STAY

DRINK

Esters Fair Prospect (Wailuku)

Pacific’o (Lahaina)

The Birdcage Bar in the Hotel Wailea (Wailea)

Spago at The Four Seasons (Wailea)

Colleen’s at the Cannery (Makawao)

Ocean Vodka Organic Farm & Distillery (Upcountry)

Hali’imaile Distillery (Upcountry)

EAT

You’re not going to find much bad food in Maui; there just isn’t room for it.

Nuka (Makawoa)

Baked on Maui (Makawoa) – This sushi restaurant is pretty damn incredible. It’ll be busy and they don’t take reservations, btu they are open late. Get there well before you’re starving, put your name on the waiting list, and go to Colleen’s across the street for a drink while you’re waiting.

Komoda Store & Bakery (Makawoa) – This Upcountry Hawaiian bakery will knock your socks off … but make sure to get there early as they sell out by 10am. Pick up your donuts and other baked goodies and walk next door to the food truck/market to enjoy them with a coffee from Espresso Mafia, the most hipster coffee truck around.

Tin Roof (Kahului)

Hali’imaile General Store (Upcountry)

Miso Phat Sushi (Napili Bay & Kapalua)

TREAT

Spoil yourself with a Lomi Lomi massage, a traditional Hawaiian spa treatment. Make a reservation well in advance at the award-winning Ho’omana Spa (Upcountry) for this experience that brings together traditional Hawaiian techniques, oils, and even prayer.

DO

Snorkel EVERYWHERE. I travel with my own snorkel and flippers now because there are so many easy-to-access snorkel spots. You don’t need to go with a big tour company … just walk into the ocean! My favorite beaches to snorkel were __, Makena Cove (Big Beach/Little Beach), and Hapuna Beach.

Walk the Wailea Oceanfront Boardwalk Trail, a 1.75-mile boardwalk along the coast that winds through Wailea’s beautiful resorts.

HIKE! There are so many beautiful hikes you can do around Maui. You can find easy hikes that will provide amazing overlooks like the Nakalele Blowhole Trail (make sure to do the longer one that goes by the “lighthouse”). On my list still is Waihe’e Ridge Trail as I haven’t made the time to do it, but am so excited to! Make sure to download AllTrails to discover them and get guides for each.

Travel the Road to Hana.

Watch wind surfers in Ho’okipa Bay.

Ali’i Kula Lavender (Kula)

STAY

The Plantation Inn | If you follow my Instagram, you’ll no doubt know that I LOVED this hotel. It’s a small, boutique hotel in the heart of Lahaina just a couple short blocks from the water. It’s adults-only, so it’ll be quieter than many other hotels in town.

The hotel boasts a PERFECT pool (and, not to mention, what I’ve been told is the deepest hotel pool on Maui ringing in at 12 feet on one end) that’s open 24/7! I found that there’s nothing better after a big dinner and a couple mai tais than a late night float looking up at a smattering of stars framed by swaying palm trees.

Breakfast is included each morning, and it’s prepared by none other than Chef Gerard!

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Ka’anapali Beach Hotel

GETTING AROUND

There are Ubers available on Maui, but it’s best to rent a car. Rental agencies can get pretty expensive, so you can also try Turo (the AirBnB of rental cars). I had great luck with it on Maui along with The Big Island. A perk of having a Turo car is you have a local car, which can help if you’re looking to visit less touristy spots.

While most of the roads on Maui are smooth and well-kept, there are places you’ll want a 4WD vehicle. E.g., If you’re planning to visit the Road to Hana and continue past the town of Hana (to the “back side” of Haleakala volcano), the roads can get pretty dicey due to some earthquakes.)

NOTE: If you’re in a rental car, most agencies will not honor your rental agreement if you travel the roads .