Gwen And Christian’s Guidebook

The best Luau in Hawaii is about half a mile (.8km) from our Bed and Breakfast! Old Lahaina Luau is our favorite and it gets booked up months in advance. Be sure to purchase tickets if you plan to attend this luau on your visit at https://www.oldlahainaluau.com/reservations/. If you are looking to do some snorkeling while here and would like a guide, there are great places to go from shore. We can recommend a guide for you, Michelle at destinationdivingmaui.com

If you are interested in driving the Road to Hana or the summit of Haleakala, and you want to take your time and explore at your own pace, we recommend renting a car. Ride sharing is also available, with apps such as Uber and Lyft.

Bring your lightweight summer clothes; breezy sun dresses, shorts and tank tops. Bring flip flops and sandals for feet. If you're planning to hike to waterfalls or tide pools, bring closed toe shoes with good grip. Don't forget the swimwear! If you are attending a luau, bring your favorite Hawaiian shirt or dress or better yet pick them up as a souvenir while you're here! If you're watching the sunrise at Haleakala summit, bring a jacket and pants as it gets cold at the high altitude. You will not need to pack beach towels as we provide 2 per room.

Aloha is the most Hawaiian word. In the Hawaiian language, it can mean hello or goodbye. It also means love and affection. The word aloha is used in a combination with other words, such as aloha kakahiaka, which means good morning; aloha auinala used as a greeting that means good afternoon; and aloha ahiahi is how you can wish good evening in Hawaiian. Because of aloha's unique meaning and popularity, Hawaii is called the Aloha State. The Spirit of Aloha The literal meaning of aloha is "the presence of breath" or "the breath of life." It comes from "Alo," meaning presence, front and face, and "ha," meaning breath. Aloha is a way of living and treating each other with love and respect. Its deep meaning starts by teaching ourselves to love our own beings first and afterwards to spread the love to others. According to the old kahunas (priests), being able to live the Spirit of Aloha was a way of reaching self-perfection and realization for our own body and soul. Aloha is sending and receiving a positive energy. Aloha is living in harmony. When you live the Spirit of Aloha, you create positive feelings and thoughts, which are never gone. They exist in space, multiply and spread over to others.

The Road to Hana is the crown-jewel of Hawaii driving tours. Lush rainforest, dramatic and rugged ocean vistas, countless waterfalls and pools. “The adventure is in the journey” may be cliché, but it is also said that every cliché harbors a kernel of truth. Driving to Hana is not a commute, or even the means to an end – the drive is an adventure in and of itself. As the name suggests, the thoroughfare in this section of the guide is made up by just one road: Hana Highway (Hwy 36 & 360). But don’t let the name “highway” fool you – The majority of time you’ll be spending on the Hana Highway is a narrow, twisting, sometimes one-lane road with an estimated 600 turns and 54 (mostly) one-lane bridges, and no shoulder. For those of you that enjoy a challenging drive, this could be your absolute favorite anywhere. There is only one gas station past Paia on this road, and that is in Hana Town. There are roadside stands along the way, including a jungle version of the strip-mall in Nahiku (aka “the middle of nowhere”) that has many yummy stands for food, along with souvenirs. The road to Hana is a definite must on your Maui visit! For a great personal tour guide, download an app such as Shaka or GyPSy, which will give great tips on where to stop along the way.