Maui - In a Nutshell

I must admit, Maui feels like many moons ago since returning home. For the first time in my life, I collapsed into bed and took a nice long nap as soon as we got home. Typically, I'd have the suitcases emptied and laundry going before even thinking about a nap. But, I didn't sleep on the flights at all and was exhausted! Getting older probably has something to do with it too. ;-)

In case you're not interested in reading about our trip day by to day to get our thoughts on Maui, I've organized info below for quick hits. I only included places, activities, etc. I'd recommend. If I found anything to be mediocre, I touched on them in the daily blog write-ups, but didn't include them in the list below. I really hope you get a chance to visit Maui if you haven't already. I certainly hope our family will visit again - at least once or twice more in my lifetime!

Restaurants/Food

Aloha Mixed Plate

Slappy Cakes

Cheeseburger in Paradise

Lahaina Luna 

Down the Hatch

Uulani Shave Ice

Hawaii Gelato

Mama's Fish House* 

Lahaina Pizza Co. *

Lahaina Fish Co.*

808 Grindz*

*We didn't try these restaurants, but other people recommended them to us.

Activities

Haleakala Sunrise

Road to Hana

Seven Sacred Pools of Ohe'o

Napili Bay

Kapalua Bay

Maui Ocean Center

There was a ton more to do (hiking is plentiful if that's your thing!), but we didn't want to be exhausted by our vacation so we didn't get to everything. I thought I'd share some of the activities that we wanted to do, but didn't get to. If you experience any of them, please drop me a note and let me know what you'd recommend. I'll need to make a list for when I return someday!

-Snorkeling at Molokini/Turtletown or Black Rock

-Whale watching through Pacific Whale Conservation

-Old Lahaina Luau

-Maui Brewing Company

-Pipiwai Trail

-Kula Botanical Gardens
-Aloha Thai Massage (recommended by a good friend of mine!)

My final thoughts...

• Unlike vacationing in Honolulu, regardless of where you stay in Maui, you should rent a car to get around
• Make sure to reapply sunscreen frequently (especially after being in the water) or sunburn is inevitable - - try these brands for good protection without harmful chemicals and ingredients that are safe for the delicate ocean reefs: BeautyCounter, Sun Bum, Bare
• If you do find yourself burned, try Maui Vera - I found it at a local Long's Drug Store, but also saw it in some other local shops. My shoulders burned (forgot to reapply!) enough that when my shirt brushed my skin, it really hurt. I applied Maui Vera all day the next day. 24 hours later,  no more pain and my skin seemed to be healing. Not sure what's in it or if the burn wasn't that bad, but it seemed to work really well compared to normal aloe gel.

Maui Memories - Day 6

We had to be at the airport around 2pm, so had a good chunk of the day to enjoy before flying home. We still needed to find the elusive sea turtle for Keira, so we made a point to get up early and head back to Napili/Kapalua to ensure we could find parking and have time to look. We arrived and were desperately searching by 6:30 that morning. I read every online review and tourist site that provided advice on how to find sea turtles. We searched every spot mentioned. After an hour, we were starving and decided to find food, ask around again and circle back if we needed to. Keira was very sad and I felt like we let her down.

To make it up to her, we agreed to take her back to Slappy Cakes before going back to the hotel to pack up the rest of our things and check out. That cheered her up, but we knew she was still very disappointed. 

After checking out of the hotel (check out time was 10am - early if you ask me!), we planned our route to take advantage of the day en route to the airport. We headed back to Napili and Kapalua. Everyone we asked said if we didn't see them there, we probably wouldn't have much luck anywhere else. Gah! Off we went...Mark was a super dad and agreed to drop us off while he went in search of parking. I was worried that was going to prove elusive for him too!

While Mark searched for parking, Keira and I walked around, climbed rocks and looked everywhere for a turtle. As Keira was ready to give up, I talked to her about being patient and thinking positively. Right on cue, she and I saw something bobbing nearby in the calmer waters of the rocks. We exclaimed at the same time, "Is that a...? Does it look...? It's a turtle!"

Keira was so excited!! And so was I!!!

Here's the turtle! Keira named him Bob. ;-)

Thank goodness Mark got back to see Bob too! As we left the beach, we saw two additional turtles just riding the waves super close to shore. This was the cherry on top of our fabulous Maui vacation!

So...If you happen to also be searching for sea turtles, here's some guidance that will hopefully help you be successful on your conquest as well.

*I checked my watch...we saw Bob and the other turtles between 10:45am/11:00am. We were told they come to the shore around this time and into the early afternoon to enjoy the warmth.

*We were on the reef (black rocks) closest to the Napili Shores Resort/Napili Beach Resort and saw the other turtles swimming close to the shoreline in the water of the bay closer to the rocks. They were so close that I thought for sure they'd wash up on shore with a few of the big waves. Here are some photos you can try to use as reference for location.

The inlet by the figure in the distance is where we saw Bob

Here's the view from below where we stood

The view from the reef when looking out at the ocean and to the right

*THINGS TO KNOW: They are protected animals. You could be fined/arrested if you touch them. If you snorkel or come near them, it's up to you to move away from them. You can find more info online and at via the Division of Aquatic Resources.

We spent the rest of the time we had back in Lahaina. We grabbed some more Uulani shave ice and a delicious lunch at the LahainaLuna food stand.

Salad w/grilled fish

Korean short rib plate

After Lahaina we hopped back in our rental and headed to the airport for the long flight home. Aloha!

Maui Memories - Day 5

After getting up slowly, we went in search of breakfast. We tried going to 808 Grindz which comes highly recommended by reviews which is probably why there was a line every time despite arriving just before 8:00am each time we attempted it. I wish I could've eaten there to provide my own opinion as to whether it's worth it, but didn't get the chance.

Instead, thanks to a recommendation from a friend who had been to Maui just a few years ago with her family, we ended up at Slappy Cakes. After eating there, we'd all highly recommend it! Don't be scared off if you see a line. If you have a small enough party and don't mind, you can seat yourself at the bar as seats become available. Full menu is available and the service is just as good from what we observed. 

Banana Bread French Toast - scrumptious and very, very filling

Mark's Loco Moco and Keira's made-from-scratch pancake with cookie crumbles

After filling our tummies to the brim, we headed back to Napili/Kapalua Bay in search of sea turtles. Unfortunately, even though it was only 9:30am, it was terribly busy and we were unable to find parking. But, we didn't despair. We planned to head back early the next day. Instead, we decided to have another leisurely day. We spent the late morning and early afternoon at the resort.

I even got in the pool!

After we wore ourselves out in the hot sun and splashing in the pool, we headed back into town for a late lunch and shopping. Parking is tricky in Lahaina that late in the day, but you just have to be patient and drive around until you find it - there's both free (limited) and paid parking. Lunch was at Cheeseburger in Paradise. If you love burgers, give it a go. I ate the entire thing and topped it off with onion rings.

Ocean-view seating is available...true to its name

The cheeseburger and onion rings I demolished

Mark was sick of greasy food and enjoyed a delicious Ahi tuna salad

Exploring Lahaina was fun as we ducked in and out of shops - there were plenty of them. Keira bought a pair of earrings and explored some art shops with Mark while I preferred the touristy souvenir shops. Ha! We topped off lunch with one of the best shave ice treats on the island at Uulani Shave Ice, followed later by more gelato.

Keiki (kids) Rainbow - Cherry, Blue Raspberry, Banana 

Hanging out in Lahaina

My turn

More gelato - Mmm!

We returned to the Villa late evening and took in another sunset. Thank goodness we did because we also finally saw a whale (the one thing I wanted to see on this trip)!! Keira had seen one from the same spot earlier on the trip, but I missed the entire thing. This time, we saw it all - surfacing, clearing it's blow hole and going back down with a nice tail splash. It was AMAZING! I couldn't believe how close it was and how the paddle boarders weren't completely freaked out. Combined with the sunset, it was a delightful spectacle!

After a terrific ending to the day, we returned to our room to pack up for our trip home the next day. It's always the sad part of every trip for me. 

I could never tire of this view

Maui Memories - Day 4

Adam and Noah were heading back to Honolulu (Noah's spring break was ending), so we wanted to take advantage of the time we still had left together. We had a delicious and filling breakfast at Down the Hatch (featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives) in Lahaina. If you go there, here are a couple of things to know.

*Kid's meals come with a token for a free Shave Ice at the place next door

*Queue up and order at the window. They'll give you a table sign with a number to display. Find a table and food will be brought to you when ready. 

Keira and Noah enjoyed the fluffy kid-portioned waffles

Have I mentioned how every dish tastes better with eggs on top?!

After breakfast, we headed back to the villa so that Adam and Noah could pack up for their short flight home. On our way to the airport, we made a pitstop at the Maui Ocean Center (Aquarium). 

The kids enjoyed filling out "passports" to earn a ookmark and we watched a movie about whales in the Sphere where you can enjoy whales in relative life-size scale. If it wasn't for the military discount, I don't know that I'd recommend it as it's quite expensive for what you get. Regular pricing is $35 for adults and $25 for kids. Having been to several other aquariums, this one is quite small and doesn't take much time to complete. Plus, with the exception of a few marine animals, you can find (and would probably enjoy seeing) these sea creatures in the wild by snorkeling. And, while the whale movie provided magnificent viewing, the story and info given could've been better developed. That being said, Keira and Noah did enjoy it, so maybe through the eyes of kids, it's much more enjoyable!

We dropped the boys off at the airport and said our "Aloha's". We know we'll see each other again soon, whether in MN or again in Hawaii.

Vacations are better with friends!

We were back in Lahaina early afternoon and stopped at Hawai'i Gelato for a delicious treat. I LOVED the Banana Caramel Chocolate Chip. I still think about it today.

Did I mention the great deal we got to stay at the Villa? Well, we had to return and attend the vacation property presentation. Technically, and legally, we didn't have to attend, but all of the people we met who set up the appointment were so kind, we didn't want to jerks and just not show up. But, I wish we hadn't. Don't get me wrong. The sales guy did a nice job and there wasn't too much pressure though there was some in the form of, "What are your concerns in not wanting to take part in this opportunity?" Oh, gee. I don't know. Maybe it has something to do with the $70k buy-in and $3k/year maintenance fee? After an hour and a half we were out of the office and returned to our lovely vacation.

One thing Keira wanted to get out of this trip, more than anything, was to see sea turtles. We hadn't seen them yet. We headed to Napili/Kapalua Bay in search of her favorite animal. Napili Bay and Kapalua Bay were cited by friends and locals as the spot to see turtles (that was in close proximity to where we were staying). 

While it was lovely to sit on the beach while Mark and Keira tried to sort out Keira's snorkeling gear, it was likely too late in the day to see turtles. No luck. But, the husband and kiddo enjoyed splashing around in the ocean while I burned my nose - can you see the strip of red in the photo? Ouch! 

Deflated, but not defeated, we headed back to the hotel to enjoy the evening poolside before turning in.

Have I mentioned the gorgeous sunsets?

Handstands progressively got better

Maui Memories - Day 3

It takes awhile to adjust to the time, so we were up around 5:00/5:30 in the morning. That gave us time to lie (lay?) in bed and be lazy. While I don't check Facebook for updates nor post as frequently as I used to, I enjoy peeking into friends' lives when I get chance and providing a quick update of our own. Fortunately, because I posted the day before, I learned that some of our friends happened to also be on the island and were just a building away! We made plans to meet up later in the morning which meant we had a few hours to kill. We got up while Adam and Noah slept in and headed over to the Westin Nanea for some real Starbucks coffee and to see where we'd be meeting up with our friends later. Here are a couple of nice pics of my hubby and kiddo with the Maui morning sun.

The Universe must've really wanted us to meet up with our friends. As we continued our walk over, to their building which had the nearest Starbucks coffee brewing, we ran into Faye. She was heading out for a run while her family was still sleeping. We agreed to meet back in the lobby in a couple of hours. Onward we went to get the Starbucks that had been on my brain since morning.

Here's a tip - - Don't get Starbucks coffee unless you really prefer it. My normal "tall mocha" cost about $7.50 including a $1 tip. Needless to say, I drained that cup of deliciousness. I don't know how much a mocha would cost at a Starbucks in town vs. at the resort, but my guess is that it's still relatively expensive just as most things are in Maui compared to the mainland.

We were back to the hotel around 8:00 and got Adam and Noah up to grab some breakfast. Luckily they're quick to get ready. It wasn't long before we were in the car  heading to Lahaina to eat at Aloha Mixed Plate. I'd def recommend it. There's outdoor seating and a nice assortment of traditional American breakfast mixed with local deliciousness.

Common local dish called "loco moco" - yummy!

You really can't beat the fresh fruit - so sweet!

Fried rice plate topped with an egg = perfection

After our tummies were full, we headed back to the resort and met with our friends. I knew Alain from when I started at Best Buy in the mid-2000's. He was one of the people who decided to take a chance on me coming from outside of retail. Along with several other people, those years were among the best! There was a tight group of us and going to work didn't feel much like work. Since then, we've all moved on in our professional lives and many have moved out of state. Running into him and his family was a highlight and a very fortunate coincidence. I wish we had made the connection sooner. I'm sure Keira and Noah would've had fun playing with the kids. We weren't able to visit for too long as they were in the middle of packing to head home that day. But, I'm grateful for the short time we had to say "hello" and quickly catch up. You really can't meaningfully pack in a 10+ years into a quick visit. Maybe we'll run into each other again in the future!

After the long day we had taking in the Haleakala sunrise and Road to Hana, we promised to have a slow day and just enjoy the resort and beach. That is exactly what we did. We spent the day by the pool and the beach. Mark and Adam were elated when Alain and Faye left behind some groceries including a supply of beer. We passed the day reading, swimming, eating, soaking in the sun, etc. We even had dinner at the poolside restaurant, Pailolo. It also overlooked the beach and ocean. While we enjoyed dessert, we also took in another memorable sunset before heading into the room to play cards, learn card tricks and pass out exhaustion that can only be had after a day of pure fun.

One of the many gorgeous pools

Enjoying the Pacific

Pretzel bigger than Keira's head

Buddies at dinner right before sunset

So much more relaxed on vacation ;-)

Sunset at dinner - it doesn't get better than this!

Love!