maui

Guide to Upcountry Maui

October 1, 2019 by caitylincoln

This post may contain some affiliate links, which means I’ll make a little money on anything you choose to purchase. But of course, I only recommend my absolute favorites to you. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Hulaland possible.

Are you planning a trip to Maui? Yippee if you are! You’re probably thinking about swaying palm trees, golden sandy beaches, and exotic marine life and while the land of the hula certainly has all of that, it has much, much more. The vast majority of space on Maui isn’t the shoreline where so many visitors flock each year, but rather the “upcountry.”

Stretching to include the cowboy country of Makawao, the farmland of Kula, the eucalyptus forests of Ulupalakua, and the slopes of Haleakala, exploring upcountry Maui (including the lavender farm Maui) will give you a different perspective of life on the honeymooner’s isle. This is were the people live and if you spend a day or two here you’ll understand why.

The Best Tour Operators for Biking Down Haleakala (Maui’s Dormant Volcano)

July 2, 2019 by caitylincoln

One of the most popular tourist attractions on Maui is Haleakala, a large dormant volcano whose slopes are the heartland of Maui. While tons of people ascend to the summit each morning to watch the sunrise, the lucky ones get to follow it up with a downhill bike ride from summit to sea.

In my opinion, biking down Haleakala is one of the best ways to experience the crater and Upcountry Maui while getting a little dose of excitement (van tours can be sooooo boring!). You don’t even need to be in great shape to do the bike ride…it’s all downhill! When I’ve done it, I probably pedaled less than about 10 rotations the entire time (this might vary depending if you’re ending in Paia or Haiku).

There used to be dozens of companies that offered some version of a sunrise/bike tour down Haleakala, but in efforts to minimize the impact of visitors to the National Park, starting in 2018 only four companies where awarded permits to operate road tours within the park.

So while many companies used to take you up to the summit in a van so you could see sunrise, and then put you on your bike at the entrance to the National Park (no bike rides are available WITHIN the park), the options are now much fewer. There’s only one company that offers sunrise tours at the summit with the option to bike down. There’s another company that offers the same but it also includes ziplining. And there’s also the option of going with a company that will take you up midmorning (no sunrise), and put you on bikes just outside of the National Park entrance. Depending on what you’re looking for (and what your budget is), all three can be good options. I’ll detail the three companies I recommend below, but first I would caution to look out for companies who promise sunrise at Haleakala with a bike tour but don’t have a permit. If you go with them, you’ll be watching sunrise from about 6,700 feet (outside the National Park entrance), not the summit. And if you’re going to go through the trouble of getting up that early and trekking all the way up there, you really ought to see it from the top.

RELATED: Not very familiar with Maui? Read up on the lay of the is(land) and where to stay plus my favorite beach resorts, budget hotels, condos, honeymoon resorts, family friendly resorts, luxury resorts, and boutique hotels plus my area specific guides (including where to stay, eat, and things to do) for Wailea, Ka’anapali, the north shore, and upcountry plus my review of staying at the Four Seasons Maui.

Bike Maui: Bike Maui is the only company that has a permit to offer van tours to the summit for sunrise in conjunction with a bike ride down. They’re pretty much the easiest route if you want to see sunrise (as a tour) and bike down. They have options for either self-paced or group tours. For me, I knew I didn’t want to ride down the mountain with a pack of people and be confined to where the guide chose to stop and their time constraints. So I definitely prefer a self paced tour. Many people pick the group led tour because they think they’ll be on their own if something happens along the way on a self-paced ride. Don’t let that be a deciding factor. Bike Maui will provide you with DETAILED instructions for how to contact them if you need roadside assistance (this covers everything from a flat tire to being too tired to finish to having one too many margaritas at lunch). They’ll also provide you with everything you need (i.e. full-face helmets, rain suits, backpacks, locks, and maps). I would suggest bringing water, sunscreen, and a jacket (especially if you’re doing the sunrise tour, in which case you’ll want PLENTY of layers). The only thing I dislike about Bike Maui is that on the self guided tour you end your ride in Haiku instead of Paia. It’s a cute little town on the north shore (more inland), although not as walkable and appealing as Paia. Guests must be at least 12 years old for this tour. Pickup from resort areas in West and South Maui is included in guided tours and is an additional $25/person for self guided tours. Self guided sunrise tours can be booked starting at $160/person (with an online early booking discount). Guided tours (with stops at Kula Marketplace and Paia) can be booked starting at $200/person. Read more reviews and search for discounts here.

23 Best Local Restaurants on Maui

June 19, 2019 by caitylincoln

Are you heading to Maui and looking for some off the beaten path local spots? I’ve rounded up some of the best places to eat in Maui including my favorite places for plate lunches, seafood, loco mocos, and more! They’re sorted by different parts of the island, and not only do these places have good grub, but they’re high on local charm as well.

West Maui

Aloha Mixed Plate: Located right on the water (and right next to the Old Lahaina Luau), this is the perfect spot to try local style food, but with an atmosphere that’s more appealing to tourists.

Star Noodle: Star Noodle is one of the most popular restaurants in Lahaina and gets consistently good ratings for the quality of the food. It’s also not located on Front Street (the touristy part of town) so the prices are decent. This is a great place to experience local food in a classy but low key environment. This place wins for best food in Lahaina.

Joey’s Kitchen at Whaler’s Village: Most of the best local food spots on Maui aren’t in touristy areas which means if you’re staying at a resort, it’s hard to find options nearby. Joey’s is the answer to that problem on Ka’anapali Beach. Find local favorites to go at this spot at Whaler’s Village.

Ono Kau Kau: One of the best spots for a quick plate lunch in West Maui. Hawaiian, Chinese, and seafood specials are all served at this counter service spot that’s open all day.

808 Grindz Café: If you’re looking for good, hearty food at a reasonable price, you’ll find it here in Lahaina. Think fluffy pancakes in a variety of flavors and plenty of local plates (like loco moco). It’s in a little strip mall and there’s no view, but it’s definitely one of Maui’s top breakfast spots (they’re also open for lunch).

Down the Hatch: It’s hard to find a restaurant on Front Street (Lahaina) that’s not a total tourist trap, but this spot combines great island inspired seafood specialties with a fun atmosphere. They’re open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner plus they have good happy hour and late night specials. Also check out Breakwall Shave Ice next door which is home to the first “adult” shave ice in Hawaii.

Where to Stay in Maui

September 12, 2017 by caitylincoln

If you’re reading this, I’m going to assume you’re planning a vacation to Maui—yippee for you! If you’re not planning a trip to Maui, you should be! Seriously though, get on it!

Anyways, if you’re even remotely considering a trip to Maui and wondering where to stay, this post is for you. If you’ve never been before, you might be overwhelmed…which part of the island should you stay on? Are some beaches better than others? Are those fancy resorts really worth the money? Will a condo save you big bucks? I’m going to let you in on everything you need to know!

Side note: After you read up on the lay of the is(land) and know which part you want to stay on, check out these posts for recommendations:

Maui Condos Under $100/Night

12 Maui budget hotels

16 Maui beach resorts

6 Best Family Friendly Resorts on Maui

5 Best Maui Honeymoon Resorts

Top 10 luxury resorts in Hawaii

12 favorite Hawaii boutique hotels

Guide to Wailea (Where to Stay, Where to Eat, and What to Do)

Guide to Ka’anapali (Where to Stay, Where to Eat, and What to Do)

Guide to North Shore (Where to Stay, Where to Eat, and What to Do)

Guide to Upcountry (Where to Stay, Where to Eat, and What to Do)

Staying at the Fairmont Kea Lani, Wailea

Staying at the Four Seasons, Wailea

Lay of the Land, Maui Style

Maui is kind of a big island (we’re talking 10-12 hours of solid driving to go all the way around, which is just a point of reference because NOBODY drives around the entire island in a day) so don’t underestimate its size when you’re planning your trip. It’s divided into four main regions (West Maui, South Maui, East Maui, and the North Shore/Upcountry area) but only has two resort areas. You’ll fly into Kahului (the most sizable city/town) and this is where Wal-Mart, Target, and Costco are located but you likely won’t spend much time in Kahului once you pick up your rental car and groceries.

West Maui: West Maui was originally developed in the 1960s and remains the most popular place to stay and play on Maui. The old whaling village of Lahaina anchors this area and the Ka’anapali resort area is home to the majority of dining and accommodation options on this side of the island. It’s about a 30-40 minute drive from the airport (in Kahului) to the Ka’anapali/Lahaina area in West Maui.

South Maui: South Maui consists of Kihei (a decent sized beach town with plenty of condo options), Wailea (a more upscale, privately planned resort community), and Makena (the sleepy end of the road region in South Maui). The beaches in South Maui tend to get the most sunshine and are generally less crowded than the ones in West Maui. The resorts in Wailea (the Four Seasons, Grand Wailea, Marriot, etc) are only about a 15-20 minute drive from the airport.

East Maui: East Maui is the most remote side of the island (reached by the Road of Hana) and is usually reached as a day trip as accommodations are limited. While most visitors stay in West or South Maui, East Maui isn’t to be missed and the Road to Hana will likely be a highlight of your trip.

North Shore/Upcountry: The North Shore and Upcountry are the most authentic areas of Maui. This is where the locals live and while you likely won’t stay in this part of the island, you should plan plenty of time to explore this part of the island. Paia, Makawao, and a drive upcountry through Kula to Ulupalakua shouldn’t be missed.

Now that you’ve got the lay of the land, you’ll need to decide which part of the island will suit you best. First off, I’ll lay out some pros and cons of the West side vs. the South side before mentioning some more “off-the-beaten-path” options on the North Shore and in Hana.

Cruise to Hawaii: The Best of Hawaii from a Cruise Ship

February 23, 2016 by caitylincoln

For a lot of people, a Hawaiian vacation is THE dream! Visions of swaying palm trees, ukulele music, hula dancers, surfers, and iconic beaches are what everybody thinks of when they imagine Hawaii. And, hey, it’s all there! But for many travelers, choosing an island to visit or knowing how to spend their days on each island can be overwhelming. For the traveler who wants to see everything, a cruise to Hawaii can be the perfect solution…you get to go to all of the islands, you don’t have to worry about inter-island airfare, and your bed follows you around!

So if you’re wondering how to make sure you get to see the best of the islands from a cruise to Hawaii, this post if for you! These ships offer countless excursions…how are you supposed to know which ones to pick? And when is it better to ditch the excursion and head out on your own?

These are my recommendations on how to see the best of Hawaii from a cruise ship. For the purposes of this post, I will be adapting these recommendations to fit the Norwegian Cruise Line’s 7-Night cruise itinerary sailing out of Honolulu as it’s one of the more popular cruise lines but you can still use these daily recommendations no matter which ship you’re on!

Since you’ll be flying in and out of Honolulu (that’s Oahu), here are a few highlights that you should hit on Oahu either before or after your cruise:

Best Maui Snorkeling Spots (+ Where to Find Sea Turtles)

February 13, 2016 by caitylincoln

When planning a trip to Maui, most visitors have some sort of agenda or bucket list of must do items, and I think it’s safe to say that for many, snorkeling in Maui is high on the list. The volcanic island is home to some pretty stellar reefs boasting out of this world coral formations and gorgeous colorful aquatic life. If you’re coming to Maui and looking for the best Maui snorkeling spots, excursions, or places to find sea turtles, this is the guide for you!

Best Snorkeling Spots by Boat

Molokini Crater: A volcanic islet located off Maui’s south shore, Molokini is the most popular snorkeling spot on Maui and on many visitors’ bucket list. Molokini’s crescent shape keeps its interior clam and protected making near perfect conditions for snorkelers. Its interior is literally wall-to-wall colorful coral formations that begin just below the water’s surface and slope to the shallow ocean floor. It’s not hard to find a snorkeling excursion to take you to Molokini so it’s not unusual for a half dozen catamarans to be anchored in the crescent at any given time. While years of fish feeding in the crater has depleted the natural population, there’s still plenty to see and recommend about it to make it some of Maui’s best snorkeling.

5 Maui Day Trips

December 28, 2015 by caitylincoln

If you’re planning a trip to Maui, you’re likely looking forward to plenty of time beach bumming, lounging poolside, and hunting down the best beach bar. And hey, that’s what a beach vacay is all about right?? But just in case you’re looking for more things to do in Maui, for a bigger dose of adventure, or to get out and explore all that Maui has to offer, here are 5 suggestions for Maui day trips:

15 Totally Awesome Things to Do in Maui

December 18, 2015 by caitylincoln Leave a Comment

If you’re looking for a list of things to do in Maui, then I’ve got you covered! Maui is a huge island and some people get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of incredible things there are to do and see, so beside just straight beach bummin’, here are 15 things to do in Maui that you definitely shouldn’t miss:

1.Check out the views at the Ali’i Lavender Farm. Upcountry Maui is not to be missed. The lavender farm offers beautiful gardens, a quaint gift shop, and a nice café but the views of the island are what makes this a do not miss attraction. They have activities you can sign up for every week, like making wreaths out of succulents and there’s also a scavenger hunt through their gardens.

Photo from John Morgan via Flickr.

2. Hang out at Big Beach. One of Maui’s prettiest beaches and a popular hangout spot for locals, Big Beach is south of Wailea in Makena. The huge waves make it good for boogie boarding but take a minute and watch the locals before you dive in to make sure you’re not getting in over your head. If you’re not a strong swimmer, it may be best to hang back and watch. There are plenty of lifeguards on this beach. Keep driving South past Big Beach for a nice shore side drive past some million dollar homes that ends in a lava field.

Photo from dronepicr via Flickr.

3. Walk on Ka’anapali Beach. Ka’anapali beach is one of Maui’s best beaches for people watching. There’s a 3-mile long beach walk that begins in front of the Sheraton and goes to the Hyatt at the other end of the beach. Near the middle of the beach is the Whaler’s Village Mall with plenty of great shops and restaurants. The Westin has an exhibit with parrots and flamingos while the Hyatt is home to Maui’s only penguins.

maui

West Maui

Lay of the Land, Maui Style

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