maui

/maui🏝️

Updated on 2024-07-28

Hey, thanks for being here! Hope you enjoy your stay on the island(s). I do wanna share some of tips and recommendations based our prior experience in Hawaii. Of course, I’ll keep it updated before the wedding. Cheers! (Rui)

Recommendations

O’ahu

🏖 Waikiki
- 💡 If you stay at Waikiki and do not want to pay for overnight parking, you can park along Kalakaua Ave near Kapiolani regional park, lots of spots when the surfers go home.
- ☕ Island Vintage Coffee. The queue is super long even at 7 am in the morning. Acai bowl is good though. Can also order takeout.
- 🍲 Restaurant Suntory. Sukiyaki set is good.
- ☕ Kai Coffee. Lesser crowded cafe. Good substitute if waiting time at Island Vintage is outrageous.
- ☕ Kona Coffee Purveyors. Love the pastries there, also can grab one or two bags of coffee beans as gifts.
- 🍤 Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu. Top 3 if not the best tonkatsu I’ve had. Need reservation though.
- 🇨🇱 The Patagonia store here in Hawaii has limited edition of some T-shirt designs. “Pataloha.”
🌺 Southeast and central
- 🚶🏼‍♂️ Koko Crater Railway Trail (arguably the hardest trail on O’ahu)
- 🚶🏼‍♂️ Koko Crater Arch Trail
- 👓 Lana’i lookout (stop and photo time)
- 🚶🏼‍♂️ Makapu’u Point Lighthouse trail (1hr round trip, also can overlook the tide pools)
- 🍹 Waimanalo Beach Park (Not everyone’s favorite but my gf and I ended up spending two whole afternoons lying down on beach chairs there, just chilling)
- 🚶🏼‍♂️ Lulumahu Falls Trail (need to reserve online as the trail is on a private property)
- 🚶🏼‍♂️ Manoa Falls Trail. A well maintained version of previous one.
- 🪴 Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden
- 🍣 Mas & Joyce Okazuya. We had lunch there before the tour at Kuala Ranch. Small dishes at very affordable prices.
- 🦖 Kualoa Ranch. if you like movies, you will enjoy this place. Need to book tours ahead of time
🏄‍♀️ Northshore
- 🍤 Giovanni’s Shrimp truck.
- 🚶🏼‍♂️ Waimea Falls.
- 🦈 Shark’s Cove.
- 🧑‍🦲 Da Bald Guy. He was on Netflix! Love the garlic shrimps here

Road to Hana could be exhausting. Manage your expectation.
Snorkeling at Molokini Crater.
If you are visiting Haleakalā, make sure to check the weather forecast. It could be freezing up there.
- Sunrise is beautiful but it’s a long drive and you need to book a spot in advance.
- Sunset is also beautiful but could be crowded. (See gif above!)
If you are visiting Lanai Island and a cat person, Lanai Cat Sanctuary is a must-go.
Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea. That’s where they shot the first season of the White Lotus. Dining option is great.
Maui Humane Society.
Merriman’s Kapalua.
Mama’s Fish House
Gather on Maui.
Feast at Mōkapu.
Don’t eat too much shaved ice.

Big island

Not many food recommendations and probably you’ve already planned some point of interest to visit.

💡Two tips:
- 🚗 If you decide to visit Waipio valley (there’s a beautiful black sand beach down there), park your car up the hill unless you are driving a 4x4 and confident to handle some extreme driving conditions.
- 🌋 Best time to observe volcanoes/lava is sunset, and it’s a flexible time. You get an overview of the surrounding and you the lava is more observable when sun goes dow.

Tips in general

Drone. Trust me as someone who has flown drones in Hawaii, you will regret not bringing one. But at the same time, you will regret not paying attention to regulations. Rule of thumb: Use the following four apps to check if you can fly your drone at the location.
Don’t bring excessive amount of T-shirts. There are plenty of souvenir shops (ABC etc.) that sell T-shirts at a reasonable price. Wear touristy T-shirts and blend in! Just like Agent 47.
Sunscreens! Sunscreens! Sunscreens!

/maui🏝️

Recommendations

O’ahu

Maui

Big island

Tips in general

References