Over Christmas break, my family and I went to the Island of Maui in Hawaii. It was high-key the best trip I have ever been on. We got to do everything that Hawaii has to offer (except seeing lava- still bitter about that one). If you are thinking about going or just want to live vicariously through my trip these are my top 6 things to do and see.
1. UTV at Maui Offroad Adventures
First of all, the view in the background is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. This was the highlight of the trip for my whole family, from my mom to my high school aged brother. We all got a little muddy but this was a great way to get outside and see part of the island that we might not have gotten to see otherwise. My brother drove the first half, and I drove the second so this is something that your whole group could enjoy.
2. Surf Lessons
You can't go to Hawaii and not go surfing! We went to Maui Wave Riders and with their help, my dad, brother and I were all three able to successfully stand up on a surfboard for the first time, I even got a "surftificate" to prove it. Our instructor was super helpful and they claim to have helped people from the ages of 4 to 104 stand up on a surf board.
3. Helicopter Flight
We did this on our first day on the island and it was great. We flew over the island of Maui and two smaller, uninhabited islands that are close. It was a great way to get a lay of the land and get our bearings before we really got out and explored. We even got to see whales swimming in the ocean from the air!
4. Maui Ocean Center Aquarium
This is a really fun thing to do on a day that the weather is not so great. In Hawaii, it rains a lot on some parts of the island, and other parts are totally dry most of the year. We were staying on the rainy side, so the aquarium was a great way to get out of the rain and still see some sea creatures that were native to the waters around the island!
5. Hike Maui Waterfall Hike
This was another one of my favorite days. We did this on new years day so it was a great way to ring in 2018. The hike was not very long, and most of our time was spent jumping off waterfalls and swimming in the pools that they cascade down into. It was absolutely gorgeous. My mom did this with a sprained ankle, so if she can do it I would say that almost anyone can.
6. Black Sand Beach in Hana
This is a stereotypical Hawaiian thing to do, but it was so cool. I'm not used to sand being black and so seeing it was a really special experience. This was in a state park, and there were also things like blowholes and public picnic areas so you could definitely make a day out of it.