Must Do in Maui – The Tropical Paradise Island of Hawaii

The tropical paradise island of Hawaii has been known as “the place to be” and if you are looking for a luxurious and romantic vacation – Maui is your answer!

Everything that I had been told about Maui is absolutely true and so much better than words can even describe. My upcoming fourth wedding anniversary was the great excuse for a luxury Hawaii vacation. I did lots of research and planning in order to fit as much in as possible and not waste any time! So, here is my “Must Do in Maui” list of places to stay, dine, and things to do and see to help you make the most of your “Romantic Destination” vacation in Maui!
With a vast array of entertainment and things to do and see in Maui, planning ahead will ensure that you make the most of your trip. I recommend splitting your trip in half, with half of your time on the Wailea side of Maui and the other half near Lahania and Kannapali, which is about one hour drive. We chose to start our vacation in Wailea.

Wailea

With so many incredible resorts in Maui, deciding which place to stay may be your hardest decision. After reading tons of reviews and searching websites, the Grand Wailea Resort Hotel and Spa fit the bill.  www.GrandWailea.com
I was worried it would be more of a family atmosphere, rather than romantic haven, but the truth is, it could be either, and NOTHING short of Paradise! Our luxurious room had a breathtaking view, where we would watch the sunrise every morning over the picturesque blue water. We slept with our screen doors open to be lulled by the sounds of the crashing waves.
Our first day at the resort, we scheduled spa treatments to help get us in vacation mode and rid our bodies of jet lag. The Spa Grande at The Grand Wailea is one of the best spa’s I have ever experienced. We checked in and began our treatments with Terme’ Hydrotherapy, which consists of an exfoliation scrub and a variety of baths, plunge pools and showers to enjoy. It was the perfect enhancement to our couple’s massage that followed. The spa was a vacation in itself and we made several trips back before the end of our stay.
Next we were off to enjoy our private cabana by the pool and ocean. If you really want to feel like a rock star, you have to get a cabana! The Lava Flows and Mai Tai’s just taste better in a cabana on the beach in Maui! That night we had dinner at Humuhumunukunukuapua’a –called Humu for short. It’s a Polynesian thatch roofed restaurant with a great view of the sunset and delicious island fare, located at the Grand Wailea.
Day two began at 2:00am as we were picked up for a bike tour; that led us 38 miles down a volcano. I know this does not sound much like a vacation activity, but you won’t even break a sweat! At the top of the mountain you will see the sunrise amongst the clouds, which is a glorious experience within itself as you bike down to the bottom of the mountain. We rode through a eucalyptus forest and the smell was just amazing! The tour ended with breakfast at a local café. Then, it was time for a nap on the beach.
That evening we had dinner at the SeaWatch Restaurant located just minutes away from our resort at Wailea Golf Club. The food was delectable and our table overlooked the lush Emerald Course.
On day three, we were up early to make an 8:00am tee time at the Emerald Course of Wailea Golf Club www.WaileaGolf.com. They have three award winning courses to choose from and a David Ledbetter Golf Academy for lessons/instruction. In my husbands words “I had a ball playing this course, it was definitely the tropical playground that it claims to be!”
For dinner, we chose the “Romantic Twilight Dinner” at the Fairmont Kea Lani Resort www.Fairmont.com/KeaLani , to celebrate our anniversary. Joined by two of our closest friends, we were escorted to our private cabana by the pool, illuminated with hanging lanterns. We were served a personalized four-course Italian meal from the chef at Café Ciao, accompanied by a selection of wines. The service was remarkable and the food was incredible. This was the most amazing romantic dinner I have ever had and I will always remember how special our anniversary was because of it.

Kanapali – Lahania
Halfway through our trip, we headed to the other side of the island toward Kapalua. This was a fun drive and gave us the chance to see more of Maui and the beautiful beaches. As a surprise for my husband, I scheduled another day of golf for him at the famous PGA course, Plantation of Kapalua Resort www.Kapalua.com. A seasoned golfer, he was absolutely thrilled to get the opportunity to play this course, which he had seen on TV so many times!
Next stop, the Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas www.WestinKaanapali.com. The grounds were beautifully manicured and it lived up to all the Westin’s standards of quality. Not to mention, it’s located on the pristine expanse of Ka’anapali’s North Beach, ranked #1 on “America’s Best Beaches” list in 2003. I spent the afternoon at the Westin Resort and Spa, just down the street from our villa, where I treated myself to an organic facial just before lunch at the Ono Bar and Grill. The spa is quaint with an extensive list of services.
Everyone says you must go to a Luau while in Hawaii- so we planned to do just that. With several to choose from, I was so excited to get tickets to the Old Lahaina Luau www.OldLahainaLuau.com, known as the favorite in Maui. The evening was a culmination of an award winning presentation of traditional Hawaiian music, hula, and authentic cuisine. It was a magical performance that began at sunset and left us feeling like we had experienced the real culture of Hawaii.
On our final day in Maui, we wanted to spend the day on the water and exploring more of the smaller islands. There was no better way to accomplish that than our sailboat excursion with Sail Trilogy www.SailTrilogy.com. We met at the dock that morning and sailed over to Lanai to spend the day snorkeling. Sail Trilogy has a stellar reputation and did not disappoint us. The food was gourmet and all homemade-from the cinnamon rolls for breakfast to the stir-fry for dinner. The school of dolphins racing our boat and the picture perfect sunset on our sail home seemed like a scene stolen out of a movie. This was the life! After our entire week of constant entertainment and delectable food, there was just one thing left for us to do; explore some of the magnificent sea cliffs and waterfalls.
We booked our helicopter tour through Air Maui www.AirMaui.com, which was phenomenal! We saw some of the most inaccessible areas of West Maui and Molokai. It was a thrilling experience that had us apprehensive at first, but left us talking about it more than anything else we did. You will remember it for a lifetime and even have a take home video to relive it. With the convenient location, we were able to schedule this around our evening flight.
As you can see, there is so much you must do in Maui. This was truly my dream vacation and most memorable anniversary celebration. Whether you are going for five days or two weeks, make sure you add our list to your “Must do in Maui” and a “Romantic Destinations” style vacation. Mahalo!
www.VisitMaui.com