A huki huki huki huki hukilau
This is the song that has been stuck in my head for a day--over and over and over.
Why?
We booked a family vacation to Maui this summer!! As in all of my immediate family!! You can be assured that I'll be practicing my hula, as seen below, while I patiently wait for the time to hop on the plane.
Scott and I went to Oahu three years ago (zomg, really three years ago?!), so we're looking forward to seeing one of the other Hawaiian islands.
Have you been to Maui? What MUST we do while we're there?

How fun, Trish! We've never been to Hawaii, so I have no wisdom for you. But, if you see anyone from Hawaii 5-0 or Magnum, you could say Hi for me! LOL
ReplyDeleteI'm no help either because our one trip to Hawaii (zoinks - five years ago???) was to Oahu. My favorite part was definitely the hiking. Oh also the contemporary art museum and gardens in Honolulu were a mind-blowing surprise. So with no specifics, maybe my only advice is to seek out something you don't expect and see what happens.
ReplyDeleteI seriously love love love that both our families are going to Hawaii!!! So fun.
ReplyDeleteHilarious that that song was stuck in your head bc on Christmas when we found out I couldn't get Mele Kalikimaka out of my head, haha.
I've also only been to Oahu (14 years ago!) Looking forward to seeing the more tropical side. :)
PS Do you have a link to the place you're staying? Send to me! :)
OMG! I couldn't be more envious if I tried. LOL. I can't wait to hear more.
ReplyDeleteYay for you! Hope it's wonderfully relaxing and fun. I've never been so no ideas here, but I'm sure it will be fabulous whatever you decide to do.
ReplyDeleteSo lucky!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI am seriously homesick for Kauai. It's like a physical feeling how badly I want to go back there. I'm very jealous of your trip (but I'd go back to Kauai if I went.)
ReplyDeleteI recommend a side trip to Kauai, and going for a Zodiac snorkeling trip that tours sea caves. (They may have sea caves in Oahu, too)! One of my best travel memories of all time!
ReplyDeleteAwesome!!! Kip and I honeymooned for ten days on Kauai. It was so beautiful (and the beaches are to die for). I haven't been to Maui (yet!) so I'll be eager to hear your thoughts about it once you've been :) Lucky girl, you!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful idea! I hope you have lots of fun!!
ReplyDeleteOhhh such joy! Wish you loads of fun preparing and daydreaming about it (I like that part of traveling just as much!). Already curious to all your experiences and photos from there!
ReplyDeleteHere is our travelouge from when we went in 2009 - http://eliseandjason.blogspot.com/search/label/Maui - probably way more information than any one person would want, but alas...
ReplyDeleteI'd highly recommend picking up the book Maui Revealed. It is such a great travel book, gives you a good overview of the island, organized really well (beaches, activities, sights in different areas of the island, dining), good reviews, etc. I loved it, recommended it to a friend (Emily in our VQB) who recently used it and loved it, too. I got Kauai revealed for our trip.
I would definitely do the Road to Hana. Some people think it is overrated, but I don't, especially for your first time to Maui. The drive is SO pretty & you get to see really amazing sights (beaches, waterfalls, natural pools, etc.) along the way - depending on how much you stop.
Eat at Flatbread Company in Pa'ia. I am considering a day trip to Maui for their Mospy's Kalua Pork Pizza alone.
And one thing we didn't do, but wish we had - Sunrise at Haleakala.
Oh wow! How exciting. I absolutely love having a trip to look forward to. Makes all the not-so-great stuff in the months leading up to it not look so bad.
ReplyDeleteHave fun planning!
*Kay - I'll be on the lookout for anyone with a Tom Selleck mustache. ;)
ReplyDelete*Sara - We loved hiking in Oahu as well--we had pretty rainy weather but a few dry spots for hiking.
*Rae - But I'm SO sad that we'll be so close but so far away. ;) too bad it's not easier to island hop so we could all have a big luau together.
*Vivienne - I promise a full report. ;)
*Kristi - With 9 adults going, I'm sure we'll find a bit of trouble to get into!
*Amanda - My mom's gift to us.
*Lisa - I'm totally weird in that I'd rather go some place new. Kauai was a choice but we settled on Maui as more active than beachy?
*Kelly - I really wish that we could make it out to Kauai for a bit but afraid it will be too pricey. Will see if there are sea caves near Maui!
*Wendy - I've heard wonderful things about Kauai--my cousins will actually be there at the same time. Wishing it were easier to island hop!
*Kailana - Yes! My mom surprised us with the trip!
*Cessie - LOL! yes, planning the trip is one of my favorite parts as well. ;)
*Elise - You are awesome! I totally forgot about your posts to Hawaii but when I browsed them I remembered. I'm going to get Maui Revealed. Excited that we're both going to Hawaii at the same time--sad we're going to different islands!
*Picky - It's been a LONG time since we've had a 'real' trip to look forward to so we're really excited! Just wish it were a little sooner!
I've never been to Hawaii - I'm definitely jealous. I'm sure you'll have an amazing time!
ReplyDeleteSo jealous! I've only been to Hawaii once, and I loved it.
ReplyDeleteI am so jealous! I've never been to Hawaii.
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to go to Hawaii. Hope you have a wonderful time!
ReplyDeleteAwesome -- congrats! My buddy just went to Hawaii on her honeymoon last fall and had an awesome time. She took a helicopter ride over an active volcano that looked wicked cool, though I'm too big of a chicken to try something like that myself! If you're up for it, she said it was incredible!
ReplyDeleteWow, lucky you. That'll be awesome with the whole family going.
ReplyDeleteWow, I'm so envious, Trish!! Hope you have a wonderful time and I look forward to seeing the pics!! :)
ReplyDeleteLike Elise said, Maui Revealed is a must. I've found that series is generally pretty good with its recommendations.
ReplyDeleteIf you can rally the troops to get up in the middle of the night and bundle up and drive up to the top of the big volcano (I've forgotten the name...how lame) to watch the sunrise, it is totally worth it!
Okay, so I read the rest of Elise's comment...sunrise at Haleakala...it's a must!!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you'll have a wonderful time. And Ellie can wear a hoola skirt too.
ReplyDeleteWe're headed to Hawaii sometime soon too, maybe in April. Yay! We'll probably do Oahu and Maui. I lived on Oahu when I was little and we got married there so I just can't avoid going there. It's home. But Maui is so dang pretty. Be sure and go to the aquarium (Maui Ocean Center). The fishies are gorgeous there! I am thinking about surf lessons this time out too if I can get my courage up.
ReplyDeleteYea for you! I'm so jealous. Just tonight while I was watching the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills I was telling my daughter how I want to go to Hawaii. I probably won't get to stay at the Four Seasons like those ladies did but I won't go until I can stay on the beach.
ReplyDeleteThere's this really cool drive on the southern part of the island. It's called the Hana Highway and it is so freaking cool. It takes you to Hana (go figure) and then past that you get to the Seven Sacred Pools, a very popular tourist spot. But I just basically loved the drive itself. The volcano is on a different drive and that's fun too. Also there's a needle thing (I forget the name) a skinny mountain, that we enjoyed seeing. I've been to most of the different islands, and I think Maui is my favorite.
ReplyDeleteNo I've only been to the Big Island twice. I LOVE Hawaii. I would recommend going to Tripadvisor.com I got lots of great suggestions and ideas for my trips.
ReplyDeleteAlso, a good guidebook.
Aloha my friend :)
I am so totally jealous. Hawaii sounds so great! Houston and I talked about going next year. Sounds especially nice as I look out the window watching snow fall. Can't wait to hear all about it.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds amazing! Have a wonderful trip. I just finished Unfamiliar Fishes, which is about Hawaii. Maybe check it out before you go.
ReplyDeleteWow! That sounds so exotic and wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI am green with envy! :)
Have fun, you guys!
Oh Trish!!!! This is soooooooo awesome!!!! :D :D :D Lots of pictures will be taken and shared, right?
ReplyDelete*Carol- Can't wait--I'm sure we'll be making lots of memories. :)
ReplyDelete*Trisha- I'm hoping it will be the perfect getaway--hurry up summer!!!
*Bermuda- Thanks! Can't wait. :)
*Anna- I hope you have the chance to go sometime!
*Meg- It would be absolutely amazing to fly over the volcano!! I'm not sure if Mauihas any active ones but it would be quite the experience.
*Darlene- It should be fun to have my siblings there--we're quite the wild grouptogether!!
*Melody- I'll be sure to actually share the pictures this time! Didn't do so well withthe Europe trip. ;)
*Softdrink- Ok, putting it on the MUST list--sunrise at Haleakala. Also picking up MauiRevealed tonight! (I love any legitimate excuse to go to the bookstore).
*Irene- She'll be just big enough for a little skirt and tiny coconuts ha!
*KristenM - I'm glad to hear you love Maui so much, especially having grownup in the area. We've done Oahu and don't know if we feel the need to go back,so we're excited about the new. Will put the aquarium on the list. And youtotally should surf!! Ha!
*Lisa- Well, I have to thank my mama for the trip. Scott and I definitely wouldn'tbe doing this on our own at this point. Ha! Not sure we'll have our own vacation for the next 25 years. ;)
*Suey- I definitely definitely want to drive the road to Hana--have heard so muchabout it (but also have heard so much about how rental agreements deny coverageif driving on that road!!). Glad to hear Maui is a favorite--we're reallyexcited about all the things to do there.
*JennyGirl - Thanks for the suggestion on Tripadvisor.com! I'll also bemaking a trip to Barnes and Nobel for a guidebook. Ha!
*Michelle- Should be a lot of fun--it's been a long time since we had a family vacationto somewhere other than Utah. ;) Funny that Debbie's family will be on Kauai atthe same exact time!
*Melissa - I haven't heard ofUnfamiliar Fishes but I'll look into it!! A little Hawaiian pre-reading soundslike a great idea!
*thegalnextdoor - Thank you! We're alllooking forward to the trip. :)
*Debi - Oh yes, Lots of pictures WILL be taken! Just need to make time to share. ;)
WEEEEE I'm so glad to hear others are on board with the Road to Hana... and I'm totally down for a sunrise trip to the volcano...how many times do you actually get to SEE the sun rising over the horizon? And hiking hiking hiking...I already sent a link to the group about a somewhat close-by hike... What will we do when the boys are going deep sea fishing? We should find a fun girls activity...plus Nick and Jim :)
ReplyDeleteI'm SO EXCITED!!!
OMG! I've had that song stuck in my head for the past week! I'm going to Kauai in March! It'll be my first time to Hawaii. I lived in San Diego for 20 years and always felt that Hawaii was pretty much the same. Beach. Sand. Gorgeous sunsets. Fresh seafood. Yadayadayada. But after living in Nebraska for (yikes!) almost 20 years, I feel the need to get to a warm tropical island this winter. And lucky me, my parents have a timeshare on Kauai. So be prepared for lots of tropical photos in my header later this spring. :)
ReplyDeleteOh we're going to a hukilau... :)
Everyone's mentioned the road to Hana. If you go, you might actually see a movie star. My cousin, Kris Kristofferson, lives in Hana. Be sure to take pictures and tell him hi for me! :)
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