Paradise in Maui, Hawaii

Maui, Hawaii is a little paradise in North America!  I visited Maui in January 2014.  Everything there was wonderful! From the friendly locals to the small island feel to the gentle waves of the pacific ocean...except for the pricing.  This was an island after all so they had to import a lot of their products.  Expect costs to be a bit more but  I thought the costs were about the same as if you were to go to Europe.

I stayed at the Sheraton resort in Kanappali and it was wonderful! I was having a hard time deciding between the Sheraton or the Westin.  I picked the Sheraton because it was more spacious, peaceful, and offered more privacy.  It was a good place for honeymooners.  Everyone at the hotel was very friendly and tried to make the trip memorable! We were upgraded to a garden view room.  It was a bigger room and faced the garden which gave a vast view of the property.  They had different games set up on the property so you cannot get bored there.  I did check out the Westin while I was there.  It was a very nice hotel and a bit more modern than the Sheraton but everything was crammed together.  They had several pools throughout the property and a huge water slide.  It was a very good place if you were looking to party.   Staying at a resort, especially in Hawaii, can get very pricey.  However, I was able to use my SPG points and stayed the whole five days for free!  I only had to pay for the resort fee which was nothing compared to the savings. 

Eatery
Paradise Grill was down the street from the Sheraton and had great food.  Try to catch the early bird specials in the morning where everything was half off!  I had the steak and fried rice for breakfast and it was delicious !  It was one of the best fried rice I've had and I'm Asian!  You can also earn miles on this restaurant.  Another plus! It is part of the dining program so make sure you register your credit card!

Mama Fish House was expensive but very good.  Make sure to make reservation since it was very popular.  I took a stroll on the beach afterward because it was right there and not a lot of crowd.   It was a must go to place to eat in Maui!

Huli Huli chicken off the side of the road.  This was a must in Maui!  They served this with rice in a to-go box for convenient eating on the beach.

Pad Thai Restaurant
This place was supposed to be the best Thai restaurant in Maui.   Considering the location, it was not too bad but definitely not the best Thai I've ever had.

Activities:

Molokini: best snorkeling place!  You can sign up for the excursion anywhere but we signed up for it at Boss Frog's and they gave us a good deal because we rented the snorkeling gears from them.  The water was clear but cold in January but wearing a wet suit helped.  We were able to see a few whales breached on the way to Molokini.  The excursion included snorkeling at Turtle Town for sea turtles.  We were able to see one sea turtle that came up to the side of our boat. It was as if it was saying goodbye to us!

                              

Black Rock
You can rent snorkeling gear at the Sheraton resort for $9 a day.  We went to Boss Frog's and rent the gear for $9 for a week.  A much better deal! Black rock was right there off the beach of the Sheraton and offered a great place to snorkel.  Before sunset there was also cliff diving ceremony at Black Rock.  It was nice to see the show and learned a little bit more about the history of Hawaii.

                                               

Road to Hana
There were also several hiking trails along the Road to Hana.  I took a little hike to Twin Falls.  The water was bit chilly but the 15 minute hike was nice.  Plan on spending a whole day on the Road to Hana.  It was a very winding road so not good for people who get motion sickness easily.  Make sure you pack lunch or snacks because there was not many places to eat once you are on that road.

                              

                                

The Feast at Lele
I went to Maui in January and the weather was very pleasant for the most part.  It rained in the afternoon a few times and the whole day on my last day there.  I had to keep rescheduling the Luau at The Royal Luau.  I ended up canceling that one and went with the Feast at Lele for the luau.  It was pretty much a buffet but they brought the food to you.  However, if you decided you like a particular dish, just ask and they will bring more.  The show was spectacular!  Only one thing was missing: the roast pork ceremony.  It got chilly at night in January so bring a sweater.

                                 
Whale Watching
You can whale watch on the side of the road but you would have to get binoculars to get a good look.  I was able to see several whales breach on the way to Molokini so I did not have to sign up for a separate excursions.  There were several excursions that offered only whale watching and you can see the whales up close.  That dot in the picture was actually a whale  seen from the side of the road.
                                     

That dot in the picture is a whale!

                                    

Mt. Haleakala
Watching the sunrise or sunset was another must see and do.  Dress in layers because it gets really cold up there once the sun sets.  The road was very winding so be very careful driving at night.

Iao Valley State Park
This place had a very good hike but I didn't get to go on it because it was raining.  I got up there and tried to wait it out but no luck.  I would definitely go back for this hike.  It was still a nice drive up there.  There was also a Korean Garden on the way there that was very nice.

                                
All in all, this was a place I definitely have to come back and visit.   It had a lot of outdoors for the active people and plenty of beaches for relaxation.

                                

Penguins at the Hyatts