A Guide to Maui - My Island Home

Secluded from the rest of the world, the Islands of Hawaii warmly welcome everyone visiting her shores. With a climate perfect for beach going, cooled by trade winds and infused with the scent of tropical flowers like plumeria, gardenia & tuberose, Hawaii is America’s vacation paradise and where I am blessed to call home.

The Island of Maui, also known as the land of the rainbows is incredibly beautiful and diverse. There are four topographical areas of Maui:
1. There is the soft, white sandy stretches of beach and the crashing waves which everyone expects when they visit Hawaii. You will find beach parks & sections where there is no one else on the beach. Your biggest decision will be “how big of a wave do I want to play in today?” or “how much of a breeze do I need to cool off?“ “Or if I’m snorkeling or scuba diving today, which coral reef should I go explore?”

So, after a day or two at the beach, when your skin needs a rest from the accumulating sunburn, jump in your car and explore the other sides of Maui.

2. While on island you must take a drive up the slopes of Haleakala - which means ‘House of the Sun’ in Hawaiian. The terrain is all rolling hills with cows, horses, and every shade of green imaginable.
Spend a few hours in Makawao, which is an old cowboy town; if you arrive early enough, you’ll be able to enjoy a Komodo Bakery donut on a stick - worth the drive in itself. I’ve seen people line up at the door just to enjoy one of their famous cream puffs.

3. The crater of Haleakala appears to be like the surface of the moon. Haleakala Highway is one of the fastest ascending road in the world. Take a jacket and long pants - it is cold up there! See the Silver-swords in bloom, located only on the crater’s edge. There are day hikes into the crater or get up at about 2:00am to drive up in the dark and see the sun rise out of the ocean - it is a spectacular sight! Haleakala houses one of the top Observatories in the U.S.

4. The tiny town of Hana is situated on the east side of Maui in a tropical rain forest. Plan your holiday so you can spend your last few days in Hana and really relax. There are no golf courses and very few televisions or radio in Hana. However, you will find black sand beach, bamboo rainforest, guavas & banana trees, 53 one way bridges and too many waterfalls to count!

Are you ready to pack a bag, grab your sunscreen and join us?

Contact me for more island vacation ideas, lodging & activities at 800 644-6659.

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Our Fiji Honeymoon Was Great!

Hello Teresa-

Fiji was great! We both wish we could have stayed there for much longer, but all good things must end, right?

The people were the best! They really made the trip for us. I have been telling everyone that to me, it was the biggest point of difference. I spend quite a bit of time in the Caribbean and feel like the locals are always trying to shake you down for something, typically money. In Fiji, they are more than content with what little they have and just want to make sure you are enjoying their country. Very refreshing.

As for the resorts, Matamanoa Island Resort was exactly what we needed: it was close to the airport, not much to do but relax, cheaper than the other resorts we looked at (which we wanted because we figured we weren’t going to have the energy to do a whole lot), etc. The staff there was so friendly, food was decent, overall, just a great 5 days.

About Matamanoa Island Resort
Matamanoa Island is a small, intimate and secluded Fiji Resort set in the beautiful Mamanuca Islands approximately 30 kilometres West of Nadi International Airport. The Island boasts a volcanic cone jutting out of the turquoise/aqua blue waters of this unspoilt area of the Fiji Islands. Clad with dense bush and palm trees, the brilliance of the vegetation contrasts magnificently with the white curved sandy beach and pristine coral reefs.

Created for those who want to forget the pressures of their business or busy lifestyle or for those who dream of peace and tranquillity. In an effort to achieve this special atmosphere, Matamanoa Island Resort has adopted a year round policy of not permitting children under the age of 12 years.
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