With its 30 miles of breathtaking beaches, cool ocean breezes, popular resorts, famous snorkeling spots, endless waterfalls, mystical rainbows, and gorgeous sunsets, it’s no secret that the Valley Isle, also known as the Magic Isle, is easy to fall in love with.
A few years ago, my husband and I spent two weeks on this amazing island for our Honeymoon and we are incredibly excited to be heading back for our annual Christmas trip. In order to share the Aloha (love), I’ve created a list of my favorite Top Five Romantic Moments for your next trip to Maui.
5. See the Sunrise at Haleakala
Don’t let the 3am wake up call scare you off. If you schedule this activity on one of your first days on the island, chances are you will wake up earlier than normal due to the time difference.
Imagine sitting 10,000 feet above sea-level looking over the clouds as the sky begins to turn the most beautiful shades of orange. For a tropical island it is extremely cold at this altitude, especially as you wait for the sun to rise. So make sure to grab a blanket and snuggle up next to your sweetie as you watch the sun rise above the crater. What an incredible way to start your romantic getaway.
4. Spa Day at the Grand Wailea
Yes it’s expensive, but it’s also incredibly luxurious. The grounds of this hotel are immaculate. If the price tag is enough to make you run the other way, consider booking a beachside massage at one of the many resorts around the island. Imagine surprising your sweetie with an afternoon beachside Lomi-Lomi massage. Listen to the breeze blow through the palms and hear the rhythmic pattern of the waves as you relax away the afternoon.
3. Whale Watching
If you’re lucky enough to visit between the months of December and April, I would highly recommend a Whale Watching tour. You are able to witness nature at her finest. It is an incredibly magical experience–beyond anything I could even describe here on this blog. Simply put, it is unforgettable.
While visiting Kauai last Christmas we booked our tour with Captain Andy’s and absolutely loved it. For our Maui trip, we’ve made reservations with the Pacific Whale Foundation. Full review to come.
2. Dinner Cruise
There is something about sailing that is so relaxing to me. Throw in delicious food, an open bar with premium drinks, and live music, and the night just went from great to amazing. Find your own quiet spot on the boat and snuggle up next to your sweetie as you take in Maui’s breathtaking coastline. After dinner, dance the night away to the live Hawaiian music before watching a gorgeous Maui sunset.
There are many sailing charters to choose from, so as always, do your research, check out Trip Advisor for reviews, and choose the one that works best for you and your partner.
1. View the sunset from Ka’anapali Beach
We’ve enjoyed a spectacular sunrise from 10,000 feet up, spent some time in complete relaxation at the luxurious spa, participated the magical experience of whale watching, sailed along Maui’s majestic coastline, so it’s only appropriate to end this top five with a gorgeous Maui sunset.
There’s something about sitting in the sand right next to your sweetie as the sun begins its decent into the ocean. You’ve had an amazing day in Paradise and now it’s time to sit in peace and reflect about the highlights of your day. Most of the major resort areas in Maui face west so be sure to spend at least a night or two watching this amazing spectacle. The best part about it, it’s completely free!
One of my favorite places on Maui to watch the sunset is Ka’anapali Beach. There is plenty of space for everyone and if sitting in the sand in your evening dress isn’t up your alley, cozy up next to each other while enjoying a tropical drink at one of the many beach side restaurants along this strip of famous sand.
Have you been to Maui? What else should I add to my list?
Pictures and Plane Tickets 
I didn’t do sunrise but getting up to Haleakala was fun. Whale watching and snorkeling were big highlights with our family. The only thing we didn’t do in Maui was the road to Hana. I’d love to do that if I go back.
The Road to Hana is beautiful. We did it the last time we were there and plan to do it again. This time we have certain places that we want to stop that we missed the first time. We are thinking about driving all the way around the island, but I think it may depend on the weather that day.
Where did you snorkel? Did you guys snorkel at Molokini? I’m trying to decide if we should book a snorkel trip this time around, or just take advantage of the great snorkeling from the beach. Any suggestions on snorkeling spots would be much appreciated. 🙂
I haven’t been there but I did see the whales in Alaska on a cruise with my mom. they are stunning creatures and we got to see one breach. Breathtaking. ~Gina
Gina, I have always wanted to go on an Alaskan cruise. I bet it was awesome! Isn’t it mesmerizing when they breach? It’s almost as if time stands still.
Have a great weekend 🙂
Ooohhhh mah god, you NEED to go to Alaska and cruise the inside passage. The whales were amazing! So amazing my mom and got matching tattoos of flukes when we got to Anchorage. We had 9 hours to wait for our flight home, what else were we going to do? 🙂
It did seem like time stood still and NO ONE on the catamaran got a picture. Not one of us but I still see it in my mind. It was just like the Northwestern Insurance commercial, but cooler in person. We also saw the glacier calve the next day. The Hubbard Glacier was quite active that day and we saw a lot of calving that day. When a HUGE chunk came off my mom looked at me on our balcony and said “ok, i saw what I wanted to see, we can go home now!” We had 2 days at see and the next day we were home. It was an excellent way to end our trip.
I love this! Thanks for sharing! I love the idea of tattoos on your way home, and you and your mom having matching tattoos is even cooler! Exploring Alaska is on my bucket list, I hope to get up that way in the next couple of years. My aunt and a few of my cousins have cruised Alaska and absolutely loved it, I can definitely see why. 🙂
Incredible photos!!
Thank you. Some are mine, some are borrowed (those borrowed have a source link). 🙂