HAWAII

YEAR VISITED
2011 – O’ahu & Kaua’i
2020 & 2024 – Maui

Jill and I have been lucky enough to travel to the state of Hawaii three times. Our first trip was in 2011 when we toured O’ahu for two nights and Kaua’i for an additional four nights. This was our 10-year wedding anniversary and we wanted to do something extra special to celebrate. Our second and third trips were to Maui in 2020 and again in 2024. We fell in love with the state immediately and definitely consider Hawaii to be a special destination. Simply put; Hawaii is paradise. We have traveled all over North America and a handful of countries in Europe but have yet to stumble across another destination that comes close to resembling the natural beauty of Hawaii.

———- O’AHU, HAWAII ———-

HOTEL/CONDO: Our goal for venturing to Oahu was to tour Pearl Harbor and see famed Waikiki Beach. As a result we weren’t looking for a luxurious place to stay. Therefore we booked a regular hotel off the hotwire app. I remember commenting that I had never seen a hotel room so small, but the location was fantastic as it was merely a couple blocks from Waikiki Beach. No matter the island or islands you choose to visit I would highly suggest doing some research and identifying what is most important to you prior to securing lodging. In our experience, your entire Hawaiian journey can drastically change depending on where you decide to stay. Also, remember everything is more expensive in Hawaii – which is definitely true when booking hotels or resorts.

ADVENTURE(S) AND/OR NOTABLE DESTINATIONS: The first time we began discussing potentially vacationing in Hawaii, I insisted on touring Pearl Harbor. Being a former US History teacher, I have always considered this to be a bucket list location.

As a result we planned a two night “island hop” flight to O’ahu – just long enough to tour the historic landmark. We were not disappointed. Similar to many historical locations, being on sight I felt as if time had stood still and even though it was 2010 I could truly imagine the horrific acts that occurred on December 7th, 1941.

We booked a tour and were soon transported to the USS Arizona. While I had an idea of what I would see, nothing prepared me for the feelings of remorse and utter sadness as I stood their observing the oil bubbling to the surface (nearly 80 years after the fact) and the names of the sailors who were forever entombed at this very sight. If you have the opportunity I cannot encourage you enough to plan a visit.

RESTAURANTS: Hard Rock Cafe (Oahu) – When traveling, our family has always made a point to eat at various Hard Rock Cafes. Personally, I have always greatly enjoyed the ambience and memorabilia so much I don’t mind overpaying for a hamburger. The HRC in downtown Honolulu is one of the best!

STADIUMS AND/OR SPORTING EVENTS: Growing up I always looked forward to watching the NFL Pro Bowl and the Hula Bowl played at Aloha Stadium. Sports in paradise – everything just seemed perfect. Therefore I always thought it would be cool to see a game in the stadium. Unfortunately when we visited in the summer of 2011 there weren’t any games. However we did attend a swap meet in the parking lot and enjoyed strolling around the outside of the stadium.

———- KAUA’I, HAWAII ———-

EXPERIENCES: When in Kauai a must do item should revolve around exploring the spectacular Na Pali Coast. There are a handful of hiking adventures and then multiple bosting options to see the unique coastline. Make sure you select at least one of them. We selected the Na Pali Odyssey tour where we took in the awe inspiring views from a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) – made famous by the Navy Seals.

The down side to this tour is it is high speed and at times you feel as if you are hanging on for dear life. The positive is we were able to easily maneuver in and out of sea caves as well as push right up on our very own private beach. This would not have been possible with a bigger boat. The tour lasted roughly four hours and provided food and drinks. By far the highlight was seeing dolphins swim right up and around our boat. I can easily say this excursion was a highlight of our trip.

Also on Kauai is Waimea Canyon, commonly referred to as the ‘Grand Canyon of the Pacific’. Prior to the trip I had no idea this even existed, which I believe added to me being extra impressed on the day we visited. The canyon stretches over ten miles long and is roughly one mile deep. When you consider this unique geography is on an island, it makes the views all that more mesmerizing.

The best part of canyons and cliffs, combined with the massive amount of rainfall Kaua’i receives annually, is the magnificent waterfalls. They seem to be everywhere and resemble something out of a movie. There are two roads you can drive to the canyon, Waimea Canyon Drive and Koke’e Road, both of which have multiple waterfall viewing pull outs as well an assortment of hikes. Plan on taking at least a day to explore this area.

ADVENTURE(S) AND/OR NOTABLE DESTINATIONS: By far, the north side of the island and the area around Hanalei Beach is our favorite. The cove is exceptionally shallow, the sand is white, and the surrounding jungle and mountains make Hanalei appear like something out of a movie. We enjoyed a day of snorkeling, sunbathing, walking out on the iconic pier built before the turn of the 20th century, and frequenting a handful of shops in the charming downtown. Make sure you visit the picturesque Wai’oli Hui’ ia Church (The Green Church). It was built in 1912 and is a favorite of residents and tourists alike.

Not being a traditional “put your feet in the sand a relax” kind of a vacationer, I stumbled upon the Sleeping Giant Hiking Trail (Nounou Mountain). The trail was extremely wet and muddy in places but the view from atop the summit was definitely worth it. While hiking is most likely not the reason you travel to Hawaii, it certainly is a fun adventure if you are like me and need more than just sitting in a beach chair.

Kaua’i was our first Hawaiian experience. As a result, we wanted to experience the Hawaiian culture as much as possible and decided to attend a Luau. After doing quite a bit of research around the many options, we decided on the Smith Family Garden Luau. It was near our hotel and located on a beautiful 30-acre botanical garden. We greatly enjoyed the experience and would highly recommend it.

BEACHES: One of our favorite activities in Hawaii, or anywhere tropical, is snorkeling. I would suggest renting snorkel gear for the duration of your trip. This provides you flexibility around when and where you go on your underwater adventure. In my experience it really doesn’t cost that much more. When dealing with oceans and water flexibility is important as currents and tides are always something to be aware of. In Kaua’i we rented at Snorkel Bob’s, and were pleased with the service. Our favorite beaches to snorkel were:

Ke’e Beach – Located on the north shore nearest the Na Pali Coast. We loved it as it resembled a beach from a deserted island. The positive is there were very few people and many fish and turtles to see. The negative is there are no bathroom or shower amenities.

Poipu Beach – Located on the south shore with a shallow protected swimming area. This beach has bathroom and shower amenities nearby. However, it is extremely popular and is usually crowded.

RESTAURANTS: Duke’s – It is located right on the water, is a beautiful setting, and served the best fish tacos we found on the island. In Kaua’i this was our ‘go to’ restaurant.

HOTEL/CONDO: We stayed at the Marriot Resort in Lihue – easily one of the nicest hotels we have ever had the pleasure of staying at. It was beachfront, had an amazing outdoor swimming pool, a separate kids pool, an elaborate koi pond, and rooms with either a view of the pool or the ocean.

———- MAUI, HAWAII ———-

EXPERIENCES:December, January, and February is peak Humpback Whale watching season. When planning our trip we knew this is something we absolutely wanted to do, but knew very little details. There are a plethora of boating options – some solely provide whale watching opportunities, some provide dinner and drinks, some just provide drinks, some still yet cater to a sunset cruise. We selected a catamaran sunset cruise on Christmas Eve 2021 through Teralani Charters.

They served dinner and drinks, located multiple humpback whales for up close and personal viewing, and provided smooth sailing all while we sat back and took in the breathtaking sunset. It was nothing short of spectacular and something we would highly recommend – this was Bailey and Jill’s favorite part of our entire trip. In fact we enjoyed it so much when we returned to Maui in 2024 we booked the same excursion through the same company. Both times Teralani Charters were first class in every way.

While the family wasn’t completely sold on this idea at first mention, watching the sunrise from Haleakala National Park was high on my list of to-do’s. When you consider the drive from Lahaina to the summit of the park is roughly 1 hour and 40 minutes, I could understand my families reservation at waking up at or before 4:00 am in order to make a 6:55 sunrise. However once we all witnessed this unique phenomenon on an island, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, from 10,000 feet, (nearly 2,000 feet higher than the summit of Mt. St Helens) it truly felt like a once in a lifetime event that was worth getting up for.

I don’t ever remember feeling so small in the eyes of the universe and so blessed at the exact same moment.

Keep in mind if you decide to drive yourself you must have a permit. There are a limited amount of parking spaces and they fill up exceptionally fast. If you are interested, I would suggest visiting http://www.recreation.gov as soon as you book your trip. Following the sunrise we decided to do the Sliding Sands Trail hike into the mouth of the crater. The hike begins at the visitor center, is eleven miles round trip, and offers one of a kind volcano views. The AllTrails app labeled the hike “hard”, and we chose to just do three miles of it. However, we still felt like we were able to soak in the unique landscape and views.

If you are a hiker, the Waihe’e Ridge Trail is an absolute must. It is extremely steep, is labeled on the AllTrails app as “hard”, and is just under 4-miles roundtrip. However, the scenery and the views were as good as anything I have experienced and make all the hardship worth it. While I wish I had packed hiking boots, as the trail was wet and extremely slippery in places, the views were simply spectacular.

Walking along the ridge we had views of the ocean, the gorge, and the mountains. Upon completion of the hike I turned to my daughter and said this is “one of the top three hikes I have completed in my life.” She responded, “Dad this ones the best!”

HOTEL/APARTMENT: In 2020 we were lucky enough to stay for two weeks in December. Therefore, we divided our stay to one week in Kihei at the Worldmark and another week in Lahaina at the Isle Valley Resort. (Below are pictures of the Worldmark resort and Kamaole beach directly across the street)

While both weeks were nothing short of spectacular, both locations offered different perks. The Kihei resort had bigger rooms, seemed to be newer and had a beautiful pool, but was located across the street from the beach. The Lahaina resort was right on the water, provided amazing views from our balcony, and pretty much offered it’s own private beach. However, it was definitely not as new or spacious. (Below are views from our balcony in Lahaina at the Isle Valley Resort)

In 2024 we also traveled in December and stayed in a Condo in Kihei. It was adjacent to the Kaipukaihina Beach. We fell in love with simply walking across the street to the beach.

RESTAURANTS: One of the perks of traveling to new destinations is having the opportunity to experience new food items and/or places to eat out. Maui, while expensive, has a plethora of restaurant options. Here are our favorites:

Coconuts (Kihei) – This Cafe specializes in fish tacos… and I love fish tacos. Therefore, Coconuts was one of my favorites. An added bonus was the fact we found it to be one of the more affordable restaurants we visited on the island. We returned in 2024 and discovered there are now multiple Coconut Cafe locations.

Gazebo (Lahaina) – This is a must stop. Great food, great location, and even better service. Expect a line, as the restaurant is not large, but don’t let that deter you – the wait is worth it.

Kimo’s (Lahaina) – Location, location, location. The food is good and the drinks stiff but what pushes this place over the top is the location. We had Christmas dinner at Kimo’s and it will forever remain a special destination to our family. UNFORTUNATELY THIS LOCATION WAS DESTROYED IN THE LAHAINA FIRE OF 2023. WE ARE HOPING THEY REBUILD.

Lahaina Fish Company (Lahaina & Paia) – This is right down the street from Kimo’s. Make sure you have a reservation and ask for a table on the water, you will not be disappointed. UNFORTUNATELY THIS LOCATION WAS DESTROYED IN THE LAHAINA FIRE OF 2023. WE ARE HOPING THEY REBUILD.

Mama’s Fish House (Paia) – For people in my tax bracket, I would consider this outing as a one time splurge. But make no mistake the food is amazing and the only thing better then the food is the location. However, keep in mind this restaurant has consistently been ranked as one of the top restaurants in the United States and is #1 on the island. Reservations are routinely make 6-months in advance. We felt lucky to even get a reservation and simply decided to splurge – it was worth it!

Maui Brewing Company (Kihei & Lahaina) – Good drinks, first rate t-shirts and apparel, and spicy fish tacos. What’s not to like?

Longhi’s (Kaanapali) – Italian-American food and located right on the beach. Good food and great location – we were able to watch whales jump in the waves right from our table.

ROAD TO HANA: Beaches on Maui are so beautiful and so pristine it is tempting to spend your whole vacation simply relaxing on the sandy shores of paradise. However, you cannot travel to Maui and not take the Road to Hana. Everyone that ventures to Maui should experience this one of a kind journey – I’ve never come across anything that compares.

While we typically rent the cheapest rental car possible, we decided to upgrade and rent a jeep. In retrospect we consider this one of the best decisions we made on the entire trip. The whole family has lasting memories of us twisting and turning along the 64 mile trek to Hana, blaring the radio, and feeling the warm Hawaiian sunshine on our faces.

Once you commit to driving the famous road, I would highly suggest downloading a tour guide app. We used “Gypsy Hana”, which cost around $6 or $7 dollars. The app then used GPS to follow our progress and then told us where to stop, when to stop, and why to stop. It also mixed in a little Hawaiian history – we felt as if we had our own personal tour guide riding shot gun. There are many other CD’s or app’s that I am sure are all sufficient as well. The legendary road has 620 curves and 59 bridges (many of them one lane). Take it slow, appreciate the breathtaking scenery, and enjoy the journey. We did and consider it one of the prettiest locations of any of our travels. Here are a few highlight stops:

Ho’okipa Beach Park (mile marker #8) – Windsurf capital of the world, professional surf destination, and sea turtles routinely relax on the white sandy beaches.

Garden of Eden (mile marker #10) – Is a 26-acre park with trails through a botanical garden complete with tremendous ocean views. In fact the opening scene of Jurassic Park was filmed from this location. There is also a tremendous views of the Puohokamoa Waterfall where for a fee you can rappel down the waterfall.

Keanae Peninsula & Arbotetum (mile marker #17) – This is a Taro producing village with amazing looking lava rock. We stopped to purchase banana bread from Aunty Sandy’s and walked around the arboretum and marveled at the Rainbow Eucalyptus Trees.

Pua’a Ka’a State Wayside Park (mile marker #22) – Bathroom stop, picnic area, and multiple waterfalls.

Wai’anapanapa State Park (mile marker #32) – Postcard worthy views of jungle, lava rock, ocean, and black sand beaches. There are also hikes, sea caves, and a blow hole – this is a must stop!

Pipiwai Trail (mile marker #42) – One of best hikes I have experienced on any of the islands. The hike begins at Haleakala National Park, meanders through a bamboo forest, leads to a massive banyan tree, and concludes with a 400 foot Waimoku Falls.

While these are the stops that impressed us the most, you can’t go wrong with any of the sights on the Road to Hana.

BEACHES: Maui has some of the prettiest beaches in the world. You really can’t go wrong with whichever beach you decide to visit. Here are our favorites:

Kamaole Beach I, II, and III – Located in Kihei, easy access, multiple spots to view sea turtles and an exotic array of fish. Charley Young Beach (north of Kam I) is also great place to see turtles. There are bathroom and shower facilities at all four locations.

Napili Bay – Located on the north shore near Kapalua, small cove, can snorkel, sunbath, or paddleboard. Bathroom and shower facilities are close by.

‘Ulua Beach – Located in Kihei, sandy entry, and the waves are gentle or non-existent in the morning.

Maluaka Beach – Located in Wailea, beautiful white sand, gentle rolling waves – this is our favorite place on the whole island to snorkel. The reef is exceptionally large and we saw all sorts of tropical fish.

Makena State Park (Big Beach) – This is one of the largest and prettiest beaches on Maui. It is hard to envision a more picturesque beach. We started boogey boarding but stopped early as these were extremely powerful waves. There is not a life guard on this beach so be smart. However, the beauty alone is worth a visit.

Prior to traveling to Maui my oldest daughter (Bailey) decided she wanted to learn to surf. As a result her 15th birthday present was a surf lesson in Oregon. While her one surf lesson certainly didn’t make her an expert, it was successful in her feeling comfortable enough to want to surf in Maui. Because of the high cost of renting a board, as well as the fact she was a beginner, we determined it was cost effective to simply purchase a surf board from Costco. This allowed us the freedom to determine which beach and for how long she could surf without being tied to a rental time limit. Our favorite beginner surf beaches were:

The Cove at Kalama Park – Located just outside of Kihei – a fantastic, friendly, and safe place to start. Just be aware of sea urchins on the shallow sea floor.

Ka’ anapali Beach – Directly in front of the Marriot hotel. Waves seemed a step larger than the Cove, but still a safe place for beginners. Additionally this is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

CONCLUSION: We were devastated to hear about the 2023 Lahaina fire and the near total destruction of the town. Downtown was located right on the water and we loved exploring Front Street. There were boutique stores, art galleries, shops and tourist stores with restaurants and food trucks mixed in. There was something for everyone in a one of a kind location. We considered this to be our favorite town on the island, and hope when it gets rebuilt it will resemble what it once was.

Near the end of the south end of Front Street is a massive banyan tree that was planted in 1873. We visited in December and were able to see it decorated in Christmas lights which made for a fantastic holiday photo. We were relieved to hear that the tree survived the fire.

Hawaii, no matter the island, is truly a special place. In our experience the people are friendly, the beaches are nothing short of spectacular, and the weather is perfect. This state is truly paradise!