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Imagine lush valleys and rainforests, sunsets in technicolor, and rainbows around every bend. Waves crash against a rocky shore while palm trees sway in the breeze. At sunrise, you join your ho’okele (navigator) in an outrigger canoe where you spot whales breaching in the distance and jump in for a swim with friendly turtles. After a hike along the picturesque Wailea Beach Walk and a late breakfast at the bountiful buffet, your afternoon consists of craft cocktails and a nap by the pool before freshening up for dinner. You’ve been saving up your money and your appetite for the best meal of your life - a sunset dinner of seafood bouillabaisse at Mama’s Fish House in Pai’a town. Back at your luxury resort, you fall into your plush bed with a full belly and smile on your face. You’ve just had your best day on Maui. Tomorrow will be another magical day.
All the magic of Maui, including Heart Rock at Nakalele
As a Hawaii lover and frequent visitor, I adore all the Hawaiian islands and feel that each has something special. But Maui has my heart. 💗
On Maui, you have the best of all things Hawaiian - the most miles of swimmable beaches, lush landscapes, vibrant marine life, and rich culture - all packaged into a sophisticated and accessible tropical paradise with down-home appeal. That’s why most first-time visitors to Hawaii have Maui at the top of their list. And it’s why Show Them the World’s #1 destination is Maui!
Take a peek at our family vacations to Maui over the years - 2008, 2021, and 2023. My stay in 2024 makes 4 times on Maui!
What Makes Maui So Magical?
Maui’s magic lies in its diversity of landscapes, adventures, accommodations, and culinary delights as well as the fact that the island is easy to navigate. To understand why Maui is so special, it’s helpful to know how the other Hawaiian islands are different.
While Kauai’s dramatic natural beauty may have a leg up on Maui, resort options aren’t as plentiful, the weather and waves aren’t as predictable, and the island isn’t as accessible given only 10% of the island is reachable by car.
Hawaii (the Big Island) offers diversity of ecosystems similar to Maui plus active lava flow from Kīlauea volcano, but expect to spend multiple long days in the car to see it all given the size of the island. In addition, because the volcano is still active, you’ll find A LOT of black rock on the island, which means more lunar-like landscapes vs. lush landscapes.
On O’ahu, the big city traffic, crowds and high rises around Waikiki Beach and Honolulu create a less Hawaiian feel. But Pearl Harbor is a must-see, as is exploring the North Shore and Windward Coast!
L to R: Maui, Kaua'i, the Big Island, O'ahu
Where to Stay on Maui
Maui has no shortage of beautiful oceanfront resorts with amazing amenities to keep you entertained when you aren't out exploring. If you like a more peaceful vacation with beautiful beaches, the Wailea area in south Maui is right for you. If you like things more lively, Ka'anapali Beach in west Maui is a great choice.
Wailea: relaxed pace, less crowds, less traffic, more luxury, bigger beaches, grander resorts, more centrally located
Ka’anapali: livelier energy, more walkable things to do, usually more affordable. Culinary hot spots and nightlife used to be concentrated here in Lahaina town, but due to the 2023 wildfires, Lahaina is in the middle of a rebuild.
I've toured all the major resorts on the island and can pair you with the best accommodations to meet your needs. Through my luxury partnerships and local connections, I can offer exclusive VIP amenities like complimentary breakfast, room upgrades, red carpet welcomes, special pricing, and $100-$1000 in food and beverage credits.
My 2 favorite resorts on Maui: Fairmont Kea Lani (top) and Wailea Beach Resort (bottom)
Top 5 Things To Do on Maui
You’ll need a rental car and more than a week to experience all the magic of Maui. I’ve been four times, and I still haven’t done it all! Here’s my top 5 favorite things:
1) The Road to Hana may be the most beautiful yet difficult drive you'll ever take - 64 miles of narrow, winding cliff-hanging roads that will take you 7-9 hours roundtrip. The stops are where the real beauty lies - waterfalls, blowholes, black sand beaches, surfer lookouts, a lava tube and garden maze, botanical gardens, beach caves, and the Seven Sacred Pools. You can do the drive on your own or on a guided tour. And if you can't imagine doing the drive both ways, Hana Sky Trek will drive you and then helicopter you back!
We braved the Road to Hana in 2008 with baby Brady. In 2021, we went part of the way in to Twin Falls. Next visit, we'll do the helicopter/van tour and let someone else do the driving!
2) If your vacation begins in Maui, then your first full day should start with a sunrise tour of Haleakala Crater. You'll have to get up at 2:30 am, but given the time change, that shouldn't be a huge problem on day one! If you're adventurous, you can do an exhilarating bike down the mountain afterward (ages 12+). If you don't want to get up that early, you can always see sunset on Haleakala and spend the day in beautiful Upcountry along the way.
Haleakala at sunrise or sunset is breathtakingly beautiful. Explore Upcountry on the way like these crazies at Pula's Lavender Farm!
3) A snorkeling cruise is a must on Maui - choose from the ever-popular Molikini Crater (it will be crowded!) or the island of Lana'i with Trilogy where you can snorkel from the shore. And if you're on Maui during the winter, you can’t miss the whales! They breed in Maui Nui’s warm waters, and you see them from the shore and by boat.
The Trilogy snorkel cruise to the island of Lana'i is my favorite excursion on Maui! We tried to snorkel Molokini (far right photo), but the waters were too rough once we got out there. They refunded our money and we enjoyed a complimentary sunrise sail!
4) Maui’s typically calm seas are perfect for water adventures like surf lessons, outrigger canoe, kayaking, and SUP.
We surf and outrigger canoe every trip to Hawaii! As you can see, I'm not a natural surfer like my kids are, but I love plopping in the water when we outrigger canoe and swimming with friendly turtles!
5) Hike, stroll, and experience Hawaiian culture. Hike Iao Valley State Park, Twin Falls, and Kings Road. Stroll the small towns of Pai’a and Makawao. And now that it’s back in business after the wildfires, you can experience Maui’s most authentic luau, Old Lahaina Luau.
Leave room in your itinerary for wandering, so you can experience that aloha spirit and small-town charm. And rent a convertible if you can!
Rediscover Hawaii
In 2024, I was honored to participate in Fairmont Kea Lani's exclusive Rediscover Hawai'i Experience. Not only did I enjoy a week in Hawaii, but someone else planned and took care of everything - a Travel Advisor’s dream come true!
The Fairmont invited 25 travel advisors, event planners, and journalists from around the country to showcase the resort's stunning transformation and celebrate Hawaiian culture and Maui's rebirth after the wildfires. Because Hawaii is my top-selling destination and because of my close partnership with Fairmont Kea Lani, I was on the invite list!
When you visit Fairmont Kea Lani, you become part of their ʻohana. From sitting cross-legged on the grass at our E Komo Mai welcome ceremony with nā kūpuna (respected elders) to paddling the sparkling Pacific with a hoʻokele (navigator) to an endless bounty of authentic Hawaiian culinary delights and aloha spirit, we felt like royalty being welcomed into this amazing family.
A guiding force at Fairmont Kea Lani is Mālama Maui – Taking Care of the Island - which has become even more crucial after the devastating wildfires last year. We participated in what they call "voluntourism" - helping care for Maui’s natural resources, endangered species, and culturally rich heritage. Through the Fairmont's Rooted in Aloha program, we planted trees on the slopes of Haleakala to support the restoration of the island's damaged ecosystems. Imagine the impact if every visitor to Maui sponsored one native tree planting!
At our closing Awa ceremony with nā kūpuna, we shared our gratitude and what we're bringing home from our experience. I kept coming back to the word GENEROSITY - the generosity and kindness of everyone involved in the Rediscover Hawai'i Experience will stay with us forever. Maui is absolutely magical - so much more than a vacation.
Heather Vergara is a former PepsiCo marketing executive who left the corporate world to be a Mom and never found her way back. Instead, she focused on her passion for travel and adventure and created Show Them the World, a travel concierge service for busy families longing to reconnect and see the world together. In less than four years, she's helped more than 300 families experience Hawaii, Alaska, Costa Rica, France, England, Greece, Italy, Croatia, Portugal, Spain, Ireland, the Caribbean, National Parks, and more to come!
Heather has an MBA in marketing from Indiana University, a Digital Marketing Executive Education certificate from Columbia University, and a BA in Journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She lives with her husband, two kids, and two furry dogs in Zionsville, Indiana.