#mauitraveltips

Is your island vacation coming to an end and you're still not sure what souvenirs from Maui to get for your loved ones?

Showing your friends and family you've thought about them while you traveled is always nice. So, if you're looking for the perfect souvenirs from Maui, here's a list of the best ones you can find here, on the island.

1. Kukui nut leis are great souvenirs from Maui

Kukui nut leis date back to the arrival of the Polynesians to Hawaii. Furthermore, the Kukui is the state tree of Hawaii and the nuts from this trees have a spiritual significance. Although kukui nut leis were only worn by royalty back in the day, you can now get them as a souvenir for your friends and family.

2. Ukuleles are among the most classic souvenirs you can bring home from Maui

The classic ukulele can be found almost anywhere on the island. You can get them as a souvenir for your loved ones or someone special or get a genuine, playable ukulele for yourself from one of the island's music stores.

3. Aloha shirts - the souvenir from Maui that says it all

You can find Aloha shirts everywhere you look here. They're available in every color combination you can imagine and you can find them in just about every price range in various clothing stores.

4. You can never go wrong with jewelry as a souvenir

You can find plenty high-end jewelry stores around the island if you're looking to impress someone special or you can go smaller and pick some shell earrings to offer as a souvenir from Maui for your loved ones back home.

5. Get your friends and family some coffee and mugs

Is someone back home a big fan of coffee? So are Hawaiians! You can find a lot of local coffee shops here on Maui where you can get some coffee as a souvenir from Maui or even pick up some coffee cups of mugs to offer as a gift for the people back home.

6. Get your loved ones some children's books with stories of the island

Do you have friends or family back home with small children? Then get them the gift of story reading to their little ones. You can find plenty book stores on the island and choose between the many children's books that tell a tale about the island.

7. Bring your loved ones some macadamia nuts

If you're looking to get your friends and family something their palate would enjoy, stock your luggage with macadamia nuts. They come in different kinds of seasonings - from sweet to salty - and they make for a delicious souvenir from Maui.

8. Go classic and get magnets, key chains or stickers as a souvenir from Maui

Still not sure if the suggestions above are a good fit? Then just go classic and get your friends and family a souvenir from Maui in the form of a magnet, key chain or a sticker. You can find them in any souvenir shop on the island and you can get as many as you want, they're freakishly small and can fit in any luggage.

Have you ever thought about visiting Maui? There are myriad things you can do on the island and by following a few simple Maui travel tips, you can easily book the ideal vacation for you and your family.

Whether you're looking to visit Maui without breaking the bank or plan a vacation you don't soon intend to forget, learning a bit about the island could help.

Here are 10 Maui travel tips to consider next time you plan to spend a few days on the Hawaiian island.

General Maui travel tips for first time visitors

1. Maui travel tips: how to get to the island

The easiest way to get here is by plane. The Kahului Airport (OGG) is the main airport on Maui, although you could search for flights that land at Kapalua Airport (JHM) in West Maui or Hana Airport (HNM) in East Maui as well.

2. Where to book your stay on the island of Maui

There are countless options to book a pleasant stay on Maui. Make sure you search for accommodation in advance so you'll be able to compare resorts, hotels, bed and breakfasts and rentals.

3. What to pack for your vacation on Maui

The weather here is typically warm, so pack light. You could bring a jacket in case you get chilly in the evening, but most important, don't forget to pack a waterproof camera! You'll need it if you plan to surf or snorkel in Maui and would like to immortalize the experience.

4. Best way to get around on Maui

You can get around Maui by bus, taxi or by shuttle. However, the best way to truly experience Maui like a local is to rent a jeep for your vacation. You could book your jeep in advance or rent one at the airport.

5. Useful phone numbers in case of emergency

One of the best Maui travel tips to consider is having the emergency phone numbers on hand. Make sure you do your research before arrival in order to be prepared in case anything should happen.

Don't miss out on what Maui has to offer!

6. The road to Hana

The road to Hana is the big kahuna of adventures in Hawaii. The highway itself and the views are beyond breathtaking!

7. Surfing and snorkeling in Maui

Maui is well known for being one of the best places in the world to surf and snorkel. You can find a great place to snorkel in Honolua Bay, north of Kaanapali.

8. Whale watching tours

Every winter, myriad whales can be spotted off Maui’s western coast. Don't miss the opportunity to treat yourself to a whale-watching cruise.

9. Hiking in Maui

You can enjoy some amazing hikes in Maui. If you love nature and are up for an adventure, make sure to explore some of Maui's famous trails: Haleakala Summit, Kapalua Coastal Trail, the Pipiwai Trail and more. You can always rent a bike for the occasion and enhance your hiking experience.

10. Beach hopping

Maui is home to some of the most gorgeous tropical beaches in the world. Don't miss the opportunity to spend a day of fun under the sun.

New Post has been published on https://vacationsoup.com/maui-travel-packing-guide/

The Ultimate Maui Travel Packing Guide

I often read posts on Facebook Hawaii & Maui travel groups where the upcoming Maui traveler asks ‘What should I pack for my Maui Trip?”  This can be a tricky question to answer since we all have unique itineraries, travel plans and adventures when we visit Maui. But I think we can all agree that we’re trying to find that perfect balance of packing enough ‘stuff’ but not over-packing and today we’ll go over this with our Maui Travel Packing Guide.

We want to pack for ease of travel (i.e. not getting held up at TSA), not over stuffing our carry-on so that we have to check it, having enough room to bring back a few items and so on.

Let’s have a look at some packing ideas to consider for your upcoming island paradise vacation. I’ll break today’s post down into Essentials, Basics, Optional & Tech/Gear and then add in a few of my favorite TIPS and ideas that I’ve gleaned over my many years of traveling to Maui.

Essentials

Sunglasses & prescription glasses –  if needed, packing your spare prescription glasses is a good idea in the event that you lose yours. If you have polarized sunglasses they really help if you’re floating in the ocean to counteract the glare. A leash is always a good idea. More than once I’ve been glad to have my glasses on a leash!

Reusable Water Bottle – keep empty, once you’re on board have a flight attendant refill it from bottled water (not advisable to drink the ‘tap’ water from the plane). Take to the beach with your favorite beverage. Maui has recently enacted new recycling restrictions and the more you use your reusable bottle, the less trash is put into landfill. Remember everything you throw away on island has to go somewhere.

Swimsuit / Swim trunks – 1 to 3 pair. Having more than one means that if you come in from the beach or pool for a while, you’ll have a dry one to change into if you go back out.

Light jacket/hoodie – Evenings and sunsets can be cool – especially if the breeze has kicked up or if you’re nursing a sunburn. Great if you’re planning a sunset boat tour too!

Proper footwear – such as sneakers, closed toe walking shoes, water shoes or Teva type sandals. Anything you would feel comfy wearing over lava rocks or hiking on a slippery trail in. Teva’s are great for this as they are amphibious and designed just for this purpose.  If you’re not much of  a hiker and plan to be mostly on the beach for your trip, some water shoes (aka Aqua Socks) are great for snorkeling in spots that have lava or rocky entrances. But please don’t walk or step on coral. It’s ‘no pono‘ to step on living coral.

          Reusable/packable shopping bag – the kind that folds into it’s own pocket like Chico Bags do. This will come in very handy for shopping (though we do provide reusable shopping bags in our condo and they can be bought on island at ABC store and just about everywhere.)

    Shorts – I pack between 2 and 3 pair

Tops – 3 or 4, including a few tank tops, and maybe one nice Aloha Wear top. If I’m traveling during the winter on the Mainland, I wear a long sleeve shirt on the plane. I pack it in my carry on for my departing flight so I can change into it on the plane. At times the planes are like a flying ice-box.

Underwear/Bra/socks – eh, take what you feel you need, just remember we offer a washer and dryer as well as a drying rack for delicates.

Pajamas – pack a lightweight pair.

Slippahs – aka Flip Flops or thongs. Essential on the island. You can always buy them in Maui and ‘Locals’ are a favorite brand among those living in the islands. They can be found at Longs and a few other stores. Keep in mind that it’s a custom as well as a gesture of respect on the islands to remove your shoes upon entering someone’s home. You will most likely see plaques and signs in homes reminding you ‘Mahalo for removing your shoes’.

Hat – The intense sun makes this an essential. Wide brims are best! If yours is packable, bring it! But not to worry if you can’t pack it, there are plenty for sale on the island.

Avoid this! Pack light, save time and $$

  Basics

Sarong/Beach cover-up – Great for wearing to and from the beach/pool.  Alternative is to wait until you’re on island and head to the Kalama shopping center (and outdoor market full of various vendors) or ABC stores and purchase a Sarong. I use sarongs as a skirt, a shawl, a towel, a blanket, an impromptu bag and a pillow. They’re very versatile and inexpensive and cover a multitude of needs.

Jeans/pants – One pair, wear them on the plane. You most likely won’t wear them again unless your activity requires it such as horseback riding or heading to the Haleakala summit.

Sundress/Skirts/Nice outfit –  I have a few light sundresses that I like to take, they’re made of rayon type material similar to sarongs and pack up small in my bag. I also take a miniskirt or two. One nice outfit – You’ll want to dress up a bit if you have plans to attend one of the many fabulous luaus or if you have reservations for one of Maui’s higher end restaurants – no need to go over the top – even in dressing up on the island, it’s really pretty casual. In most if not all restaurants Aloha Wear is perfectly appropriate.

Rash Guard – these are great for keeping the intense sun off, snorkeling when the water temperature feels a little cooler. Don’t worry if you don’t have one yet, they sell them all over the island and the big box stores down to the mom & pop shops are sure to have a good supply and better selection than the Mainland.

  Optional & Tech

Headlamp – great to have for late night beach walks or if you do sunset on Sunday at Little Beach.

Camera gear – travel tripod, GoPro accessories for great ocean shots, memory cards, extra battery packs,

Phone charger – Self explanatory. We offer several USB charging stations in our condo to keep all of your electronics powered up but you’ll need your power cord.

Extra Battery Pack – and speaking of powering up. We’ve blown out our phone battery taking videos, pictures, texting beach photos to friends etc. Having one of these inexpensive back up chargers are great! They’ll run you less than $20 on Amazon or elsewhere and are great to keep your music and phone going at the beach.

  Water & sand-proof Cell phone case – if you don’t already own one, they’re sold at ABC stores and it’s wise to have at the beach. I’m pretty low-tech and have been known to just slip my cell phone into a quart sized Ziplock bag. So if you’re low-tech like me pack a few baggies if you’ve got them, they’ll come in handy.

  Binoculars – if it’s whale season (late November through early April) you might want a pair for whale watching from shore or even a boat cruise.

  Backpack-  If you think you’ll be hiking (and there are some world class hikes on Maui) then you’ll want a decent backpack. Nothing fancy is needed but something to carry your gear. If you can, use your backpack as your personal carry-on item.

    Pen – you’ll need one on the plane before you land in Maui. The state of Hawai’i Agriculture Declaration forms are passed out and need to be filled in. If you followed the tip below to not bring in any fresh fruits or vegetables then you check the box stating that you have nothing to declare. Easy peasy. If you’re declaring agricultural items

you’ll need to do your homework before you leave for Hawai’i. Having a pen will streamline the process for you and most likely make you the most popular person in your row since not many others will have a pen handy.

  Neck Pillow – The flight to Maui from the San Francisco bay area is about 5 hours. I do like to nap on the plane so a neck pillow is a savior! Or go double duty – I often travel with an inexpensive cashmere shawl. I picked it up at Macy’s on sale and it’s big enough to act like a blanket on the plane, or I can roll it into a neck pillow. Easy to carry as I just wrap around my neck. When I get to Maui, I just put it in my packable shopping bag and hook it on my carry-on handle.

  Haleakala Summit Visit – This is the one activity on Maui that requires winter clothing. If you’re planning on catching the sunrise at the Haleakala summit (which is 10001 feet in elevation) you’ll need to pack accordingly. On my recent visit, we did the 3 a.m. trek up the crater and I cannot recommend it enough. The things I packed were;

Wool beanie hat

Packable down jacket (the kind that is thin and packs into it’s own pocket, mine actually becomes a neck pillow for the plane so double duty!!

Warm socks

Thin layer of thermal underware

Jeans

Sneakers

I layered up with a tank top under all of my warm clothes and packed a pair of shorts to change into. As we descended the summit after sunrise, I just peeled layers as the temperatures increased.  Expect it to be in the low 40’s for sunrise, or equally as cool if you do sunset trek. Keep in mind that the summit got a nice dusting of snow in February of 2018 so it can be rather cold. I am sure our Canadian guests are laughing at the notion that 40º F (4º C) is cold.

I’ve put together a sweet printable packing list that you can download and print out. Scroll down to the sign-up form to receive our newsletter and we’ll send you the link to download this Maui Packing Checklist. 

  Travel Tips

Here are some Tips that might save you packing space or travel time.

Pack half as many clothes and twice as much money.

TIP-  pack a lightweight pair of shorts, t-shirt and slippahs in your carry-on. About 20 minutes before you land, go change out of your travel clothes and when you land you’ll be dressed for the local weather. I generally wear my jeans on the plane and change into a lightweight mini skirt and tank top. They roll up pretty small in my carry on bag -or- here’s where that packable shopping bag comes in handy, just roll up your jeans, shoes and shirt that you just changed out of and put in the shopping bag, tie to your suitcase after you deplane.

TIP-  Don’t pack bulky clothes. It’s the tropics, lightweight, breathable fabrics are best such as cotton or linen.

TIP-  Pack half as many clothes and twice as much money. I know this is a Hawai’i travel cliché but it’s really true. Each trip I look at what I actually wore vs. what I brought. Almost always half of what I bring never got worn.

TIP-  We’re pleased to offer our guests brand new, en-suite full sized washer and dryer (and free detergent too). You won’t need to bring as many garments when you can toss a load of clothes into the washer every few days.

TIP-  If you find that you have to check luggage and you’re traveling with a partner. We have found that if one person stays and collects the checked bags while watching all the carry-on bags, the other can quickly hop on the rental car shuttle and beat the lines. Renting a car can take up to an hour if there are lines at the counter. Maui moves s..l..o..w compared to the Mainland pace and I know, I’m always itching to get to the condo so I can slip into my swim suit and hit the beach. Then just circle back through the terminal and pick everyone and all the luggage up in your rental car.

TIP-  Getting through TSA quickly and easily. Sounds like an oxymoron I know, but there are things you can do to streamline going through the security checks. First off make sure you only have TSA approved items in your carry-on. If you’re not sure if you can bring it, check the TSA ‘What Can I Bring‘ page.  The latest regulations require removing your electronics including laptop and even iPads now. We provide a starter set of hotel-sized toiletries such as bar soap, shampoo and conditioner if you want to skip bringing liquids and get your shampoo etc on island. All major big box stores can be found on Maui so no worries there.

TIP-  When leaving Maui, ALL FOOD must come out of your carry on. It would be wise to just keep it in a separate bag (you know, that reusable shopping bag I mentioned that you bring earlier in this post) and once you go through TSA you can then pack it in your carry on. This regulation of no food in carry-on luggage is something I’ve only seen in the Maui airport and only just recently. So yep, take those mac nut chocolates and bags of taro chips out of your carry-on until you’re through TSA screening. Additionally, if you’re traveling with any agricultural items check with the Hawai’i Department of Agriculture to make sure that they are allowed and that you declare them when going through the Ag inspection stations.

TIP-  Remember when packing to leave for Maui or any of the Hawai’ian islands. Fresh fruit and vegetables are NOT allowed into Hawai’i – you can make your own meal for the plane containing fruits and veggies but must consume them prior to landing or leave them on the plane. If you forget and deplane with any prohibited food, there is an Amnesty Bin on the right as you exit the waiting/arrival area just before you head down the escalator.

      TIP-  Streamline your carry-on/personal item. The less you pack, the faster it will be when you have to remove and repack at the end of the screening.

TIP-  Before you depart for your vacation, take a serious look at what you’ve packed and then edit ruthlessly. You really will be surprised at what you can do without clothing wise. If you find you’re desperately missing one particular article of clothing, just head to one of the many shops and find yourself a little souvenir clothing.

  Assuming that you’ve followed the other tips mentioned here, you can save yourself some money by not checking luggage. You’ll breeze right to the car rental shuttle and be on your way to the beach.

And also assuming you’ve streamlined your packing down to the bare essentials then you should have room for plenty of souvenirs for friends and family. I generally try to only pack one side of my carry-on bag, leaving the other empty for Chocolate Macadamia nuts and such goodies like that.

  Things you don’t need to pack or buy because we provide them in the condo;

Hair dryer

Vanity Mirror

Iron (we provide both iron and ironing board)

Yoga Mat

Makeup face cloths

Umbrella

Cooler/ice packs

Reusable grocery shopping bags

Beach Towels

Beach Bag

Beach ground cloth (sand free type)

First Aid Kit

Starter pack of toiletries (soap, shampoo etc)

Starter Coffee packet and filters

Dish Soap (not that you would pack this but we do provide it!)

Starter paper products/trash bags

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Looking for more Maui vacation ideas? Lots of things to see and do,