The trip to Hawaii in March 2019 is really special to me, we were celebrating our first wedding anniversary. The flight to Maui from Boston was 12 hours long, but it was definitely worth it.

Beaches – Snorkeling – Gorgeous sunsets – Hikes – Scenic drives – Fresh tropical fruits – Waterfalls. To sum it up, a tropical paradise! No wonder Hawaii became a synonym for vacation.

In March, the winter in the North East is still pretty alive. So when I looked up the weather forecast in Hawaii for our travel dates, I was pleasantly surprised to notice that the islands have cozy, warm weather. It is mid-70s (F) for the most part of the year, isn’t that amazing?

After deciding on Hawaii, the next big decision we had to make was figuring out what islands to visit. The major tourist destination islands are Oahu, Maui, Island of Hawaii (Big Island), and Kauai.

Oahu (The Gathering Place)

This is the most visited island, home to the capital city Honolulu, Pearl Harbor, Dole Plantation, and the famous Waikiki beach. You can find accommodation options for all tiers and the island also has many kid-friendly activities. Also has a ton of hiking options.

Maui (The Valley Isle)

This is a very popular island among couples and honeymooners. Home to amazing beaches along the north and west coasts, the famous ‘Road To Hana’, waterfalls, Haleakala National Park. Also, the crescent-shaped island Molokini is very accessible from Maui, many snorkeling day-trips are available. It is also a foodie paradise. In my opinion, there are endless activities to do in Maui.

Island of Hawaii (The Big Island)

All the Hawaii volcano eruption pictures you might have seen were taken on this island. It is home to two active volcanoes and the lava from the eruptions keeps adding land, hence the name Big Island. It is the most diverse island in terms of climate and landscapes. From snow to lava, Mars-like volcanic landscapes to lush-green landscapes, Big Island has them all. Mauna Kea is a popular spot for star-gazing and the island also boasts iconic snorkeling spots.

Kauai (The Garden Island)

This seems to be an ideal choice for anyone looking for a secluded vacation. It is not as crowded as the other 3 islands, it is home to the scenic Na Pali coast, secluded beaches, and waterfalls.

We decided to do a 10-day trip and visit 2 islands, Maui and Big Island. I have split our travel story into two posts, one on each island.

Travel Tip: I missed checking the eruption status of the Kilauea volcano in Big Island, so please don’t forget to check the updates on this website before including Big Island on your itinerary

Day 0: Arrive in Kahului, Maui airport

The flight to Maui from anywhere in the mainland USA takes more than 6 hours and if you are flying from the East coast, there is a high chance you will have at least one layover (After our trip, Hawaiian airlines started a non-stop route from Boston-Honolulu). Honolulu seems to be better connected in terms of flying routes, many flights have a stop in Honolulu and then proceed to the final destination (Maui or Big Island).

We took a red-eye flight from Boston at 9PM and landed in Maui at 7:30AM, with stops in Vegas and Honolulu.

Day 1: Iao Valley State Park & Drive to Kaanapali beach along Kahikii highway

Our first stop in Maui was a breakfast spot, how could we not start our trip with food! More details on this in the Foodventures section below. 9AM Maui time was 3PM Boston time, so we decided to do a brunch. A funny thing happened here, we were so tired and hungry that we parked as soon as we saw an empty spot, didn’t notice that it was blocking someone’s driveway. When we came out of the restaurant, we noticed a parking ticket. It was definitely an unexpected start to our trip!

From the restaurant, we headed straight to the Iao Valley State Park in our rental car. From the parking lot, it was a short climb to the view point for Iao Needle. With the clouds in the background, the monument was standing out and the view was quite appealing.

From Iao Needle State Monument, we headed straight to our accommodation. The most popular accommodation options in Maui are the resorts along the beaches on the west shore. But I was adamant to do Hawaii on a budget and I was feeling adventurous. So I booked a private room in North Shore hostel. It was our first hostel experience and on Day one I felt uncomfortable sharing bathrooms/kitchen with a bunch of strangers.

The plan was to drive to Kaanapali Beach for sunset (~6:30PM in March). Little did we know that there was a winding road waiting for us. The drive along the Kahikii highway was absolutely gorgeous, we stopped at multiple places, including a stall selling banana bread/coconut water.

Driving tip for Maui: Driving in Maui is not straight-forward, you have to be extremely careful, it will always take longer than the ETA, so plan accordingly. Always give way to the locals.

We spent 30 mins on the Ohai trail enjoying the amazing views. We even waved our hands at people in the helicopter over us, they gave us a shout back, so that was fun haha! We could see the blowhole from here.

Later, we proceeded to the famous Nakalele Blowhole. To give some context, blowholes are like upward sea caves. When the waves crash, a jet of water is forced out through the hole. Depending on the waves, the intensity and height of this jet keeps changing. It is fun to watch these variations. We parked the car on the road and hiked down to the blowhole.

Safety tip: You may find some people going very close to the blowhole, please don’t do that! There have been many incidents in the past where people got sucked into the blowhole. Follow the warning boards and stay at a safe distance. Also, the rocks here are very sharp, please don’t hike down in flip flops, wear supportive footwear. Always, be safe and enjoy!

Do not miss the heart-shaped rock. The cliff side vistas are out of the world!

After a fun time at the blowhole, we finally drove to Kaanapali Beach for sunset. Not sure if we went late or if it was a bad day, I found the sunset views slightly underwhelming. However, enjoyed strolling on the beach until it turned dark.

Parking tip: If you are not staying in any of the resorts nearby, you may find some trouble in finding a free parking spot with beach access. After roaming around for 10-15 mins, we figured that they have one parking lot dedicated to public access to Kaanapali beach.

It was St.Patricks Day and we ended our day with dinner at a seafood place in Lahaina, more details in the Foodventures section below.

Day 2: Helicopter ride, Makena State Park, Old Lahaina Luau

The advantage of going west and being jetlagged was we got to start our day early! By the way, it was Day 2 of my hostel experience and it definitely got better. While making pancakes in the hostel kitchen, I interacted with people from Europe/New Zealand. It made me realize that hostels are more about these interactions and not the amenities.

I would definitely mark this day as one of the most memorable days of my life. Let me tell you why! We scheduled our Molokai and West Maui Waterfalls helicopter ride with Pacific Helicopters at 9:30AM. I was really looking forward to experiencing doors-off flying. The staff at Pacific Helicopters suggested we wear flight suits for warmth, it was pretty hot on the ground, so I didn’t understand why. But good that I considered their suggestion, it got chilly and windy as the altitude increased. Our pilot was very interactive, he spotted a blue whale swimming in the ocean and put in extra efforts to show us. To our pleasant surprise, the blue whale had its baby next to it, it was very sweet to witness the family swim.

Later, the pilot steered off-shore and took us into the West Maui forest area. He showed us some locations used in the Jurassic Park movies and then headed towards the waterfalls. I needed more than my eyes to take in the beauty of this place, just incredible. Also glad that I chose a doors-off experience, I could feel the fresh forest air on my face and there was nothing blocking my view. Our pilot was also adventurous, he went close to one waterfall and flew downwards, along the flow of the water. It felt like I was in a dream. The helicopter rides cost 200-350$ depending on the tour/aircraft you choose. In my opinion, the West Maui waterfalls/Molokoi cliffs tour is definitely worth the money.

Money-saving tip: There was a 40% off Groupon for Pacific Helicopters, also there are free coupon books available for each island online. Check for deals before making the booking.

After having lunch at ‘Da Kitchen’, we headed to ‘The Maui Tropical Plantation’. I really wanted to check out how one of my favorite fruits, pineapple is grown and harvested. They offer tram tours/ziplining and also have upscale dining at ‘The Mill House’. It was a good place to take a nature walk among tropical plants. What stood out for me was the picturesque backdrop.

Travel tip: Please note that many of the restaurants in Hawaii are closed during the weekends and some are open only during the day. So plan accordingly.

In many Hawaii travel guides and blog posts, there was a mention of shaved ice. So I decided to check what the hype is all about. We headed to Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice at Kihei. I have had something similar (ice gola) in India many times, so it didn’t blow my mind, but it was definitely relieving after a hot afternoon. Our next stop was Makena State Park to “Big Beach”, the water was blueeeeeee here! (Yes, this place deserves the extra ‘e’s). We weren’t in the mood to get into the water, so chose to lie down and enjoy the ocean breeze.

Let me tell you a little secret! If you walk to the other end of Big beach, you will find a trail. Once you hike up to the top, you get amazing views of the Big Beach. You could hike down to the other side of the hill and head to a hidden beach called as “Little Beach”. Please be warned that you may find some surprises here!

From the beach, we headed to our Luau, something that I was really excited about. We went early and it definitely paid off. We were welcomed with fresh orchid leis, mai tais and were taken to our assigned seats. We shared the table with 2 families, but we had our personal space. Before sunset, we got to explore the premises and take part in a few activities. There were a few booths selling handmade artifacts. There was a photobooth offering to take pictures with the sunset backdrop. My favorite activity was getting to learn a little bit of Hula (Hawaiian dance form) with Ipu. There was also a demonstration of how pig is cooked in traditional Hawaiian method using imu (underground oven).

In a sequential manner, each table was directed towards the food counters. The cultural performances started during dinner and continued for the rest of the night. A tray full of tropical flavors was put over the table, I thoroughly relished them. I loved the coconut pudding so much that I got home a packet of instant mix from a local grocery store.

Travel tip: If you are a vegetarian/vegan, please don’t refrain yourself from attending the luau. I personally wasn’t eating red meat at the time and still found enough to eat. Please check the menu on the website.

Day 3: Road to Hana

We vacated the hostel and hit the road! Day 3 was all about driving on the famous “Road to Hana”. Let me start by saying that figuring out how many stops you want to make could be overwhelming. One of my colleagues told me that there is a mobile app that gives an audio tour of the stops along the road, I didn’t try it, but it sounded fun. Doing it in one day seemed very hectic, so we chose to stay in Hana for TWO nights. Errr, not so proud of this decision. You ask why? Let me build some suspense here and see if you are actually reading through the entire post, haha.

Stop 1: Paia Town (Paia Beach and Mama's Fish House)

We stopped here to stock up on fuel before hitting the road. I found people flying kites in a nearby beach, so we parked at the Paia Public Parking Lot and headed to the Paia beach. It seemed like a place where locals visit often. We spent later part of the morning at the popular Mama’s Fish House, more details in the Foodventures section below.

Stop 2: Hoopika Beach and Overlook

If you don’t want to make too many stops, choose this! From the overlook deck, the view is pretty good. Depending on the time of the day and weather conditions, you may spot surfers. Don’t miss going to the beach, turtles come over to the shore to rest and it is a delight to watch them.

Stop 3: Twin Falls

This is a popular spot. It is a short hike to the waterfalls and you pass through some very tall bamboo trees along the way. I had fun climbing the trees over the falls and posing for pictures. There is also a fruit and refreshments stand at the entrance.

Stop 4: Keanae Lookout

This is a side road down to a lookout point. I personally liked this, no crowd and serene. However, we found a person bleeding over the knee from swimming in that area. Please note that this place is very rocky and not safe for swimming.

Stop 4: Halfway to Hana Stand

I heard so much about the banana bread here, but sadly they were closing when we reached the stand. They had picnic tables and a cool photo op at the back of the stand.

At this point, I was pretty tired and extremely hungry. It may be a good idea to pack food ahead. Luckily at 6:30PM, we found a Thai food truck that served fried rice. Our Airbnb at Hana was right next to the main road, I was so relieved to be done for the day. We decided to do the last stop the next morning, but you could do it on the same day.

Stop 5: Wai'anapanapa State Park (Black sand beach)

This state park was just 10 mins from our Airbnb, so we reached here by 8:30AM. The morning ocean breeze was refreshing. We went on a hike along the ridge here and thoroughly enjoyed the landscapes. We spent more than 1 hour here exploring the sea arches and ridge hikes.

Note on Red Sand beach (Kaihalulu): I have read at multiple places that this beach is on private land and visitors are not really welcome. Also that the hike down is steep. So I didn’t add it to our itinerary. Please do your research before deciding to go here!

Additional stops

There are small waterfalls Upper Waikini Falls/Hanawi Falls. I found them underwhelming, I was glad that they are right next to the road. We didn’t stop here and just passed through. There are also multiple wayside parks if you are interested in more lookout points.

I was interested in checking out the Hana Lava Tube, but it was closed for safety reasons during our trip. Please check the status before adding this to your itinerary.

Day 4: Haleakala National Park

Pools of Oheo (Seven Sacred Pools)

We arrived here at 10:30 AM and the pools were completely packed. So we spent only 5 mins there and went back to the visitor center, as we had a plan to hike the Pipiwai trail later. If you plan to swim here, I recommend going early.

Pipiwai Trail (Waimoku Falls)

I highly recommend this hike. This is a 4 mile round trip hike (takes ~2.5 hours) that leads to a waterfall. The best part about this hike is passing through dense bamboo forests, I enjoyed being buried under the bamboo shade.

Sunset at the summit

Suspense reveal! Remember I mentioned I wasn’t proud of a decision, this was it! I totally missed that the Haleakala summit is far from Hana. I underestimated the driving efforts. We ended up on the back road and I was really disappointed with myself. But, to our surprise, the landscapes on the back road were really unique and we started enjoying the drive. The disappointments and the surprises, they are all part of the travel experience, aren’t they?

Even though the back road is scenic, I would recommend going to the summit from the other side as it less strenuous. Many go to the summit for sunrise views, you need to make reservations on the NPS website. I preferred a flexible itinerary and in my opinion, the sunset view is equally good.

The temperatures drop quickly at the summit and it also gets very windy. Carry extra layers, we had winter jackets that kept us warm.

We had to take the winding road to Hana back to our Airbnb in the night and again in the morning to go to the airport. So we ended up going on ‘Road to Hana’ thrice. I will never forget the excruciating drive!

For this reason, I recommend staying in Hana only as a rest stop. But to roam around the island comfortably, it might be easier to stay on the other side (Kahului) of the island.

Additional activities

There are some activities/places on my list that we couldn’t include in our itinerary.

Snorkeling day trip to Molokini
Haleakala NP – Sanding Sands trail
Waihee Ridge Trail
Beach hopping on the south shore

Foodventures in Maui

Mama's Fish house

If you are looking for an upscale dining experience with fresh seafood, this is the place in Maui! It has a huge outdoor space with ocean views and coconut trees. It is an extremely popular place among tourists, so it would be better to make a reservation (If you are looking for ocean views, don’t forget to put in a special request for those tables). We went here at around 11:00AM and ordered appetizers, desserts and some tropical drinks to cool off. The chocolate pearl really stood out for me. Definitely a 10/10 experience.

Da Kitchen

This used to be a popular place but, sadly, they closed this restaurant in 2020. Their plate lunches were really filling and worth the money.

Cafe Des Amis

I enjoy meals that feel very nourishing and this was one such meal. This place has a really cozy outdoor seating area. We ordered breakfast crepes and liked the fusion of flavors.

Down The Hatch

We went here on St.Patricks Day and liked the joyful vibes. There was a dancing platform where a few couples were dancing to the tunes. I used to be very picky with seafood, but I really liked their fish tacos. They were full of flavor.

FAQs

When is the best time to visit Hawaii?

As I mentioned already, the weather is pleasant throughout the year. Nov-March is typically the wet season, but the showers are generally short. Nov-Dec is extremely busy because of the holiday season. Mid-March and July-August are busy as well because of school/college breaks.

If you are looking for less crowd and more affordable rates, April-June and Sept-Oct might be the best times to visit Maui.

How many days to spend in Maui

This depends on the experiences you are looking for. Our itinerary was pretty packed for all 4 days, so we didn’t have a lot of time to chill on the beach. But that is how I like to roam around. If you want a balanced pace, I recommend staying for a week.

Where to stay in Maui?

Typically, people choose resorts. But I wanted to try budget accommodation options. So I chose Airbnb and a hostel.

However, if you are looking for easy access to beach/activities/luau/pool, a resort on the west shore would be a very good option.

Northshore Hostel, Wailuku: http://www.northshorehostel.com/

Airbnb at Hana: https://bit.ly/2PF4jo2

What to pack for Maui?

Other than the usual, I recommend carrying the following

Beach hat/sunglasses
Reef-safe sunscreen
Water shoes (found them helpful to walk on the beach)
Rain Ponchos or Umbrella (just in case you get caught in the island rain)
Swimwear/Rashguard
Foldable beach blanket
Extra layers for Haleakala summit

Thank you for reading through my post. Stay tuned as there are more travel stories coming up!