People throw around the word paradise way too easily. But there’s absolutely no better word to describe what you’ll find in the Hawaiian islands.
More specifically, Maui, our newest we’ve-got-to-win-the-lottery-and-move-there destination with luxury, natural beauty, nightlife, a vibrant food culture and the ability to find seclusion when you want it. Not needing a passport is just a bonus.
After exploring the island for nearly two weeks, trial and error led us to an ideal route to navigate the island (counterclockwise from the airport), plus what to see and where to stay along the way.
Aloha!
Ka’anapali Beach
Stay: The Westin Maui Resort & Spa. This is a fantastic place to get into the island mindset with an award-winning Mai-Tai at the bar or by the lush, massive maze of pools (including an adults-only escape). Rooms are modern with great views of the ocean and the beach is just steps away. The spa has just undergone a renovation and awaits to help travelers unwind from that long flight over. If you are lucky enough to be here on the 4th of July, instead of fireworks, they drop thousands of orchids from a helicopter.
Explore: This gorgeous stretch along the northwest shore of the island offers views of nearby Molokai and Lanai. Snorkeling spots are first-rate with deep, coral-filled trenches and crystal clear water. Teralani Charters offers a splendid booze-after-you-snorkel cruise. Then embark on a traditional Hawaiian outrigger canoe with Maui Paddle Sports while dolphins and sea turtles swim alongside.
Lana’i
Stay: Four Seasons Lanai at Manele Bay. Catch the Maui-Lanai Ferry from Lahaina (5 departure times daily) and prepare yourself for a few days of indulgence at this elegant property on a secluded bay. Three world-class restaurants, Nobu, One Forty and Kailani each offer ocean-view dining and impeccable service. Hit the spa, then take a picnic and a little secret booze to the resort’s section of beach (all Hawaiian beaches are public and therefore don’t offer alcohol service) to watch the sun set before the night sky fills with stars.
Do: Lanai is tiny yet still offers a variety of microclimates and vegetation. Get your bearings with a tour via Rabaca’s Limousine Service. Make sure to book an excursion with Lanai Grand Adventures, where you can choose between activities like horseback and UTV rides or a little clay shooting or archery. Stop off for a cocktail at the island’s other Four Seasons property that feels more mountain retreat than island getaway.
Wailea-Makena
Stay: The Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui Resort. From the lei greeting in the open-air lobby to the modern, spacious, ocean-view rooms, it’s all about luxury and hospitality at this southwestern Maui property, nestled in a row of other resorts. Dine on ahi poke and freshly caught fish at the remarkable Ko before taking a dip in the pool or strolling around the torch-lit grounds. Luxuriate in the spa in the morning, then go on an adventure.
Do: Take a short drive to Little Beach, which has a spectacular secluded clothing optional section (head north over the rocks when you reach the main beach) that is filled with gays. Pack everything you need because there are no facilities or services in this section, but the views are worth it. Freshen up then grab dinner at the hard-to-say-but-sensational Humuhumunukunukuapua’a, the Waldorf-Astoria Grand Wailea’s signature restaurant that floats on a lagoon from which you can select the lobster you want to bathe in butter.
Hana
Route: Most people take the famed “Road to Hana” to get here, but if you work your way from the Fairmont Kea Lani to sunrise above the clouds at Haleakala National Park before sampling some pineapple wine when Maui’s Winery opens at 10:00 a.m. From there, take the southern road to Hana. It’s desolate like the moon in places, but always has unparalleled views of waves crashing against the rocks. Car rental companies advise against taking the road, but it’s one of the most spectacular adventures we’ve ever had. Then when you leave Hana on the traditional route, you’ll be so glad you did as the traffic coming the other direction is bumper-to-bumper.
Stay: Travaasa Hana. This is the ultimate way to end your Maui adventure. Secluded and tucked away in the tiny town of Hana, it’s all about the true Hawaiian experience here. For a truly unique accommodation, stay in one of the cottages with its own private outdoor hot tub and fall asleep to the gentle ocean breeze. Awaken for sunrise every morning you’re here, grab breakfast then take in some ukelele or lei-making lessons, go throw-net or bamboo-pole fishing, hop in an air glider or test your skills at paddle boarding, among dozens of other activities, most included in the price.
Do: If you take our crazy road-to-Hana on the weekend, stop at a little food truck (you’ll know it because it’s the first sign of civilization after the long cliffside drive). It’s called AE’s Thai Kitchen and offers some of the best Thai food ever, rivaling the exceptional hole-in-the-wall Thai Food by Pranee near Travaasa. Ask a local near the resort for directions to the secretive Red Sand Beach. It’s hard to reach, but absolute paradise. Yeah, there’s that word again.
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