Maui: Best Things to Do and See
Hey guys!
Wow sorry, it has been a while since I last blogged! Got back from Maui and then was bombarded by work! I don’t think I’ve ever been this quiet on the blog for that long, so I apologize. It was really nice to JUST RELAX. I honestly haven’t taken a vacation since Blogilates started and it’s been full steam ahead for the past few years so it was actually kinda weird to not work. Does that make sense? I felt like I had to be on my phone and by the comp. Luckily though…after a couple days…my hands broke free from technology jail!
Anyway, we are LONG OVERDUE for a Maui recap! For those of you who have vacations planned here, these are the things you MUST DO!
BEST PLACE TO EAT: The Gazebo in Lahaina, Maui, HI
Great prices. Great ambiance. (You’re literally in a gazebo on the edge of the shore looking at the ocean.) A LOT OF FOOD. They do not skimp on the food. I had the tuna and bay shrimp salad with papaya dressing and it was AMAZING! The mango slices and avocado made the whole thing perfection. But I know that you’re looking at that stack of pancakes. Shall we take a closer look?
Triple decker Macademia Nut Buttermilk Pancakes. They are famous for these. You better bet we ordered them as an appetizer!! Haha.
BEST PLACE TO SEE SEA TURTLES: Ho’okipa Beach Park, Paia, Maui, HI
These majestic beauties are so breathtaking in real life. We were so lucky to stumble upon them when we stopped by Ho’okipa Beach to watch the surfers. They come out to rest when it’s sunset. There were about 15 when we were there! I also saw 2 at Napili Beach and 1 at Black Rock.
BEST PLACE TO SEE THE STARS: Haleakela National Park, Maui, HI
Yes. Those are legit the stars we saw with our own bare naked eyes. Imagine sequins on a dress. It was MESMERIZING. Never have I ever seen ANYTHING like that. I saw Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and even the Milky Way. Be prepared to bring really warm clothes when you come though! And download the “SkyView” app because it helps you locate constellations and planets!
BEST PLACE TO SEE THE SUN RISE: Haleakela National Park, Maui, HI
Same place, different time. When the sun rises here, you feel like you’re an angel living in the heavens. You’re literally above the clouds. We’re at elevation 10,000 ft. This is a must do.
MY FAVORITE BEACH FOR SHOOTING “SPORTS ILLUSTRATED” STYLE SWIMSUIT PICS: Napili Beach, Lahaina, Maui, HI
The water was like bathtub water and it was perfect for snorkeling. The waves were small too. Good for me…because I am scared of waves :P You can see things as soon as you stick your head in the water (even from standing!).
BEST PLACE TO GO SNORKELING: Makena Beach, Wailea, Maui, HI
We found this beach the last day we were here and I think it was one of the best snorkeling experiences we had. TONS of colorful fish, golden sand, clear water, and plenty of neon coral. Although we did not see a turtle here, I think it was only because we were only in there for 10 min! Rushed to take a shower and then to the airport afterwards. My second and third fave places to snorkel were Black Rock and Napili Beach by The Gazebo.
BEST SHAVE ICE PLACE: Ululani’s
This is the best shave ice I’ve ever had! (I’m still getting used to to saying “shave ice” instead of “shaved ice.”) The ice was so thin that I couldn’t taste the crystals. It was like powder. All I could taste were the luscious flavors of the fruit syrup. We got macadamia nut ice cream on the bottom too. It was DIVINE.
A MUST DO: Take a pic with a rainbow!
You’re bound to see a couple rainbows when you’re here! So do what I did. Put on a flower crown and take a pic with it :)
BEST YOLO MEAL OF MY TRIP: Fried Spam Musubi from Da Kitchen
Can I make a cheap clean eats out of this? Hmm. I don’t know. Not sure if this masterpiece should even be tampered with…
Hope you enjoyed this post! Something I want to remind you of is the importance of living a stress free life. I ate pretty “badly” on this trip, didn’t work out once, and I didn’t gain weight at all. In fact, I think I lost weight. My clothes were looser.
Why?
1. I was moving around all day. Nothing intense…but I was active. Lots of walking and some swimming when I was snorkeling. That’s it!
2. I was RELAXED! When you’re so uptight and worried about work, school, losing weight, or whatever it is that’s controlling your mind, your hormones get all messed up and you don’t function optimally. This means that even if you’re eating right and working out, stress can hinder your weight loss. Lack of sleep also has a negative effect on your body.
So…listen up! Lots of low intensity activity is good! It adds up and makes a difference. Don’t fall into the “go hard or go home” mentality. If you’re up to it, by all means, TRAIN INSANE! But if you’re not feeling super strong, then don’t ditch the workout completely. Every bit counts. Also, don’t get down on yourself if you don’t eat perfectly the whole time. Your body knows how to recover.
Okay well thank you Maui for a magical time! I felt like I detoxed my soul :) And thank you guys for reading.
<3 Cassey
PS – I know those of you who’ve been to Maui are going to say…”You didn’t do Road to Hana!!??” We actually did opposite Road to Hana through the north Shore but that’s a really long and dangerous story for another day :) Next time!
