Visit: Maui, Hawaii
A beach vacation with an overzealous toddler may sound hectic, but it can actually be quite relaxing. For those in need of a peaceful retreat (even with the kids), Maui, Hawaii is a great place for everyone at every age.
The only reason my daughter remembered what the Island was called was from her favorite Disney movie Moana. She kept asking us if we were going to Maui’s island. Naturally, I responded yes. Considering that Maui is sometimes thought of to be ‘packed with tourists,’ the island has a lot to offer whether you’re a beach purist, a snorkeler, scuba diver, sun worshiper or just a mom or dad chasing your kids.
WHERE TO STAY
There are a lot of really lovely hotels on the western coast of Maui. We stayed in Kaanapali which is a small, very walkable town, packed with conveniences. Along the shoreline are over 15 beautiful places to stay that range from full resorts to small condos. Within walking distance are food trucks, small restaurants, coffee shops & parks. The area is shared with the locals so the streets are always busy with cars, mopeds, bikes, runners & walkers. I ran every morning on Lower Honoapiilani Dr. then stopped at a nearby coffee shop afterwards. It was the perfect treat — and they took Apple Pay so I didn’t have to bring my wallet. The area definitely felt less touristy than Lahina or Whalers Village, but everywhere in Maui is a predictable tourist trap. I would recommend Kaanapali or Napili as two great locations to stay if you don’t want to be ‘in the action’ all of the time.
WHERE TO EAT
My husbands favorite topic. I should let him write this... but, I won’t. My husband and I (and now Charlotte) are absolute foodies. We have a list of places to eat, but since I am not a full time blogger and I like to enjoy my time with my family, I don’t have photos of every meal. Regardless, here are 4 places you MUST try if you are headed to Maui:
The Gazebo - Napili. You will wait a minimum of 45-60 minutes for a table if you get there after they open. If you get there before they open I honestly don’t know how long you will wait, nor how early before opening you need to arrive. We generally will wait an hour and fifteen to and hour and a half before being seated. They are known for their Macadamia nut pancake… my husband dreams about these.
Sansai - Kapalua. Wonderful ambiance inside or outside. I prefer the patio especially with COVID-19 still looming. I would recommend the Yaki-Maki Roll or the Sansei Special Roll.
Kimo’s - Lahaina. A great meal with an even better view. If you travel in February be ready to see whales breach as you enjoy a meal while the sun sets. This patio is awesome. Portions are large which was great for my husband who ordered the Ribeye and said it was excellent.
Leoda’s - Mile Marker 14. I don’t need to say much. Their food is good, but their house-made pies are a delight. We haven’t tried one we didn’t like. As of now they are open for to-go food orders only. No dine in due to COVID-19.
TRAVELING WITH KIDS
I get asked how to travel with a toddler very frequently. Honestly, its all about distraction. Charlotte is generally very easy while traveling. She thinks flying on an airplane is a game (which it is in a way). There is a direct flight from Phoenix to Maui, so the flight time was not very rough. Charlie doesn’t get a lot of screen time at the house, so when she gets to play on the iPad on the airplane it is a real treat. We generally will pre-download games and movies for her to watch during the flight. Netflix allows you to download movies and shows so you can enjoy them without wifi. I packed snacks for her as well as an empty water bottle to fill in the airport. This time I bought her Push Pops (ya’ll remember those?") for the ascent & descent and she was in heaven for the time being.
Sunscreen is very important. If you’re specific about sunscreen (which I am) then I would suggest packing your own. We use SunBum face 50, face stick , Face Roller (for Charlie), 50 SPF, & 30 SPF. Oh, and I love the Clear Zinc for my face. We’re particular about sunscreen. Sun Bum is reef safe which is primarily why we buy it. It is also clean, smells wonderful and safe for Charlotte’s skin.
Of course other essentials for our little ones are necessary like a sunhat, swimsuits with sleeves, swim diapers, sandals that can go in the water, yada yada. I like to make a list of all of the things I need to pack for Charlie then I start narrowing down from there. I intend for her to be in the sun 90% of the time, so I want to ensure she is covered as comfortably as possible.
SNORKELING/SCUBA DIVING
I dove a few times this trip but never snorkeled. I assume where we dive is just as good to snorkel - with a few exceptions. We used Maui Divers in Lahaina. The staff is helpful & will probably give you some great places to dive/snorkle depending on surf conditions. I’ll give you a couple spots to shore dive to start:
Mala Wharf: A generally easy dive. You walk out a ways over rock but once you descend its pretty lovely. The dive winds around an old dock that was once a fully-functioning pier which once served as a shipping facility for the island's agriculture. In 1992, Hurricane Iniki completely demolished it. You’ll see Turtles, Sharks, a variety of fish and sometimes if you’re lucky you’ll spot an octopus. The coral for the most part is healthy and full of color and sea life.
Mile Marker 14: The locals come here to enjoy the beach. The beach stretches over a half mile and is great to just enjoy & stare out into the abyss. If you’re a snorkeler or diver, the coral reef parallels the span of the beach so there is a lot to see, but it is also really easy to drift farther than you expect. Diving, you wind through the channel of coral until it opens up to a beautiful coral wall. You can follow the wall north or south. We went south. The most incredible thing about this wall is if conditions are calm, & you’re diving in whale season, you can sit at the bottom and just listen to the calls of the whales. It’s pretty incredible. You’ll see an array of fish, sea life, corals as well as turtles & the occasional Manta Ray.
WHAT TO PACK
About a week before we meet my family for vacation, without fail I’ll get a phone call from my mom asking, “what are you packing?” [Mom, if you’re reading this don’t be offended, I think it’s cute.] I don’t dress up often - even on vacation - so naturally I’ll pack the same old stuff I wear in Arizona on a daily basis: Denim shorts, running clothing, tee shirts, sneakers, sandals & a baseball hat. On the rare occasion I’ll slip into a dress, so I’ll generally pack one of those. I know that our days in Hawaii would be filled with things like, finding a great breakfast spot, scouting out a new beach, snorkeling, swimming, playing in the sand, scuba diving & spending lots and lots of time in the sun. Here is an idea of how I packed for a week on Maui:
Clothing
Swimsuits (4)
Shorts (2)
Tee Shirt (2)
Tank Top (2)
Running Outfit (1)
Sandals (2 - 1 casual, 1 beach)
Sneaker (2 - 1 running/hiking, 1 casual)
Dress (1)
Coverup (1)
Socks/Undies
Bra (1)
Accessories
Handbag (1 - also used as carry on)
Sun Visor (1 - yes I’m a geek)
Sunscreen (4 - 30 SPF, 50 SPF, 50 SPF Clear Zinc Face, 30 SPF Sun Stick)
Diving Gear, Snorkel, Fins, Mask
Beach Bag
Sand Toys
I’m probably missing something, but for the most part, packing is relatively easy. I make sure to be extremely thoughtful when packing by coordinating outfits to get the most out of the several items I choose to bring.
