Latest / Hawaii Travel Podcast by Hawaii’s Best: Plan a Better Hawaii Vacation / First Trip to Maui? Don't Go Without Knowing This

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First Trip to Maui? Don't Go Without Knowing This · Hawaii Travel Podcast by Hawaii’s Best: Plan a Better Hawaii Vacation

• 0:00
  Bryan Murphy: In this episode, you'll discover the single biggest mistake many people make that can ruin a Maui vacation and how you can avoid it.
• 0:08
  Bryan Murphy: If you're planning your first trip to Maui, you want to know what to skip, what to double check, and how to save yourself a lot of hassle.
• 0:18
  Bryan Murphy: Aloha, and welcome to Hawaii's Best.
• 0:20
  Bryan Murphy: I'm Brian Murphy, a Hawaii destination expert and your personal guide to planning a better Hawaii trip.
• 0:25
  Bryan Murphy: Through practical tips, local voices, and stories from the islands, I'll help you make the most of your time in Hawaii and stay connected between visits.
• 0:33
  Bryan Murphy: I know we all know Maui can be expensive.
• 0:36
  Bryan Murphy: Hawaii is expensive, but specifically Maui.
• 0:38
  Bryan Murphy: So we're gonna talk about that today.
• 0:40
  Bryan Murphy: And also about how missing a small detail in your planning can seriously impact your experience.
• 0:47
  Bryan Murphy: A lot of it is just being aware of what to know prior to visiting, just to get rid of some of those surprises so you can have a better sense of what to expect when visiting Maui.
• 0:58
  Bryan Murphy: I've been to Hawaii many times, I don't know, 30 plus maybe.
• 1:02
  Bryan Murphy: I, I've lost track, honestly.
• 1:05
  Bryan Murphy: But it doesn't really matter because I didn't visit Maui until my first time was back in 2019.
• 1:11
  Bryan Murphy: And I went with my wife and we recorded a bunch of podcasts there and I'll link those below.
• 1:15
  Bryan Murphy: We got to talk with the GM at Leilani's on the Beach, which is in Kanapali.
• 1:20
  Bryan Murphy: We spent some time with the West End and had them on the podcast as well as Garrett, the CEO, co-founder of Maui Brewing Company.
• 1:28
  Bryan Murphy: Also got to spend some time in the Honokovai Valley with Uncle Ikolu from Maui Culturelands.
• 1:36
  Bryan Murphy: And all of those episodes on Linkolo and all of those really impacted me in a personal level, especially that time working in the Honokovai Valley for the day.
• 1:47
  Bryan Murphy: Just that experience alone showed me what makes Maui just so special.
• 1:51
  Bryan Murphy: It's, it's not just about the beaches, which are beautiful and one of a kind and the resorts.
• 1:56
  Bryan Murphy: It's really the culture and connection to the land a- as I'm talking and I get, I'm getting chills just remembering that moment.
• 2:04
  Bryan Murphy: It was really a special, a special time.
• 2:06
  Bryan Murphy: But let's get into what you need to know before booking your trip to Maui.
• 2:12
  Bryan Murphy: Some of you probably already have that ticket, but really the best times to visit Maui are April through May and September through October.
• 2:20
  Bryan Murphy: These are the shoulder seasons.
• 2:22
  Bryan Murphy: It gives you really great weather, fewer visitors and better rates across the board from flights to hotels.
• 2:30
  Bryan Murphy: Now where do you stay?
• 2:31
  Bryan Murphy: That depends on what kind of experience you want.
• 2:33
  Bryan Murphy: South Maui, specifically Kihei, Wailea, offer family friendly beaches and accommodations ranging from budget condos to luxury resorts.
• 2:43
  Bryan Murphy: You know, think the White Lotus that was filmed over there in Wailea.
• 2:48
  Bryan Murphy: West Maui, like Kahnapali, this is where we like to stay.
• 2:51
  Bryan Murphy: And Napili, that's more up, uh, up on the coast.
• 2:55
  Bryan Murphy: Excellent resorts.
• 2:56
  Bryan Murphy: If you want a quieter, more local experience, consider Upcountry Maui or the North Shore.
• 3:03
  Bryan Murphy: There's a, a ton of options, but there are options and they are available a little bit, maybe a little bit less expensive than those big resorts.
• 3:12
  Bryan Murphy: Wanna talk about the must-do activities, talked about, you know, what you want to put on the itinerary, what you wanna not worry about.
• 3:20
  Bryan Murphy: Haleakala National Park definitely should be on the top of that list.
• 3:24
  Bryan Murphy: And the sunrise from the summit is amazing.
• 3:27
  Bryan Murphy: I know you've probably seen those pictures, but it requires reservations made well in advance.
• 3:32
  Bryan Murphy: So that's one of the things you want to make sure you reserve prior to going.
• 3:35
  Bryan Murphy: And, and this, I would recommend doing the sunrise your first day or second day because a lot of people who are visiting from the continental US are three to, I think, six hours ahead of Hawaii time.
• 3:50
  Bryan Murphy: So you're gonna be waking up early, you're gonna be waking up, you know, four o'clock, five o'clock or whatever.
• 3:54
  Bryan Murphy: And it's like, might as well get that sunrise in.
• 3:57
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: 00 AM and it's like, "All right, well, I guess we're doing this." Plan for that.
• 4:03
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: If you don't get reservations for sunrise, go for sunset because the sunset is equally as beautiful on Haleakala.
• 4:10
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: The Rodohana is definitely iconic and a lot of people go to Maui and do the Rodohana.
• 4:15
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: It's not just the drive.
• 4:17
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: It's, it's all day with amazing waterfalls, black sand beaches, rainforest hikes.
• 4:24
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: It, it's just beautiful.
• 4:25
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: One thing you wanna make sure is you can't rush this experience.
• 4:30
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: So consider planning well in advance.
• 4:33
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: Maybe this is another thing you do that first, second, maybe third day on your trip because you wanna wake up early, especially if you're staying on the west side in Kanapali.
• 4:43
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: It's gonna be a drive all the way up north to just get to the start of Rodohana.
• 4:48
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: There are people who say you shouldn't drive the Rotohana.
• 4:52
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: Maybe you should just do a certified guide.
• 4:55
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: I would definitely recommend that, especially if you're doing Rodohana for the first time.
• 4:58
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: If you're the one driving, it's gonna be pretty stressful trying to do all the turns and making sure you're not parking where you're, you're not supposed to be parking.
• 5:07
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: A guided tour that is vetted and legit is gonna be so much more enjoyable as far as being able to relax and take in the Rodohana, take in east side of Maui and just all the stops because you're gonna stop at all the same spots, but you're not gonna have the headache of trying to find parking, making sure you're parking in the right spot.
• 5:28
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: I actually did an episode all about that and I'll link that in the show notes below.
• 5:34
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: If you've listened to the podcast for a while, you know I like to talk a lot about how we as visitors can travel responsibly and leave Hawaii better than we found it.
• 5:42
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: But what does giving back actually look like?
• 5:44
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: I recently learned about Terra Formation.
• 5:46
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: It's a native reforestation company sponsoring this episode and I really appreciate the work that they're doing.
• 5:51
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: At Iole in North Kohala, near the northern tip of the big island, they're actively restoring a native Hawaiian forest.
• 5:57
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: And you could be a part of it wherever you're at.
• 5:59
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: Your support helps trees grow from seed to canopy with years of care as a forest restores habitat and helps protect Hawaii's water and reefs.
• 6:07
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: So to learn more and see how you can help support the forest, visit hoi.startofforest.com today.
• 6:14
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: If you love the ocean, you love snorkeling, Molokini Crater is one of the top spots to do that.
• 6:19
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: This crescent shape islet creates a natural aquarium with incredible visibility and diverse marine life.
• 6:26
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: So book with a reputable company.
• 6:28
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: We've done stuff with Four Winds to Maui.
• 6:30
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: Definitely would recommend looking at their tours, but there's a lot of great companies out there.
• 6:35
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: Four Winds to Maui, they also do a sunset cruise that we did and it was just, it was beautiful.
• 6:40
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: Had a hula performance, had great drinks, food, so look into them as an option.
• 6:46
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: Some of the best beaches, also you got Kanapali on the west side, which offers calmer waters and resort amenities.
• 6:53
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: McKenna Beach, which is big beach in South Maui, gives you that perfect postcard experience with fewer facilities though, but more natural beauty.
• 7:03
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: For some culture, you wanna visit the Ali'i Lavender Farm or the Maui Wine in Upcountry.
• 7:09
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: Also up there is Ocean Vodka.
• 7:12
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: They have a, an experience there too.
• 7:15
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: Now where to eat?
• 7:16
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: Really, Maui's food scene can be budget friendly to extravagant because there's tons of food trucks to consider which are budget friendly, but for special occasions, Mama's Fish House, you can't beat it.
• 7:28
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: It's one of those spots.
• 7:29
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: But you gotta have reservations.
• 7:31
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: You gotta make months in advance.
• 7:33
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: So if you're on island and you didn't get reservations, your best bet would be to go for lunch because lunch is gonna be a bit easier to get in than dinner time.
• 7:44
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: For a local plate lunch experience, I definitely would recommend Tin Roof and Kaha Lui.
• 7:49
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: You'll love it there.
• 7:50
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: Amazing food.
• 7:51
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: But also don't miss out on farmer's markets for fresh produce and prepared foods for a fraction of restaurant prices.
• 7:58
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: Now, when it comes to travel, logistics and budgeting, you definitely want to budget for, to rent a car.
• 8:05
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: Public transportation is limited on Maui and ride shares are expensive and not always available.
• 8:11
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: Book your rental months in advance.
• 8:13
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: Cars regularly sell out during peak seasons.
• 8:16
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: If you're staying on Maui for, I would say more than a week, so maybe like 10, 14 days, look into some inner island flights and do some puddle hopping.
• 8:25
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: And those are always worth the time because each island has its own completely different experiences.
• 8:31
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: A short hop over from Maui to the big island is a quick flight and you can do, you know, Volcanoes National Park.
• 8:39
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: You can do all that within a day and fly back over to Maui.
• 8:42
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: Now, for accommodations, consider condos over hotels if you're staying more than a few days.
• 8:47
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: The kitchen will s - help you save some money on meals and you'll often get more space for less money on a certified condo.
• 8:54
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: I also did an episode on how to vet your vacation rental, and I'll link that below too, because there are some shady practices out there, especially in Hawaii.
• 9:05
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: You also wanna book activities well before your trip.
• 9:08
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: So think, you know, helicopter tours, luaus, and whale watching cruises, which are usually between December and April to get some whale watching done.
• 9:17
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: Those fill up fast though.
• 9:19
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: You want to make sure you book those top activities.
• 9:22
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: If you don't wanna do any of those, then that's totally fine.
• 9:24
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: Sometimes we do, sometimes we don't.
• 9:26
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: Sometimes we go without any reservations and we just see where the day takes us and, you know, maybe we have like a little short list of what we wanna do, but for the most part, there's so much to experience, so much natural beauty, especially in Maui, that if you don't have any reservations for any of those tours, there's still so much to do.
• 9:44
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: Or maybe your budget is tight and you're not able to do those types of tours this time around, you're not gonna feel like you're missing out on, on a lot.
• 9:54
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: There's, there's just so much more that you can explore and not break the bank because you don't wanna get back home and like look at that credit card bill and like, "Was it all worth it?" So it's okay to skip those tours this time around, but maybe choose one of them if you're able to.
• 10:10
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: When it comes to packing, the best tip I have for packing is don't overpack.
• 10:14
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: I remember my first few times visiting Hawaii, you know, some 20-some years ago, packed so much stuff and you're like, you barely use any of it because the weather pretty much stays the same.
• 10:24
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: Sometimes you'll get wet, so maybe have a light jacket, but just don't overpack.
• 10:28
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: You wanna make sure you pack that reef safe sunscreen, or if you don't have reef safe sunscreen, just buy sunscreen in Hawaii because then you know it is legal and legit because there are some banned chemicals that are in most sunscreens.
• 10:42
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: Those are banned in Hawaii.
• 10:44
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: So there's Costco, there's Target, though it does come at a higher price.
• 10:50
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: Well, I can't wait for you to visit Maui and it's such a special place.
• 10:55
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: I really wanna recommend again looking into Maui cultural lands with Ikolu Lindsay.
• 11:02
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: They actually lost their home in the Lahaina Fire.
• 11:05
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: They just have such a huge heart and such a giving heart.
• 11:08
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: They provide opportunities for visitors to volunteer for the day in the Honokovai Valley, and it's such a beautiful place.
• 11:16
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: You gotta trek down into the valley and it's some labor intensive, but if you're able, it is such a great experience just to connect with Ikolu and Antipunani.
• 11:28
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: So I can't recommend them enough.
• 11:30
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: We've actually have had listeners of the podcast reach back out to me and saying that they experienced a time in the valley and how amazing it was.
• 11:41
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: Look up my buddy, Garrett over at Maui Brewing Company.
• 11:44
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: I say he was my buddy.
• 11:45
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: He was a huge help during the whole Lahaina crisis.
• 11:49
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: He was boots on the ground and he was on weekly on the podcast during that time giving updates how people can support during that time.
• 11:57
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: So a big shout out to Garrett Marrero for that and his heart.
• 12:01
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: For more detailed planning tips or resources, you can check out the show notes or go to our website, hawaisbesttravel.com.
• 12:08
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: If you found today's episode helpful, make sure you hit follow on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you don't miss the next one.
• 12:15
  Our girls will wake up at, you know, 3: And until next time, my friend, as always, live with Aloha.