Beach Days Are the Best Days
If you’re planning a trip to Maui (maybe you’ve already been before and this is a repeat trip?), you’re likely looking forward to plenty of time beach bumming and doing your favorite things, but just in case you’re looking for even MORE things to do and fun to be had, consider one of these 5 day trips from Maui:
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.
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.
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.
Hawaii is home to some of the world’s best spas and resorts and while Oahu doesn’t do luxury and relaxing experiences quite as well as some of the other islands (mainly Maui), there are still quite a few noteworthy spas on the island. Whether you’re looking for a luxurious setting, a connection to ancient Hawaiian culture, lavish treatments, or convenience, you’ll find something that suits you at these Oahu spas:
Moana Lani Spa (Moana Surfrider): The best spa in Waikiki is located in the heart of the strip in the most historic hotel in Hawaii while still feeling a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city. There’s a huge menu of offerings available at lower prices than you’ll find at the spas in Ko’olina and Turtle Bay. You can also purchase a spa day pass to use the facilities (lockers, steam room, whirlpool, sauna, and lounge overlooking the ocean. Find more information here.
Nalu Kinetic Spa (Turtle Bay): If you’re staying on or near Oahu’s famed north shore, this is your best spa option. The oceanfront facility offers a wide range of treatment options including traditional Hawaiian practices. They offer the unique option of a sunset massage as well as weekly happy hour specials (Monday through Friday) which include special deals on treatments that all include a glass of bubbly. Find more information here.
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:
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.
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. Read more about snorkeling Molokini here.
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.
Heading to the Big Island? I’m so jealous! The Big Island is the Hawaiian Island that seems to overwhelm most travelers (who may instead opt for Oahu or Maui) but there are sooooo many unique and truly spectacular things to experience here that it’s definitely worth a visit! So, yes, it’s big and overwhelming but don’t freak out! Here are 15 really awesome things to do on the Big Island:
1.Visit the Seahorse Farm in Kona. It’s not everyday that you get to hold a seahorse! The Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm in Kona breeds seahorses and is making great strides in their conservation efforts. The fee you pay to tour their facilities goes towards research and conservation and not only do you get to see lots of species of seahorses, but at the end of the tour you submerge your hands into a tank and let one of the seahorses wrap around your finger. This seriously was one of the highlights on my trip to the Big Island.
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.
Aloha! Thinking about heading to Hawaii? Most people end up on Oahu (Honolulu & Waikiki) because of the great flight options. As Hawaii’s main island (but not the biggest!) there is sooooo much to do here! Here’s 15 things to do in Oahu that you definitely shouldn’t miss:
1.Take surfing lessons at Waikiki. Surfing has a long and rich history in Hawaii and Waikiki was the birthplace of it all. Paddle out into the lineup and you’ll be hanging ten like the pros in no time. Dozens of surf schools line the beaches of Waikiki, where ideal beginner surf conditions can be found nearly every day. Most schools will provide some on land instruction as well as all of the gear you’ll need to enjoy a morning out on the water.