Day 1:
I finally got around to writing this blog post about our amazing honeymoon in Maui! I apologize for the delay, it has been a whirlwind since our wedding, I will get into more details about the many life events that have occurred since our wedding day in a future post! But for now, I am sharing all of the details from our week in Maui and I can’t wait to relive it because I’m already ready to go back.
We chose Maui because we originally wanted to go to a Sandals resort in the Caribbean, but realized that the end of September is during hurricane season and did not want to take any chances. I am SO happy we chose to go to Maui instead because it was so easy to travel to, we felt so safe, and were able to go out and explore the entire island.
We also waited a week to go on our honeymoon to attend our friend’s wedding the weekend after ours. I highly recommend waiting a week or two before going on your honeymoon. Even though you are on a high and SO excited from the wedding, it’s worth it to wait. We were SO exhausted after our weekend of wedding events and took Monday off of work to just lay in bed and soak everything in from the wedding. I can’t imagine waking up early the day after our wedding to travel for 8 hours after staying up late. I also had stuff everywhere, which I didn’t realize until the next day. I swear I had one item in every single person’s room and had to go around and collect all of my items. It was so nice to just spend time cleaning up, packing, opening our gifts, and spending extra time with family and friends before they left.
So anyways, we left the following Sunday (September 22nd) and took a nonstop flight from Phoenix to Maui. We flew first class to Maui (thanks to my amazing in-laws), our flight was so relaxing, and entailed so many amazing perks!
We boarded the plane to mimosas and a pineapple/coconut nut mixture, an amazing lunch, sundaes & wine, snacks, sparkling water, and Casper pillows and blankets.
Once we landed, we went and picked up our rental car and we got a four door Jeep, which I highly recommend if you’re going to Hawaii! It was so convenient for going to the beach and the Road to Hana. We took the top off everywhere we went and it was so nice!
We checked in to the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea for the first half of our honeymoon and it was beyond incredible from the moment we stepped foot on property. The staff was so accommodating, they had a bottle of champagne waiting for us in our room upon check-in, and the room was amazing! This resort is truly the nicest resort I have ever stayed at and the staff are all truly focused on providing amazing service to each guest!
We went to Monkeypod for dinner since it was less than a mile from the resort. The Four Seasons has a car service that takes you to and from Wailea Village, which is so convenient if you’re going out to dinner off property. I got the famous Mai Tai, along with the fresh caught fish tacos and it was delicious. After dinner, we went for a walk on the beach to watch the sunset and it was the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen!
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Day 2:
We both woke up at 4 am because of the time change and we were SO excited to explore! We went to breakfast at Duo Steak & Seafood, which is located at the Four Seasons and our breakfast, along with the service was amazing! Our food was so yummy and the coffee was incredible! We sat outside by the pool and had beautiful views of the ocean. After breakfast, we went to reserve our cabana overlooking the ocean- pro tip: the Four Seasons has complimentary cabanas by the pool and overlooking the ocean, but they are on a first come, first served basis so be sure to pick yours out early! We tipped the pool server to watch our towels and bag while we ate breakfast so we could reserve it as early as possible.
We went for a beautiful walk along the ocean and watched the surfers and the waves hit the peninsula, it was so relaxing! Pro tip: there is a paved pathway that runs from the resorts to beautiful condos to a point where you can see dolphins, sea turtles, whales, surfers, etc. and it’s the perfect place to take a walk or go for a run! You can hop on the pathway from the Four Seasons and we loved walking it everyday.
We basically relaxed by the pool and in the ocean for the entire day, which was so relaxing after traveling. We had lunch by the pool and split a lobster roll, along with pork nachos, and local beer. The nachos were SO yummy! We also got SO sunburned (well at least I sure did) on the first day so be sure to apply plenty of sunscreen because the Hawaiian sun is NO joke!
We went to Ferraro’s Bar E Ristorante located at the Four Seasons and it was the most amazing pasta dish I have ever eaten! I ordered the Torchietti Pasta and Kona Lobster and it was unreal. The lobster and pasta were so fresh and the vodka sauce was made to perfection, I didn’t want it to end! They also brought us a complimentary desert for our honeymoon, which was so kind of them to do! The service was incredible and you cannot beat the views. Pro tip: make a reservation for sunset, you won’t regret it!
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Day 3:
Day 3:
We of course woke up super early again so we decided to order breakfast in bed and eat on our patio to enjoy the beautiful views. I ordered blueberry pancakes with turkey bacon and Charlie ordered a breakfast burrito. It was so relaxing watching the sunrise and eating our yummy breakfast together!
After breakfast, we reserved our cabana for the day then went to our outrigger canoe reservation, which the Four Seasons provides to guests complimentary (make sure you book in advance)! We learned how to outrigger canoe and also got to snorkel during the tour. The guides were so knowledgeable, friendly, and made the experience so fun. We did the 7 am tour and the water was so calm and clear, which was perfect for snorkeling!
We then went back to our cabana and this time, spent the day at the Serenity pool, which as you can see from the pictures, has incredible views! The Serenity Pool was our favorite because it has a swim up bar, beautiful views, and was an adults only pool.
We took a little lunch break and wanted to explore outside of the resort and go for a drive. We went to Kihei and found Coconut’s Fish Cafe and the food was incredible! We split coconut shrimp as an appetizer than each got an order of the fish tacos. The fish was so incredibly fresh and all of the ingredients and toppings they add to the fish tacos were so flavorful and delicious! I can’t recommend this place enough, plus it was very affordable, especially for being in Maui.
For the evening, we walked to the Grand Wailea, which is next door to the Four Seasons (so convenient) for a luau. It was so nice being able to walk next door instead of driving across the island for the show. My parents bought us our luau and got us premium seats, which I highly recommend, otherwise you might sit way in the back and not even be able to see the show. I also recommend getting there as early as possible to reserve your seats because the premium tables are reserved, but you still have to choose your actual table and seats and everything filled up so fast. We got there early, put a couple of things on our seats to hold them and walked around the Grand Wailea property, which was so beautiful! Pro tip: depending on the time of year you go, bring a hair tie and wear something lightweight. I’m from Arizona and very used to heat, but I’m not joking, I started getting heat sickness because it was SO hot and humid, I was legit dripping sweat. I had maybe two sips of my drink because I was so hot and could only drink water. So definitely keep that in mind! We both loved all of the traditional Hawaiian food, the hula dancing, the Hawaiian story telling, and atmosphere of the luau.
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Day 4:
We woke up bright and early the next morning to head to our catamaran reservation. We drove to the marina, which was only about 15 minutes from the Four Seasons and found our group. We booked our tour with Trilogy since I had sailed with them previously and had such a wonderful experience. They provide the most incredible service and fed us the most incredible cinnamon rolls and coffee for breakfast and chicken, rice, and salad for lunch, along with complimentary drinks! We first went to Molokini to snorkel and the reef was absolutely breathtaking. We saw the most beautiful fish and the most vibrantly colored coral I had ever seen. We then went to Turtle Bay to see the sea turtles, which were also amazing. They were so majestic and beautiful in the water, such an incredible experience! The staff were all so knowledgeable, attentive, and truly made our experience unforgettable. I love how our tour was a smaller, more intimate group since there are many massive group tours available on the island. Pro tip: Book your tour in advance since it is a smaller tour group, spots fill up fast!
After our Molokini tour, we went back to the Four Seasons to pack our bags and we then made our way over to the Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, which is less than a mile from the Four Seasons and was such a convenient move. We wanted to stay at two different resorts for our honeymoon because while researching resorts online before booking our honeymoon, we fell in love with both the Four Seasons and the Andaz. Both resorts are incredible and have such different vibes to them. The Andaz has multiple layers of pools, which we loved and had a very secluded beach on property and we took full advantage of swimming in the ocean and lounging on the beach while we were there. The rooms were very minimalist and felt like we were staying in a jungle, which was so fun!
After we got settled, we drove over to Lahaina to visit our friends who were in Maui the same time as us for their honeymoon! It was so fun meeting up with them while we were there and a memory we will never forget. We went to Lahaina Fish Co. for dinner and were given the best table in the restaurant. We had the most beautiful view of the ocean and it was so relaxing to listen to the waves crash while we ate. For dinner I got the Lanai Mule to drink and the mac nut crusted mahimahi, which was delicious! After dinner, we went to the famous Ululani’s for shaved ice. I got the Sunset Beach shaved ice and I loved the flavor. Definitely a must have while visiting Maui!
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Day 5:
On day five, we were FINALLY adjusted to the time change and able to sleep in, it was amazing! We enjoyed coffee in the room then made our way to the famous Cinnamon Roll Place in Kihei (5 minute drive from Andaz). So many people recommended it so we had to try it and it did not disappoint! We wanted a yummy, quick breakfast before hitting the road for the day to do the Road to Hana. This was my favorite day of the trip because it was just Charlie and I on our own exploring new places together. We didn’t really have a plan, we kind of just stopped where we wanted and it was so fun! As I mentioned earlier in the post, if you are able to, I highly recommend renting a Jeep or 4X4 vehicle if you are planning on doing the Road to Hana. Pro tip: some areas can be muddy and it was just nice to drive with the tops off to enjoy the fresh air.
Our first stop was at Jaws Country Store in Haiku, HI. It was the cutest little store and we wanted to buy a map with the designated stops along the Road to Hana. I definitely recommend getting a map since there is not cell phone service for most of the drive. The map also helped with which mile markers we wanted to stop at to sight see.
Our second stop was to Twin Falls where we parked and got to hike around a beautiful park area. We hiked to a couple of different waterfalls, swam in the freezing cold pools and explored the bamboo forests! I definitely recommend stopping at Twin Falls, it was SO beautiful and easy to get to.
We then made our way to the bamboo forest and Honomanu Bay (the black sand beach). The bamboo forest was beautiful, I could have stayed all day just looking at all of the bamboo. We then walked over to the beach and honestly took a few pictures then left. The beach is very rocky and I wouldn’t recommend swimming there. It was also very windy and the water was rough, definitely not the kind of relaxing beach conditions we were looking for. It’s definitely beautiful though and the black sand is worth seeing!
We then stopped at the Halfway to Hana food stand to get the famous banana bread, which was SO good! They also have shaved ice, ice cream, and other food options. We just got the yummy banana bread and kept on going to our next stop!
We then pulled over at Pua’a Kaa State Park to cool off and swim at the waterfalls. We had the waterfalls to ourselves and it was so fun to swim and relax in such a beautiful location. The water was FREEZING though so be prepared and definitely bring towels with you when you go!
We then FINALLY made it to Hana! Just to warn you all, if you plan on going to Hana, plan for being gone the entire day, especially if you are wanting to stop and sight see like we did. The speed limits are very slow, it can get very crowded and the road is long and winding. Pro tip: leave early! The later you go, the more traffic you will encounter on the road and the more people you will encounter during your stops. We ate lunch at Hana Farms and it was delicious! I got a fish taco plate with a fresh, sparkling mango juice. They have so many different food options and everything looked amazing. I highly recommend the fish tacos. Another pro tip: I also highly recommend bringing towels, sunscreen, a hat, clothes and shoes to hike in, a swimsuit, sunglasses, snacks, water, and anything else you may need for a day on the road.
We were so exhausted after all of the driving and exploring so we made our way back to Andaz to relax. We stopped on our way home to get fresh coconuts and the coconut water was amazing! The cut them on the side of the road for people as they pull up and it was the cutest little stand. The stand we went to was in front of the Twin Falls park entrance.
We were so exhausted after going to and from Hana so right when we got back to Andaz, we put our swimsuits on and went to lay by the pool and watch the sunset. It was so relaxing to just lay there and watch the sun go down, I almost fell asleep!
We went back to the room and got ready for a late dinner. We were so over being in the car that we wanted to eat on property so we opted for Morimoto Maui at Andaz. We split a california roll, a shrimp tempura roll, and the ishi yaki buri bop, which they cook in a hot stone bowl at your table. The hot stone bowl was AMAZING, but wasn’t a big fan of the sushi. If you go, I definitely recommend getting one of the entrees and not the sushi. The views of the ocean are breathtaking from the restaurant, definitely try to go around sunset, if possible. We went to Mokapu Market before heading back to our room for the night to get gelato and it was delicious. If you ever stay at Andaz, I highly recommend getting gelato there because it did not disappoint.
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Day 6:
We slept in then walked to brunch at Ka’ana Kitchen at Andaz. The brunch was such a beautiful spread and they had a juice bar, which I am always a huge fan of! I always love drinking fresh juice while on vacation, especially since I’m usually overeating and not eating as healthy as I usually do when I’m not on vacation. The brunch spread was amazing and included many traditional Hawaiian food items, which I always enjoy trying. I got an assortment of different foods to try and everything was delicious! We also had a beautiful view of the ocean from the patio we were on, which was so relaxing.
We then packed a beach bag and went to the private beach at Andaz. They provide complimentary cushioned lounge chairs and umbrellas so we lounged on the beach and listened to the waves crash for the day. We also took advantage of the complimentary boogie board rentals and played in the ocean, which was SO fun! The waves were huge and yes, I did get taken out by one and it was terrifying haha.
After our wonderful and relaxing beach day, we got ready for our 3 pm reservation at Mama’s Fish House. We drove about 25 minutes to Paia, HI, where Mama’s Fish House is located and checked in for our reservation. We were seated at the most intimate table with stunning views (scroll up to see the picture of our view)! It was seriously incredible and we didn’t even request it. You can’t request tables with a view at Mama’s Fish House so I was beyond shocked when we were seated at that table. They had a personalized card on our table for our honeymoon, which was such a thoughtful touch and I loved all of the beautiful decor. The restaurant was filled with beautiful fresh flowers and amazing Hawaiian decor. We both ordered Mai Tais to drink because when else do you order a Mai Tai other than when you’re in Hawaii?! We wanted the true experience and they are known for their Mai Tais so we both got one and they were delicious! We also ordered the Macademia Nut Crab Cakes and they melted in our mouths, they were seriously amazing. For our entrees, I got Mama’s Stuffed Fish and Charlie got the Ahi, Mahi-Mahi and Kanpachi Panang Curry and both were unreal. I’m not just saying this, but my meal was the best dish I have ever consumed. I didn’t want it to ever end because it was SO good. Their dishes are on the pricier side, but well worth it for the incredible dishes and amazing atmosphere. After dinner, our waitress brought us cool towels and pineapple slices to cleanse our palettes. She was so attentive and provided us incredible service! Mama’s Fish House is definitely my number one restaurant recommendation for all of Maui. Pro tip: make a reservation months in advance! I made our reservation two months before our honeymoon and there were two 3pm reservations available for the entire week we were there. I was bummed at first that we couldn’t go around dinner time, but ended up loving going earlier since it was still light out and we could take in the incredible scenery. After dinner, we walked down to the beach and saw the most beautiful turtle on the beach, which was so special.
Since we had an early dinner reservation, we were able to make it back to Andaz to watch the sunset while relaxing in the pool. I didn’t filter either of these pictures, what you see is what you get in Hawaii and no filter is needed! All of the sunsets were breathtaking and made me want to soak in the moments forever.
After enjoying the sunset at the pool, we went to grab a drink and dessert at Ka’ana Kitchen and they gave us both complimentary champagne and dessert, it was so sweet of them! We split the Coconut Sundae and the Caramelized White Chocolate Cheesecake, both were delicious! It was the perfect way to end our last night at Andaz.
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Day 7:
We checked out of Andaz, went to Starbucks for coffee and breakfast sandwiches, then hit the road to Haleakala! We drove to the top and it honestly felt like we were on top of the world, it was absolutely breathtaking. Before the clouds rolled in, we could see other islands from the top and the view of Maui was surreal. We learned so much about Maui history while we were there. I definitely recommend stopping by the visitors center while you were there. They were all so kind, helpful, and knowledgeable. Pro tip: bring a jacket with you (I clearly did not) and I was FREEZING, hence why we didn’t stay long. It was below forty degrees at the top and as you can imagine, it was also very windy. We also heard from countless people that doing a sunrise tour at Haleakala is the most incredible experience ever and people couldn’t recommend it enough. We obviously didn’t do it, but when we go back, we will definitely do it!
Since we had already checked out of Andaz and didn’t stay at Haleakala very long, we went to do more site seeing at Iao Valley State Park. We of course had to go back to Coconut’s one more time for lunch since Charlie was obsessed with their food and I loved it too so I definitely wasn’t opposed to going again. It was overcast and raining on and off so we opted not to swim in the creeks, but we did hike around a little and it was beautiful. We hiked to Iao Needle and it was so beautiful. The entire park is plush green and definitely a must see!
We STILL had time to kill before our flight so we drove back over to Lahaina to buy a couple of souvenirs and little snacks to bring home. We also went to the famous Lahaina Banyan Tree to see it and take a picture in front of it. My parents also went to Maui for their honeymoon and my dad took a picture of my mom in front of the same tree so I wanted to do the same for the memory!
We concluded our trip with a Hawaiian BBQ sunset dinner at Aloha Mixed Plate. We split the Roasted Beet Salad as an appetizer than each got the Aloha Mixed Plate for our entrees. Both dishes were SO delicious and I highly recommend eating there while you are in Lahaina. We wanted one last delicious meal before flying home. We had a 10:30 pm overnight flight back to Phoenix and wanted to soak up every last minute before our flight. We had the most incredible time in Maui, Hawaii and loved every minute of it!
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Here is a condensed list of my Maui recommendations:
Breakfast spots:
Duo Steak & Seafood, located at the Four Seasons in Wailea
Cinnamon Roll Place in Kihei
Ka’ana Kitchen, located at the Andaz in Wailea
Lunch spots:
Lunch by the pool at the Four Seasons
Coconut’s Fish Cafe in Kihei
Hana Farms in Hana
Dinner spots:
Monkeypod in Wailea
Ferraro’s Bar E Ristorante, located at the Four Seasons in Wailea
Grand Wailea Luau in Wailea
Lahaina Fish Co. in Lahaina
Morimoto Maui, located at the Andaz in Wailea
Mama’s Fish House in Paia
Aloha Mixed Plate in Lahaina
Dessert and Other Treats:
Ululani’s in Lahaina
Homemade pie at Monkeypod
Chocolate cake at Ferraro’s Bar E Ristorante
Coconut Sundae at Ka’ana Kitchen
Gelato at Mokapu Market
Banana bread at Halfway to Hana
Things to Do and See:
Go to the beach- any of the public beaches in Maui are amazing!
Outrigger canoe
Walk around the Shops at Wailea
Luau at the Grand Wailea
Catamaran and snorkeling tour with Trilogy
Road to Hana
Walk around the shops in Paia
Visit Haleakala
Walk around and shop in Lahaina
I hope you all enjoyed our honeymoon recap and recommendations!
Xoxo,
Jonica
This post is amazing! We are headed to Maui for our babymoon in March so plan to follow all of our recommendations 🙂 One thing I wanted to ask – how was the construction that’s going on at the Andaz? Did you hear noise from your room or the pool area? Did it impact your stay at all? Debating between keeping our reservation at the Andaz or moving hotels because of it so would love to hear your thoughts!
Thank you so much! I am so glad you found the post helpful. I hope you have the most amazing babymoon! I’m not sure if they were doing the construction while we were there and if they were, we definitely didn’t notice it! Andaz was amazing though, such a beautiful property!
Xoxo,
Jonica
This post has been extremely helpful! Currently planning our honeymoon for next May 2021 in Maui. We are torn between the Four Seasons and Andaz, did you have a preference or things you liked about them? We are spending 5 nights there at the end of our honeymoon and 7 nights in kaanapali (Westin or Marriott with points) so are wanting to splurge for the last portion but don’t know which one to do! Everything I’ve read has been a 50/50 split saying the Andaz rooms are pretty bad but that the property is amazing where the Four Seasons has amazing service/rooms but that the property is overly crowded with a lot of kids.
Let me know your thoughts 🙂