MAUI: Some Other Favorites from Our Trip

Maui is No Ka Oi.  That’s Hawaiian for Maui is the best.  There are so many amazing parts of the island whether it’s the Road to Hana, Haleakala, the west side, the north shore, the south side, the food, the culture, the people.  I can go on and on with how incredible it is.

While our two main adventures on this trip were the Road to Hana and Haleakala the rest of our time spent on the island involved maxin’ and relaxin’.  Soaking up the salt, sand and sea.   I mean that’s what you do on vacay right? 🙂

This post will cover some of the gems that you can check out when you visit.  We didn’t even get to some of my faves but, trust me, you will love any of these.  Here I go…

Ho’okipa Beach
We spent our first day in Maui at Ho’okipa with some of our Maui friends.  This beach was one of our old stomping grounds when we lived here.  For those who surf, Ho’okipa is must if you know what you’re doing.  It can be a little localized so if you do go in the water make sure you surf with respect.  You will see plenty of Honu (turtles) in the water here!

Paia
Just down the road from Ho’okipa is Paia.  It’s one of the cutest towns in Maui.  My husband first lived in Paia when he moved to Maui (before relocating to Kihei).  Paia is known for it’s hippie vibe and relaxed atmosphere.  They have adorable shops, great food and Baldwin Beach!

Keawakapu Beach
Keawakapu Beach is one of my all time fave beaches in Maui.  It’s kinda a hidden gem if you ask me.  It runs along South Kihei Road.  We hung out on the Manakai end during our trip.  It’s the perfect spot to relax, boogie board and enjoy the view.  You can’t beat the sunsets in Maui that’s for sure. The sand is incredibly soft, the water warm (at least warmer than Califonia ;)) and you can see TURTLES, yes, TURTLES!  LOVE!!

Wailea Beach
Wailea Beach takes me back to my time when I was living on Maui.  We came here often.  It’s located on the south side of the island in Wailea.  Nestled between The Grand Wailea and the Four Seasons, this beach does not disappoint.  There is free beach parking and you can always walk along the path to enjoy the views or grab a drink at one of the hotel bars.

Maui Brewing Co.
When we lived on Maui we enjoyed this beer on occasion but there wasn’t this gigantic brewery.  Maui Brewing Co. is located in an awesome spot in Kihei.  There are plenty of beers to choose from.  When we were here last summer there were food trucks but now it has a restaurant.  Have fun! :)

Brekkie Bowls
If you’re in the mood for an Acai bowl then you have to check out Brekkie Bowls in Kihei.  It’s located in the parking lot of Kihei Commercial Plaza off Piilani Highway.  It’s a cute little trailer servin’ up some yummy bowls.  The owner served us up and she was super sweet.  I could totally go for one right now. :)

Snorkeling
You can’t go to Maui, or any island for that matter, and not snorkel.  Snorkeling is a relaxing way to explore, see some sealife and get some exercise!  We rented our gear from Snorkel Bob’s in Wailea.  We headed over to Makena Landing, just south of Wailea, to start our adventure.  It was the perfect start to our day and we saw plenty of turtles!!

Ka’anapali Beach
If you’re looking to relax, then a great beach for that is Ka’anapali Beach.  Located on the West side just past Lahaina, Ka’anapali Beach offers amazing waters and sand to relax and play in.  It’s also known for Black Rock, on the north end of the beach, which invites the more adventurous to jump off or snorkel.  When we were here, we rented boards from one of the resorts and enjoyed a nice relaxing, afternoon sesh.  

Honorable mentions:
1. Big Beach – I wish we had time to go here during this trip.  Big Beach is amazing.  It’s located in Makena and is known for being a big beach but also having big shore break.
2. Lahaina – Located on the west side of Maui, Lahaina is a perfect little town to check out.
3. Alii Nui – The Alii Nui is a 65 foot catamaran.  My roommate worked on this boat when I lived in Maui so I got to experience this catamaran on a few occasions. 🙂  You can sign up for an afternoon snorkel trip or enjoy a nice sunset cruise but it’s a great way to check out more of the island and the service is always on point!
4. Da Kitchen Express Kihei– For all you non-vegans out there, Da Kitchen is where you’ll find bomb plate lunch.  I used to eat here all the time when I lived in Maui.  Now that I’m vegan I had to pass this time around but the rest of our fam enjoyed this place a lot.
5. Monkeypod Kitchen – Monkeypod has locations in Wailea and Ka’anapali and is a great restaurant to check out.  We went to the Wailea location one night for my sister’s boyfriend’s bday and it was perfect.  They have plenty of options for carnivores and herbivores alike and they have happy hour twice!

I hope this post helps you figure out your trip to Maui because it truly is No Ka Oi!

XO, Jenneke Rose