#1) Hike the Waihee Ridge Trail
This was our second time hiking this trail. This time the sky was clear (and it was HOT), the views from even the first lookout are worth every ounce of sweat. 
Get there before 9:00 am, or even earlier as it is not only HOT but during peak season, there is not a lot of parking. We got there around 9:30 am during Christmas and had to park about a mile down the road, (500 ft down a concrete road in the overflow lot).
The beginning of the hike is a relatively steep climb up a rickety old concrete path – this is not AT ALL what the rest of the hike is like, so bare through! After a small walk through a bamboo forest, you begin the trek up the ridge. Even just the first lookout is amazing! The birds sing away, the wind howls and it stands as one of my favourite places EVER!!
**Word of warning
- Wear proper footwear!
- Watch the weather, if it has rained, or is forecasted you will likely want to delay as mud can be quite treacherous in this neck of the woods.
- Bring WAY more water than you think (we brought 2 liters total and it was NOT enough)
- If you see one, grab a walking stick on the way up, it may help you on the way back down
2) Golf The Kapalua Plantation Course
This is a story in itself.
I am NOT the golfer in our relationship, my husband, VERY MUCH, is – and this course is huge on his bucket list. In fact, Kapalua Plantation was my first EVER round of golf 5 years ago. I honestly can not get my head wrapped around the cost of this sport, but the experience is unlike no other. This time we golfed on Christmas day, a little over one week before they started the PGA Tour, Sentry Tournament of Champions right on this very course!
*Tip, expect your round to take about 5 hours, it is a slow pace of play as everyone is trying to get their money’s worth. Keep this in mind if you are booking twilight green fees (look at the sunset time and calculate first). We missed the 18th hole this time…but got FANTASTIC sunset pictures!
3) Sit on your Lanai (a.k.a. balcony) and watch the OCEAN. See my post on where to stay in Maui
I could honestly do this all day long, all life long…especially during whale season. We could see whale spouts and breaching way in the background ALL DAY!!! ABSOLUTE HEAVEN!!
3) Drink the best mai tai’s on the island
Read my post on our adventure to find the best Mai Tai.
Not everyone loves Mai Tai’s but we certainly had a blast finding the best on the island!!
4) Happy hour
The island of Maui is JAM PACKED with happy hour. Our favorite places were:
- Merriman’s, Napili 3-5 daily
- Fleetwood’s, Lahaina 2-5
- The Sea House, Napili 2-5 daily
- Dollies, (dive bar), Kahana 3-6pm and 9-11pm daily
- Dukes, Kaanapali “Aloha Hour” 3-5pm
- Down the Hatch, Lahaina (Maui’s longest Happy Hour) 2-6pm daily
5) Swim in the ocean and play in the waves, (and snorkel)!
Our favorite beaches on the West Coast:
- Honokaua Bay (D.T. Flemming Beach). You must watch the shore break here as the waves can get big and rough, but we found it easy to find parking and a nice beach
- Napili Bay
- Kaanapali Beach (runs for a long time, some reef and rocks but some crystal blue water as well and a very nice walk along the beach)
We missed out on Honolua Bay as there was a flash flood of rain the day before so it was not clear for snorkelling. Somehow we missed Kapalua Beach, but heard that is one of the BEST! There are so many to chose from!
6) Walk, or run, and chase the rainbows along with Kaanapali Trail.
This was a morning ritual for me, it was easy to find an 8-10km loop to run each morning (I always brought a visa to buy coconut water at ABC on the way home). The trail can get crowded but it is so, so, so beautiful! I often caught rainbows along the way some mornings as well!
7) Eat fresh papaya and pineapple from the Mon/Wed/Fri Napili fruit market (and frozen macadamia nuts from ABC)
This is honestly one of my favorite memories of Hawaii each time. The fruit is beyond SCRUMPTIOUS. Each morning we would sit on our Lanai, eat fresh fruit (and nibble on…I know weird….frozen….macadamia nuts, but TRY IT) with our Kona coffee (and Bailey’s of course). THE BEST!!!
8) Shop in Lahaina & Whaler’s Village
I mean…what is Hawaii without at least a little shoppin’. There are so many great galleries with photography and art and, jewelry shops with local stones and pearls. Amazing shopping!!
**Whaler’s Village shops will reimburse you for your parking if you buy something!
9) Read tales of Hawaii on the beach
Our particular Vacation Rental had a library of fun books all telling stories and tales behind the history of Hawaii. This was such an enlightening way to spend time!
10) Write
This is personally one of my favorite ways to remember a vacation (clearly as I have a blog, that you are currently reading!), Writing helps me in so many ways to savour the moments. It helps me remember so many good times, and it also helps me get excited about creating and documenting more and more memories every day, including TODAY.
Thank you so much for reading! I hope this helps your next adventure be filled with YOUR own awesomeness!!
Contact me with any questions or feedback whatsoever!
