Thank you again for visiting my page and helping me to bring much-needed economy back to Maui. We vote with our dollars, and I appreciate the opportunity to help you vote for a healthy economy.
If you haven’t explored the rest of my website, I’d be grateful if you did! I am very proud and grateful to be the #1 Bestselling Author of The Six Habits (a practical guide to help you be happy when you’re not on Maui!), a TEDx speaker, CEO of an award-winning marketing company in Massachusetts, and serious turtle-appreciator. I’m married with 3 fur-children and I now live in Florida (for now). I’ll be back on Maui in a few years. 🙂
Parting Tips & Wisdom
- Always offer respect and you’ll get it in return. A big smile (or smize, with a mask) and friendliness go a long way.
- Maui (and Hawaii) is largely Democratic and is very serious about mask mandates and their Covid response. While you might be visiting from a state with different ideology and may not agree with the political landscape, remember you are a guest in someone else’s home and to treat others with Aloha and you’ll have a great time (even if you have to set your values aside for a little while). The rules change often and you can follow Maui Now for regular updates, mandates and restrictions.
- Maui has thirteen micro-climates. South Maui has one of them (very dry, desert-like). Some parts of the island see rain every day like part of Haiku (referred to as “Wet Haiku”) and Hana, and you can’t assume that the weather is the same everywhere. It’s rarely the case.
- Yep, Maui gets seasons. We joke and say there are two: whale season and not-whale season. HA HA. But sincerely, Maui gets basically two seasons and you’ll see it in the plant life and in the temperatures. In the winter, the waves are huge on the north shore, whales visit, sharks are more prevalent, leaves fall from the trees, certain fruits are available, and some parts of the island (upcountry) get COLD at night and brisk during the day. In winter, the wind is stronger, the air is cooler, and some find it completely perfect (I do). Driving around upcountry, you’ll even see poinsettia hedges in full bloom. In the summer, the waves are calm and snorkeling is best, whales are gone, flowers are in bloom everywhere (including Plumeria!), more fruit is available, and you get that epic searing heat that you can sit on the beach with and bake for hours (ahem – reef-safe sunscreen).
- Never honk your horn unless you’re on the one-lane S-turns in East Maui (Road to Hana) or West Maui. It’s not a thing and you’ll look like a real jerk.
- NEVER… and I can’t stress this enough… NEVER leave your valuables in your rental car. Leave them in your lodging or just don’t bring them. Yes, break-ins are a thing and they happen.
- “Aloha time” is a real thing. It means late or not at all. It can be frustrating… or you can learn to exhale, take your shoulders down from your ears, and really relax and let things be what they are. This took me a while to learn. It was a blessed change within me that I am grateful for.
- If you’re not happy with the service, food, or experience at a local establishment – talk to them about it and be honest. The meanest thing you can do is to write a terrible review for a business trying to survive after a pandemic punched it in the gut. Live aloha, my friend. Karma is real.
- Take this list as a helpful guide to point you to things you might love, with lots of context. Take what you want, leave what you don’t.
- Buy pictures when you get home. Don’t waste a sunset by trying to capture “the perfect shot.” I saw this more times than I can count and it broke my heart every time. Countless people entirely missed the splendor of the sunset for a photo they’d probably never look at again, angling to pose, capture, and get “just the right angle.” Please don’t rob yourself of the joy of Maui. Just be with the sunset, or whatever it is. Make a memory, be present, and cherish these moments in Maui. They’re fleeting. Savor them.
- When you get to Maui, let it all go. All of it. Leave your troubles behind, and be a local for a little while. Soak up some local flavor, chat up a stranger, make friends with a lizard, be present, make memories, and let your plans be fluid and joyful. You’ll thank me later.
Well, that’s it. We’ve reached the end of our journey together, and hopefully the beginning of your amazing, incredible adventure on the most perfect island in the world. Reach out to me through any of the links at the bottom of the page and let me know what you did, what you loved, and what else should be added! And don’t forget… LIVE ALOHA.
A hui ho,
