Hawaii Archives - A Side of Sweet

2 Hidden Maui Hikes

Hi there –

Thanks for stopping by A Side of Sweet! It looks like you’re going to Maui and are looking for things to do while you’re there. Maui is such a special place and I know you’re going to have an amazing time.

After a lot of deliberation, I’ve decided to delete the hikes previously mentioned in this post. I’ve been contacted on multiple occasions by Maui locals asking me to do so because the place they love is being destroyed by thoughtless tourists. Visitors read posts like mine because they are on the hunt for the perfect Instagram shot and not because they truly want to connect with nature. They leave litter, go off trails and even cause permanent destruction of the environment just for their personal gain.

I will not be a part of the destruction of these natural wonders. If you go to Maui, please stay on the trails, respect nature, and take some time to disconnect from your phone. Follow the signs and respect private land. Consider taking a bag with you and carrying out any trash you see along the trails. Don’t be a part of the problem, robbing this experience from future generations due to your own short-term self-interest.

With Aloha,

Kelly

P.S. – Here are some other Maui posts you might enjoy:

Fairmont Kea Lani Maui Resort Review:

Hyatt Regency Maui Hotel Review:

Fairmont Kea Lani Resort in Maui

At Maui’s Fairmont Kea Lani resort you’ll find the best in luxury travel with spacious suites, amazing dining, impeccable service and beautiful views.

Fairmont Kea Lani in Wailea, Maui impresses on every level. The hotel is truly spectacular with immaculate grounds, sweeping balconies and luxurious suites. They offer 5-star service, food and comfort with an amazing location for exploring Maui.

Read on for my review of Fairmont Kea Lani Maui!… Read More »

Hyatt Regency Hotel Maui, Hawaii

Looking for a hotel in Lahaina, Maui? Hyatt Regency Maui has amazing dining options, beautiful grounds, great location and friendly staff.

As soon as we walked into the Hyatt Regency Maui lobby, I knew we were in for a treat. As you walk in, you get a view of the pool and ocean to your right. It’s so beautiful. I literally wanted to drop my suitcase and make a beeline for the pool…. Read More »

Weekend in Hawaii – Eating {Travel}

This post is part three of three from my weekend in Hawaii. Check out part I here and part II here.

I had a wide variety of meals during my weekend in Hawaii. Because school was unable to cover our food costs, I packed some snacks from the mainland to try to minimize expenses. Breakfast was provided and I had a few lunches and dinners that consisted of some of my favorite snacks – Trader Joe’s unsulfured unsweetened dried mango, rosemary Triscuits, granola bars and fruit leather.

Eating on the cheap made me feel great about having one great meal out our last evening in Oahu. Brady took us to a little hole-in-the-wall shaved ice shack called KokoNuts that also served Acai Supreme Bowls. These bowls were amazing and consisted of yogurt, acai berry sauce, bananas, strawberries, toasted coconut and granola – all for about $8. You don’t have to take my word for how great the place is, President Obama agrees!

Eating Hawaii | Running Blonde

Even though an Acai Supreme would have been enough for a meal, when Brady found out that I had never had a Poke Bowl, he suggested I check out the nearby Paina Cafe to get one. Roughly, a poke bowl is the fillings of a spicy tuna roll spread over a bowl of rice. For the price of about one roll back at home, we got a huge bowl of fresh tuna. I was over the moon! I love sushi and this was some of the best as well as the most affordable that I have ever eaten.

Hawaii Food Poke Bowl | Running Blonde

The moral of the story for eating Hawaii? Go off the beaten path. Below are some photos of the plastic food on display in the window of one of the restaurants in the Hilton Hawaiian Village complex. Are you for real? Is anything less appetizing than seeing a waxy, lifeless replica of what you could have the opportunity to pay up the whazoo for? Needless to say, we were far happier with our Acai Supremes and Poke Bowls!

Eating Hawaii | Running Blonde

Oh, and this trip wasn’t all fun and games! I also helped make sure elections for the governing body of the American Medical Association Medical Student Section were run fairly and that the people’s voice was heard. And I presented my research.

Poster Presentation AMA | Running Blonde

But mostly, it was fun and games!

Life's a Beach Hawaii | Running Blonde

Photos by Matthew Kutz Photography

Weekend in Hawaii, Part II {Travel}

This post is part two of three from my weekend in Hawaii. Check out part I here.

After our hike on Mariner’s Ridge, we stopped by Halona Blowhole, where there was a small, pretty little alcove, perfect for swimming. The beach got its name because holes in the rocks send up puffs of water when the waves hit them just right – just like a whale’s blowhole.

Hidden Beach Hawaii | Running Blonde Weekend in Hawaii | Running Blonde

We stopped at a China Wall to watch some cliff jumping. I am not afraid of heights, but I have no interest in the whole feet-leaving-the-ground thing. Control freak? I am not denying it! Still, it was fun to watch!

Weekend in Hawaii | Running Blonde

Brady had us over to check out his sweet bachelor pad – complete with an ocean view, hammock and fresh avocados growing on a tree in the front yard!

Hawaii Sunset | Running Blonde

By that time we had worked up an appetite and it was time to get some grub. More on that soon!

Weekend in Hawaii, Part I {Travel}

I spent last weekend in Hawaii for a medical school conference. Our hotel was in Waikiki, which as you may know, is very touristy and pretty much a concrete jungle. Luckily, thanks to Couch Surfing, my friend Ariel had an amazing day of adventures with a Brady, a guy who lives on the island.

Brady owns a polymer water bead company. The beads he sells are amazing! They start out the size of seed beads and then swell up with water that they slowly release it to water plants over several weeks. Plus they feel crazy, like slippery jellyfish. Thanks to Brady, we were able to see a lot of awesome island highlights and escape the tourist kerfuffle.

We started out the day with a hike on Mariner’s ridge. For about 30 minutes of climbing, we were rewarded with several spectacular views of Oahu. It was nice to be surrounded by nature. The plant is the top right corner of the picture below is actually peppercorns! We could pull the little red berries off the tree and there was a little peppercorn inside each one.

Have you every couch surfed? I’ve done it all over the world, even in places like Dubai and Greece, and I’ve had amazing experiences! Pat and I have also hosted Couch Surfers from all over. I cannot say enough nice things about the website. As with anything, you should use common sense when booking a couch. Meet in a public place and only stay with someone who is verified and who was excellent references! Don’t be afraid to cancel an experience if you have a gut feeling that something “isn’t quite right.”