My parents were kind enough to take my sister and me with them to Hawaii to renew their vows for their 25th anniversary. Hawaii is a beautiful place to explore and we had a blast! Below are some recommendations I have for if you make it to Maui someday.
Things to do on Maui:
- Sunrise on Haleakala: This was the most beautiful sunrise I’ve ever seen! From the top of a volcano at almost 10,000 ft above sea level, you are above the clouds and get to experience a truly unique sunrise. I would recommend doing this on your first morning in Hawaii, when your internal clock is already messed up from the flight, because you need to get up very early to pull off seeing the sunrise. I would recommend getting to the Haleakala Visitor’s Center at least an hour before sunrise to snag a spot and make sure you don’t miss it. Depending on the time of year, the sunrise can range from 5:30 a.m. – 7:00 a.m., so make sure to check. Also, be sure to make a reservation online through the National Park Service within 60 days of your adventure day. You will also have to pay a park entrance fee day of, but it’s very worth it. Make sure to bring warm clothes, a raincoat, and blankets, as it can be 30-40 degrees and crazy windy at the summit. Also, pack snacks and water because they don’t sell food at the top and you might want to enjoy the view for a while. 🙂
The most spectacular sunrise I’ve ever seen on the top of the volcano, Haleakala!
Hangin with the fam at the top of a volcano!
The most spectacular sunrise I’ve ever seen on the top of the volcano, Haleakala!
Hangin with the fam at the top of a volcano!
- Enjoy the beach: It goes without saying that you should enjoy the beach while in Hawaii. On Maui, the beaches tend to be smaller and slightly more private. There are lots of different resorts and condos to pick from. We decided to go with a condo in Lahaina where there the beach looks like this:
Beach at our condo in Maui
Doesn’t look too bad, right? Also, there are tons of huge sea turtles, so if you’re a fan you can definitely get your fix!
- Check out a polo match: Growing up in Minnesota, polo is not a huge sport, so none of us had ever been to a polo match. When we were driving home from our sunrise excursion on Haleakala, a polo sign caught our eyes. The Maui Polo Club has matches on Sundays. If you’re in Maui on a Sunday, check their website to see if they are playing. It’s $10 for adults and free for kids under 12. This includes junior matches in the late morning and adult matches in the early afternoon. It’s a relaxed tailgating environment and lots of fun!
First Polo match we’ve all been to!
- Hit up a Luau: Obviously, you must go to Luau while in Hawaii! There are many options for luaus, but I would recommend splurging for a luau night. If you go to a nice one, you’ll get great local food and a wonderful performance. We chose the Royal Lahaina Luau and were quite pleased. There was a bar (with delicious pina coladas and a variety of other drinks), a buffet with a variety of local food, an exhibit for more traditional luaus, and a variety of performers from hula dancers to fire throwers.
Luau time!
Maui sure has some beautiful sunsets.
Luau time!
Maui sure has some beautiful sunsets.
Hula dancers!
Flame throwers!
Hula dancers!
Flame throwers!
- Fly a plane: Did you think I was kidding? Well I’m not; the Maui Flight Academy has a CIRRUS SR22 that yes, you can fly. You go through brief flight school and then can fly the plane yourself if you don’t make a mistake. If you do happen to mess up, there’s a very experienced pilot to your right with a set of backup controls to take over (think a behind-the-wheel training car). This was an expensive excursion as you could imagine, but so worth it! Quite honestly, it’s one of the coolest things I’ve ever done. Not only is flying a plane a great experience, but you also get to see things, such as beautiful land where they filmed Jurassic Park, from a bird’s eye view.
Got to fly a plane!
And wow is Hawaii beautiful from a bird’s eye view!
One of the locations where Jurassic Park was filmed.
Got to fly a plane!
And wow is Hawaii beautiful from a bird’s eye view!
One of the locations where Jurassic Park was filmed.
Chillin’ in the back seat of the plane while Mom flies!
The plane we flew…with some help from an instructor.
Chillin in the back seat while Mom flies!
The plane we flew…with some help from an instructor.
- Go surfing: Not growing up by the ocean I am fascinated by surfing, so I always try to take a lesson when I get the opportunity. There are several Surf Schools on Maui, but we chose a smaller, family run company, Royal Hawaiian Surf Academy, and were pleased. You don’t have a lot of space because there are hundreds of other people trying to learn how to surf, but they are good at finding the easy waves to learn on and give good pointers. If you somehow have a connection with a local who knows how to surf, I would opt for this private lesson instead!
Surf lessons!
- Eat Hawaiian Shaved Ice: Why? Because it’s delicious! And if you get some, you should try it with a scoop of ice cream on the bottom. There are stands all over and I never had one I didn’t like, so you should be safe with any stand.
Hawaiian shaved ice!
- Go on the Road to Hana Adventure: If you are traveling with someone who is willing to drive for a long time on a curvy road, I would recommend taking your own rental car for this adventure, so you can explore at your own pace. If not, there are several tour companies that run Road to Hana excursions. I was lucky enough to be traveling with my dad who was willing to drive on this crazy road along the coast of Maui. Be sure to double check with your rental company about what parts of the road you are allowed to drive on because some areas are off limits.
Warning: If you get carsick, take Dramamine, ginger, or whatever else works for your motion sickness because this is not an easy trip on the stomach. The Road to Hana is unique because it’s a journey not a destination. There are several options for stops you can take along the way, but it’s also just a beautiful drive!
A glimpse of the crazy, windy road to Hana
These are a few of the cool things we found along the way:
Found a waterfall oasis!
Red sand beach
Several one lane bridges!
A banyan tree
Bamboo forest
Found a waterfall oasis!
Red sand beach
Several one lane bridges!
- Witness your parents renew their vows: Hawaii is a romantic place and many people come here for weddings, honeymoons, and anniversaries, but it’s extra special to renew your vows on a beautiful beach on Maui! My sister, Jennie, and I were lucky enough to be the witnesses for our parents’ vow renewals on their 25th anniversary. The company my parents went through was Maui-Angels. Kolleen and Bruce were a very nice couple and did an excellent job! The ceremony was held at Launiupoko Beach Park, south of Lahaina.
Mom and Dad officially renewed their vows on their 25th anniversary!
Bouquet toss!
Mom and Dad officially renewed their vows on their 25th anniversary!
Bouquet toss!
- Keep your eye out for rainbows because they happen almost every day; I guess there’s a reason they’re on the Hawaii license plate.
You will definitely see a rainbow if you ever go to Hawaii!
Another rainbow!
You will definitely see a rainbow if you ever go to Hawaii!
Another rainbow!
- Sneak into other pool areas: There are several beautiful resorts on Maui, so if you want to check out some places other than the one you’re staying at, do it up! An effortless way to check out other resorts is to eat at their restaurants, but you can also be sneaky and check out their pool areas and beaches. 🙂
Faux waterfalls are awesome too!
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