Hawaii is a state of mind. It is unlike any other place on earth. There are a lot of gorgeous islands but Hawaii… it just transports you to another world. The warm breeze, the rainbows, the spectacularly perfect ocean, it’s euphoric. I hadn’t been there in many years and I just returned to paradise. And it was amazing.
I stayed at The Westin Resort and Spa. It truly defined tropical paradise. It was filled with people but I like a lot of life around me, even on a relaxing vacation. People watching is one of my favorite hobbies but be sure to rent a cabana everyday to get the BEST pool/ beach position. Trust me, it’s worth it. But, most of all, the people of Hawaii are absolutely the greatest. They are so warm, gentle and friendly. Everyone we met truly was the embodiment of the aloha spirit.
So jump on a plane and throw on your grass skirt to indulge in a trip that is way over due.
Must do’s in Maui:
- MUST go to a luau
- rent jet skis and fly around the ocean
- rent scooters and head to Lahaina to shop
- eat at Lahaina Grill and Merrimans… the BEST
- go on a helicopter ride over Molokai
- eat as many pupus as possible
- stay away from poi
- get lei-ed. a lot.
xoxo, Alex
Photos by CH
Beaches Beyond the Resort
It is tempting to never leave your hotel's stretch of sand, and honestly some days I do not. But the beaches that stayed with me were the ones we had to look for: a quiet cove down a dirt road, a black-sand beach that felt like another planet, and a sunrise stretch where the only other footprints were a few early surfers. Renting a car and chasing those mornings was the best decision of the whole trip.
Pack reef-safe sunscreen, go early to beat both the heat and the crowds, and always keep a towel and snacks in the car. Maui rewards the people who wander a little off the obvious path.
Eating and Slowing Down
Maui taught me to eat with the seasons and the islands. Fresh poke from a roadside counter, fruit bought from a stand with an honor-system cash box, and one long, unhurried dinner watching the sun melt into the water. The food was simpler than I expected and somehow more memorable for it.
If you do one splurge, make it a sunset dinner on the water. And do not over-plan your days. The whole point of Maui is letting an afternoon stretch out with nowhere you have to be.
