!
Sunset Cruise
Beach Life
Local Markets
Haleakalā National Park
We were told one of Maui’s most memorable experiences is seeing the Haleakala sunset from almost 10,000 feet above sea level. Although it is Hawaii, it still gets very cold at the summit. The temperature drops 3º for every 1000 feet of elevation, so at the Haleakala Visitor Center’s 9,740-foot, it’s about 30º colder than at sea level. Fortunately we were well prepared ! Shelley even made us hot ginger tea ! So sweet of her ! We took a brief stroll around the volcano before sunset to get some exercise. The sunset above the clouds was definitely one for the books ~
Feast At LeLe
One of our biggest highlight and the most expensive activity was the Feast at Lele. It was worth every one of my pennies. The intimate feast of around 70 guests was located at beach front in Lahaina. Orchid Lei were offered to all the guests. They make the most delicious cocktails and you can drink to your heart's content. They take you on a four parts intriguing voyage, consisting of the new Zealand, Samati, Tahiti and Hawaii natives. Each section is coupled with dance performances and gourmet cuisines from that region. The service was impeccable and we felt so relaxed and entertained as the evening dimes into night.
Pink & Teal Sunset
There is nothing more romantic than sunset at the beach , except a pink sunset with turquoise water at the beach. Our last night at Maui was a dream come true ! The princess inside me was thrilled!
