We just got home from Hawaii and I am feeling very bittersweet. I love coming home after a trip and getting back into my routine, but this time I am longing for the days of lounging on the beach and being checked out. We had such a relaxing vacation and I really made an effort to stay off my computer, so getting back to the grind is a bit overwhelming. We stayed on the island of Maui for a week and although I have been to Maui before I felt like I saw the island with new eyes this time. We did so much in a short amount of time so I wanted to share the highlights of our trip in a two part post.

We stayed in Wailea on the south west side of the island because my uncle has a great little condo there. Wailea is home to some of my favorite beaches, but definitely feels a little less authentic than places like Lahaina. A row of high end hotels including the Four Seasons and the Grand Wailea are located here so it definitely caters to a certain crowd. There are not a ton of restaurants in Wailea, so the hotels are a great option for good dining. We had two wonderful dinners at the Four Seasons and The Grand Wailea. Both of these hotels are situated on a gorgeous stretch of beach which is great for watching the sunset before dinner.

In Wailea, most of the beaches in front of the hotels are open to the public so you do not have to be a guest to utilize that space. I love the beach at the Four Seasons, but my other favorite beaches in the area include Big & Little Beach (in Makena State Park) and Maluka Beach. Also in this area you will find great small coves right off the road which are perfect for snorkeling.

In my next post I will be talking about the other areas we spent most of our time in, Lahaina and Kaanapali. That will also be a lengthy post so I wanted to mention one of our favorite stops when driving from Wailea to Lahaina, the Olowalu Juice Stand. We probably stopped here every time we drove past to get fresh fruit and delicious coconut smoothies. This place is a roadside staple in Maui and one of the things I will miss most.

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