ItsMeD

Hi, my fiance and I are planning to have our Honeymoon in Maui. We're both pretty young and want to do a mixture of fun excursions and relaxing. I have done some research and have nailed down some basic outline of an itinerary, but I need help filling it in. We are going to be traveling at the end of March 2015, and will be spending 9 nights in Maui. We are traveling from Florida, and we will be renting a car. I am leaning towards staying at the Hyatt, Sheraton or Westin.
Day 1 (on a Sunday) - Arrive in Maui some time in the afternoon (between 2pm to 5:30pm). Pick up car rental. Check in/have dinner/relax from long trip. Any suggestions with regards to the 3 hotels?

Day 2 - beach day, have dinner at a Luau

Day 3 - Haleakala sunrise tour, return around noon. Visit Lahaina in the afternoon and have dinner there

Day 4 - beach day, whale watching cruise

Day 5 - ?

Day 6 - ?

Day 7 (Saturday) - Check out of hotel early, do Road to Hana and check in Traavasa Hotel in late afternoon

Day 8 - Sacred pools, beach in Hana, maybe Hike

Day 9 - spend day relaxing in Hana

Day 10 (final day) - check out of hotel early, drive back, and take a late flight back home (around 9/10pm or so).

Does anyone have any thoughts on how to fill in the itinerary? I would like to visit different portions of the island, while avoid stressing ourselves from running around to much. What beaches, towns can we group together to enjoy our time there? I would love to hear your suggestions!

suze

I might separate the two activities you have on day 3, put Haleakala and Lahaina on different days?

For a luau, I highly recommend Old Lahaina Luau.

I enjoyed the show called U'lalena in Lahaina (kind of a Cirque de Soleil meets history of the islands). There's also a self guided historic walking tour around Lahaina.

I don't think you really need to "fill in". I think you have plenty for a 10 days trip already.

aloha, suze

voyager61

You could enjoy just hanging out at the beach on one of those days. Boogie boarding, snorkeling, people watching could easily fill one of those days without getting in a car. All those hotels are in the Kaanapali area, which has Whaler's Village, a nice shopping complex, and it's close to the north-end beaches of Napili and Kapalua, so excursions to those would make sense.

I would also look into Wailea hotels, because I think that is the most romantic area of the island with the nicest beaches.

You could do the Iao Valley hike one day, and a snorkeling excursion to Molokini is popular, weather permitting.

I would play it by ear a bit when you get there...when the surf is calm, that's great for snorkeling; more waves, and it becomes better for boogie boarding/surfing or just watching the surfers! Snorkel Bob's is the place for snorkel and boogie board rentals, but the hotels also rent equipment, but possibly at a premium.

Explore some of the small restaurants on Maui, and for a special night out, Roy's in Kahana or one of the Bev Gannon restaurant's are great.

Some of your best moments might be while you are walking the beaches, snorkeling or watching a great sunset, so don't worry too much about overscheduling.

bertobi

Just went to Maui and loved it.

My favourite thing I did there was ziplining - went with Flyin Hawaiian and had an absolutely awesome time - if you're up for adventure things I would recommend it.

A nice place for lunch or dinner is Mama's Fish House - it's a bit pricey but food is good - everyone recommended it so I had pretty high expectations and it was good.

Enjoy Maui - just the place itself is so picturesque.

wekewoody

I would also suggest you look at Wailea Hotels such as the Marriott, the Fairmont and the Four Seasons.

For hikes in the Hana area...I would walk from the hotel up to Fagan's Cross, then head towards Hamoa Beach on the trail through pasture land. It will take you to all the way to Hamoa Beach. Use the hotel facilities there and then take the hotel shuttle at the beach back. The hotel will also drive you to Waianapana State Park, at least they did when we stayed there. Once there you can pick up the ancient footpath, the Kings Highway and walk on it the three to four miles back to town. Very barren and wild landscape. You are walking on an ancient lava flow. One of my favorite walks in all of Hawaii. During whale season this can be a great place to see whales.
I would also go horseback riding while in Hana. The hotel keeps a nice stable of horses who are well fed and very happy. There are rides along the ocean and also up in the pasture up above town on the slope of Haleakala.

wekewoody

I wanted to add that I would choose one of the Sea Ranch Cottage rooms at Hotel Hana Maui (I still can't call it Travassa). They are worth the extra money. We stayed in on ocean front cottage with hot tub on the front row and the crashing waves were maybe 100 feet from our lanai. Really nice.

tifa2276

I've done itineraries similar to yours, except that we didn't stay in Hana, but would like to one day! I agree that interspersing activity days and relaxing beach days is be a good idea.

I also enjoyed ziplining in Maui. We've done 2 courses, one on Haleakala and one in Kaanapali. The Haleakala one was easier I thought. If you're going to visit Haleakala I'd suggest making an itinerary for Upcountry Maui since you'll be there anyways. A visit to Ali'i Kula Lavender, town of Makawao, Surfing Goat Dairy are all fun. If you have time, then check out the interactive lunch at O'o Farm, otherwise have a nice meal at Haliimaile General Store. There's also a nice vodka tour and tasting at Ocean Vodka in Kula.

I highly recommend Mama's Fish House or Merriman's for a delightful but $$$ celebratory meal. For cheap local food, I'd try some take out from Honokowai Okazuya, dry mein from Sam Sato's or just some ahi tuna poke from the supermarket (Costco, Foodland, Safeway etc) eaten at the beach! Maui has so many restaurants so you'll find anything from hole-in-the-walls to fine beachfront dining.

I like all the hotels you've chosen, they are all very nice beach resorts but out of them all I would pick the Sheraton as I love the beach fronting the resort for snorkeling. If you were to stay in Wailea I would give a strong nod for the Hyatt Andaz - a very modern luxurious setting.

You can read some trip reports I have documented here:

2009 1st anniversary trip where we drove the Road to Hana, visited Haleakala for sunrise (and ziplined for the first time) and explored Maui at newbies: http://sulynnchen.com/travelblog/?page_id=38

2013 5th anniversary trip where we (a little more seasoned) just pretty much did whatever we wanted, ate a lot of good food including a foraging lunch at O'o Farm, and had some fantastic spa treatments while staying at the Andaz right after it opened: http://sulynnchen.com/travelblog/?page_id=545

Enjoy your honeymoon! Hope this helps.

ChiSue

Many visitors plan Haleakala sunrise on their first morning. You'll be awake before dawn anyway that day! Add Upcountry to that day and possibly an hour at Iao Valley.

Push the luau back a bit to when you've gotten adjusted to the time change.

We stay South Maui in winter. Wailea is the newer, more upscale resort area. Hyatt Andaz and the Marriott Wailea are in the same price range as your Kaanapali hotels. There are a string of good snorkeling beaches from South Kihei through Wailea and Makena, whereas Kaanapali hotels are mostly 'on sand', with many people from all of those tall buildings flocking to Black Rock. South Maui is also only 20 minutes from Kahului and 45 mnutes from Lahaina.

In March, a snorkeling excursion to Lanai can double as a whale watch. Book this early. Book your rental car now. Book your luau now too: Old Lahaina or Feast At Lele.

What are your flight options from home to Maui? I look for a nonstop on a wide-body aircraft for the longest leg. I avoid 757's. We buy coach and use miles to upgrade to first, thus earning on the miles flown. (This is not worth doing on a 757.)

ChiSue

Sorry, I forgot to suggest that you give yourselves a day or two to *recover* from the wedding. You'll want to be ready to thoroughly enjoy this lovely (and expensive) honeymoon.

MelissaHI

I second the tour to Surfing Goat Dairy. Ocean Vodka's farm is right next door, so you could do both (plus you get to taste the vodka and the company's new rum).

You can see more of my Maui suggestions & adventures at http://www.frolichawaii.com/?s=maui

I just need to warn you: Travaasa Hana is wonderful! I was so blissed out by the end of my two nights there, that just calling the airline to confirm my flight home on the last day was an unkind jolt back to reality. When in Hana, you may want to check out Ono Farm, which has a tour that lets you taste all kinds of exotic tropical fruit.

ItsMeD

Thanks for all the replies! I'm even more excited than before. Maybe "fill in" wasn't what I mean exactly. I would like to coordinate it so I can do things that are close together on the same day; visit a beach and town/area on the same day for example.

I'm leaning towards doing whale watching and snorkeling on the same trip. Would you all recommend this? If so, which is the best beach to take this trip from, and which company is the best? I also hope to snorkel offshore from local beaches (if i can).

What are some other restaurants that I should visit? I keep hearing about Mama's Fish House - how far is it from hotels such as the Hyatt/Sheraton, and should i make a reservation?

Does the Traavasa Hotel have shuttles? I didn't notice their website mention them. I intend to stay in a cottage sea ranch - should i go with ocean view instead of regular cottage sea ranch?

Sorry for the amount of questions - seems the more excited I get, the more questions pop up.

wekewoody

Yes, go for the ocean view sea ranch cottage. They must still have a shuttle to Hamoa Beach at least, but call them and ask them.

wekewoody

Yes reserve Mama's ahead of time. It is very popular. We like to have a late lunch. Less people. When you reserve ask for a table in the front at the window. Be prepared, it is very pricey, but the food is spectacular. Order the daily fish special and you probably won't be disappointed.

I am also partial the Hailimaile General Store. SO good!

sf7307

Just know that Hailiimaile isn't open mid-afternoon (they close for 3 hours between lunch and dinner). Mama's closes too but only for an hour.

ChiSue

You'll be in West Maui. Merriman's is good and has a pretty venue. I'd do lunch at Mama's (in Paia, east side, no sunset). I'd reserve well ahead at either of these. You're doing a luau too, right?

People like Trilogy excursions to Lanai. There's also Blue Water Rafting if you want more speed and excitement. IMO the best way appreciate the whales in High Season is from a kayak.

Travaasa is a go there and stay there experience.

We stay South Maui -- all good snorkeling beaches from the Kamaoles in South Kihei on south through Wailea and Makena. If you drive on past Makena you'll see Haleakala's last eruption with black lava stark against the blue ocean.

There are some restaurants at Shops At Wailea -- upscale mall. Gannons is above the beaches on a golf course with panoramic views (B,L,D). Five Palms at the Kihei/Wailea border is on a pretty Keawakapu Beach (B,L,D). Each of the several posh Wailea hotels has restaurants. (Look up "Maui Menu's" online.)

Maui is very casual. Even more casual than Florida! Pack light. Your groom can go almost anywhere in a nice Aloha shirt, decent shorts and sandals. No ties, jackets, shoes and socks needed. (Men LOVE Hawaii!)

sunbum1944

If you don't want to spend the $$$$ for dinner at Merrimans, go for happy hour. We had a delightful time there watching the whales, enjoying our drinks and dining from the happy hour menu. It is a beautiful spot!