Sunnny Maui
Maui was an excellent addition to the honeymoon. With our roll of the dice, we ended up in Lahaina Town at the Lahaina Shores Beach Resort. The room was quaint, but the balcony faced west with striking views of Lanai and Molokai. Lahaina’s Front Street was a short walk from the resort. Numerous beaches were within thirty minutes of driving. I was super excited to explore sunny Maui.
Our main plan was to beach it. Our first choice was Napili Bay. Its a small and inviting beach. Just across the Au’au Channel is Molokai. Its a beautiful backdrop to watch passing summer showers. The sand isn’t to wide and water is calm. Its a perfect spot for sun bathing, floating and snorkeling. I saw plenty of fish and even a sea turtle!
For better surf and a taste of the Pacific, we visited Oneloa Beach. Its much less crowded and wider than Napili. I rented a body board and caught some really fun waves. The terrain is very rocky, so Teresa mainly stuck to the beach. I did coerce her onto the body board for a few awkward rides. Our first beach happy hour took place on Oneloa. We grabbed a few cold guys from the Honolua Store in Kapalua and enjoyed the sunset.
After visiting a few beaches north of Lahaina, we decided to drive south for a change of scenery. Our first stop was Malu’aka Beach. It doesn’t have much surf, but I loved the views of Molokini. I much preferred Wailea beach. Its north end features a long reef of lava rock; its perfect for snorkeling. The view across Ma’alaea Bay to West Maui is breath taking.
My favorite beach was H.A. Baldwin Beach Park. This lovely beach is near Paia on Maui’s North Shore. This beach was just plain amazing. We arrive early in the morning and stayed most of the day. The sun shined brightly and we soaked through and through. A cool breeze blew in from the Pacific to keep us cool. Its extremely long, so I took a few walks east and west. The current is strong which makes swimming interesting. I’d let the ocean carry me down the beach, but I’d always jump out to walk back to my chair. In the evening, it seemed like the place for happy hour. Everyone on the beach reached for a couple cold beers and enjoyed the setting sun.
A long beach morning or afternoon always makes me hungry. Maui isn’t short on tasty options. I definitely had a few favorites. Near Napilli Bay is The Gazebo. This tiny restaurant is hidden, but easily accessible for lunch. You can’t beat the views of Molokai and the food wasn’t too shabby. I could eat lunch there everyday. It was such a peaceful spot.
Another tasty spot with a tremendous view is the Aloha Mixed Plate. Just a bit of history: the mixed plate was born from Hawaii’s sugar planation. Workers from a variety of ethinic backgrounds shared lunches. Thereby, a plate can feature traditional Hawaiian, Japanese, Filipino, Korean or Chinese flavors. Its a completely casual outdoor restuarant. You must signup and wait for a table, but its worth the extra effort. I enjoyed their signature Pupu of Coconut Prawns. Another simple decision was the Aloha Mixed Plate that features Shoyu Chicken, Teriyaki Beef and Mahi Mahi. Can’t go wrong with the restaurant’s namesake.
Down in south Maui was my favorite bar. Its called Lulus . We stopped in this Kihei establishment for happy hour. It is completely open air and on the second floor. There are sweet 360 degree views. I ordered a Bucket O’Fries. About two pounds of seasoned fries showed up in a metal bucket. It was awesome. We washed down the treat with large iced glass Steinlagers for only $2 a pop.
Being an artist town, it wasn’t surprising to find taste bud pleasing meals in Paia. We only visited for a day, but lunch and dinner rank as the best on the trip. As a lunch break from H.A. Baldwin Beach Park, the Paia Fishmarket served up the best Mahi Mahi burger on Maui. Its just a hole on a corner. You enjoy your sandwich at a picnic table with other dinners. The grille is just over the counter, so you can feel the heat. The close quarters are a small price to pay for a legendary lunch. After H.A. Baldwin Beach Park happy hour, we went back into Paia for a stop at “Flatbread” http://www.flatbreadcompany.com/. Pizza is their specialty. Each pie is 100% natural and baked in a wood burning oven. We were lucky to sit in the garden like outdoor dining room. If you like crispy and light crust with good flavor, this pizza is for you. Its definitely some of the best I’ve tasted.
It wasn’t really a restaurant, but we enjoyed each breakfast on our balcony. We brewed Kona coffee, cut up fresh mango, slapped some peanut butter on Hawaiian sweet bread and marveled at the view. I’d be so thankful to eat breakfast on the water everyday for the rest of my life. I can’t think of a better way to start the day.
Maui was an unexpected gift. While on the Big Island, I thought the honeymoon was going to implode. As soon as we touched down in Maui, the honeymoon was saved. Each day, it kept getting better and better. I’d like to revisit the island! We totally lucked out by staying in Lahaina. It was the perfect spot to explore some of the best beaches and restaurants in Maui.
