It is so hard to say goodbye to the golden season of summer, but we all know that all too fast, the days will begin to shorten, the temperatures will start to drop, and dorm gear will be lining the shelves of our favorite stores. In Maui, however, summer springs eternal, and although Labor Day is often considered the So Long to Summer holiday, it is just another bonus day off work for us here on the island and if you are reluctant to bid the season adieu, a visit to Maui and a stay in our Maui Life Realty retreats is the best way to do just that. This guide to your Maui Labor Day weekend will give you something to dream about as the summer days pass by all too quickly!
A Little Different
Labor Day is a holiday that is a little different than most summer holidays. We aren’t commemorating those who sacrificed too much, and we aren’t celebrating a birthday that has reached the mid-250s. What we are celebrating, however, is how hard we work. Labor Day is a holiday that teaches us working hard is wonderful, and taking time off to play is well-deserved, so this holiday won’t have poignant ceremonies, fireworks displays, and parades marching down the Main Streets of small American towns. What it will have is a LOT of excited Americans doing what they dream about doing while working too hard or too late. Absolutely nothing and everything wonderful at the same time! This day is devoted to leisure, so sleep in late after staying up until the wee hours of the morning and then roll out of bed and head over to Kihei Caffe, 1945 S Kihei Road in Kihei, for some Loco Moco and creamy ube halaya!
Beach Moments and Happy Souls
Your first glimpse of turquoise waters crashing against colorful sand beaches will cause your heart to skip a beat and your soul to sigh with happiness. Even if this is your millionth time to the ocean, it will always feel like the first time. Stake your claim on a section of sand, plant your umbrella, spread out towels, and set up chairs, and know that for the next however many hours, that is the most work you are going to engage in on this sunny day in August or September. You have many options from here on how to fill your minutes, but relaxing and savoring the golden rays of the sun is the only thing you have to do right now.
Old Lahaina Luau, 1251 Front Street in Lahaina
It doesn’t matter when you are visiting Maui, if you don’t attend a Luau, can you really consider that you have visited Hawaii? Offering an authentic peek into our culture, the Old Lahaina Luau is one of our favorites, showcasing the food, the music, and dance that is strictly Hawaiian and as the sun sets, the pig is devoured, and the flowers from the lei placed around your neck when you first walked in tickle your nose with their sweet aroma, you will be glad you listened to us. Choosing the Old Lahaina Luau is destined to be the best decision you make this year!
The Road to Hana
A journey along the road to Hana is sure to be a memorable one, and if you have the time, we suggest planning a day to explore the historic highway. Technically, it will only take about 3 hours from start to finish, if you don’t choose to stop along the way, but there are so many wonderful things to see, we suggest you set aside the entire day. The 7 Sacred Pools (also offering waterfalls) Ho’okipa Beach Park (a popular surfer destination), Paia town (an artist’s colony/historic town/foodie paradise) are just some of the stops you should make. The drive is sure to be that much more fulfilling if you take the time to explore these wonderful spots and so many more!
Summer Lingers
Celebrating the season that holds a special place in your heart will be even more fun when you choose to stay “home” and play! Our holiday hideaways offer all the ways to play in the summer sun, including crystal clear pools, outdoor kitchens, and views of sand, sea, and palm trees that will make you forget to breathe for a few seconds. Sip mai tai’s you made yourself poolside, watch your favorite summer movies on state-of-the-art televisions, and dine al fresco every evening, watching the sun set over the sea as you enjoy fresh grilled fish that you caught yourself. Every moment of your Maui Labor Day weekend spent at home with Maui Life Realty will make the getaway shine even brighter. Reserve your favorite holiday hideaway today!
Like most people, you have dreamed of a Maui vacation for almost as long as you have understood that paradise exists, and now that your dream is coming true, you may be worried that you will miss something important or that there are some things you can do that you just didn’t know existed. Fortunately, you have turned to Maui Life Realty for your vacation accommodations, and for a little more information on how you can best enjoy this trip in paradise, offering tips, hints, and ideas on what will make it more special. Today, we thought we would talk about the adventures and things to do in Maui you weren’t aware of and have created this guide to the five things you didn’t know you could do on the island.
Take a Tour of the Ocean Vodka Organic Farm and Distillery, 4051 Omaopio Road in Kula
This adventure involves a little bit of a drive inland, as it is about 30+ miles away from your Maui Life Realty vacation escape, but the drive will be a scenic one, and there will be vodka waiting for you when you reach your destination, so we think it is worth checking out! This 80-acre farm is beloved in the area, creating delicious vodka from water that is drawn from 3000 feet below the Kona coast. Yes, the water in their vodka is mineral rich water of the sea, offering magnesium, potassium, and calcium, something you wouldn’t normally expect from your alcoholic beverages; their organic vodka offers a unique taste and a velvety finish. Tours and tastings are available every day, and although they do try to fit drop-ins whenever possible, you may want to reserve your spot to ensure you aren’t turned away.
Rappel Down a Waterfall with Rappel Maui, 10600 Hana Highway in Haiku
Rappelling is the closest thing to flying without jumping out of a plane at 10,000 feet, and Rappel Maui offers rappelling trips with a twist. Visitors actually get to rappel down a waterfall in the midst of the rainforest, feeling the spray of water tumbling over rocks cooling your body as the roar of the waterfall brings you peace. If you are a dinosaur movie fan, the areas you will be rappelling in may look familiar, as the opening scenes of Jurassic Park were filmed in the very area in which you will be rappelling.
Visit the Nakalele Point Blowhole, Poelua Bay in Wailuku
A blowhole is a hole in the ground that is connected to an ocean cave that is partially submerged, and every time a wave crashes into that cave or the ocean rises, the water is propelled out of the hole, looking like a fountain or Old Faithful geyser. The hike to the Nakalele Point Blowhole can be a challenging one, so this adventure is not for people with mobility issues, but if you can handle the rough spots, watching the natural phenomenon from a safe distance is something you will never forget. But remember, even though there is no barrier around the blowhole, it is still a dangerous place to get to close to, and the pictures you take from a distance are sure to be as magical as you hoped they would be.
Canoe with the Sea Turtles with Hawaiian Paddle Sports, 81 Hale Kuai Street in Kihei
The green sea turtles that inhabit the waters that surround our island offer a thrill for those unaccustomed to coming across them in everyday life, and Hawaiian Paddle Sports offers a chance to see, meet, and understand them a little better with their West Maui Olowalu Kayak Tour. Offering group tours and private ones year round, the tour travels through shallow waters, allowing paddlers to see not just the sea turtles, but schools of fish, brilliantly colored coral, and an abundance of marine life certain to make you happy. Snorkeling is a part of this tour, and as you swim with all that you have been watching from within your canoe, we have a sneaking suspicion that this adventure will be the one you never forget.
Feeling at Home in Our Maui Life Realty Vacation Rentals
If you have traveled a lot, you may have noticed that you don’t often feel comfortable and at home in the vacation accommodations you have chosen to reside in, but with Maui Life Realty, you may be surprised at just how at home you feel. Our homes and condos are designed to be an important part of your vacation experience, offering walls of windows that can be opened to bring the beauty of the outside in, outdoor kitchens in addition to the standard indoor ones, and so much luxury and beauty, you shouldn’t be surprised to discover that you really don’t want to leave at the end of your stay. Reserve your favorite Maui Life Realty retreat today!
The winter of 2025 has been a long and harsh one, one that doesn’t show any signs of releasing its grip on the nation, encouraging the perpetually chilly to consider Easter vacations somewhere warm and tropical, with Maui being the top vacation destination. Offering high temperatures in the 80s and lows that rarely fall below the high 60s, travelers can kick off their parkas, slip into their flip flops, and relax in comfort and luxury, especially when they choose Maui Life Realty for their holiday hideaways. This guide to planning a 2025 Easter getaway to Maui will shine a light on the dark days leading up to your time in the sun!
Pack for Summer
The weather is scheduled to be absolutely beautiful during your vacation with us and as such, you can pack light (shorts, swimsuits, flip flops) and leave room for the souvenirs you know you will be bringing back home with you. And if you are traveling with children, leave the basket behind, they never travel well anyway, and plan on a quick stop by the Aloha Dollar Store, located at 840 Waine’e Street in Lahaina for a cute, and disposable Easter basket. Your alter ego, the Easter Bunny, may even find some sweet little gifts to fill the basket, or you may want to add another stop on your itinerary, dipping into IT’S SUGAR in Whaler’s Village for some sweet treats that will be most appreciated. The important thing is you don’t have to worry that snooping children will find baskets or your candy stash before they walk into the living room on Easter day and see it sitting in plain sight!
As the Sun Rises Over the Sea
A Hawaiian sunrise should be viewed at least once in everyone’s life, and Easter is the perfect day for rising early. Because you chose a beachfront escape for this vacation experience, you don’t even have to get out of your pajamas, you can walk out onto the balcony and wait for the show to begin, but remember, sunrises hit harder when walking along water’s edge, feeling the warm waters curl around your ankles as your toes squish together in wet sands, and watching the sky burst into color after a long and dark night. These early morning moments spent waiting for the world to awaken will be the source of some of your most cherished memories, tucked away in your heart where they will remain warm and beautiful, no matter what the weather may be where you hail from.
Hanging Out with the Easter Bunny
Your children are your world, and you want to make sure that you give them everything they want and need, including a visit with the Easter Bunny. Maui Golf & Sports Park, located about 20+ miles away from your holiday hideaway at 80 Maalaea Road in Wailuku, offers Hawaii’s Biggest Easter Egg Event, ensuring that you will remain your children’s hero even after taking them away from their home! This super cool event actually takes place over three days, April 18, 19, & 20 and features over 55,000 eggs for its Easter egg hunt, the chance to meet the Easter Bunny, Food, drinks, and the chance to play unlimited games of mini golf and two hours of unlimited play on the bumper boats. Your kids can also rock climb and hop around on their X-treme Bungee Trampoline as much as they like over three hours, ensuring that when your return to your Hawaiian retreat at the end of the day, you will probably be carrying in your tiny celebrants! The unlimited Easter Party Pass costs $55 per kid, or you can pay just $10 for them to participate in the hunt only. Reservations can be made on Maui Golf & Sports Park website.
Brunch of Champions
Every holiday revolves around a meal, and at Easter, that meal tends to be brunch. Many of our local restaurants will be offering some sort of meal to commemorate the occasion, but we think this would be the perfect time to explore your seasonal escape, ordering an Easter feast from Hulu Grill, located at 2435 Kaanapali Parkway in Lahaina, you can preorder an Easter meal, choosing between a Honey Smoked Ham & King Crab Easter Brunch and a Prime Rib Easter Brunch, both offering all the trimmings for up to four people. The scents that waft through your house when reheating in our fully equipped kitchens will bring you joy, a joy that will reach new heights because you didn’t need to do any of the hard work!
Maui Life Realty Easter Escapes
Our properties are designed to be an integral part of your vacation experience, offering comfort, luxury, and plenty of places to hide Easter eggs if you chose not to end the Easter Egg Hunt listed above. Reserve your favorite today!
It is our fervent belief that everyone deserves at least one summer vacation on our island paradise, and we at Maui Life Realty also believe that the summer of 2025 is the perfect time to achieve your dreams. Summer hits differently on Maui, and as you set up camp on sandy beaches, dine on fresh and locally sourced foods, and sleep deeply and peacefully every night of your stay in our seasonal sanctuaries, you may find yourself wishing you could spend every summer in Hawaii. Whether you can or cannot, however, this guide to getting a head start on planning your summer vacation in Maui will give you a little something extra to look forward to in 2025.
Packing can often be the hardest part of travel, but not when you have Maui Life Realty on your side. You’re going to spend a lot of time at the beach and possibly a lot of time hanging out poolside, and while you could bring one suit and wash it daily, they don’t take up a lot of space, and we think your spouse, partner, boyfriend, or girlfriend will enjoy their own personal fashion show of swimsuits. When not at the pool or in the sea, shorts, tee shirts, and cute little sundresses will be all you need and if you don’t have at least one Hawaiian shirt or dress, never fear, you can pick up what you need in our shops and boutiques. A good pair of walking shoes, your most comfortable flip flops, and a light jacket to guard against cooler evenings finishes up your clothing needs, but we do suggest that you pack a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen as well!
Plan Your Beach Days
When the winter days were dark and cold you kept warm by dreaming about the beaches you would explore during your summer visit to Maui, but we doubt that you ever realized the extent of the wonders that await you. Of course, you will be spending a lot of time at the beach closest to your summer sanctuary, but with a little planning, you can explore the black sands of Honokalani in Hana, the red sands of Kaihalulu, also in Maui, or the white sands of Mākena State Park, located not far from your Maui retreat in Kihei. Snorkel with the sea turtles at Kā’anapali Beach, forego a swimsuit altogether at Pāʻia Secret Beach where clothing is optional, or learn to surf at Launiupoko. Each beach will steal a piece of your heart while providing an adventure you will never forget.
Choosing the Tours in Which You Will Participate
The best way to get to know a place is to take part in the tours offered by local companies and because you are trying to get a head start on your planning, purchasing your tickets ahead of time will ensure that you won’t miss out on the more popular tours that sell out early. Enjoy a bird’s eye view of the island with a helicopter tour offered by Maui Helicopter Tours or explore the waters aboard a kayak with Maui Kayak adventures. Although there aren’t any surfing tours, the thrill seekers amongst our travelers may want to pick up the sport by taking lessons at Surf Club Maui or explore the valleys and rainforests of Hawaii atop a gentle steed from Ironwood Ranch Horseback Riding. There are many fun tours and activities that will help you get to know your vacation destination a little better, documenting each experience by taking plenty of pictures that will make your friends and family back home feel envious.
Planning Your Epicurean Adventures
Every vacation can be made better with an enjoyable meal or twelve and whether you are trying a regional favorite for breakfast, Loco Moco at Kihei Caffe, eating seafood that was harvested from local waters at the South Maui Fish Market, or are enjoying an elevated meal and sea views at Leilani’s at the Beach, your epicurean adventures on Maui will not disappoint. Your favorite place to eat, however, may be at the dining room table of your Hawaiian retreat, prepared by your own hands in our fully equipped kitchens.
Prepare to Relax Hard
Making travelers feel relaxed and at home is a Maui Life Realty specialty, and as you watch movies on state of the art televisions, swim in private pools, or sit out on balconies that overlook the sea, watching the waves curl and the sun set, your summer vacation on our Hawaiian Island Paradise is going to go down in history as the summer your dreams all came true. Reserve your favorite Maui retreat today and discover all the ways the summer of 2025 will be the most memorable summer of your life!
If you have been thinking about a Hawaiian getaway but aren’t exactly sure when you want to visit, we at Maui Life Realty want to let you in on a little secret, one that we only share with our favorite people. April in Maui is just about the best time to visit, offering temperatures that are warm without being too warm, the end of the rainy season, and a variety of events that will add to the fun and wonder of your Hawaiian hoʻomaha (which means vacation in Hawaiian). This guide to the top April events in Maui will help you fill in all the blank spaces on your vacation itinerary and give you a little something to look forward to in the meantime!
Wailuku First Friday, April 4, Market Street
On the first Friday of every month, it falls on the 4th in April, Wailuku shuts down Market Street from 6 PM until 9 PM and celebrates the Aloha spirit, offering live music, food for purchase from local restaurants or from a fleet of food trucks that will be lined up and waiting to serve you, and another chance to explore the sales at our local shops. This monthly festival brings us so much joy, we have barely finished celebrating one month’s event before we start marking the days off our calendar for the next one and as you experience the Aloha visit during your stay, we think you too will understand its appeal!
Reggae Lives Festival, April 5, South Maui Gardens, 35 Auhana Road
Is there anything better than live music performed at an outdoor venue when the sun is shining brightly and the weather is absolutely perfect? There may be, but for today’s purposes the answer is absolutely not and the Reggae Lives Festival, held on April 5th, is all the proof you need. This one-day festival is inexpensive, tickets cost $30 in advance, $35 at the gate, and the venue is absolutely divine, serving as a plant nursery most of the time and a special event venue on days like this one. Also offering 10 different food trucks for your dining delight, you can dance the night away or simply sit on your blanket spread out over the grass and let the beats take you to wonderful new places in your mind!
Easter Brunch at Gather on Maui, April 20, 100 Wailea Golf Club Drive
Our fully equipped kitchens may tempt you to make your own Easter feast at home, but if you are standing strong in regard to your desire to let someone else create, serve, and clear away your holiday meal, we suggest exploring the options for Easter Brunch at Gather on Maui. Serving three times on Easter, 9:30, Noon, and 2:30, the menu for this fabulous feast will make you fall in love. You’ll find a hot station offering dishes such as Aebleskiver (Danish pancakes), a cold station starring poke, sushi, and salads, a carving station with a choice of ham or the catch of the day, and a dessert selection that will make your sweet tooth stand up and cheer! Reservations are required, soft drinks are required, and the price ($80 for adults, $40 for kids, 6-12, and free for kids 5 and under) is surprisingly reasonable when compared against other buffets.
Earth Night, April 26, Maui Ocean Center, 192 Maalaea Road in Wailuku
Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 in 2025, but here in Maui we are going to celebrate Earth NIGHT on April 26th, offering guests the opportunity to celebrate the Earth, and as this event is held at the Maui Ocean Center, we hope you forgive us for all the ocean extras! Offering ocean themed activities that are led by marine naturalists, live music makes the perfect accompaniment to the event. Keiki (kids) activities will include a coral feeding station and a fossilized shark’s tooth dig, and everyone will be fascinated by the diver’s presentations, presented from inside the Open Ocean’s exhibit and perhaps be encouraged to pay a little bit more attention to preserving and protecting our planet. This is one of the most important April events in Maui.
April Events in Maui with Maui Life Realty
All every April events in Maui have to be official, sanctioned by city and state, and your favorite events may be the family friendly ones enjoyed at home in your Maui Life Realty Hawaiian retreat. Plan a barbecue with your traveling companions, grilling your catch of the day over charcoal or propane and if your vacation escape has a pool, resort or private, a family pool party will be a memorable activity that you will remember forever! Our properties are designed to be an integral part of your vacation experience and on a quiet family evening at home, you may even binge-watch movies on state of the art televisions. Reserve your favorite escape today!
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!