The Road To Hana — The Road to Hana is an adventure packed with many scenic locations and activities along the way. There’s practically a waterfall around every corner, and if you manage to survive the four-hour drive to the small town of Hana without driving off a cliff, then you’ll have something to write home about. Hana itself is a peaceful little town with surrounding hiking trails, waterfalls and beaches of every sand color under the sun.
Haleakala — The “House of the Sun” is the massive volcano that makes up over 75 percent of the island of Maui. As a friend said, “When you reach the summit, you’ll see God.” The temperature at the top is often in the 40s, so pack a sweater. At over 10,000 feet, the air is thin and the sky is clear. Haleakala’s crater and surrounding wilderness are popular among locals and tourists alike for horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking, stargazing and apparently, seeing God.
Lahaina — The historic town was once the “Royal Capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom.” Today, Lahaina is home to some of the most famous resorts in Hawaii and a major tourist hot spot. The town is full of ocean side shops, restaurants, art galleries and one of the largest Banyan trees in the world. Lahaina was once a whalers community, and humpback whales are often seen from the shores of Lahaina. Take a boat tour for a more personal encounter with the whales.
Paia — Hippies and big wave surfers abound! Lucky for us, we blend in quite well in a town like Paia. It’s full of little street shops with herbal remedies, natural and organic foods and tie dye T-shirts. Paia is paradise for the thrill-seeking hippie surfer crowd. It’s home to the surf break “Peahi,” better known as “Jaws.” The waves here can exceed 60 feet in the winter and attract big wave tow-in surfers, such as Laird Hamilton. If you’re not familiar with him, you’ve probably seen Laird surfing this monster wave in an American Express commercial.
Makena Beach (Big Beach) — A large sandy beach on the south shore of Maui. Big Beach is a more “traditional” beach, with plenty of space to spread out in the soft sand, catch sun rays and swim or snorkel in the calm, warm water.
Honolua Bay — The bay is known for it’s epic waves during the winter, but it’s also a great place to snorkel and dive when it’s calm. The beach itself is filled mostly with rocks and isn’t particularly suited for sunbathing. The surrounding area is a very lush jungle environment. On a personal note, I’ve never seen so many skinks (snake-like lizards) in my life. They are everywhere in the underbrush, millions of them. As a reptile lover, this was pretty exciting for me. If you’re not a fan of lizards, don’t worry, they’re small, completely harmless and you probably won’t even notice them if you’re not looking for them.
