Top Places to See When Visiting Maui
Written by Saltwater Home
Although we have deep roots in Maine, adventuring on Maui has made us appreciate and love the island. Learning to surf, taking long drives along the road to Hana, eating pie at Leoda’s, smelling a fresh lei wrapped around you, getting to know the locals, devouring a pineapple, swimming with the sea turtles, and finding a state of peacefulness. It truly is a magical place from the moment you step off the plane.
There are so many beautiful places to go when visiting Maui, but we have compiled a few of our top favorite sites to see while exploring the island of Maui.
Iao Valley
You must visit the Iao Valley if you like luscious forests and breathtakingly green ridges. Home of the Iao Needle, a 1,200 ft peak, the Iao Valley is one for the books. We discovered that our favorite time to visit the valley is on a rainy day. We drove up to the valley one day in April to find inspiration. It began to pour and was so foggy we could barely see what was ahead. We contemplated turning around, but our curiosity got the best of us. Once we reached the end of the road, the rain let up for a moment. The luscious green ridges began to appear through the fog. We took a moment to enjoy the sound of the birds chirping and the water rushing down the Iao Stream. The green leaves were vibrant and full of raindrops. The air smelled of fresh dew. We relaxed for a moment to remember the deep history of the valley where the battle of Kepaniwai took place in 1790. The valley deserves to be appreciated for its rich culture and spiritual values. Soon after that moment of calmness, it began to pour even more than before, and we made a run for the car. Our Saltwater Home sweatshirts were soaked, but we decided it was well worth it. Perhaps that inspired Annie to bring green tile samples back to the studio!
Leoda’s Pies
Looking for a sweet bite to eat? If you don’t mind waiting in a line full of hungry people hoping to get a taste of this delicious food, Leoda’s Pies will satisfy your cravings. Our favorite is the banana creme pie — a delicacy made with island-sourced bananas.
Leoda’s Pies
Old Lahaina Courthouse
A beautiful spot to visit and appreciate the history of Hawaii. Constructed over 160 years ago, the Old Lahaina Courthouse still stands today. In 1898, when the Hawaiian Islands were officially annexed to the United States, the Hawaiian Kingdom flag was lowered, and the United States flag was raised. It is also the home of the great banyan tree, a remarkable tree reaching one-quarter of a mile in circumference with a vast network of roots and branches.
The Architectural beauty that is Fairmont Kea Lani
If you like to appreciate good architecture and clean white, you must book a stay at the Fairmont Kea Lani. “Kea Lani” means “heavenly white” and is a good description of this gorgeous hotel. Jose Luis Ezquerra, the resort’s architect, was inspired by the Lolani Palace and the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. He mixed the traditional Mediterranean and Middle East style architecture to create the paradise that is Kea Lani.
Fairmont Kea Lani
Black Sand Beaches
We are big fans of beautiful beaches with golden sand, but it’s not often to find a beach with black sand. The Hawaiian islands have about ten beaches with black sand and are one of the only places in the United States to see black sand. Caused by volcanic rock exploding into tiny sand particles, black sand beaches are worth visiting.
We may be biased, but we think that Maui is one of the most beautiful places in the world. We feel so lucky to be able to adventure on this island while offering our coastal, tropical design services. Whether you are visiting on vacation or thinking of buying a home here on Maui, we can provide some great advice about the beautiful island and the best locations there. If you have visited any of these places, we would love to hear which was your favorite!
