Maui is wowy!
No, this is not a post about Marihuana! Even though some people might think that when reading the headline… Only AFTER having left Maui though, I learned that people in Hawaii call their dope ‘wowy’. I still thought it’s the perfect way to describe Maui (and it rhymes, which I personally like best about it!)…
I also got high on Maui, but in a different way (no drugs involved, all legal!). On our first day, we drove around with a rental car and decided spontaneously in the afternoon to go up to the top of one of the volcanoes of Hawaii, the Haleakala Crater. We reached 10.000 feet of elevation and watched the sunset from there – up their your body feels actually a bit weird – it’s more difficult to breathe and we felt a slight headache… BUT IT’S SO WORTH IT!!
Oh and don’t be fooled when driving up the long and windy route to the top of the crater, the weather can be completely different once you’ve reached the summit. We were actually a bit hesitant at the entrance gate of the National Park because it was raining and we thought there was no way to see the sunset…
After a night on the campground inside the National Park (on 8000 feet), we got rewarded and even had a clear view all the way down to the ocean.
Next Stop: Road to Hana
So, Haleakala Crater is really a must-do when on Maui! But for all those who think like me, one day is absolutely enough to spend away from the beach! Therefore we left the next morning and returned to sea level in order to drive the famous and very beautiful Road to Hana on Maui’s East Coast.
We stopped at so many beautiful beaches and waterfalls – one of the most beautiful drives I’ve done so far! This is absolutely the second MUST-DO on Maui: drive down the famous Road to Hana.
=> Check out: Complete Itinerary: Road to Hana
Somewhere on the road, we found the perfect place to park our car and sleep in it right next to the ocean… what else can you wish for!?
Snorkelling at the Molokini Crater and Turtle Town
Well-rested and ready for new adventures, we drove down to Maui’s South Coast where all the tour agencies leave for water activities. On Hawaii Discount, we found a great deal to snorkel at Molokini Crater and Turtle Town, two of the most famous snorkel spots off Maui’s coast. We chose the Pacific Whale Foundation because our money went directly to the Foundations funds in order to protect the ocean and its marine wildlife.
Best time to visit Maui
It’s really up to everyone’s individual taste, of course, but for us, the best time to visit Hawaii was really when it got cold in Canada, which was in October. That’s when we decided to take a three-month break in the warmth. Even if you are short on time, it’s a great destination though!
HOW TO GET TO MAUI:
What is another plus about visiting Hawaii, it is fairly cheap to get from one island to another…and since island hopping is fun, we were really excited to fly with a little machine over to Maui. From Honolulu Airport we took Island Air to get over in less than an hour for $79 US dollars.
WHY YOU SHOULD GO TO MAUI:
So, again in a nutshell, here are a few reasons why it’s really worth visiting this beauty amongst the Hawaiian islands:
- You get your personal feathered welcoming team on arrival at the airport!
- Maui has one of the most beautiful drives, the scenic Hana Road.
- Up on top of Haleakala Crater you’ll be breathless…
- No photo proof for that but you can actually see HUGE sea turtles while snorkelling only a short distance away from the shores of Maui’s beautiful beaches.
WHY YOU SHOULD NOT GO TO MAUI:
- Erm…honestly, I can not find any reason why not…
Did you like Part 2 of my Hawaii series? Do you have any other suggestions on things to do while there? How was your trip? Don’t be shy, leave a comment below, I’d love to hear your thoughts!