The year 2020 has been unlike any other to say the least. COVID-19 has caused global shutdowns, mandatory stay at home orders, and social distancing. This year has brought deep pain, loss, and suffering for many. As a major result of the pandemic, travel has been restricted or banned in countries and cities. We learned the great value of our health and well-being, while also keeping those at risk at the forefront of our mind. Being stuck at home all day, without our friends, coworkers, and for many their families, for an entire year has taken a toll on us all. My boyfriend Trevor and I were antsy to experience new scenery in the safest way possible. We had not taken any time off all year and knew we were in need of an escape from reality.
Traveling during a global pandemic
Plenty of research and planning took place before officially deciding to go to Maui. We picked a destination where we could spend most of our time outside, spread from others. The Hawaiian government had released new travel policies in October, allowing visitors who had a negative COVID-19 test upon arrival to roam and swim the island. Those who did not take a test prior to arrival were required to quarantine for 2 weeks. Those who had taken a test but results were not received yet were required to quarantine until the lab results were uploaded in a designated portal and reviewed by a government official. Make sure to check ALL of the requirements before your departure to the Hawaiian islands, as policies are ever-changing by the day. There are designated testing sites Hawaii has partnered with to ensure credibility. Lab results will not be accepted from places outside of this list. At the time we went, our COVID-19 test had to be taken 48-72 hours before departure, so plan accordingly as it takes a few days for lab results to be submitted to their patients. I highly recommend taking a rapid test to avoid delays.
Upon our return from the trip, we quarantined for one week and took a COVID test to ensure the safety of our loved ones.
Trevor and I boarded our flight from SFO -> OGG on the evening of October 22nd while wearing our masks and face-shields. We had plenty of Purell and alcohol wipes to sanitize.
After a 4.5 hour flight, we arrived to Maui. Upon stepping foot in the airport, military men took our temperature. We then waited in a lengthy line to show our documents and check in with a representative. She called our Airbnb host to verify our stay, duration, and precise location. Pink and blue slips were given out to everyone from our flight accordingly, translating to a pass or quarantine status.
Mode of Transportation
We gathered our luggage and made our way outside, boarding a tram that took us directly to the car rental site within two minutes. We made our car reservation in advance through Hertz. Checking in was a smooth process, and we were able to select the car of our choosing in a specific row of the parking garage. We originally got settled into our Kia, but as we started driving away, we realized the passenger side mirror was stuck. After a Hertz employee couldn't trouble-shoot, she recommended we select a different car. We transferred our luggage to a silver Chevy and called it ours for the next 10 days.
The Airbnb
We stayed in a studio condominium located at the heavenly Napili Shores in Lahaina. Our room had an ocean side view, with direct access to the stunning beach, pool, and lawn.
We made great use out of the balcony, enjoying homemade breakfast in the morning and catching mesmerizing sunsets in the evenings.
The Itinerary
Napili Shores
Coming to Maui once with my family as a kid, I was excited to see it again 16 years later. I had not gone to Napili before and was looking forward to a new adventure with an expert by my side ❤️ Trevor grew up going to Maui during his childhood, spending his summer days swimming in the Napili ocean and finding geckos. I absolutely loved having him show me his favorite place on earth. We spent plenty of time on our new home turf, as it was an oasis of peace and beauty. Under normal circumstances, The Gazebo is a popular spot to grab breakfast and lunch. However, it was closed given the pandemic.
To get to the beach's shore, we crossed this rocky path and often times spotted sea turtles. They were always in a pair! (🐢❤️🐢)
Sea House Restaurant
On the other end of the beach, the Sea House serves delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner. While dining outside, the local birds got friendly with us and attempted to nibble at our food while we were still eating!
We came for a mid-day happy hour, enjoying our fruity cocktails and calamari with the most gorgeous view.
Downtown Lahaina
This downtown strip has plenty of ocean-side restaurants, ice cream parlors, art galleries, and clothing shops. We came at sunset to enjoy a plate of coconut shrimp and drinks at Bubba Gump.
Catching the evening sunset in Lahaina, with sailboats at the horizon ⛵️
One of my all time favorite fruity desserts is a Dole Whip Float. I generally eat them on my annual Disneyland trip (which didn't happen in 2020), so I was super excited to see that Lahaina had a shop to fulfill my craving. The float had pineapple flavored frozen yogurt in a cup with pineapple juice. Get a taste at Lahaina Gelato!
Black Rock Beach
This was the best spot for snorkeling, with shallow waters and easy access. Located at the North end of the Ka'anapali Beach, there is a rich diversity of marine life. We parked at the Whaler's Cove parking garage and walked across the paved sidewalk of the beach until we reached the end. Looking for a shady spot, we plopped down our towels and began setting up our snorkeling gear. Unfortunately, my goggles got completely twisted up in the process of packing.
However, we got super lucky and a couple nearby saw our struggle. The husband came over, offering to help as he was a worldly snorkeler. As he kindly fixed my gear, I asked him his favorite place he has ever gone snorkeling. He mentioned Palau, Micronesia. I immediately brought up the reality TV show Survivor, as they filmed a few seasons there. Turned out him and his wife were huge fans of the show, so we bonded over our mutual obsession. He then gave us dish soap to clean our goggles, as this is a trick to avoid them from fogging up.
The snorkeling experience here was unbelievable. There were three sea turtles swimming alongside us 😍🐢 It was one of the most magical moments of our trip! I highly recommend a go pro with an underwater case so you can capture your new friends under the sea.
Iao Valley State Park
This state park is located in Central Maui, just west of Wailuku. Surrounded by luscious greenery and unique mountain shapes, the park is definitely worth making a visit to! Given the closure of the parking lot due to COVID, we trekked to the entrance on paved roads.
If you brought bug spray, this is the place to use it. The humidity was extra strong here, so pack water for this hike. The loop trail is 0.6 miles, with a view of the iconic Iao Needle at the end.
Road to Hana
This ultra narrow highway leads tourists to the eastern side of Maui. Drivers, beware! This road is not designed for the faint of heart. Bless Trevor's brave and sweet soul for taking the driver seat and leading us on the adventure of a lifetime. The drive is on a very windy road that is hugging the cliffside of the island's jungle. It is a rainforest-like experience, as you can hear exotic birds chirping and see giant plants that soar miles high. Bring snacks, water, and your camera for this journey!
We decided to book an airbnb for the night, so we could stop at all of the viewpoints we wanted to see and avoid driving the dangerous road at nighttime. Our home for the evening was surrounded by vibrant greenery and had an awesome ping pong table. When we arrived to the house however, there was an outdoor cat that hissed at us, not very fond that we were there.
Garden of Eden
Our first stop along the way was the Garden of Eden. This is a must see if you are doing the Road to Hana. The entrance fee is not by car, but by passenger. Although a little pricey, $30 a person, it was absolutely worth it! The first stop of the garden was peacock and duck feeding. Although we didn't have any quarters, some nice people lent us some so we could give seeds to the birds. Make sure to have change on hand for this!
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We roamed the garden, in awe at several sights. There were rainbow eucalyptus trees and some of the tallest plants we have ever seen located in this sanctuary.
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The garden offers an incredible view of a waterfall that is seen on the windy drive. We felt so tiny compared to our vast and earthly surroundings. Mother nature, you ROCK!
Three Bears
This is the name of the iconic waterfall that will come across your scenic route. We truly did the Road to Hana at the best time, given the lack of tourists present. Without stress, we found a spot to park the car and walked down to the stunning viewpoint. Trevor being the adventurous human he is, decided to hike down the hidden route to get a closer look.
Black Sand Beach
Also known as Waianapanapa State Park, this beach features a black sand cove that looks like it's out of a movie scene from Jurassic Park. Although the ocean looks like it would be freezing, the water was warm, with a strong current. It began to rain as we were leaving the park.
Following our adventurous day, we headed to our Airbnb, which was a 5 minute drive from the Black Sand Beach. Along your drive on The Road to Hana, there are usually multiple stops you can make for food and drinks. However, given the state of the world, all of those shops were closed. We were so hungry, as day had turned into night without a proper meal. Trevor found a food truck location that was luckily open and just up the hill from us. The line was crazy long, as families ordered their burgers. We took ours back home and devoured them. Several hours later while I was in a deep sleep, I felt a wave of intense nausea hit me. It was a classic case of food poisoning 🥺 When I woke up that morning, I had a gnarly rash spread over my entire stomach. Be careful what you eat in the jungle!
Red Sand Beach
The next morning, we made our way to the hidden Red Sand Beach, also known as Kaihalulu Beach. Located just 3 minutes from our Airbnb, we parked our car on a side street located right by the Hana Community Center. Please be warned that this hiking trail is advanced, as there is no paved road or railings. The trail is also very hidden. For further instructions on how to find the earthly gem, read this guide.
Molokini and Turtle Bay Snorkeling Tour
After our Road to Hana trip, we made the drive back towards our home base and booked a snorkeling tour to further explore the ocean. Molokini is a crescent shaped volcanic crater that has rich coral reefs and exotic fish. We spotted a large eel in between the rocks down below. Our boat made two stops for us to snorkel and provided us with the sanitized gear. Breakfast and lunch were included onboard. At Turtle Bay, we witnessed a turtle in the distance and an octopus!
Make sure your underwater camera is charged and ready to go for this excursion!
Pioneer Inn
On our last morning, we further explored the heart of Lahaina looking for a breakfast spot. The architecture caught our eye, as it was a historic waterfront building.
Right outside of the restaurant, there was a gorgeous view with sailboats and the mountains in the distance.
Lāhainā Banyan Court
In close proximity to the Pioneer Inn lay the iconic banyan court. It is home to the oldest banyan tree on Maui. The birds love to sit above in this tree, singing to the blue skies above.
Dan's Greenhouse
Trevor found this spot for us to see colorful parrots, located across the banyan court. As a $5 donation, we were given a cup to feed the birds. There were several species located in the shop and the employee was highly engaging, showing us all of the beautiful birds.
Hula Grill
For our last night in Maui, we dressed up to watch the sunset and took a few photos at Napili before heading out to dinner at the Hula Grill. Funny story - we got locked out of our Airbnb because they marked us as checking out a night earlier than we actually reserved. We tracked down an employee who saved the evening!
We watched our last sunset together in Maui, feeling mixed emotions of gratitude and sadness. Leaving this paradise was difficult, but we will be back!
We enjoyed our fish tacos and Piña Coladas at the sand bar, with live music and a dwindling sunset.
Maui, you were our saving grace of 2020. In such an unprecedented time of our lives, you gave us a piece of normalcy and escape from reality. This island was an enchanting and magical experience of the jungle, deep blue seas, and hidden gems of the earth 🌎 ✨