Why Maui, Hawaii Is The Perfect Tropical Destination

Aloha

Maui is the second largest island in Hawaii, it’s a mix of natural beauty, sandy beaches and outdoor adventure. If sipping a mai tai on the beach, swimming under waterfalls and watching the sun rise on top of a 10,000 foot volcano sounds appealing then Maui is the perfect holiday destination for you. Carry on reading to find out more about what you can get up to in Maui.

Outdoor Adventures

Hiking – with trails winding through lava flows and bamboo forests

Surfing & Windboarding – barrel through the clear turquoise waves

Snorkelling – glide among fish filled reefs and coral and keep an eye out for sea turtles

Driving the road to Hana – admire the lush rainforests, spectacular views and waterfalls

Kayaking – head to Markena Bay for a chance to spot Humpback Whales

Haleakala Crater – visit this dormant volcano which is Maui’s highest point at 10,000 feet above sea level

Villas & Vacation Rentals

How beautiful do these villas and Homes for rent in Maui look?

The rentals from Luxury Retreats come equipped with swimming pools, backyard BBQs and shaded lounge areas made for relaxing with friends and family. Some of the properties have access to fitness centres and golf courses too.

If you want the beach right on your doorstep then check out Wailea beach villas. Otherwise Lahaina, nestled between the ocean and mountains, is a great location for hiking and Kapalua villas are the perfect location to watch the sunset.

Natural Beauty

Keawakapu Beach – relax on the golden sands

Wailua Falls – admire the graceful beauty of this waterfall

Garden of Eden Arboretum & Botanical Garden – explore hundreds of exotic flowers and trees

Food & Drink

Try these dishes

Meat

• Chicken Luau – Chicken that is prepared in coconut milk and taro leaves.
• Loco Moco – consists of an egg, meat patty, rice and gravy. This is considered a healthy food and is often eaten because of its healthy qualities.
• Kalua Pig – a pork dish that is cooked by placing hot rocks inside the pig and putting the pig inside an imu, or an underground oven, it’s often seasoned with salt.
• Manapua – a bun that is filled with meat and either baked or steamed

Fish

• Lomi Salmon – a cold salad made with raw, salted salmon, onions and tomatoes. It is common to use several different types of onions in a lomi salmon recipe.
• Ahi – Tuna that is often found raw in dishes such as Sashimi and Poke. Ahi is also often seared, blackened, grilled or baked.
• Monchong – Deep water fish commonly marinated and grilled
• Onaga – Ruby snapper served in a number of ways, including grilled, baked and steamed

Desserts

• Haupia – a coconut custard dessert that is rich and creamy
• Breadfruit – fruit that is about the size of a melon and is served either baked, steamed, deep fried or boiled.
• Kulolo – steamed taro pudding
• Manju – a cookie with a sweet center

Historical sites

Downtown Lahaina – old wooden storefronts and rowdy pubs channeling the whaling era

Lahaina Jodo Mission – tranquil replica of a Japanese Buddhist temple

100 year old Komoda Bakery – serving tasty cream puffs

Places to Stay When in Maui

Maui offers lots great homes to choose from during your stay in this beautiful piece of paradise. Every part of it is just breathtakingly beautiful. Maui which is divided into two major areas- the West and the South. Depending on your budget and other preferences, you’ll surely find a perfect place to stay whichever area you choose.

West Side of Maui

Kaanapali offers beautiful white sand and crystal clear waters. There are lots of luxurious hotels in the Kaanapali beach that offers large condominiums with grand pools, grounds, and lobbies. All amenities such as restaurants, shopping centers, condos, and hotels as well as beach activities and snorkelling are within walking distance. Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club, Aston at the Whaler and Aston Kaanapali Shores are some of the top rated resorts in Maui.

You can find Kahana Village, Kahana Reef and Castle Paki Maui in Honokowai, Kahana, and Napili.  You get to pick from various condominium complexes both big and small that are cheaper in price than in Kaanapali. Expect a longer walk or you might even need a ride to reach amenities in these areas. Depending on the price you pay, you may or may not get a room with air conditioning or daily cleaning services.

Kapalua offers the best spot to enjoy watching the sunset. It has a single hotel and some condos and is a part of Maui that is windy and receives more rain than any other part of Maui. If you cam for the sun and tan, this might not be the perfect place to stay. Some of the places to stay here are in Ocean Breeze, Orchid Residence, Heliconia, Kealoha Residence and Sunset Bay Residence.

Lahaina has Turtle Beach Villa, Maui Oasis and Lahaina Oasis as some of the great places to stay. It is a tourist town with a rich history and lots of small shops and places to eat. Traffic can sometimes be bothersome, and may not be a great choice if what you really want to enjoy is the ocean and sand.

South Side of Maui

Kihei offers condos that are more affordable than Wailea but may offer no maid service daily or air conditioning. Traffic can sometimes be a problem here as it can be congested at times. If you’re looking for a less expensive place to stay with lots of restaurants to eat in, Kihei is your choice on the South Side of Maui. Some of the places to stay here are at South Beach, Sapphire Seas Beach Estate, Hale Uluniu and Mango Surf Beach Front Villa.

If you wish to have more peace and quiet, Wailea is perfect as the hotels and condos are a little bit far away from each other. Although Wailea offers luxury condos, the amenities are a little too far away so walking might not be the best travel option. Wailea Sunset Estate, Aqua Lani J305, Floral Gardens Pool Villa G102 and Coco Palms Pool Villa D101 can be found here at Wailea.

There are other parts of Maui to visit and stay in such as Haiku, Kula, Upcountry, and Kahului. Kahului is Maui’s big city while Haiku, Kula, Upcountry offers smaller residences to stay in. No matter where you choose to stay, you are sure to get your money’s worth as Maui offers a piece of paradise like nowhere else in the world.

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*Collaborative post, photos from Luxury Retreats & Pexels*