The final days of adventures: gnarly waterfall hiking, volcano hiking, snorkeling, luau dancing, and karaoke. Oh, and made some friends along the way!
📅 Trip Dates: February 9-23, 2023
Day 11: Sunday, February 19th
Church @ Hope Chapel Maui
📍 Hope Chapel Maui Church ✘ Kihei, Maui
This was an answered prayer. I have been traveling for several weeks at this point, previously California and then to Maui. I missed being poured into with sermons and having church community so much! On this particular Sunday, I felt called around 6:30am to find a church. I did not know how prevalent Christianity is on Maui. I truly felt the Holy Spirit tell me to find a church even when: 1) I had no friends on this island, besides the loving family that let me stay with them 2) I knew of no churches 3) I didn’t have a game plan–so I was definitely out of my comfort zone.
Lo and behold, I typed into Google “Christian Young Adults Church Maui” and the first result was “Hope Chapel Maui“, which was about 45 minutes from me. I browsed their website and decided to get ready for church, pack for the day ahead, and quickly have breakfast–all within an hour to make it for the 8:30am service. I was filled with joy for a new adventure with Jesus on this day!
I’ll never forget. As I was driving to the church service, I was playing my worship playlist and one of the songs that was shuffled was “Graves into Gardens”. God communicates to me in signs a lot throughout life.
This was God moment, the first worship song played in church was “Graves into Gardens”. I was speechless.
The sermon was amazing. A missionary couple spoke to us about the impact of their work overseas. I was over the moon to be able to experience God’s word, worship, and community while I was on Maui, even away from my home church back in Raleigh.
After service, I felt called to meet someone after church, even though I was scared to step out of my comfort zone. I immediately went to the back of the outdoor gathering, determined to find someone plugged into the young adults ministry. Again, another big G–God moment. The first person I met was this girl who I thought seemed so nice! I introduced myself as a NC solo-traveler, and its where I met Stephanie! Stephanie was a part of Hope Chapel’s YA ministry!! God is so cool! My first new friend on Maui!
Keawakapu Beach
✘ Kihei, Maui
After church, I decided to head to the beach for the next couple of hours to soak up the sun! This particular beach, Keawakapu Beach, was very populated, but super cute. I read my book for an hour or two, before I drove to another beach, Makena Beach, for sunset volleyball with my new church friends!
Makena Beach
✘ Wailea-Makena, Maui
After Keawakapu Beach, I went to Makena Beach—also known as “Big Beach”—for sunset beach volleyball with my new church friends from Hope Chapel Maui! This beach was beautiful!! One of my favorites! The only downside was parking. I ended up having to pay to park, which was like $15 for the day, and I only needed it for like 2 hours lol so could have been better. But it was so worth it! The sunset was the best sunset I have ever seen!
Day 12: Monday, February 20th
Airport Beach
📍 Airport Beach ✘ Kaanapali, Maui
Airport Beach was beautiful! I spent a few hours here, reading my book and soaking up the sun. This was the only beach I saw whales!!! It was one of the coolest experiences, wow!
Day 13: Tuesday, February 21st
12-Mile Hike to Haleakalā Dormant Volcano
📍 Haleakalā National Park, Maui
Oh, this was a BLAST. My new church friends and I hiked the world’s largest dormant volcano at Haleakalā National Park. I would have to say it was my favorite hike I have ever done in my life—my 9-mile solo hike to the Hollywood Sign being a near second! This was the most gnarly hike I have ever done! It took us around 4.5 hours to hike 12-miles. The views were insane. I felt like I was on mars at some points during the hike lol.
New karaoke friend!! She’s the only person that would sing with me!
Karaoke to Taylor Swift
📍 Haui’s Life’s A Beach Karaoke Bar ✘ Kihei, Maui
Well! This was a bucket list item since forever!! I have ALWAYS wanted to do karaoke!! After the hike and later in the evening, my friends invited me to a karaoke bar and I was SO excited. I had a list of songs to choose from, but it came down to Taylor Swift – You Belong With Me. I had the MOST fun. This song reminds me of the core memory I created in Maui!! Thankful for my new friend that had the courage to sing with me and have fun! YOLO.
As an aside, as I am writing this blog in January of 2024, my last drink of alcohol has almost been a year…it was when I was in Maui at this karaoke bar! And I want to leave it on this epic last time haha.
Tangent: After listening to Dr. Andrew Huberman’s podcast: What Alcohol Does to Your Body, Brain & Health in Summer of 2023, it’s one of the main reasons I gave up alcohol. I don’t want to poison my body by choice! I fuel for performance and success in fitness and sharpness of mind.
Day 14: Wednesday, February 22nd
Road to Hana with Jon
📍 Road to Hana ✘ Northeast Coastline, Maui
The Road to Hana was probably one of my favorite adventures in Maui. It was on my bucket list since arriving to the island. However, I didn’t think I would end up being able to do it. As it was a whole day drive and it did seem like a solo-trip. But I am SO happy my newly made maui friend, Jon, took me along for the ride and we explored Hana!! At the time, Jon was in Maui to get his pilot’s license. Super awesome human!! Mahalo, Jon!
Hana Lava Tube
📍 Waiʻānapanapa State Park
The Hana Lava Tube was sooo cool! Waiʻānapanapa State Park had so much to explore. I loved every second of it! It was super neat being able to have the water immerse you whilst inside the water tunnel
Black Sand Beach
📍 Waiʻānapanapa State Park
Black Sand Beach was the coolest thing ever. I have never seen seen black sand before and I have always wanted to!! This spot was actually on my radar when I was researching my Maui adventure itinerary. Definitely recommend checking out this beach!
Waiʻānapanapa Blowhole
📍 Waiʻānapanapa State Park
The Waiʻānapanapa Blowhole was super neat. This was my first time ever seeing a blowhole. The wind gusts were super powerful, which is why it’s advised to not cross the fence surrounding the blowhole because it can be deadly. But it was a super cool experience to see the blowhole in action.
Maui’s Finest Hawaiian Luau
📍 Paia, Maui
Before I ended my trip in Maui that I signed up for a Hawaiian Luau!:) I did some research and came across Maui’s Finest Luau. It was so fun!! I was able to learn how to luau dance, tried kalua pork, and was able to watch the history captured through the luau dances. I chose the deluxe package so I was able to get a Kukui Nut Lei–that I still have with me preserved!! This was a capstone experience for my Maui adventures, and I can’t wait to experience another Hawaiian Luau one day with my own family!
Day 15: Thursday, February 23rd
Snorkeling with Noah
📍 Ulua Beach ✘ Wailea, Maui
My final day in Maui!! It concluded with one last time in the ocean—7am morning snorkeling with Noah! I had so so much fun being in the water again and hanging with my new adventure buddy. Snorkeling in Maui was my first time really snorkeling, and I loved it!!! Mahalo, Noah!
One Last Time @ Baldwin Beach
📍 Baldwin Beach ✘ Paia, Maui
I went to one of my favorite beaches—one last time! I even saw some more sea turtles!! Thankful for another beach day!
One Last Time @ Mana Foods
📍 Mana Foods ✘ Paia, Maui
Mana Foods!!! One last time hehe! My favorite wellness shop ever to exist!! I wish there was one in NC! Stopped by to bring back some Hana Gold Maui Chocolate—divine.
Flight Home: OGG -> RDU
📍 Maui -> NC
My 2-weeks in Maui have concluded. My red eye flight home was my first ever and it was a great flight. I was able to sleep for maybe like 2 hours haha—I am not a napper.
I do not think words, images, or even these travel guides can capture the love I have for my time of solo adventures in Maui. I have so much gratitude my friend Anna Reed, who I met through a friend, Bre Fox, that I met in the LAX airport from my solo travel diaries in California. Anna planted the idea of Hawaii that I never knew was within.
I am also forever grateful for Cassandra, Leo, and Zen for given me the opportunity to visit Maui and for welcoming me into their home. Shout out to the spontaneous facebook post I made about a week before booking my flight to Maui. God truly allowed for this entire trip to occur and He paved the way for the adventures each day. I have never felt closer to God than when I was on this island. I also have never felt so fearless in my lifetime. My 2-weeks in Hawaii kickstarted the travel bug in me. I can’t wait to visit Maui again and the other neighboring islands in the near future.
Mahalo, Maui.
carpe diem,
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