One of the many things Steve and I have in common is a love for all things warm and sandy. Think Zac Brown Band, “Toes in the water, ass in the sand.” We recently were able to spend 24 incredible days in our beloved Maui. That’s long enough to really sink in and feel like a local. We had time to foster relationships and found new travel friends who we are currently planning future adventures with. We got to know the names of the people at the Fish Market and our favorite coffee shop, Badass Coffee.

Maui is our home away from home. We have a best friend who lives in Napili and is a local musician. He brings Steve a guitar and the two of them play together night after night. This year we got to attend his beautiful luau (more info on that later). There’s just something about the warmth and sitting on the lanai with plumeria blooming 5 feet from us and everyone around you is on vacation mode. There’s time to stop and talk about the turtles, whales jumping or just being grateful that we get to stay in paradise just a little bit longer. Impromptu dinners are planned standing around bbq’s, music and laughter shared. Friendships bloom and this incredible gratefulness for the blessed life we are given runneth over. 

We always stay on the North end of the island, Kahana/Napili area. We love the pace at this end of the island. I was able to work for the first 10 days and I rose every morning to the sunrise and was blessed to see the most incredible moonset I’ve ever witnessed. My days working were spent staying close enough to wifi but able to watch the turtles and the surf from my makeshift office. 

The following are our favorite Maui places. If you have any ideas please add them at the end of the blog.

Food & Restaurants

The Beach House, located in The Sands Kahana, great happy hour and breakfast

Cheeseburger In Paradise, located in Lahaina, best Lava Flow and the fried pickles are delicious

Fleetwood’s on Front Street, located in Lahaina, best roof top deck, live music

Frida’s Beach House, located in Lahaina, one of our favorite restaurants, on the water, great food and atmosphere

Kimo’s, located in Lahaina, our food was excellent but service was mediocre, we sat outside and the view was lovely

The Maui Fish Market, best fish tacos on Maui, half of the Market is a fish market and the other is a take-out restaurant, don’t forget to order the calamari.

Plantation House at Kapalua Golf Course, excellent views and the food, drinks and service can’t be beat.

The Burger Shack at the Ritz Carlton Maui Kapalua, worth the wait in line, outside seating in the sand, best Maui Tai with the pineapple foam

Napili Farmer’s Market, open Wednesday and Friday, definitely stop by the Israeli gal’s booth, her food is phenomenal

Maui Steamer Pot, we didn’t personally try this but have heard great things. It’s definitely on the list for our next trip

The Ale House, near the Kahalui airport, if you have to pick someone up at the airport this is a great sports bar with a gazillion TV’s. Great food and drinks.

Napili Market, small grocery store that has everything you need and no crowds

Safeway Delivery, for those that hate the store as much as me, you order and they deliver to your room for the win!

Adventures

Royal Lahaina Luau, awesome show and well worth the ticket price

Makawao, small hillside town near the airport. I love the small shops especially the Sherri Reaves art studio. I brought home a few beautiful pieces of her artwork to hang in our house.

The Kapalua Coastal Trail, starts at Kapalua and winds along the coast, incredibly views and not difficult

Lahaina, fun beach town to walk, shop, bar hop and eat gelato!

Transportation

Maui Beachin Rides, Jim and Jules Hanson are fabulous. We used them to get to the airport and to and from Lahaina. Great prices and even better company.

Turo, we picked up our Honda Civic in the Napili Market parking lot. Great prices. Super convenient. Will definitely rent this way again.

Kimo’s Car Rentals, great prices and very convenient. They leave the car in airport parking. We rented an older Tahoe and it worked perfect for the first half of our trip.

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