By Cynthia Blair, about.com
Is there any place more perfect than Maui
for a honeymoon or romantic getaway? This Hawaiian island has it all:
gorgeous beaches, palm trees, tropical flowers, and a huge crater that’s
perfect for hiking, biking, or enjoying magnificent sunsets. In
addition to those unforgettable activities, romantics can also revel in
Maui's great restaurants, fun shopping – and a culture that includes
sensual hula dancing, mai tais,
and outrigger canoes. While no couple on a Maui honeymoon could run out
of things to do, these are some things they shouldn’t miss.
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1. Drive to Hana.
Although maneuvering the twists and turns on the island’s craggy coast
highway can be daunting, the views of the island’s north coast are worth
a few squeals. Stop along the Hana Highway
to see waterfalls, huge archways made of volcanic rock, and other
natural wonders. Those who dread hairpin turns and one-lane bridges can
hire a driver.
2. Ascend to Haleakala Crater. One of the things
that makes Maui unique is Haleakala crater, a 10,000-foot volcano
that’s been dormant for more than 200 years. Many couples arise when
it’s still dark to get to the top in time for sunrise, perhaps biking
down the slope on a tour afterwards. Those who aren’t early risers can
still enjoy the sunset – or hike or ride horses across the crater.
3. Go Snorkeling.
Take a peek at what’s under the sea. There’s no better way to frolic
with Maui’s colorful underwater residents than on an expedition to
Molokini with Trilogy Ocean Adventures, owned and operated by the same
family since the 1970s. At Molokini, snorkelers and scuba divers can
view 400 species of fish, including colorful parrotfish, Hawaii’s own
humuhumunukunukuapuaa, eerie eels, and perhaps even a three-foot
whitetip reef shark. The second stop, at “turtle town,” provides the
chance to swim with serene Green Sea turtles while viewing even more
fish.
4. Learn to Surf.
There’s no better place to learn how to surf than where it all began.
Instructors at the Maui Surf School work with newbies on techniques,
timing, and of course safety. Two-hour lessons are taught in small
groups to ensure individual attention. Surfing gear is provided
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5. Sail on a Sunset Cruise.
Maui is famous for its sunsets, and there’s nothing more romantic than
watching one from a boat. The Pacific Whale Foundation’s Sunset Dinner
Cruise sails out of Lahaina Harbor while a guitarist sings Hawaiian
songs. Although the setting sun is the main attraction, couples can also
enjoy a dinner that includes taro bread, Maui Cattle Company steaks,
teriyaki chicken, cheesecake with lilikoi (passion fruit), and wine,
beer, and tropical cocktails. Cocktails-only cruises are also an option.
6. Revel in Nature.
Feel as if you’re the only people in the world as you tromp uphill on a
dirt path along Honolua Ridge. Kapalua Adventures provides shuttle
service to the Maunalei Arboretum, where a small covered pavilion with a
picnic table awaits. First, enjoy a romantic lunch. Then make the
hour-long trek along the Honolua Ridge Trail, admiring the views of the
deep canyon below and marveling at the banyan trees and other exotic
plants. Hikers can take a second shorter hike along that highlights
local botanicals before the shuttle bus brings them back to
civilization.
7. Explore Unique Towns. Rent a car
and check out the seaside town of Pa’ia, a funky town with a New Age
flavor. A couple can pick up picnic ingredients at the Mana health food
market. Another fun stop is the Aloha Shirt Museum, with both originals
and reproductions of some of the island’s flashiest Hawaiian
shirts. Makawao’s cowboy heritage lives on in its Dodge City-style
wooden buildings, but any resemblance to the Wild West ends there.
Today, Baldwin Avenue is lined with art galleries and upscale jewelry,
clothing, and houseware boutiques.
8. Drop into a Spa. Maui has brought the art of pampering to new heights. Spa Grande at the Grand Wailea Hotel,
often cited as one of the world’s top spas, features Eastern, Western,
and Hawaiian treatments. The Western section includes five different
baths, including mud, papaya enzyme, and seaweed; Swiss showers with 50
car wash-style jets; and cascade showers, in which 1,000 gallons of
water rush down waterfall-style to soothe aching necks and shoulders.
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9. Stuff Your Suitcase.
In addition to fragrant leis, couples may want to stock up on splashy
Hawaiian shirts and colorful sundresses, macadamia nuts, Maui and Kona
coffee, pineapples, coconut syrup, and jewelry ranging from elegant
black Tahitian pearls to inexpensive shell necklaces.
The island’s
shopping mecca is Lahaina, a seaside town once filled with rowdy
whalers but today crowded with credit-card-toting tourists. Batik-lovers
will be tempted to collect Blue Ginger’s clothing and accessories. And
no visit to Maui would be complete without a stop at Hilo Hattie’s, a
decades-old institution stuffed with resort wear, chocolate-covered
macadamia nuts, and grass skirts.
10. Savor Local Products. Coffee aficionados will want to sample 100% Maui Coffee at Maui Grown Coffee,
the island's largest grower of estate coffees, at the company store in
Lahaina. At Ali'i Kula Lavender in Kula, a couple on a Maui honeymoon
can inhale the unforgettable fragrance of fields of lavender. And
visitors to the Surfing Goat Dairy can learn how 30 varieties of goat
cheese are made and meet some of the 200 actual producers romping on
this 42-acre farm in Kula.
