We know it seems as if the end of year holidays have barely completed causing chaos in our lives, but it is time to turn our attention to Valentine’s Day. You could run and get a box of chocolates, a colorful card, and make reservations at a local restaurant at the last minute, much in the way you always do, or you could be a true Valentine’s Day hero and spoil your loved one in a way she (or he!) will remember forever. We at Maui Life Realty have created this guide to spoiling your loved one with a Maui Valentines Day vacation and a stay in our romantic Hawaiian retreats, adding in a few extras to ensure that your favorite human understands just how much he or she means to you.
Sunrise at the Beach
There’s a promise that can found in each and every new sunrise, and on Valentine’s Day, that promise is all about your love. The beauty of a walk along sandy shores, holding hands with your Valentine as warm waters curl around your ankles, the roar of the surf sings a romantic song, and the sky awakens, one glorious color at a time. Leaving no footsteps behind and looking towards the future as you share these beautiful moments, feeling as if no one else exists on this earth besides you and the person walking next to you. There are many ways to show your feelings, but a simple walk on the beach at sunrise can be the most powerful one.
Breakfast in Bed
Not everyone is going to appreciate the magic of waking up before sunrise, no matter how late sunrise occurs (6:56 AM on Valentine’s Day). For those who view sleep as the ultimate in luxury, the simple tradition of breakfast in bed can offer the best way to start your day of romance. Our fully equipped kitchens are designed to make cooking fun, and even if you just decide that donuts and mimosas are the best way to awaken your sweetheart, you will still appreciate the kitchen in your love nest. This is where we want to ensure that whatever the meal (and food delivery services are an option as well!), the magic of the moment tops all others. Many of our Maui sanctuaries offer bedrooms with walls of windows that can be opened to let the outside in, including the sounds of the sea in our oceanfront escapes, so be sure to choose that option when booking if your REALLY want to be a Valentine hero!
Spa Days Are for Spoiling
Even the most perfect person you know deserves to feel like a new person and a day (or even a few hours) at Zensations Spa Maui, 3600 Lower Honoapiilani Road E in Lahaina is something we highly recommend. Offering a long and wonderful selection of massage, skin care, and waxing services, there is nothing more luxurious than experiencing all three. They even offer prenatal massage something all pregnant Valentines can greatly utilize and their Hawaiian Lomi Lomi Massage provides an authentic taste of our culture, adding to the exotic wonders of your getaway.
Sweets for Your Sweetheart
Just because you chose to gift your Valentine an extraordinary Maui vacation, it doesn’t mean you should skip out on the sugar rush. Maui Ku’ia Estate Chocolate, located at 78 Ulupono St Suite 1 in Lahaina, is where we go to spoil our special people and the look of delight when your sweetheart opens a box from this sweet shop will make you feel like you just saved the word. Even better, they offer factory tours, so you both can learn the process from beginning to end. Also, this chocolate shop was created with a purpose, their mission being to help local nonprofits and every box of chocolate you buy or every tour you purchase will help do good things for a place that deserves good things, especially after the fires of 2023.
The Quickest Way to Your Valentine’s Heart
Man or woman, no one can ignore the luxury and contentment a truly excellent meal brings and Ferraro’s Restaurant and Bar, 3900 Wailea Alanui Drive in Kihei is going to be where your next adventure takes place. Offering waterfront views, you want to time your visit for sunset (6:24 PM) to enjoy the full experience, and featuring a menu filled with Tuscan delights, if you don’t save room for dessert, you will kick yourself. Seriously, their tiramisu will fill your dreams, but for more impact, order their Bonet, a flaming Amaretto All’Arancia, Stracciatella Ice Cream, and Amaretti will be the perfect way to end a perfect meal.
Find Love at Home with Maui Life Realty
Our luxurious retreats will be an integral part of your Maui Valentines Day vacation experience. Reserve your favorite escape today!
You may not realize this, but February offers an extra day that will be very important, especially if you are planning a vacation to Maui and a stay in one of our Hawaiian retreats at Maui Life Realty. And no, we aren’t talking about Valentine’s Day, although that is a wonderful day to visit our tropical paradise, and although the extra day off we all receive for Presidents’ Day is a great time to get away, the extra special event we are talking about is neither of those. February 5th is Book Direct Day 2025, offering travelers an exciting way to save on their Maui vacation rentals and if this is the first time you have heard of it, this guide to the day you will celebrate forever more will help you understand.
The Easiest Way
You may be wondering what Book Direct Day is, and the answer lies right in the title. When you are seeking your vacation accommodations for your Maui vacation, going directly to the source and booking your Maui escape from our website will help you reap many benefits that we will discuss further down the page. The big vacation rental sites—Airbnb, VRBO, etc.—have changed the way we book our accommodations, but on Book Direct Day, you will soon discover why it isn’t the best way. And if you’re curious what our favorite thing about Book Direct Day is, it is the realization that EVERY DAY can be Book Direct Day, not just February 5th.
Starting Strong
Vacations are expensive, but there are ways to make them less so. Choosing a vacation home or condo instead of a hotel room is one way we have all started to understand, but booking directly from property managers’ websites has even more benefits. Getting eyes on our properties is important, and because there are more eyes going to the big sites, it makes sense to list there, but they don’t just charge you extra fees, including one that is just for the privilege of using their site, but they charge us as well when you rent. So, naturally, the cost to everyone is higher on Airbnb, FlipKey, or VRBO, but if you book direct from Maui Life Realty, you are getting the same property but at a much lower price. We can afford to charge less if we don’t have to pay extra fees, and you can afford so much more because we are charging less! It’s a win-win situation, especially as you can use your savings to add an extra snorkeling trip to your adventures, to order desserts at every meal, or possibly, upgrade to that retreat that offers a private pool AND a hot tub.
What You See Is What You Get
Saving money is always an excellent thing but so is getting the home you see on the website. There seems to be a trend on those “other sites” of using older pictures that don’t show how the property may have deteriorated, and in some cases, switching out the home itself, offering a substitute that doesn’t even remotely resemble the one you fell in love with. With Maui Life Realty, we are obsessive about updating the pictures of our Maui vacation rentals, and our mission of giving our guests exactly what they dreamed of and more ensures that when you are scrolling through the listings, the one you fall in love with will be the one you walk into on that first day of the best vacation in your life. Walking inside will feel like greeting an old friend, especially as you spent so much time poring over the pictures of your vacation dream home come true in the days and weeks that led up to your Hawaii journey.
Personally Yours
The importance of the personal touch can’t be overlooked, and you will discover when booking direct from Maui Life Realty that personal is what we do best. Need an early check-in or a late check-out? Just ask and we will work with you to the best of our ability. Are you celebrating a special occasion and need suggestions for the best restaurant in the area? We have that answer and are delighted to share it with you. We know the best places to play, the best beaches to explore, even the best souvenir shops on the island and our passion for this tropical paradise we are fortunate enough to live in means we are happy to pass along the information to those who haven’t yet discovered all that makes Maui a magical place to live or visit.
The Best Retreats
When you book direct from Maui Life Realty on February 5th, you are choosing not to just save money, but to stay in the best retreats Hawaii has to provide. Comfortable, luxurious, and amenity filled, our properties are designed to be an important part of your vacation experience. Book your favorite escape (direct from us!) on February 5th and start planning for a getaway you will never want to end.
As the end of the year approaches, we find ourselves sitting at our desks, our dining room tables, or even lying in bed with laptops open wide, preparing to make the dreaded list of resolutions that, even as we hope we will keep, someplace deep inside, we know we won’t. We at Maui Life Realty feel your pain, until recently we were doing the same thing, and then we thought, why not make resolutions that are easy to keep? Promises to treat ourselves better, to eat not just healthy food, but food that is rich and delicious, to travel more, and if you agree, perhaps your favorite resolution will be the one you make to travel to Maui!
Not Just at the New Year
Although it is true that 2025 will be brighter when you choose to welcome it from the white sand beaches of Maui, we understand if you need to make the visit later in the year. We can promise that no matter when you visit, those beaches will be waiting to provide all the warmth, wonder, and serenity that 2024 may have lacked. Waking early to watch the sunrise as you walk along water’s edge, feeling as if you and your favorite traveling partners are the only people in the world. Seeing the black skies of night morph into lighter shades of dark, gray, pink, and then finally wow as the world explodes with color, reminding you that there will always be light at the end of the dark. And for those who don’t believe mornings should start until long after the sun has fully risen, watching the same show in reverse, brings an equal amount of wonder, contentment, peace, and hope for a year filled with good things.
But If You Do Manage a New Year’s Visit to Maui
Of course, if you are here on New Year’s Eve, your resolution will bring you even more joy as you explore all there is to do on the last night of the year. A New Year’s Eve cruise aboard the Pride of Maui will bring delicious food, Polynesian dancing, a fireworks show that reflects off the waters offering twice the bang, and of course, a champagne toast at midnight. When you want an authentic peek into the history of Hawaii, attending a luau, such as the Drums of the Pacific Luau held at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa in Lahaina. They aren’t offering a New Year’s Eve luau this year, but they will be holding one on December 30th, giving guests the thrill of tradition while leaving their New Year’s Eve open for other ways of celebrating and if you are still here on January 2nd, they pick up again in 2025. The joy you feel when spending the last day of 2024 here in Maui will spread into the new year, bringing happiness, serenity, and good luck for the next 12 months of your life.
Resolving to Eat Well
Because you will want more than one resolution on your list, the one that involves eating well will make your Hawaii journey a tasty experience as you explore the epicurean landscape of our island nation. Spend a day on the greens of the Plantation Course at Kapalua Golf and finish out your heavenly day with a traditional meal at its 19th hole, the Plantation House Restaurant, located at 2000 Plantation Club Drive in Lahaina. If you are lucky enough to be here anytime between December 24 and January 10th, they are offering a three-course holiday meal that includes fantastic choices in each course. There are too many choices to describe all but, we have to mention the steak poke or lobster ravioli in the 1st course, Chef Jared’s Two Fish Pairing or Plantation Filet Wellington in the 2nd course, and ok, we are going to talk a little about all the offerings in the 3rd course. Life is short and dessert just makes it sweeter, especially when you choose between pineapple upside down cake, chocolate bomb, homemade gingerbread cookies, tuxedo cake, and a triple scoop of mango sorbet. Our suggestion? Everyone in your plans to travel to Maui should order a different dessert and you can sample them all!
At Home with Maui Life Realty
The best vacations begin and end at our doorsteps, and the moments you spend at home with Maui Life Realty will be the ones you truly treasure. Sitting on balconies overlooking the sea, watching the ball drop over Times Square on New Year’s Eve, and falling into the deepest sleep of your life, snuggled into the most comfortable beds in the nation—these moments and so many others will be ones you never want to forget. Reserve your favorite escape today!
If you can take a few minutes off from online shopping, grocery shopping, and attending more Christmas events than you really have time for, you might want to read what we have on this page. Even as you are buried deep in the midst of Christmas activities, now is the perfect time to start making your plans for the new year, especially if your reward to yourself for all the chaos is a Maui New Year’s trip to the paradise we call home. Offering respite from the cold, serenity that will help fill your emptied coffers, and when you choose our Maui Life Realty holiday hideaways, warm and welcoming properties that will make you feel pampered, spoiled, and so very lucky!
Take to the Seas With your Eyes on the Stars
One of the most popular ways to celebrate the new year on Maui is with a sunset cruise that may start with dinner and ends with a spectacular fireworks display. Shot off barges out in the water in front of the Grand Wailea Resort, you can gather on the beach to watch the show or attend one of the cruises we have listed below to experience a New Year’s Eve adventure of a lifetime.
- Pacific Whale Foundation- The Pacific Whale Foundation’s New Year’s Eve celebration, departing from Ma’alaea Harbor, is more than a way to say farewell to the old year and hello to the new one, it offers decadent desserts, tasty spirits, and a champagne toast at midnight as guests skim across the waters that surround our island home. Offering fantastic viewing of the annual fireworks show, this tour is 2 hours long and begins at 10:15.
- Pride of Maui- Also departing from Ma’alaea Harbor aboard a 65 foot catamaran, the pride of Maui’s New Year’s celebration sells out quickly and when you see all they offer, you will understand why. Offering a full meal, more decadent desserts, an open bar (Mai tais anyone?) and a midnight champagne toast, the evening ends with Polynesian dancing and, of course, that fireworks show that is at the epicenter of Maui’s new year’s entertainment.
- Trilogy, Adult’s Only Cruise- Departing from, yes, you guessed it, Ma’alaea Harbor, Trilogy’s New Year’s Eve party is an adults only one, offering a savory menu filled with yummy meals and more decadent desserts (good thing your diet starts TOMORROW) the good times end with a champagne toast and a view of the fireworks.
- Alii Nui- Alii Nui takes the celebration to the next level offering a fireworks cruise on New Year’s Eve that includes an open bar and the chance to upgrade to the upper deck experience while offering the best seats on the sea to view those fireworks. Even better, their New Year’s Day brunch will set the stage for a 2025 filled with the best foods and the most relaxing experiences!
Old Lahaina Luau
If you have followed any of our blogs, you may begin to see a pattern emerging and that pattern explores all the ways the Old Lahaina Luau will enhance your holiday celebration. At this point there either isn’t going to be a New Year’s Eve show, or it has already sold out, but there are plenty of seats available for December 30th, so why not consider reserving your tickets for New Year’s Eve eve Luau and then celebrate the actual holiday with a cruise?
Celebrate Like a Local
Just like in your own hometown, the bars, pubs, and taverns of Maui will offer some sort of celebration, even if its just a loud and raucous countdown when there is just 10 seconds left of the year. Kahale’s billed as Maui’s Local Dive Bars, 36 Keala Place in Kihei, is one of our favorites, but if you happen to be out and about and are driving past a packed parking lot, be sure to stop and check it out; we can promise you won’t be disappointed.
Merriman’s Kapalua, 1 Bay Club Place
You may prefer to do your celebrating at home (more about that in the next paragraph) but that doesn’t mean you have to cook on this last day of the year. Tradition and superstition says that whatever you are doing on Maui New Year’s Eve you will be doing for the entirety of the next year and we doubt that cooking all year long sounds appealing, so we are recommending a dinner at Merriman’s Kapalua. Located on the ocean and offering farm to table authentic Hawaiian meals, this adventure will be a very delicious one.
Stay Home with Maui Life Realty
Your favorite holiday traditions may include popping bottles at home where you don’t have to worry about traffic or designated drivers, snacking the night away as you binge watch the Harry Potter movies, and turning the television to Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve during the last half hour of the day, all of which can be experienced in the comfort and luxury of our Maui Life Realty holiday hideaways. Reserve your favorite today!
The traditions we grew up with are important to us, but there comes a day when you may decide that you need to create some new traditions. Dreams of a white Christmas are all well and fine, until you are shoveling snow out of your driveway, and you stop feeling your toes and fingers because it is so cold out, but we at Maui Life Realty invite you to check out a white SAND Christmas, choosing Maui for a Christmas vacation destination and our holiday hideaways for your home sweet holiday home. This guide to a traditional Christmas in Maui will help you see that traditions, old or new, will enhance the quality of the most wonderful time of year!
Crossing Everyone Off Your List
Like Santa Claus, your list of people needing gifts seems to get longer each year, and with your reputation as an excellent gift giver, it can cause a lot of stress. The Maui Gift & Craft Fair, held every Sunday at the Lahaina Gateway Center, can be the solution to your gift giving conundrum, offering a unique selection of handmade arts, crafts, jewelry, and other gifts that just can’t be found anywhere else. We promise that whatever you buy here will be the gifts that the recipients will gasp aloud after opening.
Meeting Santa
This is another tradition that offers a distinctly Hawaiian twist, as Santa sails into Kaanapali Beach at Whaler’s Village aboard a catamaran. Wearing a Hawaiian style coat and carrying a bag of goodies, he gives out gifts to the first 100 children who greet him, adding another layer of excitement to the event. On Christmas Eve he arrives at Wailea Beach aboard a traditional outrigger canoe adding more fun to the holiday for your excited kids.
Seeing the Christmas Lights
One of our favorite parts of the holiday is driving through the various neighborhoods, perusing the decorations, and even voting on which is our favorite, and during your traditional Maui Christmas, we invite you to do the same. Just as in your own neighborhood back home, you will find whimsical inflatables, traditional colored bulb lights, and of course, LED light shows that are often synchronized with your favorite holiday tunes. There is no good, better, or best neighborhood in which to do this; just point your rental car in the direction of any neighborhood and let the games begin!
Christmas Dinner
On Christmas Day, our guests may not feel like slaving in the kitchen over a Christmas dinner and there will be quite a few restaurants open on the big day, including one of our favorites, Hula Grill. Located at 2435 Kaanapali Parkway in Whaler’s Village, their locally sourced traditional Hawaiian meals will be a sweet addition to your family traditions and may become your newest obsession.
At Home with Maui Life Realty
And because a holiday at home is all anyone really wants, our Maui Life Realty holiday hideaways offer a festive joy and soft comforts for all who reside within. Your Christmas holiday can look exactly the same as it does when you are at home, only you probably don’t have white sand beaches lying outside your windows. Aside from that small fact, however, everything you dreamed about for your traditional Christmas can happen here, and we have listed a few of our favorite ways to celebrate below.
Binge Watching Your Favorite Holiday Movies
If there is anything better than watching holiday movies at Christmas, we really couldn’t tell you what that would be, and our holiday hideaways will offer the opportunity to watch your favorite ones on state of the art televisions. Streaming all the Hallmark Christmas movies will help build the anticipation and as each night brings you closer to the big day, you may want to watch the classic movies that signify the holiday has arrived. White Christmas, Holiday Inn, and The Bells of Saint Mary all feel more celebratory when watched in the comfort of our Christmas cottages, and on Christmas Eve, if you don’t watch It’s a Wonderful Life, can you really consider yourself a Christmas fan?
Decorating for the Holiday
Some of our properties might be decorated for the holidays, but if not, you can add your own holiday touches to make them feel more festive! The Maui Gift & Craft Fair will also offer decorations that you can add to your home sweet holiday home (and bring back to your OWN home once your trip comes to an end) and a trip to Kula Botanical Gardens will allow you to purchase a Christmas tree at the largest Christmas tree farm on the island. Decorating for the holiday is a time-honored tradition that you don’t have to skip just because you are vacationing in paradise.
A Feast to Remember
Our fully equipped kitchens ensure that your Christmas feast will be one you never forget, offering high end appliances and the space you need to make EVERY dish your family enjoys. Reserve your favorite holiday escape today and celebrate a traditional Christmas in paradise!
A holiday family photo serves to freeze that moment in time, knowing that your family will never look the way it did in December 2024 and bringing back memories of the good times you had during that point in your lives. And although you could go the standard route of taking it, posing on your stairway in matching Christmas pajamas with frozen and forced smiles on everyone’s faces, we at Maui Life Realty think the best holiday photos are the ones taken during your holiday adventures, especially when your holiday journey brings you to the white sand beaches of Maui! Today, with Christmas right around the corner and perhaps your plans already in place, we thought we would give you the gift of showing you the best Maui photography spots for taking those family holiday photos, adding excitement to each snap that will be remembered forever.
In Front of the Christmas Tree in Whalers Village, 2435 Kaanapali Parkway in Lahaina
There is a reason we continue with our family traditions, even when giving the traditions a unique twist and a family photo in front of the Christmas tree in Whalers Village will give you more reasons to smile because of its differences. Traditionally, (There’s that word again!) the tree blends the colors of Christmas with the beachy extras, including a surfboard wrapped in colorful paper and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas from Whalers Village. Also sprinkled throughout the boughs of this festive evergreen will be flower leis and more reminders of the wonderful adventures you enjoyed during your Christmas escape to the Hawaiian Islands. And because the shops in Whalers Village will be offering all kinds of treasures that are just begging to be put to use by appearing as a gift under the Christmas tree, this will be a good time to get a jump start on your Christmas shopping, crossing many names off your list!
Beach Shots to Remember
Offering another twist on the traditional photos you have always taken, is the choice to wear matching Hawaiian Christmas shirts, instead of matching pajamas and moving the background from inside a home to the glorious beaches of Maui. White sands, green palms, blue waters, and sky, and your entire family grinning from ear to ear in the traditional island wear will bring an added sense of joy to each photo. And because less is never more in our minds, maybe you could construct a Christmas tree from the sand, adding a shiny star and a garland made of leis, ensuring that you will never forget that this photo was taken on the beaches of Maui! Oh, and although you will probably find the outfits you want during your adventures in Whalers Village, for those who like to come prepared, we checked, and Amazon offers some very nice Hawaiian Christmas outfits for the entire family!
When Santa Arrives
There is a special kind of magic that can be found in the eyes of your children when meeting Santa and on Christmas Eve morning, he and Mrs. Claus arrive at Keoneopolo (Polo) Beach in traditional Hawaiian style, aboard an outrigger canoe! Pose the entire family with the canoe paddling in in the background (if you can keep the littles facing towards the camera; we can almost guarantee they will be full of the wiggles) or use this moment to capture the joy and magic of Christmas by taking candid shots of your children as they wait and watch for his arrival. After he and his bride of hundreds of years arrive on shore, they will both be available for more Maui photography opportunities, amping the excitement to the next level. These pictures could quite possibly be the ones that will shine brighter than all others, bringing back joyous memories every time you take another peek at them over the years.
At Home with the Family in Your Maui Life Realty Holiday Hideaway
You really don’t have to venture far from home to get the best pictures, especially when you choose Maui Life Realty for your holiday haven of peace and joy. Go ahead and take matching pajama photos while your family is lined up on balconies overlooking the blue waters of the sea, and if you happen to be awake at sunrise, even better! And just like at home, your favorite family holiday photos may be the ones you take throughout the days and nights you spend in our Hawaiian escapes. Reading “Twas the Night Before Christmas” to the entire family on Christmas Eve, capturing the glee and excitement of Christmas morning as each gift is opened, not caring that bedhead is the hairstyle of the day, and maybe some sunset pics on the balcony, perhaps choosing to wear your Hawaiian Christmas clothing here, instead of (or in addition to) at the beach. Every picture will be your favorite, when you choose Maui Life Realty for the background. Reserve the holiday haven of your dreams today!
Palm trees and Christmas lights, white sands and Christmas presents, blue waters and Santa Claus—proving that Christmas doesn’t have to be cold and miserable is as easy as planning to spend your Noel on Maui in one of our Maui Life Realty holiday hideaways! Magic is even easier to find in paradise, and as you and your family explore all the joy that Christmas on Maui can bring into your hearts, you can rest easy knowing that you will be able to rest easy in our comfortable and luxurious vacation escapes after each new adventure. This guide will show you the magic that can be found in the holiday events on Maui and the happenings you can experience when you choose Christmas 2024 for your escape to Hawaii!
Kahului Christmas Market, December 1 Through December 24, Queen Kaahumanu Shopping Center in Kahului
The problem with traditional Christmas markets is you only get one chance to explore their aisles, and if you aren’t on Maui during that one day or weekend, you will forever miss out on their treasures. The Kahului Christmas Market, however, is ongoing throughout December and provides a bountiful selection of gifts, local foods, and art as well as also featuring holiday themed activities your children will adore!
Maui Gift & Craft Fair, Every Sunday, 305 Keawe Street in Lahaina
This next market, the Maui Gift & Craft Fair, is actually open year round, and if you have visited the island before, chances are you have wandered through the aisles of this open air market, purchasing gifts that make people happy. At Christmas, the theme turns to the holidays, and the baked goods may be Christmas cookies or gingerbread, colorful lights may be decorating each booth, but the gifts will still be as amazing as the ones you explored last summer and are destined to bring joy to the recipient.
Pukalani Christmas Fair Electric Light Golf Cart Parade, December 7, 360 Pukalani Street in Pukalani
When we travel, we tend to stay close to our vacation homes, especially when the ones we have chosen are as nice as our Maui Life Realty ones, but this year, we want you to get a feel of the island, exploring the small towns that all add magic to your experience, and the Pukalani Christmas Fair Electric Light Golf Cart Parade brings another beautiful example. Held on December 7, it is still far enough away from the big day that you won’t feel as if you have put off your Christmas shopping until the last minute, and when the whimsy of the lighted golf carts begins, we can assure you that the holiday spirit will be strong and festive. Rumor has it that Santa’s elves may have modified one of his golf carts to resemble his main mode of transportation and that he will be taking a break from toy making and cookie eating to take part in this fun event!
Christmas Luau
A Hawaiian luau is a tradition that you don’t want to miss, and that even extends to the ones offered at Christmas. Featuring the traditional elements, including fire dancers, authentic cuisine, and the hula, during the holidays, some Christmas extras may even make their way in the standard program. Offering the traditional lei greeting and an open bar in most cases, plus your choice between table seating or the more traditional mat seating, it is wise to make your reservations a little further in advance, as Christmas on Maui is a popular activity, and everyone wants to do a luau when they are here. And don’t worry about choosing a particular luau to attend; you can’t go wrong with any of the local luaus, but one of the oldest, the Old Lahaina Luau, has always been one of our favorites.
The Magic of Maui Life Realty
Your favorite and most magical memories may be the ones you enjoy at home in your Maui Life Realty holiday hideaway, offering all the elements you need to create a Christmas experience you will never forget. Watch your favorite holiday movies on state of the art televisions, read Christmas stories to your kids as they cuddle with you in their comfortable beds, even make your traditional Christmas feast in our fully equipped kitchens. Our kitchens are the heart of the homes, furnished with high-end appliances and a cheerful vibe that reflects the joy of the holiday. Every dining room, just like the one in your own home, is designed to be where the family gathers, celebrating, laughing, talking, and of course, devouring the meals that are a key part of every holiday. And at night, when the moon casts its glow over the landscape and the seas that surround us your dreams, and your children’s dreams, will be filled with dancing ladies, red-nosed reindeer, and piles of colorfully wrapped gifts just waiting to be torn into. Reserve your favorite holiday escape today!
For many travelers a white Christmas is severely overrated, although they do love the color, the sparkle, and the spirit of the season, the cold and mess of slushy mess that comes along with snow just doesn’t do it for them. If those travelers are you, the solution can be a simple one, allowing you to still follow the traditions you love, but on a much warmer and gentler basis with a Christmas vacation spent in paradise on the island of Maui. It goes without saying, of course, that our Maui Life Realty holiday hideaways will be the perfect accompaniment to your vacation adventures, and this guide to where to see Christmas lights and displays on Maui will only be complete when the roads that lead you to sparkle and shimmer bring you home to the comforts found inside each space.
Whaler’s Village Christmas Tree, 2435 Kaanapali Parkway in Lahaina
The fire that hit our island in the summer of 2023 changed our landscape forever, but we are rebuilding and although not all the shops are open in Whaler’s Village, the ones that are open will be decorated for the holiday, as will the large Christmas tree that is at the center of the shopping center. Bringing joy to all who witness its beauty and the opportunity to get a jump start on your holiday shopping, we invite all our guests to check out their holiday display.
Kula Botanical Gardens, 638 Kekaulike Avenue in Kula, November 30 through December 1 and December 6-8
Road trips with the family can be fun and a road trip that involves a visit to the largest Christmas tree growers in the state is definitely a good idea. Kula is just 23 miles away from your Kihei holiday hideaway and the drive is destined to be a beautiful one, perhaps even taking you past other Christmas displays. The Botanical Gardens sell their Christmas trees on select days, often selling out the first weekend, but the beautiful gardens will be decorated for the holidays, providing a peaceful respite in the middle of a season that can often be filled with stress and chaos. Of course, you chose to escape to Maui for your holiday this year and peace and serenity is something we offer an unlimited supply of!
Christmas Luaus on Maui
Attending a luau is a much-encouraged tradition and at Christmas, it will add to the holiday spirit you are feeling as they include holiday themed performances and decorations to their traditional performances being offered. The Old Lahaina Luau, held at 1251 Front Street in Lahaina is one of our favorites, but we can promise that any holiday luau you attend will become an integral part of your Maui experience.
A Little Bit About the Banyan Tree
The Lahaina Banyan tree was planted in 1873 after it was gifted by missionaries from India. In its 151 years, it has grown to over 40 feet tall, has a circumference of almost a quarter of a mile, and has been the centerpiece to many Christmas celebrations over the years, offering thousands of lights. Cookie decorating activities, choirs singing Christmas carols while people gather on the lawn surrounding enjoying the ambience as they sing along to the songs they know and love. Sadly, it was almost a victim of the Maui fires, having been scorched by the flames, but just as it has faced many obstacles over the years, it is surviving this one too, but for the time being a moratorium has been issued on the Christmas celebrations. We hope that one day it will be back to its former glory and that our holiday activities can be normal once again. We even like to think it survived simply because at its heart, it knows that it is needed and when it lights up again, we at Maui Life Realty will be the first to inform our treasured guests.
In the Neighborhoods of Maui
Just as in your own hometown, the neighborhoods of Maui are filled with homes all decorated by the families who reside within, and the best light displays may be the ones you come across during your island meanderings. Pick a neighborhood that looks particularly lovely and park your car (without blocking driveways) and take a walk along the sidewalks, perhaps voting amongst yourselves as to which home would win your own personal Christmas Light award! Every minute of your Christmas in paradise is destined to bring you treasured memories and every road leads home to your Maui Life Realty holiday haven where more Christmas memories can be made. Watching movies, baking cookies, even decorating small trees under which you can stack all the gifts you bought for each other—all of this can happen at home on Maui! Reserve your favorite escape with us today.
When was the last time you actually felt thankful at Thanksgiving? Between all the work, the expense, and certain complaining family members, this most idyllic holiday often seems more like a chore than a celebration of thankfulness, making a Thanksgiving vacation to Maui and a stay in our Maui Life Realty holiday hideaways a very excellent suggestion. Offering warm and wonderful days filled with sunshine and relaxation, plus all the holiday activities you love but none of the chores, this guide to why Maui is the perfect Thanksgiving destination will help give you back your feelings of thankfulness.
Grateful for Beach Days
As the first snow may have already fallen in your hometown, here in Maui, summer continues on its gentle ways. The mercury does fall a bit, dropping to about 70 or 80 degrees (absolutely perfect!), but the water stays warm and the sun shines bright, so you can plan that day at the beach, decide to take up scuba diving, or try your hand at surfing. Coming home tan for the Christmas season is just another way the blessings of a Maui Thanksgiving continue to give long after you have returned home.
Thankful Someone Else Will Be Cooking
Don’t get us wrong, there is nothing like a home-cooked meal to make us feel all warm and wonderful, but honestly, the Thanksgiving feast can be a bit much. All the work, all the expense, and yes, the complaints of those family members who seem to have forgotten how hard you may have worked to feed the family. Many restaurants on Maui will be open on this wonderful day, creating, serving, and clearing away the meal you love to devour, including the ones listed below.
- The Plantation House, 2000 Plantation Club Drive in Kapalua – Serves a traditional turkey feast at a fixed price with a chef’s carving station.
- Merriman’s Kapalua, 1 Bay Club in Lahaina – Reservations are recommended for a visit to Merriman’s Kapalua, offering their regular a la carte menu, plus a Harvest Plate special with organic turkey as the star of the meal. Pumpkin pie is available for purchase by the slice.
- Hula Grill Kaanapali, 2435 Kaanapali Parkway in Lahaina – A traditional turkey dinner is served at the Hula Grill for a fixed price.
Gilligan’s Island Thanksgiving Luau, 470 Lipoa Parkway in Kihei
What is the difference between a Thanksgiving luau and a regular luau? The Thanksgiving one takes place on Thanksgiving, and Gilligan’s Island offers an authentic adventure that will add a new layer of excitement to your holiday travels! If this holiday getaway is your first time on Maui, the beauty of this ancient ceremony will welcome you correctly, and because the luaus are held every night at 5 PM, if you prefer sticking to your normal traditions, you can participate after a long day of Black Friday shopping on the 29th. If you have visited many times before, the luau will be like coming home, while seeming like new with every visit.
Black Friday Shopping
Because our holiday hideaways offer laundry rooms that allow you to pack light and save room in your luggage for souvenirs, Black Friday shopping may be next on your list of Thanksgiving activities. Everyone knows that Christmas begins almost as soon as the Thanksgiving dishes are cleared away, and a visit to Kihei Kalama Village, located at 1941 S Kihei Road in Kihei, may be where you want to start your shopping adventures. Offering shops and boutiques that we can almost always promise you don’t have at home, the recipients of your expedition will surely know how much you love them when they open each gift. Good Living Hawaii, Bindi’s Boutique, and Bada Gift Shop are a few of our faves, but be sure to explore all the stores and when you get tired, thirsty, or hungry, you can take a break at Dog and Duck Irish Pub or Kahale’s Maui’s Local Dive Bar without having to leave the premises.
At Home with Maui Life Realty
The moments you spend at home in our Maui Life Realty holiday hideaways will add wonder and warmth to your Hawaiian getaway while also providing an integral piece to your celebration. Our fully equipped kitchens will make cooking the holiday feast fun and easy, and watching the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on state of the art televisions will remind you how lucky you are to celebrate where the sun is shining and winter coats are not needed. (How do people live in those cold places, anyway?) Sleep deep while sugar plums dance through your kiddo’s head, already anticipating the joys of the next holiday, and when you awaken each morning feeling peaceful and rested in our Maui escapes, you will discover that yes, it is possible to feel thankful at Thanksgiving. Reserve your favorite holiday haven today!
When you live in Maui, you soon begin to realize that fall is more of an abstract thought than an actual occurrence. Yes, our coffee shops do begin selling pumpkin spice lattes, and our stores begin putting their Halloween decorations out in July, but summer springs eternal in paradise, so if you want to remember the season during your escape to the Hawaiian Islands, you may want to participate in these top fall events during your time with us. Coming home to Maui Life Realty seasonal sanctuaries is also a good idea, especially if you want to feel pampered, treasured, and spoiled!
Rally Around Peace, September 21, Imua Discovery Garden
As we move ever closer to the end of the year holidays, it feels right to attend a festival that celebrates peace, and as you attend this serene festival, one of Maui’s favorite, Rally Around Peace, the fun you enjoy will serve as a fitting end to summer. Offering everything a good festival should, including live music, great food, and local vendors, guests can also expect to find a keiki tent (children’s tent) and many healing activities.
Maui Steel Guitar Festival, October 19, The Shops At Wailea
The Maui Steel Guitar Festival is going to be a scaled down one this year, in deference to the rebuilding efforts that are taking place on Maui, but that doesn’t mean the fun you have will be scaled down in the slightest. It won’t cost you a single penny to enjoy a day of live music, workshops, instructional workshops, all involving the steel guitar, an instrument that is near and dear to our hearts. A steel guitar, also called kīkākila in Hawaiian, is actually any guitar played while holding a steel bar against the strings as they are being plucked, and it plays an important part in Hawaiian history. In 2025, it is hoped that we will be able to hold this festival on the grander scale we are used to, but this smaller event still promises to be enjoyable.
The 14th Annual Hawaii Food & Wine Festival, October 25 through October 27, Various Locales
This annual event actually takes place all across the Hawaiian Islands, starting October 19 and ending November 10, but Maui’s part in the overall event is just the three days we mentioned above. Starting with the 26th Annual Roy Yamaguchi Golf Classic held on October 25th, the Vita La Vino (life wine) may be our favorite part of the festival. Offering tastings of your new favorite wines at the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa on October 26th, the event hosts are also adding something new to this year’s festivities, a pickleball tournament that will be held on October 27 at the Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows. Finally, the fun in Maui ends with a Backcourt Barbecue after the tournament, ensuring that your fall frolic will end on a delicious note.
Made in Maui County Festival, November 1st and 2nd, Maui Arts & Cultural Center
Maui is more than just a Hawaiian island; it is a place where happiness reigns, summer springs eternal, and the people who live here create beautiful art, wonderful crafts, and well-made merchandise that you will have an opportunity to purchase for yourself when you attend the Made In Maui County Festival on November 1st and 2nd. THIS is the event we wait for all year, offering the best of what our Islanders can create and attracting thousands of people from here and all over the world. The best food trucks in the area gather for this festival as well, ensuring that visitors will be well fed while engaging in the most exciting shopping expedition of their lives. Providing the perfect opportunity to buy souvenirs and gifts, everything sold at this festival is made right here in Maui County, just as its name suggests.
Your Favorite Events
Not all events have to be officially sanctioned by local government or businesses. Some of your favorite events may be the family ones you enjoy in our Maui Life Realty seasonal sanctuaries. Imagine all the fun you can have at a family barbecue held in the tropical oases we call backyards, knowing you don’t have to wait until the weekend to enjoy freshly grilled meats and seafood. A Tuesday afternoon pool party, held in the private pools of our standalone homes or in the community pools of the resort you have chosen to make your home sweet vacation home, can be a great way to slow down the pace of your busy Maui vacation, encouraging guests to stay in, sleep late, and explore all the amenities that make our properties feel like home, only better. Contact us and reserve your favorite seasonal sanctuary today and discover all the ways your fall getaway to Maui will make this vacation one you will never forget.