Of all the beaches in all of the world, we keep coming back to Hawaii. It's beauty is unmatched, and with new nonstop flights on lower cost carriers, it's more accessible than ever.
There is not a bad island, but our favorites - Kauai and Maui hands down.
Kauai for the nature lovers, and those looking for true peace and quiet.
The Na Pali Coast is one of the most stunning places we have ever seen. Pick up a permit and hike one day in, one day out on the Kalalau Trail to visit the hidden Kalalau Beach. If a 22 mile hike sounds like a bit much to you (it did to us, too!), book a helicopter tour through Safari Helicopters to see Na Pali's gorgeous beach, waterfalls and reefs from above. Snorkeling tours are another great option - swim with the turtles and gaze up at these cliffs from sea level.
Before you leave the island - don't miss Waimea Canyon, Poipu Beach, Wailua Falls or eating pineapple from a roadside vendor.
Maui for the Road to Hana, the snorkeling, the beauty, the golf and the food - oh the food!
People always ask if the Road to Hana is worth it. In a word - absolutely. Black and red sand beaches, waterfalls on top of waterfalls, banyan trees, a bamboo forest...but I had you at black and red sand beaches, right?
The trip takes a full day and is not for the faint of heart. You will pass cars on one lane roads. You will take back to back to back hairpin turns. You will drive on gravel, park on the side of a cliff for a photo op and probably swim under a waterfall. It will be the most memorable day of your vacation.
Once we reached Haleakala National Park, we hiked the Pipiwai Trial from Oheo Gulch to Waimoku Falls before a refreshing swim in the Seven Sacred Pools (Pools of Oheo). This trail was worth it for so many reasons, not the least of which was the walk through an otherworldly bamboo forest. The sound of the wind blowing through the bamboo was absolute serenity.
Our advice - take the Hana Highway early to avoid the crowds and finish your day (and the loop) by taking Piilani Highway to Upcountry. You will see diverse landscapes and a lot less people but beware - long stretches of the Piilani are unpaved, there are no gas stations and almost no food options. If our Mustang convertible could handle it, so can you! Added bonus if you are there in the Spring - Piilani takes you down roads lined with Maui's flowering Jacaranda Trees.
We swam with turtles off of Wailea Beach (we stayed at Grand Wailea so it was literally our backyard), snorkeled with the locals at La Perouse and ate and drank our way across the island. Have breakfast at Kihei Caffe (cash only) and divide your lunches and dinners between Lineage (the Poi Mochi was to die for), Lahaina Grill (Wagyu Beef Ravioli for the appetizer win) and The Mill House for a mountainside, farm to table dining experience. The setting was our favorite - even if you can't get a dinner reservation, visit early or late for drinks (hello Old Fashioned) and wander the plantation grounds.
If you are a golfer, we recommend the Ritz Carlton at Kapalua - in addition to the incredible golf there, the drive past the resort on Highway 30 and 340 offers beautiful vistas, food trucks and local woodcarvers. Our round at Wailea Golf Club, where course views are second to none, was amazing as well.
There will always be an up and coming beach destination, but the beauty of Hawaii and the welcome of its residents is timeless. Take the trip.
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The Road
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