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It’s been a few weeks since we embarked on our family vacation to Maui and I am still daydreaming about it and trying to find a way to make our next trip to the same spot!
We didn’t have enough time to see and do everything we wanted. Everything we were able to do left us wanting more! Maui is truly stunning; everything you hear about Hawaii is absolutely true, pristine waters, beautiful beaches, abundant hiking!
We like to stay very busy on our vacations so I understand if my vacation plans are a bit overwhelming for some people. We are all go on vacation with the mindset that we will rest when we get home. Because of that, I will give you our absolute favorite highlights of our trip so you can plan your adventures when you visit.
I have mentioned flights before in a previous blog how to find cheap fares. Since we have earned the companion pass through Southwest that is our go to airline, however, if you do not have companion pass use Air Fare Watchdog to find inexpensive deals. I booked our Hawaii trip almost 6 months ahead of our vacation. On the Southwest website, I search the low fare calendar that shows me the cheapest dates to fly and I chose our vacation dates that way. This is a great option when you have flexibility in your dates.
We rented a standard compact car during our travels. I read a lot of information on exploring the Road to Hana and there were so many mixed reviews when it came to what type of car you should rent. We did not have any issue at all on the Road to Hana in the car and definitely didn’t need four wheel drive as we stayed on the paved paths. I preferred the smaller car since the roads are tight and have several single lane spots. I was so nervous making this trek because I get serious anxiety when traveling by car, in fact; I drove, because I probably would’ve had a heart attacked if I didn’t have control. We had great weather on the road and it wasn’t nearly as terrifying in real life as it seems online. There are so many stops you can make so find the spots that intrigue you the most.
Pools of ‘Ohe’o aka Seven Sacred pools is a 5 mile round trip hike featuring several waterfalls and natural spring pools. You can make this a long or short hike, whichever distance you choose you will still capture all the incredible views. During good weather, the pools are open and you can even take a dip in them. This hike is a part of the National Park so a $25 entry fee is required per vehicle. Getting to the pools from the parking lot is an easy walk and only about a half-mile long, continue from the pools to the Pipiwai trail that will lead you to the bottom of the 400 ft. Waimoku Falls waterfall. The trails are well marked, clean and surprisingly not very crowded. The increased elevation wasn’t too difficult either, both kiddos made it without any issues. We loved the small section that cuts through the bamboo trees; it was so peaceful, quiet and cool from the shade. The Waimoku Falls was the biggest waterfall I have seen in real life, when we made it to end of the trail we watched the falls, took a break and enjoyed nature’s unbeatable beauty.
Haleakalā National Park is a dormant volcano located on the island. Since this spot is also a National park I would suggest you try to make this stop along with the Seven Sacred Pools to avoid paying the fee twice, unless you have an annual pass. The Haleakalā summit sunrise is a very popular attraction; it is so popular the National Park requires advance reservations for vehicles entering the park before sunrise (3 am to 7am). The reservations open 60 days in advance until sold out. They also have a very limited number of tickets available 48 hours in advance. We weren’t lucky enough to get the tickets to watch the sunrise but we did still make it to the summit of Haleakalā. Reservations are ONLY required for the sunrise hours, after 7 am you can drive on and pay the normal fee without booking anything online. We chose to do two short hikes at the summit, the Pa Ka’oao trail and the Sliding Sands trail. Keep in mind the elevation at the summit is over 10,000 feet so it is much cooler on the summit than at the base. Bring a long sleeve shirt and pants. The Pa Ka’oao trail starts at the Visitor’s center and is a short 1-mile round trip walk. The overlook is completely unobstructed to the Haleakalā Valley below. The Sliding Sands trail is 11 miles long, we decided to complete about 1.5 miles out before heading back to the parking lot. Walking along the colored cinder cone volcano was a surreal experience. The kids loved the colors and the mountain range backdrop, during our hike it was very cloudy on the island making it seem as if we were walking above the clouds, truly unforgettable.
Black sand Beach at Waianapanapa State Park was just as magical as I imagined. First, I have to warn you, wear hiking shoes because the “black Sand” is actually Black rocks and the rocks are very difficult to walk on, imagine a million black Legos everywhere. If you don’t have the best shoes to protect your feet don’t fret it is still worth the pain. The water here is so pristine the waves look teal amongst the black sand. Although we didn’t do more exploring at the State park you can continue on to the lava tubes, a blowhole and anchialine pools.
The Nakalele Blowhole and Maui’s heart Shaped Rock trail is a must see in Maui. The trail is short but very rocky. The blowhole was a fun experience for the kids and I to see in person. You don’t want to get too close because you can actually get sucked into the hole, heed all warning signs posted and stay on dry rocks! After you are done experiencing the blowhole turn to the right and you will spot the Heart shaped Rock, really it’s a heart shaped hole in a rock but none the less it is beautiful. The heart shaped rock makes a wonderful photo opportunity and the ocean backdrop is simply perfect.
Snorkeling with the family. I have to admit, snorkeling was amazing but I was nervous to try this. A big part of me wanted to see all the sea life in the ocean but at the same time I didn’t want to see or know what was in the ocean, naivety is key when it comes to swimming in the ocean. Either way, did you even go to Hawaii if you don’t snorkel? I did some research online for snorkeling rentals and they got pretty pricey, I ended up purchasing our full face snorkel sets on Amazon for less than a day rental fee on the island. I figured even if this was our only trip to use them, it was still cheaper than renting. The snorkel masks worked great, definitely worth the $25! Our first attempt to snorkel was at Makena Beach but the waves and current were very rough that morning and I was too scared to swim too far out, LOL. From the beach, we did spot sea turtles in the water. We later were talking to a couple that snorkeled in that same spot and they actually captured pictures of themselves swimming with the sea turtles, I was so envious! The next day we stopped at JT Park to snorkel and the current was much calmer. The shore was shallow as well giving me more confidence to explore the ocean. I was with my son who loved it! We swam together spotting all types of fish we even saw an eel. Most importantly, this experience was a special bonding moment between my son and I.
Overall, Maui was nothing short of spectacular. I am sad to wrap up this blog but hope to recreate the memories sooner than later.
If you have been to Maui did I miss any special adventures that I need to try?
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