As my first trip to Maui and my second to Hawaii, it was a pretty special trip.
To me, Maui is amazing! I wanted to do the “locals” thing and my family wanted to do the “touristy” things…so we compromised and did a bit of everything. Compared to Waikiki, there are not as many attractions in Maui unless you’re big on hiking, water sports, or golfing.
Things to do in Maui
- Humpback whale watching
- Watching the sunrise on Haleakala mountain
- Take the sightseeing tour on the road to Hana
- Stroll the towns like Lahaina’s Front Street, Pa’ia, and Makawao
- Visit the white sand beach (Sugar beach), red sand beach (Kaihalulu beach), and black sand beach (Wai‘anapanapa beach)
- Go surfing, snorkeling, or scuba diving – Honolua Bay, Makena/Turtle Town, Wailea, and Molokini
Talk about trying something new…I went snorkeling for the first time!
My sis and I borrowed some gear from my aunt and rented an underwater camera for $30/day or $60/week from Boss Frog. We headed over to Black Rock and dove right in. I’m not the strongest swimmer so I suck at snorkeling!
Right off the bat, I went too deep and got a mouthful of saltwater and had a coughing fit. Then, I didn’t put on my mask tight enough so I got waterlogged. After several attempts, I got the hang of it for a good 10-15 minutes but then, I swam too far for my comfort…panicked…and ended up swimming as fast as I could back to shore. I repeated the cycle until I wore myself out. Yea…it was an embarrassing experience if you saw me in person.
Still, I would do it again because once I saw the fishes and the sea turtles…my mind totally relaxed and muscle memory took over.
Maui will always have a place in my heart and I hope to go back again someday!
Have you gone to Maui or gone snorkeling before? Share your experiences!
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Love these pics, Jess…your holiday vacay looks amazing! I’ve been a devoted Oahu-er for years but have never made it over to Maui. Your pics make me want to!
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I’ve only been to Maui once and I agree, it’s a magical place. Oahu is too commercial for me. I am glad you had a great time with your family. Did you collect sand as a souvenir while you were there? Just like you, I’d love to visit again someday.
I have never been to Hawaii or Maui and never been snorkelling~ I think I have a phobia of sharks~
but your holidays make me long to go to an island!
<3! I have also only been to Hawaii once and Maui will be my second trip later this year. My hope is to see whales but I don't know if we'll be too late in the season for it. *fingers crossed* I'm a terrible swimmer so snorkeling horrified me, I sounded like Darth Vader in my head so every few minutes or stretch of water, I'd panic and have to come back up to orient myself. It didn't help that the masks didn't fit well so they kept taking on water. A child size was recommended which felt silly!
Oh man, look at that clear blue water. So gorgeous! Hope you had a great time
Thank you for sharing photos of your vacation with us. The photos are just breathtaking. I went to Honolulu for a work conference and had a wonderful time. I want to go to Maui one day. I also went snorkeling. Worst idea to do if you’re not a good swimming. I swam too far from the boat and couldn’t swim back to the boat because I was exhausted. I have to be rescues.=( Despite that I did had a great time snorkeling.
I have yet to vacation in Maui.. but while in Jamaica I went snorkeling for the first time too. I jumped off the boat and immediately swallowed a bunch of salt water. Had the same effect as you – raging coughing fit! Then I was nervous to try again. Put the mouthpiece in again and tried to go but kind of had a panic attack and had to come up for air. Finally the tour/boat guide made it all make sense.. then I was off and loving it! I probably swam for twenty minutes. It was the most amazing experience! When I climbed back into the boat – I got sea sick. :*( But – I will def. do it again…except this time around – I’ll bring my own snorkeling gear!!!
Thanks for sharing your pictures with us! <3 it!