Step aside Bali, Santorini, Bora Bora and every other island on the planet: Maui has been crowned number one island in the world!
According to TripAdvisor and its vocal community of global travelers, Maui has collected the highest quantity and quality of reviews and ratings for hotels, restaurants and attractions for an island over the past 12 months.
But we don’t really need TripAdvisor to tell us the good news — millions of people already know that Maui really is No Ka Oi (“The Best”). Here’s why:
The original island charm is still here
We won’t deny that Maui has been through immense development over the past 20-30 years. And while that development has attracted world class luxury, film festivals and A-list celebrities, you can still find plenty of places to slow down, kick back and immerse yourself in old Hawaii.
Kula is one such place located in upcountry Maui, high up on the slopes of Haleakala. Here you can take a seat and talk story with locals at Grandma’s Coffee House, a one-room plantation-style cottage where locals drink from “personalized coffee mugs that hang from hooks above the cash register.”
People have aloha
Aloha is more than a greeting — it’s a feeling and action that carries the warm and hospitable spirit of Hawaii.
Maui is full of aloha. People here are generally more mindful of the happiness and well-being of others. They greet each other with hugs and kisses, they “auntie” and “uncle” other people’s kids and are overall kinder, gentler and more relaxed.
Of course, the Aloha spirit is much easier to feel when you’re on a warm sensual island in the middle of the ocean. Anyone who’s been to Maui will agree.
Maui has a little bit of everything
Maui’s got the same world class shopping and dining of Oahu, the remote exotic landscapes of the Big Island and the breathtaking, intimate beaches of Kauai. It’s not too big and not too small, and it’s not super crowded.
In Maui, you can surf the world’s best waves, camp on an ancient dormant volcano, discover hidden waterfalls, get royally pampered, marvel at ancient ruins, party like it’s 1999, sip a piña colada and get caught in the rain — all in the same day.
Photo credits: flickr, yanl, vbunny, eliobr, Mary Ellen
Need a hand with your next Maui vacation? Please contact the Sunny Maui Vacations team at info@sunnymauivacations.com or call 808-240-1311, ext. 21. We’ll find you the best vacation rental condo or rental home in South Maui and help you with any and all recommendations and activities across Maui.
