Aloha, friends!
If you’ve been following along with me on instagram, then you’ve probably seen a little bit of our recent honeymoon in Maui, Hawaii. To say it was the trip of a lifetime would be an understatement! We got to see and experience so much of this beautiful island, and of course, get some much-needed R&R. We had an amazing time and we’re already planning to travel back there soon!
For the perfect honeymoon, we did a lot of prep work to plan out our 8 day trip. We recruited help from friends and family that have visited Maui before us, on top of doing a ton of our own research, and getting some extremely helpful tips and tricks from locals while we were there. That being said, we wanted to share our complete Maui Honeymoon and Travel Guide with you – full of everything we learned and experienced! Whether you’re honeymooning or just planning your next vacation, this guide will help you to navigate some of the best places to eat, see, stay and go during your time in Maui, Hawaii.
So, without further ado, here is our full Maui Honeymoon and Travel Guide!
Enjoy!
Maui Honeymoon and Travel Guide
WHERE TO STAY IN MAUI
The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua (West Maui) – This is where we had the pleasure of staying for our honeymoon and I can’t say enough good things! From the stunning grounds, to amazing service and hospitality, we had the most wonderful stay here. Kapalua is tucked away on the northwest shore of Maui so you have a beautiful scenic drive to and from the resort with beautiful, beach-front access and plenty of eating and activity options nearby. Can be a little rainy (doesn’t last long) but I highly recommend!
The Whaler’s Village/Ka’anapali Area (West Maui) – Home to a variety of shops and restaurants, Whalers Village is located on beautiful Ka’anapali Beach (about 15 minutes from Kapalua and 5-10 minutes from Lahaina) with many great places to stay around the area – all of which are pretty much within walking distance of each other, like the Westin, Hyatt, Marriott, Sheraton, etc. We considered staying at the Sheraton because we heard really cool things about Black Rock Beach but found a great deal at the Ritz that we couldn’t pass up (no brainer, y’all!). Very family-friendly and convenient for food and shopping.
Wailea Area (South Maui) – This part of Maui is about 40-45 minutes from Kapalua (where we stayed), but is full of places to eat or shop with a mix of luxury hotels like The Four Seasons, The Fairmont, Waldorf, Andaz, etc. Justin and I both said we would love to stay on this side of Maui next time we visit! The atmosphere in Wailea is a little bit quieter and the beaches and waves are unlike anything we have ever seen!
Maui Honeymoon and Travel Guide
WHERE TO EAT IN MAUI
One thing I love about my husband (I can say that now! yay!), is that he is such a foodie! We both are, really. But he loves to eat at the best restaurants whenever we visit somewhere new, which is so much fun for us both. I keep joking that we practically ate our way through Maui… but I’m kind of being serious haha.
So if there is only one part of our Maui, Hawaii Honeymoon and Travel Guide that you decide to use… let it be on where to eat!
*Pro tip: a lot of restaurants can book up quick! So be sure to make reservations for the places you know you want to try like Ferraro’s or Mama’s Fish House. We had to book two weeks in advance!!!
- Mama’s Fish House – One of the most popular and most recommended restaurants in Maui and now we know why. They have the best view on the island and fresh, amazing food and seafood. Most of their menu changes daily (depending on what’s caught by their fishermen that day!) and Justin LOVED their famous stuffed fish. I don’t usually eat fish, but I even thought it was good! I got the short ribs, which were so tender and yummy. This is another great dinner spot or place to celebrate a special occasion like a honeymoon, anniversary, or birthday.
- Merriman’s – Where my brother hosted his reception. All of the food was so amazing! And you can’t beat the views here.
- Taverna – Yummy Italian food located in Kapula by The Ritz.
- Waicoco – A part of Westin in Ka’anapali. The food here was so great!
- Frida’s Beach House in Lahaina – You wouldn’t think to eat Mexican food while in Hawaii, but you have to try Frida’s! Amazing view, selection of food, and yummy drinks. Great lunch or dinner spot. Don’t forget to try their margarita’s!
- Monkeypod Kitchen – Located in Whaler’s Village in Ka’anapali, this is a great spot for happy hour, lunch or dinner.
- Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop – Great spot for lunch with yummy sandwiches and Hawaii’s signature banana bread or key lime pie! Right next to Oluwalu Juice Stand where I’d recommend grabbing a fresh fruit smoothie at some point too!
- Hula Grill – Whatever you do, don’t leave Hawaii without trying a Hula Pie from Hula Grill! Located in Whaler’s Village overlooking the water, Justin and I enjoyed dessert here with live music and beautiful views.
- The Gazebo in Napili – Great breakfast spot! They are LEGENDARY for their 1hr+ long wait just to get in and be seated, but we got a great tip from someone at our resort and it worked like a charm! Skip the long line, go around the corner to a little stand and order your food to-go and enjoy down at the beach or back at your resort. They open at 7:30am and start taking to-go orders at 8am, it takes 10-15 minutes and your food is ready. This was my FAVORITE breakfast! I got french toast topped with nutella, bananas, whipped cream, and macadamia nuts…. it was heaven.
- Flatbread Company in Paia – Great lunch/dinner spot for after Road to Hana or if you’re in the Paia area! Yummy pizza and salads.
- Down the Hatch – A fun happy hour spot with live music and great food! I still dream about the tacos we had here!
WHAt TO DO IN MAUI
One key factor (out of many) that led us to choose Maui, Hawaii as our honeymoon destination is that it is full of things to do! Whether you like to take it easy, soak up some sun and R&R, or you like adventure and activities, the island has something for every type of vacationer. So besides kicking it poolside on your resort, here are a couple things we would recommend doing on your Maui, Hawaii Vacation or Honeymoon.
ROAD TO HANA
This is a must if you’ve never been to Maui! The Road to Hana is a driving tour of the Hana highway that takes you through some of the most beautiful parts of Hawaii. The views alone are worth the trip, but it’s full of lush rain forests, short and long hikes, waterfalls, ocean vistas, and so much more. This will take up a full-day so you’ll want to get an early start, anywhere from 7am-9am. (You probably won’t want to drive this windy, narrow road in the dark).
Also be sure to download the Shaka Guide App and map the night before (you won’t have cell phone service during the majority of the trip. The Shaka Guide is essentially a “tour guide” that tells you all the history behind each stop and shares tips, tricks, and etiquette you’ll want to know as you navigate the Road to Hana.
Dress and plan accordingly for the Road to Hana!
Aside from making sure you have directions, it’s also important: dress accordingly. Many people recommended wearing shoes you can hike in or don’t care to get wet, as the terrain can be a little rocky and muddy. And if you plan on visiting any waterfalls or beaches, bring a bathing suit, change of clothes and towels if you want to swim.
We did the Road to Hana about half-way into our vacation and I am so glad because we had an entire day to relax by the pool the next day! The Road to Hana is exhausting… You’re in a car for about 7+ hours, so it’s the last thing you’ll want to do before or after your long flight to/from Maui! Trust me!
Also, if you get car sick, like me, you’ll definitely want to pack water, take medicine for motion sickness and make frequent stops! I did this and was fine!!!
Some of our favorite stops on the Road to Hana were the black sand beaches and cave at Wai’anapanapa State Park and the Seven Sacred Pools in the Haleakala National Park. Highly recommend stopping at both.
Snorkeling
Personally, the ocean freaks me out a little bit so we opted out of this one. But we heard great reviews about snorkeling at the Black Rock in Ka’anapali or Molokini!
These two things are definitely in the top of things to do and see in Maui, but here’s more:
- Go to a signature Maui Luau
- Helicopter tour of the island
- Island hop to O’ahu, Honolulu, The Big Island, etc.
- See the Nakalele blowhole
- Visit other beaches/parts of the island like Makena Beach, Wailea Beach, etc.
- Whale watching (depending on what month you’re visiting! Whale season is around Dec-March)
- Haleakala hike or biking
- And so much more!
Watch a little bit of our Road to Hana experience below! The views don’t do it justice!
Maui Honeymoon and Travel Guide
I hope you enjoyed my Maui Honeymoon and Travel Guide!
Happy honeymooning and mahalo!
Here are more pictures we captured while we were there:
Maui, Hawaii Honeymoon and Travel Guide
Maui, Hawaii Honeymoon and Travel Guide
Have you been to Maui Hawaii or plan on honeymooning there soon? What are some things you would recommend doing or seeing? Have you visited anywhere I listed in my Maui Honeymoon and Travel Guide? Share in the comments below. For more suggestions or questions, DM on instagram or visit more of my travel posts here!
Happy honeymooning!
About Madison
I'm Madison - a northern gal planting roots down south. Musings by Madison is your guide to classic style, beauty, home decor & more. Rooted in passion for encouraging others to curate a closet, home, and life they’re proud of and inspired by each day.
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