My husband and I went to Maui for our honeymoon a few months back. Besides being paradise, Maui also has some great fits - both in fashion and fitness. Since Cool J and D-man are heading to Maui over the holidays, and in case anyone else is toying with the idea of heading to the South Pacific, I wanted to provide a few of the right fits on Maui.
The Right Fitness:
1) Snorkeling around Lanai'i
If you are looking for a fun way to exercise while also getting some amazing views, sign up to do the Snorkel Safari around Lanai'i. It is a little bit pricier than most of the other snorkel adventures around Maui, but this excursion is smaller (<25 people vs. >100), lasts longer (6+ hours), and takes you to better snorkeling areas. You will be able to spend more time in the water, see more fish/sea turtles/sharks/dolphins, and have more fun with the captains. The water is rougher than it is around Maui due to the wind across the ocean, so be prepared for a choppy 25 minute boat ride and working a bit harder in the water than most snorkeling. But a seriously great workout for your thighs and calves.
2) Hiking on Hana Hwy
Driving Hana Hwy can be done without any exercise, if you so choose. But who wants that? You'll see more and have more fun if you take a full day to hike around the route to Hana. Many waterfalls can be seen from the road, but most of the one-of-a-kind views and experiences are "off the beaten path." Take Maui Revealed with you and hike to all the extra waterfalls that you can. (Depending on rain, some might be inaccessible). Also, save some energy to hike to Wailea Falls (400 ft waterfall) following the 2+ mile Pipiwai Trail (part of Haleakala National Park).
If you are staying in Lahaina (which most people on vacation will opt to stay here where the groomed beaches are along the Western coast), wake up early to go for a run. The beach is always groomed early in the morning and there are rarely other vacationers out and about that early. It is normally cool and sometimes you can catch some dolphins swimming off shore. As any beach run is, this is a great leg workout. I would recommend trying one run with shoes and one without.
4) Biking Haleakala
Biking Haleakala can be coasting in first gear OR a bit of a workout - depending how lost you get! For this I would recommend using Haleakala Bike Company. You get bused to the top of the volcano at 3:00 am. At the top, you can watch the sunrise (bring warm layers...it is REALLY cold), and then you will get fitted with a bike and helmet to ride back down to town. (Haleakala Bike Company is unguided, so you get to go at your own pace. Many of the other companies are guided, forcing you to stay with the group). Whereas the majority of the ride is in 1st gear downhill (your brakes get more of a workout than you will), once you hit the bottom, you have a few good hills, and if you take a wrong turn, you are in for an extreme workout. The whole ride takes about 2-2.5 hours.
The Right Fashion:
1) Pai'a (North Shore)
Pai'a is definitely the best area to shop on Maui. Think small surfer town with hippie charm and lots of cute boutiques and great food (Mama's Fish House, Flatbread Pizza Company). Here are a few of my favorite shops:
- Mahina (cute dresses and blouses for a REALLY reasonable price)
- lululemon (fashionable fitness gear and some beach gear)
- Dahalia Boutique (cute clothing - a bit more expensive than Mahina and a smaller selection)
2) Whalers Village
If you are looking for luxury items, this is your place to shop. It is located along Kaanapali Beach and contains designer shops such as Louis Vuitton and Gucci.
3) Historic Lahaina Front Street
This is the historic thoroughfare through the old Whaler's Village. Just walk along this route to shop clothing (Serendipity has some very cute Hawaii wraps and scarves), jewelry, and art. You will also find many tourist shops and restaurants. And don't forget to check out the Banyan Tree in the town square while eating shave ice!
4) K-Mart in Kahului
Seriously, if you are interested in purchasing authentic "made in Hawaii" clothing (the traditional shirts, dresses, etc. that you associate with Hawaii), you will not find it in Pai'a or Lahaina. You will find it at K-Mart. Explore their extensive selection of Hawaiian shirts (for men) and cute dresses and tanks for women. I also heard that Sears is big down there for carrying locally-made attire, but we didn't get there to shop.
Just a little insight to help you find the right fits while on your next trip to Maui!
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