Hello there!
Happy 2022 and happy lunar new year!
As always, you know something happened if I’m writing a blog entry; whether it’s a new recipe or travel. This time, it’s not a recipe. 😂
I wanted to share some amazing experiences I had at Maui! My husband booked this trip for the beginning of January to start the year refreshed. But unfortunately, our dog got badly injured, so we had to postpone it to February. Honestly, it was the perfect timing as we were both getting burnt out from work and we just needed to unplug and rest – focus on ourselves.
We didn’t want to do too much as we wanted to enjoy the island itself. The activities and restaurants we went to were just the right amounts. And by the end of the trip, we (or more so, me) were ready to go home and cuddle our fur baby and just get some Asian soups inside our stomach.
If you want to see the list, here is my Yelp list here
——————————————————
If you want to try something new outside of the usual hotel resort and Airbnbs in Maui, and don’t mind the outdoor; highly recommend glamping @ Camp Olowalu. We chose the Tentalow, which comes with a private, open-air shower and sink, and two twin beds that are easy to move around to make into a “queen”. What I loved about our tentalow was showering under the stars or watching the sun rise while bathing in hot water.
Tours
O’o Farm is located in the upcountry of Kula and provides quality local produce to Maui restaurants like Pacific’O. They provide breakfast tours and lunch tours, which include a tour around the farm and a gourmet meal prepped from the farm itself to provide the “farm to table” experience. When we went, we had a five-course meal: focaccia, salad, tofu and veggie dish, fresh catch with veggies, pan-seared chicken, and a dessert. You can watch a quick highlight from the Instagram Reels I created after going there.
We discovered Gemini Sailing while driving by Honolua Bay, as we heard the snorkel at this specific beach is amazing. We signed up for a sail on our last full day and the whole experience was amazing! We meet and board the boat on the beach of Kaanapali Beach. From there, we take a 45-minute sail to Honolua Bay, with a few pauses here and there to watch the whales pass by. What’s amazing about the Honolua bay is that it is part of the Marina Life Conservation distracted, which means it is protected by the state and the wildlife in that specific area is just alive and well kept. Out of all the areas we snorkeled in Hawaii (it’s not a lot, but what we’ve experienced so far), we truly loved this bay due to the variety of fishes you see and swim with; the number of turtles that are curious about you more than you are about them, and the clear blue waters.
After you explore the waters, Gemini provides a hot lunch buffet, which includes BBQ chicken, Kalua Pork, and other assorted food items, and an open bar and other beverages. There’s also a professional photographer on board, so if you forgot your camera or your GoPro died (like us), they were there to capture moments before, during, and after, which was so helpful to us!
Overall, Gemini really put the cherry on top for us on our trip. We also spoke with a couple that’s been coming to Maui for many years and every year they come, they sail with Gemini (I think they said it’s been 25+ years?). They were #couplegoals for sure!
Food
As I mentioned early, I listed all the restaurants and activities we did on my Yelp page, which you can look HERE. But I wanted to highlight a food truck we went to, pretty much… every day 😂
There is a parking lot of food trucks across from Costco in Kahului and this specific food truck is called Thai Mee Up. Their price is really cheap (compare to some other Thai restaurants we went to) to the amount of food they give you. What I loved about them is they give you samples to try and each time, the quality of the food was delicious. The first time we went we got the Panang Curry ($10) and Pad Thai ($11). What I liked about their pad thai was their noodle wasn’t overcooked where it felt like mush, and it wasn’t dry where it felt like it was just left out for a while. Their noodles were the true definition of “al dente” in a good, well thought out and cooked pad thai. The second time we went, we go the pad see ew ($12) and Ahi plate ($14). Again, both dishes are cooked to quality and great taste. But also, don’t take my word for it – give it a try yourself!
All in all, it was a much-needed few days on the island that I’m super grateful my husband booked for us. It was a great way to celebrate my birthday and a new year, and to feel refreshed to tackle work!
Hope this helps you explore a few places in Maui. Remember – be kind, love, and be happy. Aloha 🤙
Jane Hwang 