A Maui Vacation

When most people think of a vacation on Maui, they think of soft sand, swaying palm trees, and fun activities to fill their days.  Maui is a paradise for just about any type of guest as there are so many things to see and do while on the island.  One thing that I enjoy most about being a Concierge is to sharing my experiences with other guests to help them make the most out of their vacation.  Some of my favorite activities do not involve purchasing seats or checking in, they involve being outside with my camera and sharing images with others.  Though, don’t get me wrong, I love snorkeling, ziplining, parasailing, luau’s, spa treatments, and of course… food, but there is so much to Maui to discover.  Here are some of our favorite reasons you should visit Maui:

Beaches

Maui has many beautiful beaches and there is a good chance that there is a beach to visit near your accommodation whether you are staying at home, condo, or hotel.  Most of beaches on Maui will have a beautiful white color and blue water to compliment the sand.  There are other beaches in Maui that will have black sand, white sand, and even red sand.  Though each guest is different, most guests enjoy visiting various beaches whether it is to take pictures or spending a lazy afternoon at.  Some of the larger beaches on Maui, such as Ka’anapali Beach or Big Beach (shown below) are quite popular due to their stunning views and rich ocean colors and ease of access.  Though all beaches in the State of Hawai’i are public, some guests like to find their own beach to continue reading their favorite book at or just watch the local keiki (children) play.  Regardless of your preference, there is certainly a beautiful beach waiting for you!

Quiet Beach in Lahaina

Napili Beach in West Maui

Beautiful views at Big Beach.

Polo Beach In Wailea

Maui Sunsets

What a better way to end a day than watching the sun sink into the ocean and watch the sky illuminate with various colors.  Though you can commonly find me down by the beach to watch the sunset, one of my favorite places to watch the sunset is along the slopes of Haleakala.  At times the sunset from the summit can be blocked from clouds, at times you can catch the sunset on a day where the visibility is clearer than others.  Guests always ask why I enjoy watching the sunset so much from the summit (not to mention the two hour drive it takes to get there), and the reply is rather easy, “it’s incredible”.  Additionally I always enjoy a good Maui sunset at the beach too.  Each months bring a new location to the sun passing the horizon as the year goes on.  Though from time the sun will set behind Kaho’olawe or Lana’i (our neighboring islands), the colors can still be incredible to see.  Often times I find the best sunsets actually happen after the sun has already when below the horizon as you just never know when the high clouds will turn colors and light up the sky.  Usually I will stay about 20 minutes after the sunset to continue to relax and enjoy the views.  Though I am fortunate enough to call Maui my home, not every sunset is the same.

Surfers enjoying the sunset

A sunset in Kihei, Maui

Another colorful sunset

South Maui Sunset at La Perouse Bay

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Outdoor Activities

Maui has so many outdoor activities to do!  From SUP (stand up paddle boarding) to Scuba Diving the “wall” at the Molokini crater, Maui is an outdoor enthusiasts paradise.  Living on the island, many of our activities revolve around the water and many visitors also enjoy the warm ocean and the abundance of sunshine.  Some of the popular activities here on Maui include:  snorkeling, ziplining, hiking trails, kayaking, parasailing, Haleakala, Road to Hana, and of course… spending a lazy day at the beach!  Each guests has their own idea of fun outdoor activities and Maui offers something that just about any guest could find fun and exciting.  Allow Maui Activity Concierge to assist you with all of your questions about activities and various sites and attractions found on Maui.  We are happy to help you regardless if it your first time to the island or you have been many times in the past, we certain we can find great things for you to do while on Maui.

Snorkeling at Honolua Bay

Helicopter tour high above Maui

Day Trip to Lana’i

Snorkeling by a honu (green sea turtle)

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Restaurants

Maui has a great variety of both modern and local restaurants.  Though my personal preference is for the local cuisine, some guest still enjoy having an upscale experience with a local twist.  Some of the most popular restaurants will book weeks in advance and even at times (especially during the holidays) will be booked solid. Other guests enjoy finding the local “hole in the wall” restaurants located around their accommodation.  Since Maui is a blend of the Hawaiian, Filipino, Japanese, Chinese, and Portuguese cultures, there is certainly a great variety of food to select from.  For those looking to experience the local culture through food and entertainment, attending a luau is always a nice option.  If you have been to a luau before or feel it just isn’t something you wish to do, you can always stop in one of the many local restaurants and you are certain to find teriyaki chicken, various rice bowls, and plate lunches.  After diner, you may wish to try a shave ice – just don’t forget to ask for ice cream on the bottom!

A delicious local favorite food: ahi (tuna)

Fish Tacos for lunch

Shave Ice w/ Ice Cream

Enjoying a candle lite dinner cruise

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Haleakala Volcano

Soaring more than 10,000ft above sea level, Haleakala is Maui’s tallest dormant volcano.  Translating to “the house of the rising sun”, Haleakala is one of Maui’s biggest attractions as thousands of guests visit the National Park during their vacation.  The drive to the summit is part of the journey.  With winding roads and breathtaking views of the central valley along the way, it is becomes easier and easier to see why this is such an attraction.  Though many guests enjoy watching the sunrise or the sunset from the Summit, you can always visit during the day when temperatures are more tolerable and still will have an incredible view.  During the day, you will often see the clouds moving along below you (yes, you are above the clouds here!) and at times have the ability to see the Big Island of Hawai’i (Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa) off in the distance.  The colors of the crater are simply amazing as you see shades of gray, green, orange, red, and brown.  Additionally there are really great hiking trails as well for guests interested.  You can learn more about Haleakala and even explore our custom hiking guide on our website at www.MauiActivityConcierge.com/guides.

Hiking at Haleakala

Incredible view of the sunset at Haleakala National Park

Driving above the clouds at Halakala

Hiking down to the crater floor

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Road to Hana

Another incredible reason to visit Maui is to take the Road to Hana.  This 80 miles journey will take guests along the north and eastern portion of the island to the small town of Hana.  The journey itself is quite incredible starting in the town of Paia and making your way along the coastline.  Guest will commonly see a variety of things along the way including amazing ocean views, road side waterfalls, and beautiful rain forests with hiking trails.  The Road to Hana is a rather long journey, though one thing that I really like about this trip is that you can make it your own trip and you can turn around at anytime.  Though most guests will make it all the way to the Ohe’o Gulch in the Kipahulu, guests may decide when they would like to turn around.  The Road to Hana winds along the norther shore and has more than 600 hairpin turns and 50+ one lane bridges.  As someone who enjoys taking pictures, there are so many places to pull over and enjoy the view as well as take a view pictures to share.  This scenic drive is a “Maui must” if you are interested in seeing Maui from a different perspective.

Along the Road to Hana, check out the Pipiwai Trail

One of the many scenic stops along the Road to Hana.

Scenic Views Along The Drive

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The Aloha

After years in the hotel industry, you always here guests talking about how special Maui is.  Though they mention all of the fun things to do here, they continue to say there is just something so special about the island of Maui.  Aloha is one of the biggest things that come to my mind when I think of when someone talks about the island and what a great place it is to be.  Aloha comes from within and the local culture here is certainly filled with lots of it.  To me, aloha is something that is so unique to the Hawaiian Islands and it is easy to understand why so many people feel so welcomed on Maui.  Aloha is used in so many business’ here on Maui regardless if it is in the preparation for your dinner or the guides taking pride in their job to educate, answer questions, and help guests enjoy their trip, Maui certainly has lot of aloha.  The reason why I wanted to start Maui Activity Concierge was to continue to connect with guests using aloha to help them experience more than just the beach.   It is really important to me that guests feel the aloha while here on Maui and have a pleasant experience.  For guests who would like to learn more about the local culture, aloha, or about Maui, we highly recommend either a tour or a lesson such as Hawaiian Language, Hula, Lei Making, or even an Ukulele Lesson.  Maui is a very special place and we are happy to ensure you experience the most during your time here on Maui.

Maui is a special place and ‘aloha’ makes it even more special

Aloha

Love Aloha

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Mahalo for visiting our Maui Activity Concierge blog!  We hope this information has been helpful to you and your ‘ohana (family).  There are so many things to see and do while on Maui and we are happy to help you make the most of your stay.  When planning your Maui vacation, please feel free to reach out to us at any time if you have questions about the island or any of the fun Maui activities.  Our Concierge services are available to you regardless if you just need a recommendation on a great restaurant or need help planning various activities during your stay.   For further information about Maui, please feel free to visit our site at www.MauiActivityConcierge.com at anytime.

I am looking forward to being of assist you and your ‘ohana (family).  Please feel free to reach out to me at any time with any questions you may have.  We are looking forward to sharing the island of Maui with you!

Mahalo,

Matt Morris

Maui Activity Concierge

Email: info@MauiActivityConcierge.com

Phone: 808-868-0253

iMessage: info@MauiActivityConcierge.com