Our third and final island on the trip was Maui. Though the island had little to offer in terms of sights, I felt a trip to Hawaii would be incomplete without a visit there. Luckily it was our last leg as everyone was exhausted and indifferent to another beach. In fact we barely step foot onto a beach. Instead we went whale watching the first day followed by a luau dinner at the old Lahaina Luau. The weather was beautiful and the water shined like a sea of sapphire the day we were there. It was about as perfect of an experience as you can get and not only did we see them but we also saw a full breach, three times in fact. It appears we stumbled upon a mating challenge. The excitement of seeing them jump up out of the water when you least expected it is probably half the fun.
At the luau we were greeted with lays and Mai Tai as we toured the area before the dinner and show. Once inside you felt like you were transported back in time. All the waiters were shirtless, wearing only a sarong while the hula dancers were in all sorts of grass skirts and head dresses. Having never really studied the history of the Polynesian Islands, I didn't really analyze the authenticity of it and just sat back and enjoyed it all.
The island often claim that it's true highlight is sunrise on Haleakala. At 10,000 ft one can watch sunrise above a sea of clouds. We decided it was worth a look despite having to get up at 2am for the drive. The actual ride up was a lot better than expected. Though the road was windy most of it had railings and it was pitch dark that you couldn't see the free fall even if you wanted to. The actual sunrise itself was slightly disappointing. Since it wasn't at the horizon, once the sun popped out above the clouds it was too bright to photo anything. It definitely wasn't the best sunrise I've seen. The last day and a half was the first time on the trip I was able to relax by the pool with a cocktail. Though it didn't provide any further experiences of the island it was much needed and perhaps the best way to end a very full and memorable trip.
Atmosphere: Out of the three islands Maui was exactly what I had imagine Hawaii to be. The whole island felt very much in sync as every where you looked it was developed yet not overly so. What I love the most about this whole state is that all the beaches are public, hence you can just pull off to the side of the road and be on a beach.
Beauty: It's hard to say which was the most beautiful island as each felt so different. Where Maui felt like a true tropical island all throughout, the other two depended on where you were. However after seeing water this blue and clear and sand finer than powder it's hard to imagine going to another beach anywhere else.
Cleanliness: The whole state is spotless. In fact I don't believe there were even much graffiti around. It was one of the best kept places I've visited.
Food: Though I had a few dishes that were good, nothing was mind-blowing. My favorite dishes was the fish taco from Ono taco truck and the Spicy Ahi taco from Eskimo Candy. Aside from that, the shaved ice from Ululani's was truly a treat. It resembled water ice but with much better flavors.
People: The people were really nice. Sometimes I question whether it's sincere or just for business.
Last comment: I never thought I would enjoy an island vacation as much as I have. It had a perfect balance of sights and attraction to beaches. One thing is for sure, at every corner and angle is another amazing sight you wish you can capture, though pictures will never do it justice.
Scale 1-10: 9
Atmosphere: Out of the three islands Maui was exactly what I had imagine Hawaii to be. The whole island felt very much in sync as every where you looked it was developed yet not overly so. What I love the most about this whole state is that all the beaches are public, hence you can just pull off to the side of the road and be on a beach.
Beauty: It's hard to say which was the most beautiful island as each felt so different. Where Maui felt like a true tropical island all throughout, the other two depended on where you were. However after seeing water this blue and clear and sand finer than powder it's hard to imagine going to another beach anywhere else.
Cleanliness: The whole state is spotless. In fact I don't believe there were even much graffiti around. It was one of the best kept places I've visited.
Food: Though I had a few dishes that were good, nothing was mind-blowing. My favorite dishes was the fish taco from Ono taco truck and the Spicy Ahi taco from Eskimo Candy. Aside from that, the shaved ice from Ululani's was truly a treat. It resembled water ice but with much better flavors.
People: The people were really nice. Sometimes I question whether it's sincere or just for business.
Last comment: I never thought I would enjoy an island vacation as much as I have. It had a perfect balance of sights and attraction to beaches. One thing is for sure, at every corner and angle is another amazing sight you wish you can capture, though pictures will never do it justice.
Scale 1-10: 9
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