Aloha everyone! As we do our part to help get America comfortable travel again in meaningful ways, while promoting safe & responsible travel, our Platinum Elite Travelpro luggage is certainly getting a workout this year! We just spent time on Maui for Stop #6 on RMWorldTravel’s big “Let’s Go America! Tour” where we broadcasted America’s #1 Travel Radio Show from the Waldorf Astoria Grand Wailea Resort. Archives can now be found on our website.
Because of what we do, we’re regularly asked about our favorite places in the world, and Maui is always one of our responses! If you haven’t been to Maui — go! It has a bit of everything you’ll find on the other Hawaiian Islands and offers something for every lifestyle to keep you coming back for more!
Known as the Valley Isle, Maui is the second largest of the Hawaiian Islands and the first thing you may notice is the diversity of the landscape is striking. There are parts of the island that are dry and brown, while other areas like the Iao Valley in West Maui, is a lush and green rain forest. The higher elevations in the Iao Valley are considered the second wettest climate in Hawaii — second only to Kauai which has often been recorded as the wettest place on earth! This area is also a sacred valley for the Hawaiians and we believe not to be missed on a visit. The landscape is further enhanced by the trade winds which create unique cloud formations that are quite spectacular and rainbows are also common — particularly on the northwestern side. They can often be seen daily in the Kapalua area.
Popular sites for visitors are the Road to Hana, Mt. Haleakala and The Waihe’e Coastal Reserve. Haleakala is a now dormant volcanic crater, and sunrise at the top accessed via Haleakala State Park — as long as the weather cooperates — is a magnificent site to behold. We opted to bike down, which is doable, but we’d encourage you to vet your cycle guides and take it slow — biking down too fast around those switch backs and occasional cow grates can be potentially dangerous. If you opt to drive down from the summit, there are several places you can pull over to take pictures of the views.
Depending on the time of year you visit, there are vibrant Farmer’s Markets on Maui in Kula and Wailea — where you’ll be able to buy fresh mangos, pineapples, other fruits, vegetables, eggs, local coffee, flowers and many other items directly from the farmers. Get there early as these markets are popular with locals and sell out quickly!
There are plenty of places to stay on Maui to fit most budgets but many visitors opt to stay at some of the island’s top resorts where you have access to multiple pools, a beach, restaurants and other cultural amenities like hula dancing lessons, coconut weaving, etc. Luaus are popular and although they may seem “touristy” they do cover cultural history with authentic Polynesian music, dancing and food. We say this is something every visitor should experience once while in Hawaii. And we’ll also add that if you’re a golfer, enjoy tennis or boating — Maui has you fully covered.
Lahaina is a popular town for visitors and although the busy Front Street is lined with shops, art galleries and famous local restaurants like Fleetwood’s (owned by Mick Fleetwood) and the Cool Cat Cafe, it’s got a relaxing coastal vibe to it. If you enjoy fish tacos, some of the best we’ve had can be found at Down the Hatch. Lahaina is located adjacent to the shoreline with a beautiful green space, Lahaina Banyan Court, that features the largest Banyan Tree not only in Hawaii, but in the United States. It’s common to find outdoor festivals and live music events here, particularly on Friday nights.
Describing what connects us to Maui is easy — we find it’s a place where we can totally relax and always find something interesting to engage us. To understand the real essence of this island requires you go experience it yourself — it won’t disappoint! That said, travel to Maui does require planning well in advance as flights can be costly, most accommodations will cost you, meals aren’t cheap and you’ll find fees at places like the State Parks and some beaches for parking. But looking past all of that — it makes a perfect destination for special events like weddings, celebrations, anniversaries, romantic getaways, family travel and even business travel if you’re looking for that “wow experience.” When you go — enjoy, relax and have a mango and some passion fruit for us! Whether it’s Maui or any of the other Hawaiian Islands that we’ve also enjoyed, share your favorite Hawaii moments and experiences with us by clicking on the “Contact Us” tab at www.RMWorldTravel.com. Let’s Go America!
Safe and Happy Travels!
Robert & Mary Carey, Hosts
America’s #1 Travel Radio Show
