October 2021
Hawaii
North America
Trip Summary
16 Days Total
Arrival Flight: United Airlines Toronto to Lihue Airport, Kauai
Poipu Beach, Kauai | 2 days
Transfer Car: Rental from Hertz Poipu Beach to Princeville
Princeville, Kauai | 2 days
Transfer Flight: Hawaiian Airlines Lihue, Kauai to Kahului, Maui
Lahaina, Maui | 1 day
Transfer Ferry: Lahaina Harbor Ferry Maui to Lanai
Lanai City, Lanai | 5 days
Transfer Ferry: Lahaina Harbor Ferry Lanai to Maui
Paia, Maui | 2 days
Transfer Car: Rental from Hertz Paia to Hana
Hana, Maui | 1 day
Transfer Car: Rental from Hertz Hana to Wailea
Wailea, Maui | 3 days
Departure Flight: United Airlines Kahului Airport, Maui to Toronto
DAY 01
POIPU BEACH, KAUA'I
Relax
We have visited some amazing places in this world but overall, Hawai'i is still our favorite trip. We were in Hawai'i for 16 days total and visited 3 Hawaiian islands - Kaua'i, Lana'i, and Maui. There is just a magical feel to the Hawaiian islands and it is something that cannot be beat. We will definitely be returning to Hawaii in the future, hopefully many more times. Maui was the biggest (and in our opinion, the best) island we visited. It has so much to offer from rainforests to stunning beaches to ancient volcanos and everything in between. We spent the most number of days on Maui with 7 days total including some time spent traveling to and from the island. This was a perfect amount of time to see everything we wanted to see on the island and still have some free time to relax and not feel rushed. Kaua'i was a close second favorite, being a bit smaller than Maui with slightly less urban development. Kaua'i was a gorgeous natural beauty and is a great place to explore, hike, and relax. We spent 4 days on Kaua'i and this was also a great amount of time to explore what the island has to offer. Lana'i is the smallest of the three islands and is just off the coast of Maui. There is very little development on Lana'i other than the few beautiful world-class resorts that call Lana'i home. We went to Lana'i as a part of a "President's Club" trip with my company that treats high performing employees to a high-end, all expenses paid vacation once a year. We stayed at a gorgeous resort and had a nice, relaxing time for the 5 days we were there in between our adventures on Maui and Kaua'i. It really was the perfect trip! If you find yourself in Hawaii for a similar vacation, here is what you should do:
One thing you should 100% do in Hawaii is rent a car. If you can rent a convertible, even better. Once you land in Kaua'i, head over to the car rental center to pick up your car. We flew with United from Toronto to Lihue Airport, Kaua'i with a layover in Denver. The flight took just over 10 hours and was relatively smooth and painless. We rented a car with Hertz car rental and had a great experience, so I would recommend you to the do the same. It cost about ~$450 CAD for 4 full days on Kaua'i. We stayed at the Sheraton Kaua'i Resort Villas which is a lovely spot to stay for your first two nights on the island. It costs $440 CAD for 2 nights for a king, garden view room and free parking. The hotel has comfortable rooms, a nice pool and spectacular grounds. If you choose to stay at a different hotel, I would suggest still choosing one in Poipu or at least in the Southern area of Kaua'i for your first 2 nights. I planned the itinerary for each Hawaiian island to be able to efficiently visit all the island has to offer, and that includes staying in different areas of the island to be able to access nearby hotspots and activities. After checking in the hotel, hop in your rental car and drive about 5 minutes to Old Koloa Town. Old Koala Town is a historic village that has antique shops, restaurants, and art displays surrounding Koala's sugar plantation history. It is a cute small area to walk around, and has some great food options. La Spezia has delectable homemade Italian pasta and dishes, with the lasagne being a house favorite, along with a large wine list. Similarly, the Tasting Room is great for dinner with lots of great menu and cocktail options. If you have time or energy after Old Koala Town, you can stop by Poipu Beach on the way back to the hotel for a swim or a beach walk before calling it a night and catching up on sleep from your long flight. If you landed earlier in the day and have more time to spent this afternoon, the Makauwahi Cave Trail is a great option. The hike the quick 0.8-km out-and-back trail, which is generally considered an easy route through a cool cave. Another trial to try would be the Maha'ulepu Heritage Trail: Shipwreck Beach to Punahoa Point. This one is longer being 6.0 km out and back and is considered moderately challenging. The remote Maha'ulepu Beach you will arrive at at the end of the trial is known for great whale watching when the whales are in season and is home to some of the endangered monk seals. Don't worry if you can't fit the hikes in the itinerary today though, maybe tomorrow will be better!
DAY 02
POIPU BEACH, KAUA'I
View
One of the absolute most amazing things you can do in Hawaii is enjoy the spectacular landscape in a helicopter. There are helicopter tours offered on almost all the Hawaiian islands and I am sure they are all fantastic. If you find yourself on Kaua'i, I would highly recommend taking one. I would specifically recommend taking one while on Kaua'i because Kaua'i is home to the Na Pali coast which is a coast of sea cliffs with narrow valleys, streams and waterfalls - famous for its beauty and untouched nature. This area is a must see while you are on Kaua'i, and due it's height and just the nature of it's existence, it can really only be truly appreciated either from the water or the sky. We went on a helicopter tour in Kaua'i and it was one of the top 5 best experiences of our entire lives. Enough said. There are many helicopter tour companies to choose from while you are there. We took the Grand Skies Island Tour from Island Helicopters and it was perfect. It is a 55 min shared tour that costs $250 per person. The tour flies through the tropical Hanapepe Valley, Manawaipuna Falls (as seen in the Jurassic Park movie), Waimea Canyon, the famous Na Pali Coast, Bali Hai and Lumahai Beach (as seen in the South Pacific movie), Hanalei Bay and Valley, and inside the crater of Mt.Waialeale (one of the wettest spots on Earth). If you have never been in a helicopter before, the doors are large and clear which provide a beautiful view of the landscape below you, and you wear a headset so the pilot can talk to you as you fly and educate you on what you are seeing below. In this area of Kaua'i, the helicopter tours take off from Lihue airport, just 25 mins from Poipu, and an early morning flight is recommended to have the best view with minimal glare from the rising sun. Here is a video of the helicopter tour so you can see it to believe it.
Then, once you have finished the helicopter tour and picked you jaw back up from the floor, you can start exploring some of the enticing locations you saw in the sky on the land as well. Drive about an hour west to Waimea Canyon (also known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific). Waimea Canyon which is a large, beautiful, ten mile long canyon great for photos and hiking. The Canyon costs $10 for parking and $5 per person for entry. There are various hikes in the area or along the route that you can do depending how adventurous you are feeling. There is the very long Waimea Canyon trial that is classified as hard and is 20km out and back, the more digestible Waimea Canyon Lookout trial that is an easy 0.2km loop, or the Red Dirt Waterfall Iliau Nature Loop Trail that is another easy 0.6km loop a bit further out from the canyon. Then, on your drive back to Poipu, stop in the town of Hanapepe which is known for art, and at The Right Slice for a piece of their famous pies. Finish the night with dinner in town. The Beach House restaurant has great sunset views and cocktails.
DAY 03
PRINCEVILLE, KAUA'I
Hike
Today you will be making your way from Poipu on the Southern tip of Kaua'i to Princeville on the northern tip of Kaua'i. Since Kaua'i is fairly small, it only takes one hour to drive all along and up the Eastern coast from Poipu to Princeville. Since it is such a quick drive and you have all day, you may as well stop for a few easy hikes on the way. Just half an hour into your drive you will find the Wailua Falls Trail. The short 0.5km out and back steep trail to the base of the falls might potentially be closed due to hazardous conditions, so if it is, please respect the signage and move on. You can still see the falls from the parking area, so snap a photo, and continue on to the next one. 10 minutes up the road is one of the best trails in Kaua'i in terms of the view at the end - the Sleeping Giant East Trail is a moderate to challenging 5km out + back hike with great 360 views of the island at the peak. The trial is known to be muddy and uneven at certain points, so make sure you wear proper shoes. If you are hungry after your hike on the Sleeping Giant, there is a spectacular poke and taco place called the Sleeping Giant Grill. We heard from locals that it had the best tacos on the island, and it definitely lived up to the expectation. If you are in the area, make sure you stop by and try the special of the day. Then, finally, another 30 minutes up the coast you will find another great trail - the Wai Koa Trail - just 10 minutes away from your destination of Princeville if you have more walking left in you. The Wai Koa Trail is an easy 6km out and back trail open from 9am to dusk. You do need to stop at the Welcome Center to sign a waiver before you enter the trail because this trail is on private property.
By this time you are only about 10 minutes from Princeville. Continue on and explore the town, grab a bite to eat, and check into your hotel or Airbnb to drop your bags off. We stayed at this Airbnb and I would highly recommend it. It was a bit more expensive than our first stay at $660 for 2 nights but it was in a great location and had everything we needed. Princeville is a much more developed and commercial area of Kaua'i and it was nice to spend half the time in the more low-key Pipou area, and then half the time in the more upbeat Princeville. After you drop your bags, continue on to Hanalei Bay, maybe stopping at Hanalei Valley Lookout if it is on your way. When you get to Hanalei Bay, you can walk around the large, scenic beach and stop in some of the shops and restaurants in the area. A great thing to do here is rent a kayak or SUP (stand-up paddle-board) and paddle through the Hanalei River, keeping an eye out for fish and turtles below you. There are many kayak or SUP rental companies to chose from, including Kayak Hanalei which charges $50 for daily use of a paddle-board, or $45 for a single kayak.
DAY 04
PRINCEVILLE, KAUA'I
Park
This morning take your time waking up and getting breakfast. Drive or walk to the Queen's Bath to check out the natural ocean water tide pool carved into rocks surrounding the water. Once you are ready, head out for a scenic ~30 min drive to Ha'ena State Park. Ha'ena State Park is currently subject to daily visitor limits and you need to book a reservation in advance to enter the park. You can book your reservation on the park's website. You need to book a $10 parking pass per vehicle, and $5 entry reservation per person entering the park. You can book on the website up the 30 days in advance. Remember to get on early to secure your spot! You do need to choose a time period that you want to enter, so do so according with your hiking plans for the day. If you plan to tackle one of the longer hikes, give yourself more time. You can find the famous Na Pali Coast (Kalalau) Trail in Ha'ena State Park, but you definitely don't need to tackle the entire 35.4km out-and-back challenging route when you visit. This entire trail takes over 12 hours to finish on average, so if you did want to tackle the entire route, you can pre-book camping in the area to stay overnight. If you are not up for a 2 day hike (which we were not when we visited, though it did look beautiful!) there are two other more digestible options for day hikes with great views at the end nonetheless. You can choose to do the medium length 12.5 km out-and-back Hanakapi'ai Falls Trail hike that takes just under 5 hours to complete and takes you to a beautiful waterfall, or the shorter 6km out-and-back moderate Hanakāpīʻai Beach trail that takes just over 2 hours to complete and takes you to a cool remote beach!
DAY 05
LAHAINA, MAUI
Luau
After four great days on Kaua'i, it is time to continue the adventure and head to Maui. Hawaiian Airlines is a nice, small local airline with common services between the islands. The flight from Kaua'i to Maui is about $150 CAD and takes about an hour. Rent another car when you get to the airport. After landing at Kahului Airport in central Maui, you will want to make your way over to Lahaina on the northwestern side of the island. Now, there are two routes you can take to get to Lahaina - you can go straight across the island heading south and then head north up the northwest coast to reach Lahaina, or, you can take the longer route up the northeastern coast of this section of Maui, across the most northern point, and then down the northwestern coast until you reach Lahaina. Like I mentioned before, I wanted to cover all the island had to offer, and I always plan my itineraries to cover the most ground, so in this case, we went the long way. There were also a few landmarks on the northeastern coast that we wanted to visit on the way. You can choose your route depending on timing, but I will warn you as well that if you choose the eastern long route like we did, there are some scary sections of road where you are driving on the side of large sea cliffs without guard rails. Don't get me wrong, it was beautiful, and we and others drivers on the road were driving cautiously so we were safe, but it was scary at times. If I could do it all again, I would still take the same route, but I just had to warn you. If you do go this route, there is a nice but difficult hike about half an hour from the airport. It is called the Waihee Ridge Trail and takes just under 3 hours to complete. If you are hiked out already from Kaua'i, continue up the northeastern coast until you reach the Nakalele Blowhole, which is a
powerful ocean blowhole shooting up between lava formations, including a heart-shaped rock. The best part - you don't have to hike at all to get there :). Snap a few photos and then get back on the road for about 30 mins to get to Ka'anapali Beach for a refresh. This beach is great for wave jumping, snorkeling, or cliff-diving off a small cliff on the right side of the beach. There are lots of beach bars and restaurants nearby if you are hungry, and then Lahaina is just 10 mins up the road. We stayed at this Airbnb while we were in Lahaina and I would recommend it, though it was quite simple and out dated, it was fine for one night and a decent price for the area at ~$230 CAD a night.
The main thing we wanted to do in Lahaina was attend the famous Old Lahaina Lu'au. It was an all-you-can-eat, all-you-can-drink event, with a 3 hour long Lu'au performance. It costs just under $300 for two people. It was very cool to experience and I am happy we went, but honestly, I don't think we would do it again. The food and drinks weren't totally to our tastes (and we are really not very picky!) and our self-diagnosed ADHD was acting up after about an hour of performances. Take that information as you will, and you can decide if it is something you would like to do while you are in Hawaii. If you do want to go, you need to book a reservation in advance on their website. We also only stayed in Lahaina for one night as we had to catch the ferry to Lana'i early the next morning. If you are skipping Lana'i in your travels, you could spend an extra day here and then continue with the rest of the itinerary below from Maui. Unless you are interested in staying at the Four Seasons resort or are looking for a high-end (and expensive), relaxing break from your travels, I would recommend to just continue on in Maui for the rest of your trip from here. The itinerary picks back up on Day 11 in Paia, Maui below.
DAY 06-10
LANA'I
Relax
Again, we went to Lana'i as a part of a "President's Club" trip with my company that treats high performing employees to a high-end, all expenses paid vacation once a year. With this being the case, the itinerary was more simple for this section of the trip. We were there from a Wednesday to a Sunday, just 4 nights and 5 days, and it was the perfect amount of time to relax and explore this small, picturesque island. We took the Lahaina Harbor Ferry from
Lahaina, Maui to Manele, Lanai which took about 50 minutes and cost $30. It leaves 4 times per day for the trip, so make sure to book your ticket in advance on their website and show up at least 30 minutes before the scheduled departure to check in and board on time.
When we arrived at the Lana'i port, we were met by the hotel staff to take our bags and transfer us to the hotel as our final destination. We stayed at the Four Seasons Lana'i which was extraordinary. If you have never stayed at a Four Seasons hotel, you must at least once in your lifetime. The whole experience is impeccable - from the staff, to the facilities, accommodations, amenities, dining, beaches, etc. it just doesn't get better. Since the hotel was so stunning and we had many colleague friends staying there as well for the trip, we spent most of our time here at the hotel. There was an impeccable outdoor pool, a state of the art fitness centre as well as sports pavilion with tennis a courts, and a pristine beach front area. All of the food was equally stunningly expensive and delicious, which mostly made up for the bill each time. We are normally much more active travelers, but the Four Seasons on Lana'i was the perfect setting to just lay back, relax and enjoy the hotel and the sun.
Though Lana'i is small and most of the development on the land is high-end resorts, there are still a few things to do outside of your resort. You can walk ~15 minutes to the Puu Pehe/ Sweetheart Rock lookout to get to a beautiful ocean rock formation & popular photo spot with a storied history & a serene vibe. You can also head into town to Lana'i City Grill for some local food and live music. If you are feeling adventurous, you can rent a Jeep (this is a popular activity on Lana'i so there are many available if you want to book last minute) to explore the island on the road less traveled in your off-road vehicle. There are Jeep "trails" all around the island and is a fun, albeit bumpy, way to see Lana'i. If you are exploring Lana'i, you have to visit the Lana'i Cat Sanctuary. The sanctuary rescues cats from protected areas where native and endangered ground-nesting birds live and has brought in ~2000 cats since 2014. I have never seen so many cats in my life and they were all so friendly and will even climb on you if you sit down (and have treats). If you are an animal lover at all, this is a great stop on the island. Speaking of animals, they do also offer a horseback riding 2 hour activity on the island, but it is very slow with the most exciting view being a forest and some dead grass, so I would skip that one if I were you.
DAY 11
PAIA,
MAUI
Needle
Whether you arrive back on Maui from Lana'i or just are continuing on from Lahaina, start your day heading across the island to the charming beach town Paia. Again, I plan my itineraries to try to see all there is to see at the locations we are visiting, and plan the routes to be as efficient as possible. The first few days in Maui were spent traveling through western Maui and the northern tip, and now we are continuing in a figure 8 motion through the central parts of the island and then down the southeastern coast of Hana, eventually finding ourselves all the way around the southern tip at the southwestern area of Wailea.
Paia is about a 50 minute drive from Lahaina, and I would suggest making two stops on the way. First, the Launiupoko Beach Park with is a free beach area just up the road with a long shoreline and a very cool natural pool created from lava rocks. There are also picnic tables here if you want to have a food truck or grab and go lunch.
Then, about 40 more minutes up the road you will find the Iao Valley Needle, or the Iao Valley State Monument. Pre-booked reservations are not required for this State Park, but there is a visitor fee again of $5 per person, and $10 per vehicle for parking. There is also parking available on the road outside the park if you are up for walking a while longer. Inside the park, there is a paved ~ half mile long walking trail that leads you to a scenic viewpoint of the Iao Needle. The Needle itself is a 1200 foot tall needle-shaped peak in a vast valley that was creation by erosion of the land. The walk is easy and the view is incredible, so I would highly recommend this stop. Paia is only 30 minutes from here now, so you can hop back in your car and head to your new hotel in Paia for the night. There is also a Walmart and a Costco on the way from the Needle to Paia, so this is a great opportunity to stop for supplies if you need any.
We stayed at the Lumeria Maui hotel while we were in Paia and it was just under $1000 CAD for two nights. It was a good hotel with nice grounds and a good breakfast, but it's main focus or purpose is an educational retreat center that offers classes and programs in yoga, meditation, healing arts & metaphysical studies, horticulture & culture, and dance & movement therapies. So, unless you are planning to take advantage of some of the extracurriculars they offer, it would likely be better to just find a more cost effective, basic option in the area. You likely won't spent much time in your hotel room, so basic works well for the 2 nights in Paia. While in Paia, walk around the downtown and explore the cool surf shops and beach cafes. It really is such a charming town and the area has a great vibe. Make sure you eat at the famous Paia Fish Market while you are there - their fish burger and plates are ** chefs kiss **. It is a very casual place so no need for reservations, just hop in the line (that is likely out the door) and grab a picnic table when it's your turn to order and eat. Mama's Fish House is also in the area and is extremely well known for the delectable seafood. Just make sure you book your reservation here early (and I mean, months early) because they fill up fast!
DAY 12
PAIA,
MAUI
Volcano
Today is all about Haleakala National Park. Haleakala is about 50 minutes from Paia and almost completely uphill. It is home to the dormant Haleakala Volcano and is Maui's highest point. The national park is gorgeous and offers unmatched views of Maui and the volcano, trails that go through old lava flows, and fresh pools and waterfalls in a bamboo forest. It is a must visit in Maui. No reservations are required except if you want to come for the sunrise (between 3am and 7am). The view from Haleakala is stunning and the sunrise is exceptional, so this is a very popular activity. To ensure safety, preservation of the natural land, and honestly just that everyone has room to breath, reservations are required to visit during this time. It is early, but it is remarkable, so if you can make it work, you should. Reservations for the sunrise can be made online on the national park website up to 60 days in advance of the visit, and you can only purchase one sunrise reservation every 3 days. If you are planning to arrive after sunrise, you can just show up at the gate and pay the fee when you arrive. The park charges $30 per vehicle for entry, or $15 per person for walkers or bikers. Entry is valid for 3 days from the time of purchase, so you can choose to stay in the park (there is camping available) or return back over the 3 days if you so wish. I do have us returning back here in two days in this itinerary, so make sure you hold on to your ticket! One other thing to remember for your visit today as well is that this national park is quite remote. There are very few stores and services nearby, so remember to bring lots of gas, food, water, and extra layers of clothing to make sure you have a comfortable trip.
There are many trails to choose from in Haleakala National Park, with over 30 miles of hiking trails that range from 10 minutes to multi-day overnight trips, so you can really tailor your adventure to your skill level and preferences. One thing to be aware of when making your decision is that the elevation in this area is 3,055 m above sea level, and you can feel it. The high elevation causes a lower concentration of oxygen in each of your breaths, which makes things like walking more difficult and altitude sickness a possibility. Be prepared and be on guard for symptoms such as nausea, headache, dizziness and shortness of breath. We were fine when we visited, but noticed it right away and opted for a shorter hike. Here are some recommendations for reasonable hikes in the area:
1. Halemau'u Trail - This is a 1.1 mile (1.8 km) hike on a rocky path to a crater viewpoint. A popular destination on this hike is a natural land bridge commonly referred to as "Rainbow Bridge." This area is about 0.25 miles from the first crater viewpoint. Hiking past this will take you down switchbacks carved into the crater walls. In total this hike is 2.2 miles (3.6 km) round trip with a 400 ft (123 m) elevation change.
2. Pā Ka‘oao Trail - This is a 0.2 mile hike up the pu‘u next to Haleakalā Visitor Center to view ancient rock wall shelters and the crater. In total this hike is 0.4 mile (0.64 km) round trip with a 100 ft (30 m) elevation change.
You can find the full list of hiking options here. There are also tons of overlooks and viewpoints where you can simply pull over and walk a few steps for a view of the landscape below. Make sure not to miss the Kalahaku Overlook while you are there.
Once you are done exploring the beautiful Haleakala National Park, you can head back down the volcano back to Paia for the night. The Ho'okipa Lookout is close by Paia and a stunning place to watch a sunset if you make it in time.
DAY 13
HANA,
MAUI
Road to Hana
This day is the climax of your Hawaii trip - the world famous Road to Hana - driving the Hāna Highway (HI-360) with it's 620 curves and 59 bridges, leading you through flourishing rainforests, flowing waterfalls, plunging pools and dramatic seascapes. From Paia to Hana is one of your longer drives of the trip, just under 2 hours, and takes much longer because of the many curves and stops on the way. Leave early in the morning to maximize your time for this section of the trip. This drive is so special that there are even apps you can download that will audibly guide you on the history and significance of the various landmarks you see as you travel down the highway. You can search for any "road to Hana" app on the app store and pick your favorite. The Shaka Guide is a paid app and it is the most popular for this adventure. The guide will suggest stops for you, but I have a few suggestions as well. First, stop at the black sand beach a Honomanu Bay. As the name describes, it is a small, secluded black-pebble beach with waves for surfing & views of the surrounding green hills. It is free to stop and the black beach is very neat to see. Next up, is the Ke'anea Arboretum that is famous for its rainbow eucalyptus trees and exotic flora. This one is also free to visit and is a great stop on your trip. Right around the corner from here is the Ke'anea Lookout with has a beautiful view of the Ke'anea Peninsula and the water. On the drive to the lookout, there is also the famous Aunt Sandy's banana bread stand where you have to stop for a slice of warm banana bread to fuel the rest of your drive.
Depending how adventurous you are feeling you can choose to visit Wai'anapanapa State Park later today, or tomorrow morning. You do have to book a reservation in advance for this park as well, so just decide before you head out on the Road to Hana how much you want to fit in this day and then plan accordingly. Wai'anapanapa is consistent with most of the other state parks with their $5 per person, and $10 per vehicle entry fees and you can book ahead on their website. Wai'anapanapa is the most remote state park you will visit and is comprised of a volcanic coastline far from urban development. The park offers lodging, camping, picnics, fishing, and of course, hiking trails. It is also home to a dense forest, a religious temple, blow holes, and a small, secluded black sand beach. There main hiking trail in the park is the Ke Ala Loa O Maui or Piilani Trail. It is 3 miles round trip and rated as moderate with a 200ft elevation gain. It is a fairly rugged coastal trail that tracks over barren lava and offers great views of the Hana Coast and Haleakala volcano.
We stayed at the Hana Kai Maui which are cute, older oceanfront condos in Hana, Maui. Since Hana is such a secluded, coveted spot, the lodging is expensive and we paid $450 CAD for the night here. However, the stay was reasonable compared to lodging nearby, and it was a beautiful experience. If you don't want to stay in Hana, you can drive the Road to Hana back to Paia or on to our next destination of Wailea to avoid the costly night stay, but it ends up being a much longer day.
DAY 14
WAILEA,
MAUI
Forest
After your night in the secluded and beautiful Hana, take your time getting up and getting on the road to your next destination. Your first stop is the notable Hamoa Beach which is a popular surf spot known for clear water, sizable waves & strong currents. Stop for a swim or a short beach walk and then continue on your way. Next, you will reach the alternate, southern entrance to Helaeakala National Park - known as the Kīpahulu District, rather than the Summit District you visited on Day 12. Remember that your ticket from then is still valid as well (they are valid for 3 days!) so as long as you have it with you, you won't have to pay for entry to the park today. This side of the national park has two great hikes to do that won't take your entire day. First, the Pipiwai Trail is a 4 mile roundtrip hike with a 800 ft elevation change that winds through a groovy bamboo forest that is perfect for a unique photo opportunity, and ends at the stunning 800 foot Waimoku Falls waterfall. You can also find the short 0.5 mi roundtrip Kuloa Point Trail that leads you to the mouth of the 'Ohe'o Gulch - also known as the "Pools of 'Ohe'o", or the "Seven Sacred Pools". They are even open for swimming as of now, which is an added bonus, but they are a must see either way. Once you are done, continue on to Wailea area - it should take you about 2.5 hours to get there from here. There is a very cute winery called Maui Wine to stop at about halfway for a drink and a snack if that interests you, just make sure to book your reservation in advance as it is a popular spot. Once you are in Wailea, the Shops at Wailea are a great place to finish your evening off with more than 70 shops, restaurants & art galleries, with regular evening entertainment. They are open from 10am-9pm daily.
We stayed at this Airbnb while in this area. Technically, the location shoes Kihie which is just a 10 min drive from Wailea and a bit more affordable. This was a very comfortable place to stay with lots of space and everything you might need. It was also in a great location. We stayed here two nights for ~ $550 CAD which was reasonable for the area.
DAY 15
WAILEA,
MAUI
Snorkel
This day is centered around a snorkeling trip. You can't come all the way to Hawaii and not try snorkeling! There are tons of snorkeling and diving trips that leave daily from Ma'alea Harbor to the famous and beautiful Molokini Crater. The Molokini Crater is a sunken volcano surrounding by the crystalline ocean and a colorful reef. On the way you will also pass (and hopefully stop in at) Turtle Town which is a unique series of underwater lava formations developed long ago by the eruptions of submarine volcanoes. Today, the coral reef at Turtle Town is abundant with the protected Hawaiian green sea turtle which makes it one of the most popular snorkeling destinations in Hawaii! We booked the tour with Malolo on Viator. They offer a 55 foot comfortable, stable catamaran equipped with 2 restrooms, trampolines to lay out on and a friendly, experienced captain and crew. A continental breakfast and deli lunch are both included as is all your top-notch snorkeling gear, and drinks are available for purchase (after you swim). It is an all day tour that leaves at 630am, lasts ~5.5 hours, and costs ~$200 CAD per person. It was a fantastic experience and worth it, in my opinion. The snorkeling adventure is long and excitnig enough as is, so relax for the rest of the day - grab dinner at a local spot and maybe give yourself a break from the sun for the evening.
DAY 15
WAILEA,
MAUI
Enjoy
On your last day in Hawaii, do whatever it is you haven't had a chance to do yet! Maybe that is just lay at the beach, go for a long walk along the gorgeous Wailea shoreline and boardwalk, or maybe even try to surf! - there are shops like BossFrog, Island Surfboard Rentals, or Surf Maui where you can rent a surfboard for a day, but I will warn you it is hard than it looks... There is also an amazing dog shelter in Maui called the Maui Humane Society that is between Wailea and the airport and has an awesome program where you can take one of their dogs out to the beach for the day. It is called Beach Buddies and you can hang out with a dog from 11am-4pm or even just take one out for a walk. It is a great place and program and the dogs are friendly and adorable, of course 🐶 Enjoy!!