The Ultimate 7 Day Experience in Maui: aka The “Valley Isle”

Discovering Maui: A Journey Through Paradise

Aloha! The island of Maui is Hawaii’s second largest and is known as the “Valley Isle” on account of its low-lying interior being ringed by majestic peaks. As of this post, the year-round population of the entire island is little more than 164,000 residents, putting it behind both Oahu and the “Big Island.” Zee and I chose to celebrate our anniversary by exploring this Pacific jewel in a rented Ford Mustang. “A convertible?” you ask. “Naturally.”

 

 

Just the Facts

• Typical January Weather: This is the month most surfers migrate to Maui. Daytime temps are in the low 80s and high 70s. Nights can cool down to 66°F but the water is around 75°F.
• Airport: Kahului Airport (OGG)

Getting Around

• Rental Car: We rented at the airport and thoroughly enjoyed circumnavigating the entire island (which took about nine hours broken up over two nonconsecutive days). Thanks to this rental, we had complete independence and the freedom to visit many restaurants, beaches, waterfalls, and other sights that we only heard about from locals upon our arrival.

Where To Stay

Wailea Beach Resort: Located thirty minutes southwest of the airport and cradled between two golden crescent beaches (Ulua Beach to the north and Wailea Beach to the south), you are always within steps of the ocean. The sprawling property is family-friendly and features such amenities as a fitness center, championship-level golf courses and a spa. And just across the street at the Shops at Wailea can be found anything and everything you might need.

 

 

 

Hyatt Regency Maui: This property is about fifty minutes west of the airport, set on forty acres of Ka’anapali Beach and features a nightly lu’au. Each of their seven-hundred and seventy-nine rooms and thirty-one suites include a private lanai (porch or veranda) with a glass balcony showcasing views of the Pacific, the West Maui Mountains, scenic golf courses or lush gardens.

 

 

 

What to Do

Keawakapu Beach

As we were first staying at the Wailea Beach Resort we soon discovered that Keawakapu Beach is only a ten-minute drive to the north and that at the north end of that beach (the Kihei side) there are tide pools, and if you’re lucky, sea turtles. The entire beach is about a mile long, with three separate entries and parking lots. For the tide pools, park in the Five Palms public lot.

 

 

Ho’okipa Beach Park

This world-renowned windsurfing destination is thirty-five minutes from the Wailea Beach Resort. The surf was impressive, though perhaps a little much for the uninitiated. There were also more tidepools to explore and sea turtles to be found, particularly close to the cliff. This is a great location to watch the sun set.

 

Twin Falls Maui Waterfall

These falls are fifty minutes northeast of the Wailea Beach Resort and just beyond mile marker two on the notorious Hana highway. A bridge spans the Ho’olawa nui stream and it’s here that you find the trailhead to the falls. There’s a small lot you can pull into, and a round-trip visit takes about an hour. If you’re not in the mood (or shape) for a hike, don’t sweat it as Maui waterfalls are ubiquitous. Which is to say, if you throw a volcanic rock, you’ll likely hit one.

 

 

 

Hana Highway

Colloquially referred to as “The Road to Hana” I call it “notorious” owing to this “highway’s” windiness, narrowness and the fact that it passes over fifty-nine bridges; forty-six of which are only one lane wide. The highway connects Kahului to the town of Hana in East Maui and provides access to countless beaches and waterfalls. At one point, Zee and I found ourselves stuck in traffic for more than an hour. Folks got out of their cars and trucks to grab beers from their trunks and flatbeds to share with their friends, as well as complete strangers. The delay wound up being on account of construction. Rumor has it that some billionaire was having a high-speed line installed. We all require our Google Machines. Or do we?

 

Napili Bay

The south side of the ever-popular Napili Bay is only ninety-minutes north of the Wailea Beach Resort and features some outstanding tide pools. There isn’t much in the way of amenities (no parking, bathrooms, showers, or lifeguards) but the beach itself is always rated one of the best on Maui.

 

Whale Watching

January proved to be one of the best times of year to watch the whales as the season runs from January to March and November to May. Of the many options available, we chose to go with the  Pacific Whale Foundation, out of Lahaina. Their mission is to protect the ocean through science and advocacy and to inspire environmental stewardship. They’re so confident you’ll see a whale that if you don’t, they’ll take you out again, for free. As promised, we saw multiple humpbacks, at which point it became a question for the young crew of determining which whales were exhibiting the most interesting behavior. Said crew conveyed a great deal of educational information and even dropped a hydrophone overboard so that we could all hear the majestic beasts’ other-worldly songs.

 

 

 

KA’aNAPALI Beach 

Collaborating with the Hyatt Regency Maui, Zee and I shot with them for a couple of days and as a result, Ka’anapali became our home beach. With three miles of white sand and crystal-clear water, it’s no wonder that Ka’anapali is considered by some to be America’s best. One of the beach’s most famous attractions is the daily cliff diving ceremony off the northernmost cliff known as Puu Kekaa, or Black Rock. Held every evening at sunset, a cliff diver lights torches before diving off Black Rock in the reenactment of a feat by Maui’s revered King Kahekili.

Nakalele Blowhole

Set on Maui’s northwestern coast, Nakalele Blowhole erupts every few minutes whenever the surf and wind are both up. This natural geyser jettisons the seawater trapped in an underwater lava tube up to one-hundred feet in the air. And sometimes, if the conditions are just right, you might see a rainbow in the blowhole’s mist.

 

Where to Dine

Tommy Bahama

Located just across the street from the Wailea Beach Resort, this lively restaurant does not disappoint. Let the island breezes sweeping across their spacious lanai envelop you in the aloha spirit. Order a cocktail, some fresh seafood and enjoy.

Island Gourmet Markets at The Shops

Also found just across the way from the Wailea Beach Resort is an outstanding market where you can both stock up on any necessary (and unnecessary) supplies while ordering from their deli, delicious and eclectic food to go. We’re talking kim chee fried rice & eggs, ube pancakes and mahi mahi tacos.

Wow-Wee Maui’s Kava Bar and Grill

This modest spot just off the grounds of Kahului airport is a rare find with surprisingly delectable food at mainland prices. Did I mention that they serve kava, the root drink known for its calming effects? Give it a try. You’ll be glad you did.

Sammy’s Beach

Located at Kahului Airport, Zee insists that we visit Sammy’s for breakfast whenever we have a morning flight. Remember Sammy Hagar of Van Halen and Cabo Wabo fame? Well, Sammy’s Beach is yet another of his business and philanthropic ventures.

Ruth’s Chris

Known as the First Lady of Steak, Ruth Fertel was something special. Beginning with a sixty-seat steak house, she built a business that spans the globe, and as luck would have it, one of her hospitable restaurants can be found within a stone’s throw of the Wailea Beach Resort. And in case you were wondering about the name (I was) it’s because Ruth lost her original Chris Steak House in a fire, but when she relocated, she wasn’t permitted to retain the name, and so she improvised, added her own to the sign and calling it “Ruth’s Chris Steak House.” Necessity really is the mother of invention. Aloha!

DUO Steak & Seafood

Located at the luxurious and sprawling Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, Duo Steak and Seafood serves up premium steaks and local seafood in a high-end yet casual, open-air setting where both breakfast and dinner are available.

 

 

 

In Summary

Hawaiian locals have a saying: “Maui No Ka Oi” which I’m told means, “Maui is the best.” Publications like Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast, tend to agree as they regularly vote Maui the No. 1 island in Hawaii. But see for yourself. Better yet, visit several islands and rank them each. We’d be interested in hearing your rankings and reasons why. And, should you need help planning, check out our customized travel itinerary designed just for Maui, that will take the guesswork out of planning the perfect trip here: https://voyagersescape.com/maui-itinerary.

As always, Voyagers, we are here for you. Should you have additional questions about Maui or any of the other destinations we’ve visited, please reach out. We’d love to hear from you.