10 Things to Know About Maui (and Hawaii)
1. Commonly used Hawaiian words
2. Maui Weather
3. Bring or purchase reef safe sunscreen - help protect the reefs and marine life!
11. Bring your refillable water bottle and Brita water jug in your luggage with you.
- Aloha: used when greeting or parting someone; love, compassion, and peace; living in peace with the land and people around you. When I hear people honking their horns or tailgating on the island, I will say "that isn't aloha"
- Mahalo: an expression of gratitude; thank you
- Shaka: hand gesture when the thumb and little finger are extended from a closed fist; to express gratitude or solidarity when greeting or parting from someone. If you are waiting to leave a parking lot and someone lets you in, give them the shaka sign!
- Ono: a way to describe tasty food in Hawaiian; delicious. I.e. ono grinds means delicious food
- Ohana: family, extended family, a part of the family home
2. Maui Weather
- There are several micro-climates on the island of Maui. Parts of the island are dry, parts get occasional rain, and other parts get lots of rain. When checking the weather for your trip, do not rely on the major weather sites. Instead, google and check a local Maui news or weather site, i.e. mauinow.com or hawaiiweathertoday.com
- South Maui, aka Leeward Haleakala, consists of Kihei, Wailea, & Makena and is known as the drier part of the island. Leeward West including Lahaina, Kaanapali, & Napili gets more rain showers than South Maui; Central Maui tends to be dry and windy; and Hana, aka Windward Haleakala, on the East side gets the most rain on the island which is why it is so lush and green. When it does rain on any part of the island it is usually brief and you can typically go to another part of the island and find the sun!
3. Bring or purchase reef safe sunscreen - help protect the reefs and marine life!
- You can purchase sunscreen on the mainland and bring it in your checked bag, or purchase it when you arrive on the island from any store. Regular sunscreen is damaging to the ocean in so many ways - it kills the corals and reefs and is poisonous to the fish and other marine life.
- When purchasing sunscreen, don't trust the label! Many sunscreens say they are reef safe or reef friendly, but they are not. Carefully check the ingredients for oxybenzone and/or octinoxate; these are the two most harmful ingredients.
- If you are headed to the beach and you plan to swim or snorkel first, then wait to apply your sunscreen until after you are done. Worried about a sunburn while swimming? Purchase a rash guard - typically a long sleeved shirt made with thin stretchy lycra material that will protect your skin from the sun. When done swimming, apply your reef safe sunscreen and give it at least 20 minutes before getting back in the water. Mahalo!
- There are only 13 letters in the Hawaiian alphabet: a, e, i, o, u, h, k, l, m, n, p, w and the symbol '
- Vowels are pronounced differently than what you are used to on the mainland. For example, Kihei is pronounced kee-hay and Wailea is pronounced why-lay-uh
- There are two airports on Maui: OGG is the international airport in Kahalui, and JHM in Kapalua is served by commuter aircraft only.
- I love the Maui airport! Getting off the plane and feeling the warm air in the open airport is a real welcome to the island. There are locally owned car rental companies, i.e. Kihei Rent a Car, who will send a shuttle to pick you up and take you to your car, or larger corporate owned rental car companies right next to the airport in the brand new car rental building and a new cute green tram to take you over there.
- Drive times: OGG to South Maui - approx 25 minutes; OGG to Kaanapali - approx 50 minutes
- Snorkel gear, paddle boards, surfboards, beach chairs and umbrellas can all be rented or purchased on the island. Before moving here, we bought our snorkel gear at Costco on Maui back in 2012 and packed it in our luggage for every trip. If you are renting a condo then you might find a couple beach chairs and an umbrella available to use. If you are staying at a resort they often have them available for you to rent or borrow. The last condo we stayed had nothing for us to use so we rented from The Snorkel Store for our two week stay. There are several places you can rent from including Boss Frog's.
- If you are staying in a condo or a room with a small kitchenette, you will need some food supplies. Depending on what time we arrive on the island, we stop at Costco or Target or Times Supermarket on our way to the condo. There are also Safeway's on the island - sign up for the Safeway or Times grocery card for savings.
- First timers to the island always over pack! Once there you'll find all you really need are a couple swimsuits, shorts and tank tops. Maybe a sundress for dinner one evening and a light jacket if you are used to hot weather and are visiting the island in the winter months (low temperatures in January can range from 58F - 70F so still really warm!)
- Hawaii is one of the 50 US states and yes, does accept all credit cards! You do not need money orders or travelers checks. It is helpful to have some cash on hand for visiting a small food truck or local vendor selling gifts.
- Time on the island moves slower than on the mainland. The people who live on the island have learned that life is to be appreciated so why rush around everywhere. If you need a repair to your room, it may take a bit longer than you are used to. Don't speed, don't tailgate, don't honk your horn!!, and be patient and friendly everywhere you go. After all, Maui is a beautiful tropical island paradise so why not relax while you are on vacation!
11. Bring your refillable water bottle and Brita water jug in your luggage with you.
- The islands are small and recycling is always a challenge. Not to mention single use water bottles ending up as trash on the beaches or in the ocean.
- When you go to the beach, don't leave orange or banana peels on the sand, or nut shells. Take all of your trash with you and help keep our beaches clean!