The Best Week in Maui
Touching down in Maui always feels like stepping into the most idyllic island life. The warm, salty breeze at the airport welcomes you to what will no doubt be a beautiful time ahead.
There are a million reasons to love this island. Coffee with ocean views, the scent of plumeria everywhere, tiny fruit stands tucked along winding roads, and sunsets that are like paintings. I’m a HUGE fan. How could you not be?!
It’s a place where adventure and luxury coexist. Cliff jumps and quiet mornings. Jungle hikes and lazy cafe hours. Everywhere you turn there’s something to take in. Just pure and easy beauty.
we took a private scenic flight from Maui and this is the coast of an island nearby
The Maui WaY
Maui has a special rhythm; the sound of waves becomes your background track, and time starts to mean something different. Somehow, I always wake up early and want to go to bed early here, and I really prefer that but haven’t been able to bring the habit back to the mainland!
Owen and I always stay in Kihei, in a little condo that looks straight out over the ocean. Each morning starts with a coffee on the lanai, eyes scanning for whales in the distance. Sometimes we spot them, sometimes not, but it’s the ritual that makes it magic (there were so many this trip!!.) I’ll usually take a quick dip in the ocean after cuz there’s nothing better than salt water hair and skin to start the day.
Owen’s the adventure planner. He’ll find waterfalls to hike, cliffs to jump from, or secret mango spots down the road. I’m more about the cafe hunt. There’s something about discovering a new and beautiful coffee spot on the island that never gets old.
island cafe mornings
If you’ve followed me for a while, you know my weakness for good coffee (and a cute cafe setup!). From Da Green Coffee Bar in Kihei to Akamai Coffee in Wailea Village, every place has its own little charm like tropical light streaming in, surfboards leaning on walls, and the smell of fresh pastry drifting by. I found a new spot this trip and it has become my absolute fave coffee on the whole island: Maui Juice Co. They have a cold brew Kona coffee with coffee ice cubes + housemade mac nut milk + maple syrup. It’s truly INSANE.
Our morning ritual is pretty simple; we grab coffee, drive somewhere new, and let the day unfold mostly without a plan. I find that this style of travel is the best kind of reset.
Tip: Don’t rush your coffee here. Sip slow. Let the salt air do its thing:)
on island time
Most days we have no real plan (which is, of course, the best kind of plan). Maui rewards wandering. We’ll end up stopping at roadside fruit stands for lilikoi or fresh coconut, then head off toward waterfalls or beaches we’ve never been to before. It’s what I love about the island, there is something different in every corner. Depending of which area you’re in, you’ll have drastically different weather and it’ll basically feel like a new island.
A few favorites if you go:
The full loop on the Road to Hana (yes, the whole thing!)
Waimoku Falls hike
Upcountry Saturday Market
Paia & Makawao shops for cute finds
Big Beach for perfect golden hours
Ocean Distillery at sunset
Sugar Beach Bake Shop for malasadas
Snorkeling in Wailea for that turquoise glow
Everywhere you go, there’s color. Lush greens, bright flowers, dark volcanic rock, and that deep Pacific blue.
evenings that linger
When the sun starts to dip, Maui turns into this soft watercolor. We usually cook dinner at home (I love cooking here and would recommend that you grab a Hawaiian cookbook and do the same!) or grab poke from the grocery store and eat right on the beach. Owen goes for a local brew, and I’m all about a lilikoi cocktail as the sky turns pink and gold.
The way the day hums itself to sleep, the sound of waves mixing with sounds from the beach, it’s peaceful yet alive. Maui has such a good mix of everything like that.
why we keep coming back?
Our Maui trips never feel long enough, and yet they always leave me feeling extra refreshed. There’s something about this island that keeps calling you back, a quiet reminder to slow down, breathe deeper, and live a little softer. I’ve often wondered if I could live here longterm. Could you?
Watch my Maui vlog to see more of our days on the island (ocean swims, fruit stands, and those dreamy sunsets).
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