Maui (A second Honeymoon)

How we got there

Hawaii was an obvious choice for our second honeymoon since our wedding was in Sonoma, California. A quick 5 hour flight and a 3 hour time difference and we were there! We flew Southwest Airlines from OAK – OGG using our companion pass and points (everywhere I fly, Adam flies free) but we chose to fly American Airlines ($150 each) back to LAX because they offer a redeye flight. This allowed us to maximize our last day (our flight didn’t leave until 10:45pm) without having to pay for another night stay. We landed in LAX at 6:45am and switched back to Southwest Airlines to fly us back to Dallas (for free on points + companion pass) Maui does offer a redeye back to Dallas but the cost was $500 per person. For us it was worth getting back only 5 hours later and saving $700.

Total cost of roundtrip airfare – $300 + 10,848 Southwest points total

Covid Requirements for Maui trans-Pacific travelers

Trans-Pacific travelers are those who fly directly from the mainland into Kahului Airport, including returning residents.
Travelers who enroll in the state’s Safe Travels program may bypass Hawaii’s mandatory 10-day quarantine by testing negative on a pre-departure COVID-19 test no earlier than 72 hours prior to the last leg of departure to Maui. Only Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests administered by the state’s trusted testing partners are recognized as valid.
Maui County has added a new requirement, to begin May 4. All trans-Pacific travelers participating in the state’s Safe Travels Program will be subject to an additional rapid COVID test upon arrival at Kahului Airport.

Hawaii requires all passengers to create a Safe Travels account prior to boarding. They are now expanding their Pre-Clear programs with domestic and international airline partners that allow travelers to confirm compliance with the Safe Travels Program prior to departure and bypass mandatory airport screenings upon arrival. This was such a big time saver once landing in Maui and another reason why we love flying Southwest Airlines. We had to wait in line at the Oakland Airport to get approved for pre-clear but once we did all we had to do was show our bracelet on arrival and we headed straight to baggage claim. Meanwhile an American Airlines flight had just landed and all the passengers had to wait in line (FOREVER) to be cleared in Hawaii (not the way I would want to start off my vacation) Here’s the list of participating pre-check airlines:

Alaska Airlines: Pre-Clear is offered from all U.S. mainland hubs with non-stop flights to Hawaii.
Hawaiian Airlines: Over 15 cities, including Japan and Korea, offer Pre-Clear.
Southwest Airlines: Offering Pre-Clear service from five gateway airports in California.
United Airlines: Pre-Clear is offered from all U.S. mainland hubs with flights to Hawaii.

Where we stayed

This was my third trip to Maui and Adam’s first. My first two visits we stayed at The Grand Wailea and it was just so fabulous I knew we had to stay at least part of our time in Wailea! Adam really wanted to play The Plantation Course on Kapalua so we decided to split our time in Maui and stay on two different sides of the island. (Three nights in Wailea, three night in Kapalua) We looked into the Four Seasons, Andaz and Montage but ultimately decided to stay at The Grand Wailea and The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua. We booked both hotel stays 2.5 months in advance through my favorite hotel website Snaptravel and paid right at $500 per night.

Total cost for 6 nights in Maui, Hawaii – $3,000

The Grand Wailea

The Grand Wailea is just that. Grand. It’s actually the largest private employer on the island of Maui. (well at least it was pre-covid.) The open air lobby, beautiful grounds with numerous water falls, and sheer magnitude makes this place feel so enchanted and special. It’s just not another “name brand” resort, it actually feels like Hawaii. The spa is seriously the most fabulous spa I have EVER been in (spa amenities are closed right now due to covid) and the pools are the best on the island. They have the Wailea Canyon Activity Pool which includes waterslides, rapids, a water elevator, a rope swing, volleyball net and grotto bar. They also have an adults only Hibiscus Pool which looks over the pool lawn and down to the beach. This place is amazing and with so much to do, I am happy we chose to stay here for the fist leg of our second honeymoon!

The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua

The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua is located on the Northwest side of the island about an hour from the Kahului Airport. This side of the island is noticeably windier and cooler and we were actually very surprised the difference in weather from Wailea. Now don’t get me wrong the Ritz is a gorgeous resort, no doubt, but I will say it’s a very classic “brand name” resort. There are no views from the closed in lobby and the beach access is a long walk from the resort. It’s nothing compared to the Grand Wailea in terms of grounds, activities, spa, and pools. However, it is connected to the Plantation Golf Course, which was a must for Adam and it was fun to explore this side of the island. Overall we are very glad we experienced The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua but for us it was a one and done.

*Our living room with pool views* – Ritz Carlton Kapalua

What we did

If you’ve been to Maui then you know it’s not a sit on a beach chair kind of vacation. There is so much to do and see and you will definitely need a car! We were up in the air about renting a car, not because we didn’t want one or didn’t think we needed one, but because the rental rates were so high. The day before we arrived I pulled the tigger and rented us a car and I’m so glad I did. We paid $1,000 for the weeks rental which is insane but it was the best money spent and oddly enough a Jeep was the second cheapest option! We had complete freedom to do whatever we wanted and after checking out Ubers and taxis we would of easily sent that much or more and wouldn’t of been able to do a fraction of the adventures.

Total cost for a 7 day Jeep rental – $1,000

Alii Nui Snorkeling

Our first morning in Maui we were up and ready for our 5:55am pick up to go snorkeling with the Luxury 65′ catamaran Alii Nui. We booked the Alii Nui Deluxe 6 Hour Snorkel Trip which included two snorkel locations (Molokini crater and the Turtle Arches in South Maui) a full breakfast, snacks / lunch, beer, wine, equipment and free transportation. This was the second time I had been out with the Alii Nui and it was just as good if not better this time around. The food was delicious and the staff was so friendly and helpful. Both snorkel spots were equally amazing and we swam with tons of fish, turtles and even saw a white tip shark. This snorkel excursion, in my option, is the best one on Maui and a must when visiting.

Total cost for the Alii Nui Deluxe 6 Hour Snorkel Trip – $360 (call and ask for a discount)

Road to Hana

When in Maui the Road to Hana is a must. Adam and I woke up early one morning and drove from Wailea to Hana (thank goodness we rented a car) This was my first time on the Road to Hana and it was nothing short of incredible. It took us about 3.5 hours total including stops (one way) and the views were worth every minute driving this curvy, windy, sketchy road. There are beautiful waterfalls all along the way, some that you can hike to and others right off the path and once you reach Hana you can walk on the black sand beach.

The Plantation Course at Kapalua

The highlight for Adam on our trip to Maui was the chance to play The Plantation Course at Kapalua. For those that don’t know, this is where the PGA tour event The Sentry Tour of Champions is played every year and is consistently ranked as the #1 golf course in Hawaii. I had the great time riding along with Adam filming all his shots and enjoying the amazing views of the ocean but playing here comes at a price. It is regularly $360 per golfer but for Kapalua resort guests they discounted the price at $330 plus $50 for a me to ride. For Adam it was totally worth the money and he shot 3 over par. 👏

Total cost for one round at the Plantation Course + 1 rider – $400

The Feast at Lele

I think it’s required by law to attend a luau when in Hawaii…haha not really but if you don’t you are really missing out. There are a lot of different luaus throughout the island but the Feast at Lele was one I had done before and by far had the best food and show reviews. Lele is the ancient name for Lahaina, and this is the beach where the royal family of Maui would feast and entertain. This luau is a journey through Polynesia featuring a sit-down five course dinner from the Pacific island nations of Aotearoa, Tahiti, Samoa, and Hawaii. All the guests are seated on the sand, every table is intimate (Adam and I scored great seats) and offers a panoramic view of West Maui sunsets.

Total cost for the Feast at Lele – $300

Coastal Trail

Adam and I walked the Costal Trail twice during our stay in Kapalua. Once dressed for a hike, the other dressed for dinner and drinks. The latter was quite difficult and we ended up walking back in the rain! (not advised) It is however a great way to get from the Ritz-Carlton to the Montage resort. It’s located at the ocean’s edge throughout Kapalua runs north from Kapalua Bay Beach, across the sand dunes at Oneloa bay, through the Ritz-Carlton to D.T.Fleming Beach Park. You can access the trail by the Kapalua Bay, The Bay Villas beach access parking lot, Oneloa Bay, The Ritz-Carlton or D.T. Fleming Beach Park. Open from sunrise to sunset

West Maui & Nakalele Blowhole

Maybe our favorite most spontaneous thing we did in Maui was drive the back side of West Maui starting in Kapalua and ending in Wailuku in Central Maui. This route is definitely not a commuter route and If you’re not a confident driver parts of this drive could be your worst nightmare. There were multiple times we were on a one lane road and the signage stated to honk when you were rounding the corner to let on coming traffic stop and wait for you. We stopped at the prime attraction of the Nakalele Point, the Nakalele Blowhole, which is a manhole sized opening and can be very impressive during high tide and high surf. The views from this drive will forever be etched in my mind and I would highly recommend it to anyone brave enough to drive it!

Where we ate

I have so much to say about all the amazing food we ate while we were in Hawaii. Again, I had been before so I knew several places that were a must do and I did a lot of research and planning way before we left. Tip number one: book reservations as soon as you can. Especially since covid, all of the restaurants are operating at 30-50% capacity and book up immediately. We were lucky enough to score some of the top restaurants on the island and we even got a repeat on one of them!

Total cost for each meal ranged between $100 – $300 (Hawaii is very expensive)

Merriman’s Kapalua

Merriman’s is the most breathtaking oceanfront restaurant in Kapalua. It’s a “Farm to Table” concept, offering a 4-course prix-fixe dinner overlooking the Pacific. This was one of the restaurants I found in all my research that was a must dine in Maui but didn’t open reservations until 30 days out. I set an alarm on my calendar and booked exactly 30 days out to make sure we got a table. I checked back a week later trying to move the date and everything was already gone! I am so glad we were able to experience this amazing spot in Kapalua.

Mama’s Fish House

Mama’s Fish House is by far THE BEST restaurant on the island of Maui. I had visited Mama’s my first trip to Maui when I was 20 and I remembered from back then how amazing it was. We had to go back! I booked us a dinner reservation but once we had left we knew that wasn’t enough for us. It’s just that good! I was able to score us a lunch reservation on our last day in Maui randomly on opentable. Adam and I were so excited to return for a second visit and we still crave it today.

Breakfast

Adam and I are are not big breakfast eaters but we enjoyed a couple of great breakfast spots while in Maui. On our way to Hana, we stopped in Paia at Paia Bay Coffee for a delicious breakfast and coffee to fuel us for our very long drive to Hana. On another morning, we walked the beach trail in Wailea over to the Andaz resort and ate at Ka’ana Kitchen for a wonderful buffet breakfast.

Lunch

Our first day in Maui we ate lunch at Molokini Bistro at The Grand Wailea. The food was excellent and of course I had to start off my Hawaiian vacation right with a lava flow. On Tuesday after finally making it to Hana we were starved and ready for some food. We found a group of food trucks serving fresh fish tacos and roots beer floats and we were sold. Wednesday when we were leaving Wailea and heading out to Kapalua we decided to stop for lunch at Monekypod Kitchen. This restaurant is owned by the same chef as Merriman’s and is known for signature Mai Tai. On Thursday after golf, Adam and I had lunch at the Planation House located in the club house of the Plantation Course. The views looking out onto the 18th hole was the perfect end to our round of golf. Friday we decided to head into Lahiana to look around, shop and eat. We ended up at Kimo’s on the water and had a great view eating coconut shrimp, fish tacos, and margaritas.

Dinner

The only disappointing thing when staying at The Grand Wailea was that the main restaurant is now closed (I’m guessing due to covid) and the nightlife / dinner options were slim to none. Thankfully the Four Seasons was a short walk down the coastal trail and Adam and I went there Sunday and Monday night for dinner. We actually really loved the Four Seasons and when we go back to Maui we will more than likely stay here. The vibe was a lot more lively, with nightly dancing, singing, and a fun full bar. On Thursday night over at the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, we walked to grab drinks at the Montage resort before dinner at The Banyan Tree restaurant located on property. The coastal walk connects the two resorts and the Montage is breathtaking and worth the walk. Unfortunately, this was the night it was raining so we didn’t have great views at The Banyan Tree but the food made up for that! We were so impressed with the presentation and taste we forgot all about being drenched from our walk back on the coastal trail.