CHIC RETREATS: MAUI, HAWAII

Aloha friends! Today I’ll be talking about one of the most popular honeymoon destinations, and just overall go-to retreats in the world. That’s probably why so many movies set in tropical destinations are shot there! It’s the perfect tropical hot spot without all the huss and fuss of going international. So leave your passports at home and say hello to warm weather, gorgeous ocean/mountain view’s, the freshest seafood, and friendly greetings from the locals!

I swear, you can go to a lot of tropical islands to relax, but Hawaii is a place where you can really feel the peace of mind in all the locals and it truly rubs off on the guests. Everyone is so welcoming and happy it makes you forget about the hustle and bustle of back home. I obviously didn’t go for a honeymoon since I’m not married, but with my boyfriend just to relax and get a good tan!

We stayed in Maui on Kaanapali North Beach at Honua Kai Resort and Spa. It’s an upscale beachfront resort on 38 acres of lush grounds, 600 studios/suites with option of mountain or ocean views with high-end kitchens! It’s like they are plotting for you to move in with these kitchens! It’s more of an apartment with all the amenities of a resort. And we had our own washer and dryer! We chose the mountain view suite option because it was a bit cheaper, but I’m glad we did because Hawaii’s mountains are so lush and exotic. You can honestly get a similar ocean view at most tropical islands, but the inland mountain view is truly unique to Hawaii.

Our days began with us eating at Duke’s Beach House, the main ocean front dining option on the grounds. It offers authentic Hawaiian cuisine and some of the freshest seafood I have ever had! They also serve at the pool and the beach, which we did throughout the day as well. Side note: use a ton of suntan lotion because Hawaii’s sun is no joke!

We rented a convertible for the time we were there and ventured out most evenings to the restaurants recommended by the concierge. Hawaii is so safe by the way! I had absolutely no fear leaving the resort and it felt great to get to experience authentic Hawaiian culture.

Some of my favorite spots had to be Kimo’s, a waterfront restaurant offering fresh Hawaiian fish, prime ribs/steaks and the original Hula pie. Also, Hula Grill Kaanapali, an award winning restaurant offering Hawaiian cuisine, live music and hula. And last but definitely not least, we bought tickets recommended by the concierge for the Drums of the Pacific Lu'au! It was at the breathtaking Hyatt Residence Club Maui, Ka'anapali Beach right on the water where I saw the most beautiful sunset of my entire life. If I ever go back to Hawaii this is where I want to stay next because it was truly a dream. But back to the lu’au! The second you arrive you are greeted by traditional Hawaiian dressed men who “lay” you. I was overwhelmed by the hundreds of people who showed up to celebrate a traditional prepared feast with a show! There was a whole pig that the dancers prayed to giving thanks and respect for sacrificing it’s life for our meal, along with a myriad of other traditional Hawaiian dishes. We ate while watching the most amazing lu’au show. It was so engaging, I couldn’t look away. It was probably one of the biggest highlights of the trip.

Besides tanning and eating we actually did a lot of other activities! The concierge recommended zip-lining at Skyline Eco- Adventure Zipline where we did an 8 line tour, as well as horseback riding at Lahaina Stables in the mountains.

I never zip lined before and you’re really high up in the air, so my first run I was terrified! But after that first run you see how smooth and easy it is and I was then able to enjoy it. The sights were incredible from atop the gorgeous mountains and I could see miles of blue pacific ocean in the distance. It was really a moment in my life where I paused, thought to myself how lucky I am, how amazing this world is and how I need to travel the world as much as I can. There are so many dream like places in the world and to not see them would be tragic.

Now on to the horseback riding. In context, the idea sounds great and I got some great videos and pictures and all, but there are a lot of factors to consider. I grew up on a farm with horses, so I thought it would be a breeze, but it had been many years since I rode. Add being on a high horse riding on the edge of a mountain, it ended up being scarier than the zip lining! It was also almost 100 degrees that day and stupid me decided to wear all black, no hat and leggings because they said to wear long pants. I was melting! And the ride was over an hour, so I was just so uncomfortable. I actually got heat stroke by the end of it, so I was out for the rest of the night with a fever when we got back to the hotel. I also felt so bad for the horses! My heart was aching thinking if I was this hot, how hot they must be and climbing a mountain in that can’t be fun or healthy for them. In conclusion, if you choose to go horseback riding, choose a cooler day, wear light colors and a hat, and try picking horse back riding in a valley/flat ground (I will do this going forward) if you want to help the horses.

Hawaii is probably my favorite tropical vacation I have been on because I really felt like I was engulfed by the culture and experienced the Hawaiian lifestyle to the fullest. The weather, the food, the locals and the activities were all so authentic and memorable. Also, if you’re looking for a deep golden tan, Hawaii is the place to go! Best tan of my life!! If you’re planning on just laying out and relaxing the entire time, you can in Hawaii, but you would be missing out. I highly recommend doing some activities since there is so much to offer! The locals are so inviting and happy to help in any way they can and I can see why many tourists come on vacation and end up staying for good! A lot of the locals we meet were from big cities and moved their life to Hawaii for a simpler lifestyle and I get it completely. So go to Hawaii and I dare you to not second guess going home! Mahalo!

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