Ease Into Serenity at This Maui Resort With a Scenic Private Plane Transfer

The air transfer only takes about 15 minutes. From there, you’ll arrive at the sleepy Hāna Airport. The drive to the hotel will take another 10 or 15 minutes, followed by a complimentary welcome beverage — and you’re off to a stress-free vacation.

Photo: Hana-Maui Resort

The Hāna-Maui Resort sits on 66 acres, with rooms, suites, and bungalows for guests. From the front desk, I was escorted to my room via golf cart.

My oceanview room was like my own personal haven. The rustic brown decor reminded me of a cabin — but with views of the water. The room was packed with a king-size bed, a kitchenette area with a microwave, a refrigerator, a coffee/tea kettle, and a huge walk-in bathroom with a separate tub and shower. Many of the rooms located on the property, including mine, don’t have TVs because the resort’s main goal is to whisk you away from technological distractions.

One fun feature of my bungalow was that the roof had glass openings. Hāna has a tropical climate, and you can expect warm, sunny days throughout most of the year, although rainfall is common between October and April.

Photo: Hana-Maui Resort

My favorite on-property amenity at the Hāna-Maui Resort has to be the wellness center, which overlooks the property’s main outdoor pool and oceanfront bungalows. The wellness center holds yoga and meditation classes every morning for guests, but you can also join other arts and festive classes. I took a Feather Flower class and a Lau Kāpala (Leaf Printing) class to awaken my child-like creativity. My instructor, London, was very knowledgeable about the royal origin of feather flowers and how they were introduced to Hawaiian culture.

For nature lovers, the Tree of Life Talk Story activity is for you. Though it rained during my stay, I learned about the power of the coconut. You might think that the coconut is simply a fruit used to make some of your favorite sweet treats. But on a walk during the activity, I learned of its healing virtues and ability to re-plant itself in the right environment.

For those looking to venture off the property, the resort partners with Jeep Rentals to give guests access to Wranglers. You can rent a Jeep for a day or for your entire stay. At check-in, ask for the resort’s 72-hour Hāna itinerary, which includes off-property activities.

If you’re like me, on the other hand, and don’t mind walking everywhere, Hāna Town is located across from the hotel. The walking trail leading from the property to the street takes you to a small town that has an art gallery, post office, and gift shop that’s open during the week. Hāna Town also houses a market called Hāna Dry Goods that has all the groceries, travel gear, and over-the-counter medications you might need during your stay.

The Hāna-Maui Resort has two main restaurants: ​​The Restaurant at Hāna-Maui Resort and Hāna Ranch Restaurant. The Restaurant at Hāna-Maui Resort serves breakfast daily from 7 AM to 10 AM. The menu features classic dishes such as Hawaiian french toast, mochiko (sweet rice flour) pancakes, and sides, as well as fresh pineapple, orange, and guava juices.

On my first night at the resort, I dined at the Hāna Ranch Restaurant, which serves lunch and dinner from 11:30 AM to 8:30 PM. I ordered fried calamari as an appetizer and steak frites for my main, but whatever you order, know that the chefs source locally whenever possible.

When you’re not at the resort, you’ll find legendary food trucks in Hāna Town plating up a wide variety of cuisine, from Thai or Mexican food to coffee and smoothies. During my stay, I visited Da Mean Bean to grab caramel lattes with oat milk to start my days. If you’re more in the mood for fruity flavors, try The Juice Box for a fresh Mango Mojito smoothie. One lunch, I ordered pad thai from AE’s Thai Kitchen and was absolutely stunned by the amount of food I received — a good surprise, it turns out, as it was absolutely delicious.

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