Planes, Trains & Autos

Hey Guys!

In 2016, my hubby and I spent a week in Maui!

It was my hubby’s first time in Hawaii but my 2nd trip to the beautiful island.

I thought I would post an itinerary in case anyone is planning a trip there.

I actually started a post and never finished it….check out that post here.

Click here for 20 best things to do in Maui & here for 40 things to do in Maui

We arrived in Maui on Saturday, Oct 29, 2016.

Once we arrived, we picked up our convertible and headed to our condo at the Maui Kamaole – Maui Condo & Home. We stayed in condo L-110.

Read reviews here

I booked our room and flights as a combo package onTravelocity for $2600!

We loved the condo…it was really nice and had one bedroom and two bathrooms and was right across the road from Kamaole beach 1.

Kam Beach 1 is the first of three Kamaole beach parks. With nearly 600 yards of shoreline, it is the longest of all three.

It is one of the most equipped beach parks on Maui Island. It boasts a lifeguard tower, wide parking areas, restrooms, shower stands, picnic tables with barbecue, and a beach volleyball court.

Click here for the best beaches in Kihei

After getting checked in, we headed across the street to check out the beach.

The views were incredible!

Read reviews for this beach here

After spending some time on the beach, we headed back to our condo to get ready ready for dinner.

That evening, we ate dinner at the Cafe O’Lei about 5 mins from our condo.

The food was delicious!

Read reviews here and read here for the best restaurants in Kihei

After dinner we called it a night since we were exhausted after that long flight!

DAY TWO

We started our morning with some delicious cinnamon rolls from the Cinnamon Roll Place!

The little restaurant was only a 2-3 min drive from our condo!

The cinnamon rolls were so delicious that we ate them 3 or 4 times while we were there!

Read reviews here

After breakfast, we headed 30 mins down the road to La Perouse Bay.

We drove through Wailea and Makena on our way there.

After a short drive, we arrived to La Perouse Bay..this place was so cool….you are literally driving through old lava fields!

Read reviews here

You can explore the lava-lined water’s edge or hike through the lava trails along the coast.

With expansive views of the mountains beyond the lava fields, as well as the crystal-clear ocean, the area offers many opportunities for photography, hiking, snorkeling, and more.

The bay is as far south as it is possible to go by car on the west side of Maui.

After leaving this area, we headed to the Ahihi-Kina’u Natural Area Reserve …we had read that it was a great place to snorkel.

We spotted some huge cacti on the way so we stopped for a few pics!

After arriving to the nature reserve, we parked and put on our snorkel gear.

Tip: Hawaii is very rocky so always have water shoes with you!

Tip: This place now charges $5 to park.

The snorkeling here was awesome! We saw so many fish and even turtles!

Read reviews here

The protected bay makes it a haven for fish of all kinds. The bay is relatively shallow, less than 15 feet, or about 100 feet from shore. The bay gradually gets deeper, but not more than about 25 or 35 feet.

Tip: Please be aware of your surroundings while snorkeling as a local woman was killed here by a shark back in 2015 and the area along with other beaches in Maui, closes often due to shark sightings. Out of all the Islands, Maui sees the majority of shark incidents.

After spending 2-3 hrs here, we then headed 40 mins down the road to Lahaina.

We spotted a rainbow on the way….we saw so many rainbows while in Maui!

Of course, that’s no surprise since Hawaii is known as the rainbow state!

Lāhainā is a historic town that has been transformed into a Maui hot spot with dozens of art galleries and a variety of unique shops and restaurants.

Once the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom in the early nineteenth century, Lāhainā was also a historic whaling village during the whaling boom of the mid-1800s.

Today, Lāhainā is on the National Register of Historic Places. You can still get a feel for old Lāhainā as you stroll down lively Front Street, ranked one of the “Top Ten Greatest Streets” by the American Planning Association.

Visit historic stops like the U.S. Seamen’s Hospital, Hale Paʻahao (Lāhainā Prison), the Pioneer Inn, Maui’s oldest living banyan tree and other sites on the Lāhainā Historic Trail.

Approximately 55 acres of old Lāhainā have been set aside as historic districts.

Our first stop was finding something to eat.

We spotted a restaurant called Cool Cat Cafe so decided to try it out.

We both ordered burgers and they were delicious!

Read reviews here

After dinner, we headed to the famous banyan tree…this is Maui’s oldest living banyan tree.

Imported from India and planted in front of the Lāhainā Courthouse and Lāhainā Harbor on 1873, this sprawling tree along Front Street is the size of an entire city block and stands more than 60-feet high.

It was huge!

After walking around for a while, we decided to order some of that famous shaved ice!

So refreshing!

Click here for 27 things to do in Lahaina

After our shaved ice, we watched an incredible sunset!

We then headed back to our condo and called it a night!

DAY THREE

On day three, we drove the famous Road to Hana!

Tip: For mile by mile stops to do, click here & for a map of the road with stops, click here

The Road to Hana is 52 miles long, has 617 curves, 56 one way bridges and takes several hours to drive with all the stops that you can do!

Read reviews here

I wrote about our drive to Hana here so I won’t include it in this itinerary…you can click on the link and read about the stops we did.

However, I will continue writing where I left off in that post which was about our awesome stay in Hana.

Instead of trying to drive the road to Hana and back all in the same day, I decided to rent an amazing little cottage in Hana to stay for the night so we could continue our drive the next morning!

I will add that we did most of these stops that are linked here.

I had downloaded the Gypsy app for the Road to Hana and it was awesome!

I love the Gypsy app and have used it on several of my trips…it’s like having your own personal tour guide…the app tells you the history of the Road and tells you when to pull over!

After arriving to the town of Hana and grabbing dinner at the Surfin Burro food truck (now closed), we headed 10 mins down the road to our cottage called the Hale Ulu Lulu.

Read reviews here

The elegant cottage had one bedroom & one bath. The name means “house sheltered by the breadfruit trees.” named for the ancient Ulu or breadfruit trees which surround the cottage.

Originally built in the early 1900’s to house the managers of the Hana Sugar Plantation, Hale Ulu Lulu is one of the few remaining original plantation houses in Hana.

The cottage was completely restored in 2004-2005 with meticulous attention to historic detail while providing every modern convenience. The house is designed with an open and airy 900 square foot layout with spectacular ocean and pastoral views from every room.

This place was perfection in every way …when we arrived, they had the doors opened and Hawaiian music playing….they also had fresh flowers everywhere!

It was definitely one of the highlights of our trip!

Shots of the inside

DAY FOUR

The next morning, we checked out of our dreamy little cottage and continued our drive on the Road to Hana.

I’ve read that several rental car companies don’t allow you to make this drive and it could void your insurance policy but we didn’t think it was too bad…there were several potholes along the way but nothing our convertible couldn’t handle.

However, with that being said, it would cost you dearly if you had any kind of mechanical issues or ran out of gas!!

Our first stop was Wailua Falls just 15 mins from the cottage.

We pulled over and swam under the waterfall for a few mins before continuing our drive!

Tip: Don’t miss the nearby Waioka Pond aka Venus Pool.

Our next stop was just 10 mins from the last stop….it was the hike to Makahiku Falls.

Mahahiku Falls is along the Pipiwai Trail, above Seven Sacred Pools as it heads towards the majestic Waimoku Falls. Makahiku Falls is at 185 foot falls, which is one of the most beautiful on Maui.

Hiking the trail

The Makahiku falls is 185 ft tall and is at the half way point to the 400 ft Waimoku Falls.

Read all about the hike here

I would allot 2-3 hrs for this stop.

Along the trail, you will see a huge banyan tree!!

You will also see several waterfalls along this trail.

You will walk through an incredible bamboo forest!

The hike to the tallest falls (400 ft) at the end of the trail is called Waimoku Falls and is 4 miles round trip and I highly recommend you hike all the way to this falls!

The amazing Waimoku Falls!

After spending a few mins here, we turned around and headed back…

Shots along the way

We saw several fruit trees on the trail!

On this same trail, closer to the visitor center, the trail will branch off to another area called Kahakai and Kuloa Point…Do not miss this area as it gives you incredible ocean views!!

This is also where the Seven Sacred Pools are located.

Note: Last I read this place was closed to swimming….it’s extremely dangerous and several deaths have occurred here.

After leaving here, we made at quick stop to see the grave-site of Charles Lindbergh.

A narrow road around mile marker 41 leads to the church. A small sign pointing left which says Limited Parking is tacked on the side of a tree marking the road. Many people miss this spot, but if you keep an eye out for it, you won’t be one of them.

The church was built in 1857 and is actually made out of limestone coral. Lindbergh’s grave is located behind the church under the shade of a Java plum tree.

Charles Lindbergh was an American aviator who made the first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927.

He also had a connection to the Road to Hana scenic highway, as he owned a secluded property in the area.

The property, known as Lindbergh’s Grave, was where the aviator and his wife would spend their winters.

After leaving here, we continued our drive.

We drove through Kaupo and passed these old cars full of coconuts!

We then came to a somewhat terrifying area where there was a complete drop off on one side of the road and a rock cliff side on the other!

We saw a waterfall nearby but you had to turn around to see it!

This is where the road turned really bad and was full of potholes for about 20 miles!!

We spotted a small general store called the Kaupo General store so we made a quick stop for some drinks and snacks. (The store now looks to be permanently closed)

Tip: Make sure you have plenty of gas on this drive! Read here for the best tips for driving the Road to Hana and where to get gas! From this general store, you are 1 hr 45 mins from Kihei.

After leaving the store, we continued our drive.

We spotted an old church called St. Joseph…it was built in 1862.

As we continued our drive, the scenery began to change a lot….from lush rain forest to barren hills.

It was still beautiful and worth driving all the way through instead of turning around at Hana and going back the way you came!

We had a temporary delay as cows crossed the road 😆

We drove through Pukalani back to Kihei.

After arriving back to Kihei, we headed back to our condo to get ready for dinner.

We headed back to Cafe O’Lei for another delicious dinner..

After dinner, we went back to the condo and headed to the pool for a late night swim before heading to bed!

DAY FIVE

We started our morning with another delicious cinnamon roll from the Cinnamon Roll Place!

After breakfast, we headed back to the Ahihi Kinau Natural Area Reserve to do some more snorkeling!

Once again, we spotted lots of turtles & colorful fish!

After snorkeling for a while, we headed to find something to eat.

We spotted a nearby food truck called Bubba’s Shrimp & Dog Shack so we decided to try it out. (Now Closed)

While we were waiting on our food, we walked to a nearby fruit stand to check it out.

We ended up buying a fresh pineapple and they cut it up for us!

We then walked back over to the food truck to get our food and drove to a nearby scenic spot where we sat and ate our lunch and some of that delicious pineapple!

We both ordered the coconut fried shrimp and the food was really good!

After lunch, we headed back to the nature preserve to snorkel for a little while longer before heading back to the condo to get ready for the Old Lahaina Luau!

After getting ready for the luau, we headed approx. 40 mins to Lahaina.

I had booked our reservations for the luau before arriving to Maui and I highly recommend you do the same as they always sell out!

Read here about the top luaus in Maui

At nearly 100 percent capacity year-round, the Lūʻau seats 340 guests seven evenings a week, and has a dedicated staff of 200 employees.

Purchase your tickets here

Once you arrive, each person gets a fresh flower lei and then you are led to your table.

You will be sharing a table with several other people.

There are several vendors set up selling their goods.

You get to see how they cook the pork they serve you…it was so cool!

They cook it an underground oven!

Click here for the menu

You have about an hour or so to kill before dinner is served but there’s plenty to keep you busy until then.

Once dinner is ready, each table goes up to the buffet and it’s self serve.

Each table does get one waiter who will bring your drinks.

After dinner is when the show starts and it’s awesome!

I highly recommend you book the Old Lahania Luau during your trip to Maui!

Read reviews here

Tip: Gas is currently priced at $5.05 a gallon….it was $3.39 when we were there.

Click here for the 10 day forecast

After the show was over, we left and headed back to our condo and called it a night!

DAY SIX

After breakfast, we headed to Kapalua Bay to spend some time at Kapalua Beach.

It takes about an hour to get there.

The beach is great for snorkeling, swimming, and even scuba-diving. Sea life is abundant here, including several tropical fish and honu (green sea turtles).

Read reviews here

Once we arrived, we walked a nearby trail to watch the surfers.

We saw several turtles swimming in the bay!

A shot of the nearby Napili Bay.

After leaving here, we headed 25 mins down the road to the Blowhole at Nakalele Point.

There is a trail that leads down to the blowhole but we decided to admire it from a distance.

Tip: Please do not get too close to this blowhole as there have been people sucked into the hole and have never been found! One person died after being swept off the rocks at the blowhole.

The views near the blowhole are incredible!!

After leaving here, we continued our drive to the Kahekili Highway.

Kahekili Highway is a strip of one-lane paved road framed by rock on one side and sheer cliff drops on the other with a length of 21 miles, running from Kapalua to Wailuku.

It’s a legendary road known for its snaking turns, narrow passages, and dangerous road conditions, though nowadays that last factor is gone, since the road was completely repaved not too long ago.

Read reviews for the road here & read here about the stops you can do along this drive

Driving through Kahakuloa.

The views along this drive are surreal!

Tip: While in Kahakuloa, you must stop at Lorraine’s Shave Ice, Kuakini Gallery, and Julia’s Best Banana Bread.

Tip: If you are scared of heights, I don’t recommend this drive…it was much scarier than the Road to Hana!

A shot of Kuhakuloa Head, a rock formation that is approximately 646 feet tall and said to be the spot from which Kahekili was said to leap 200 feet into the water below every morning before breakfast at a spot called “Kahekili’s Leap.”

The views here were breathtaking!

We passed this tiny church and the Turnbull Art gallery on the drive

After approx. 1 hr 20 mins from the blowhole, you will come to the town of Paia.

Once we arrived to Paia, we stopped off at Hookipa Beach park to watch the windsurfing competition.

The waves were insane!!

We saw lots of turtles in the water!

This beach is known for turtles!

Click here for the best places to see turtles in Maui

After watching the windsurfers, we headed to find somewhere to eat.

We ended up eating at a Tex Mex place called the Milagros Food Co.

The food was very good!

Read reviews here

After dinner, we watched an incredible sunset at Hookipa Beach Park.

We spotted a turtle on the beach!

And even cows!

We then headed back to our condo and called it a night!

DAY SEVEN

After breakfast, we headed to Keawakapu Beach to do some snorkeling.

Tip: Read here & here for the best reef friendly sunscreen

The snorkeling here is great!

After snorkeling for a while, we ate lunch at the nearby Zacks Deli. (This place appears to be closed now).

We then headed 30 mins to Ioa State Park.

On the way, we passed the Ka’ahumanu Church.

Sadly, Ioa State Park was closed due to storm damage.

Read reviews here

So, we decided to drive 1 hr 10 mins to Haleakala National Park.

Tip: Have plenty of gas for this drive!

The park is a very popular place to watch the sunrise but you need reservations….book here!

The park has a $30 entrance fee but it’s good for 3 days.

The views on the drive up to Haleakala are incredible!

You are literally driving above the clouds!

We spotted a chukar on the way up..

At 10,023 feet above sea level, this dormant volcano is the stage for a breathtaking range of landscapes—and skyscapes. Haleakalā means “house of the sun”.

The stunning landscapes range from Mars-like red deserts and rock gardens near the summit to lush waterfalls and streams in the park’s coastal Kīpahulu section, near Hāna.

Named after Haleakalā, a dormant volcano within its boundaries, the park covers an area of 33,265 acres of which 24,719 acres is a wilderness area.

The land was designated a national park in 1976 and its boundaries expanded in 2005.

There are numerous hiking trails that offer solitude and scenic vistas, while guided hikes and horseback rides provide an expert’s insight in addition to the natural beauty.

At the top, we spotted the silversword…these flowers live anywhere from 3 to 90 years!