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If relaxing in the sun while cool, clear water laps at your feet is your idea of the perfect holiday, then Maui should be your destination.
I don’t want to cast aspersions on Maui though, if you want to get out and about and do things there is plenty of things to see and sink your sense of adventure into. But, equally, if forgetting the rest of the world is the aim, you can do it here too.
FOOD
If you do nothing else, you need to eat. The fresh seafood is delicious pretty much anywhere you go – but my mind is and has always been set firmly upon dessert.
Or, in this case, dessert as breakfast. That’s where the Cinnamon Roll Place comes in. Situated in a strip of shops just across the road from the beach, the Cinnamon Roll Place is a mecca for sweet-toothed locals and tourists alike.
I challenge you to find a better cinnamon roll anywhere in the world. The owners epitomise the friendly, easy-going nature that Hawaiians are famous for. Everything’s better with sugar in your veins, trust me.
Mr M and I got into the habit of spending the mornings on the beach, swimming and lazing around, then heading back to the apartment for a snooze and a trip out later in the afternoon.
BEACHES
The sand is beautifully powdery – perfect for sandcastle construction, the water was like looking through glass, there was a notable lack of pesky seaweed, it was cool but not freezing cold and the sea life was everywhere! I saw turtles and fish whenever I went into the water.
Since I don’t see anything wrong with an adult building sandcastles, I bought my own bucket and shovel and we had a great time building turrets and moats and planting leaf-flags. The best.
ADVENTURE
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If you’re not so much into liquids, you can always head out to Haleakala National Park to see the spectacular sunrise or hike the crater. The park covers the summit of the largest volcanic mountain that formed Maui.
One of my favourite parts of this trip was driving up through the clouds, then standing at the edge of the Visitor’s Centre looking out at the cloud cover below. There are 48 kilometres of hiking tracks within the park and some seem deceptively easy. Just remember you’re up high and the air is thin so everything feels much more difficult up there.
LUAU
If you’ve never been to a traditional Luau, it’s something that you really have to experience for yourself. Mr M and I were lucky enough to score tickets to the Te Au Moana Luau in Wailea from his parents and while they were expensive, I think they were worth every penny.
BANYAN TREE
If you happen to make it to Lahaina (a more touristy part of the island where cruise ships dock), make a point of visiting the banyan tree.
The trees grow unusually, sending roots dangling from its branches and into the ground below, where they form new trunks to hold the gigantic trees up.
This tree was planted in 1873 to commemorate 50 years since the first American Protestant missionaries arrived on the island. It has now grown to 18 metres tall and its canopy covers 0.6 hectares, making it the largest tree in the US. It is bolstered by 16 major trunks apart from the main trunk planted 143 years ago.
We went to Maui on honeymoon 10 years ago and we only got as far as the beach, your trip sounds action packed in comparison. Maui is so beautiful, I would love to go back and explore a bit more, and of course, get my chops around one of those cinnamon rolls!
Maui sounds great. I think we sometimes need to alternate between the SEE ALL THE THINGS holidays and the downtime holidays.
Some stunning pics there and I'm the opposite to you in terms of travelling. I've not done any for ages but I don't know doing 'stuff' I like just vegeing and hanging about my accommodation and soaking up the atmosphere around town.
I've not been to the US but the pics look gorgeous!
I am terrible Sammie, I don't think that I could spend an entire holiday on the beach, much to Mr M's chagrin. I'd get way too antsy. The cinnamon rolls are so worth the trip!
Maui was beautiful Vanessa. And I totally agree – it's great to recharge and enjoy a bit of downtime as well as get out there and do things.
Thanks Deborah, just going through those pics made me want to go back already! Mr M is the same as you and couldn't understand why I wanted to get out and about.
Hawaii IS somewhere I have been! I stayed on Oahu and then ventured to the Big Island of Hawaii for 3 days. I was hoping to see the Volcano but ..too long as story, but it did involve me driving a hire car (mustang) and taking a left instead a right in the early morning light …and instead of arriving at the Hilo helicopter port I did the 360 back to Kona. I cried! Soooo much effort put into it and I stuffed up. Nevertheless I did have the confidence to drive and I saw lots of the black rock that forms the 'dry' side of the island. My trip was 11 years ago now but glad I did it! Your pics and style of holiday looked great. Thanks for linking up #lifethisweek 2/52 Denyse
Oh man. Really wish I could go there. It seems every second Facebook friend of mine is always in Hawaii! Looks like it would be a family friendly place, too. And I need those cinnamon rolls in my life!
Yay! I can't believe you hired a Mustang! How cool are you?!? I took to pointing out every single Mustang we saw on the road while we were there because a honeymooning couple at the rental place got themselves a really fancy one while we were there. I kept asking Mr M if that was the honeymooners. Poor man puts up with a lot from me.
Oh man! you poor thing, and that's totally something that I would do as well. Take the wrong turn and not get there then cry. There's a lot of rocks and some wafts of steam I guess. Maybe they're just wispy clouds because you're up so high.
When I was in Perth I felt like every second person was going to Bali so I know what you mean. Hawaii is great but a bit pricey. It really is family friendly and the locals are just lovely people. I wonder if it's the lifestyle.
I must return to Hawaii and visit Maui. Thanks for sharing your memories and photos.
SSG xxx
Thanks for visiting!
I'm definitely bookmarking this post. We want to visit Maui in a couple of years. I've always wanted to go. Thanks for sharing.
That's great Jodi, I hope it helps! Maui is beautiful, I'm sure you'll love it.
I love Maui! Such a different pace to Honolulu! Love a return visit again!
wow, this looks amazing! this time 11 years ago we were planning a trip to Hawaii but my husband freaked out with it being in the middle of the ocean and we never went. It looks amazing and I will definitely be bookmarking it for when we do visit! 🙂 #citytripping
I've never been to Honolulu, I guess I should be putting that on my list too!
Oh wow, that must have been a bit disappointing! It's totally safe and beautiful though. I hope you get to go one day 🙂
Maui would be lovely to visit one day. I've only been to Kauai and while it was beautiful, it was soo slow paced for me (then I was 16). I'd love to see some of the bigger, more exciting islands! #CityTripping
(www.caliglobetrotter.wordpress.com)
I have never been to Maui, I see it is really worth to visit. Thanks for the beautiful post.
xx from Bavaria/Germany, Rena
http://www.dressedwithsoul.com
Yep, when you're 16 you want to visit some more fast paced places. But the scenery is amazing.
It really is! Thanks for visiting 🙂
Hawaii is definitely on my wishlist- I never used to be one to veg out on the beach either but after four years running round with my daughter, it's fun to chill out by the sea… insofar as she'll let me. Would definitely love to try here. #citytripping
I can't imagine that there'd be much chilling with a little one, but at least you'd get to build some great sandcastles. And the water is perfect for little ones – no huge crashing waves, nice and warm and clear!
Everything looks fabulous – from beach to cinnamon roll.
I look forward to doing Maui one day. I've done Oahu multiple times and the Big Island twice, but never Maui. I'm OK with a splat holiday. I like to see lots … but I'm also OK with just going splat.
I loved Maui. It was the most relaxing vacation I've ever taken. I was lucky enough to go stargazing one night which was very inspiring.
Ooooh I've always wanted to go to Hawaii. I'm not normally a relaxing-holiday kind of person either, but I'm coming to realise that sometimes they are necessary! Maui looks beautiful and the perfect mix of relaxation/culture/enough to do so you're not bored. I hope I can make it one day!
I'd totally rank it the other way though Carol. Cinnamon roll always comes first in my book 😉
Thanks for visiting!
I've never heard of a "splat holiday" before. But now I know! Mr M has been going to Maui with his family pretty much every year since he was a kid so I think he's pretty much seen it all – which may explain why he was happy to kick back on the beach and veg.
Thanks for visiting and I'm glad that you had a great time in Maui as well! I think it's impossible not to really.
Arrgh, yeah I guess relaxing holidays become more important as you get *sigh* older and need a bit of downtime from work etc. I hope that Maui makes it onto your travel list Rachel 🙂
I totally know what you mean! Maui was my favourite of all the Hawaiian islands because it had so much to see and do – and was stunningly beautiful and perfect to just sit and relax. It was hard to decide what to do every day but it really did have something for everyone! #flyawayfriday
Sometimes you just have to relax and decompress. Maui is great for that. Even with your relaxed pace, you did a fair amount and have some good suggestions.
Sounds like the perfect relaxing holiday – it's good to spread out some beach with culture, food and hikes just like you did. I'd love to try paddle boarding – I'm not very co-ordinated but it looks so easy and graceful done by other people. Maui is on my list as I've only been to Oahu in Hawaii. Thanks for sharing with us on #FarawayFiles
Maui does look wonderfully relaxing. I love the sound of those turtles. The kids would love them! Sadly I haven't been past Oahu, but one day I'll get there. The cinnamon rolls would be a big attraction for me!
I usually spend my vacations rushing around seeing things, but I agree that Maui is very relaxing. I couldn't spend long up at the summit of Haleakala as the altitude really affected me. Those cinnamon rolls look fabulous. Wish I had found them when we were there.
Maui is definitely on my future wishlist. I have been to Oahu before but keen to explore more of Hawaii and its culture. It is certainly a very relaxing place from what I remember. Thanks for linking #citytripping
I haven't been to Maui since I was about twelve or thirteen. We usually seek out Kauai or the Big Island. LOVE Hawaii. Glad you made it to a luau – has to be done at least once! I love the food culture in the islands – did you try the spam sushi? Musubi? Or poi at the luau? Personally, I still to the fresh fish and fruit! Thanks for sharing with #FarawayFiles – Maui definitely feels faraway to me in Copenhagen right now! Cheers, Erin
I would go back in a heartbeat Lynne. I'm sure that it's the kind of place that you never get sick of. It's way too pretty!
Thanks Rhonda. I may have been a bit pushy and decided on things for the both of us because I'm a hopeless "doer" more than a relaxer.
I am the definition of uncoordination! I was preparing Mr M for a lot of his time to be spent impatiently waiting for me to climb back up on the board. But I didn't fall once, so if there's hope for me, you can do it too!
Oh the kids would love the turtles and the fish as well! I had to limit myself to one cinnamon roll for the week though, I didn't want to go into a sugar coma 😉
Thanks for visiting Kirralee!
Yeah we tried doing a bit of hiking around Haleakala but it was just so tiring. And the uphills on the way back were absolutely brutal – I had to use my best motivational coaching voice to get us both back to the car! Thanks for visiting Michele!
Now I'm thinking that I should have visited Oahu as well, since everyone seems to have been there!
I'm not a sushi person at all, and not a fan of spam so no, BUT I did try the poi! It was definitely different!
I guess my next stop will have to be the big island. Stay warm over in Copenhagen!
It's impossible to not like Maui, and i think a lot of people are surprised that it's so much more than beach — the volcanoes and rain forest is fantastic. Glad you got to sample some of it.
You just described me Eileen. I didn't know about any of that stuff until I started researching for our trip. It really is a magical place.
I was just in Maui back in November and I LOVED it! Unfortunately we underestimated the time it takes from our hotel to the crater and missed that – so sad! But we did the Road to Hana and it was fantastic! Loved all your photos! Thanks for joining Fly Away Friday, hope to see you again this weekend! xo
Aww I loved Maui!! I haven't been since I was a kid but so many good and happy memories from there. It's such a gorgeous place with amazing amazing food!
Thanks for sharing a link to this page on my site! I loved reading all about your Maui experience and I can't wait to do and see some of the things you mentioned. Like eating a cinnamon roll. Yum! And seeing the top of Haleakala… and the luau … and sticking my toes in the sand! *squee* 🙂
I did that everywhere we went basically. I guess because in my head, Maui is a small island, so I assume that it shouldn't take very long to get anywhere. Luckily I wasn't the one driving, I just had to navigate. Glad you got to do the Road to Hana, it's a little hairy, but nice.
I love that so many people seem to have gone to Maui on family holidays! I guess it's the American equivalent to Bali for Australians.
You're welcome Mandy (and/or Justin)! I can't wait to hear about your trip since you've been planning it for so long!