The Aloha 360

Mele Kalikimaka! December is here. In fact, December 1 brought some cool, cloudy and breezy weather to our island. It felt like the 1st official day of winter! It’s such a magical time of the year to visit Maui. Add in the excitement of the season, the Christmas lights, not to mention the arrival of the humpback whales… it’s a great place to be. If you’re on the way to celebrate the season in paradise, we’re sharing some of the fun, traditional events you can attend around the island this month.

Opinions, stereotypes, and assumptions about visiting and living in Maui are easy to find, especially on social media. Visit any public Facebook group about Maui, and many of the misconceptions about Maui pop up in the form of a question to the group members or in the comments themselves. We’re going to tackle some of these “myths about Maui” from our own perspective as full-time residents and explorers of this magnificent island.

You’ve decided to abandon the cold weather and head to Hawaii for a tropical Thanksgiving. Great decision! On today’s episode we’ll share some ideas how to have an epic and memorable Thanksgiving on Maui, travel tips for navigating one of the busiest travel weeks of the year, and some of the things we’re grateful for as Maui residents.

Maui has over 30 miles of beautiful beaches, and many of them have been voted as top beaches in America and the world. What’s the best beach to visit while in Maui? It all depends on what kind of vacation you’re planning or activity you’re interested in. Whether it’s a honeymoon, family vacation with little ones, or an epic surfing trip… we guide you to some of our favorite spots for snorkeling, surfing, relaxing, laying out, and long walks.

On this week’s episode we’re helping listener Mark and his fiancé plan their honeymoon itinerary. They have a list of activities and restaurants they want to hit, but also make time for rest and relaxation. We’ll walk through Mark’s proposed itinerary for the week and add in our thoughts and suggestions. It doesn’t have to be your honeymoon or anniversary trip… these tips will be helpful for anyone visiting Maui. Aloha!

You’ve landed on Maui. Lei? Check. Rental car? Check. Groceries? Hmmm, not sure where to go? We’re here to share many of the options for snacks and groceries on the island. Whether you’re interested in buying in bulk for a large family, have a budget, prefer organic products, or want to avoid the crowds, we’ve covered it all. Special bonus: a surprise rapid fire round where Leslie quizzes John on his shopping preferences. Aloha!

Today we made a trip Upcountry to Kula Country Farms & the annual pumpkin patch. This is a wonderful opportunity for local residents and visitors alike to celebrate fall in a fun way on Maui. Kula Country Farms spends months in preparation for the fall event. On today’s episode, we also recorded for The Aloha 360 YouTube channel so you can see firsthand how awesome the setting is. Aloha!

The Maui Daily Chat focuses on Maui news and events, or unique activities our family gets to participate in while living in paradise. Sometimes we just sit on the lanai and talk story while debriefing the day. E komo mai!

Join us and even follow along on YouTube as we fly to Hana then hike an hour from the airport to Waianapanapa State Park and Black Sand Beach. If you’re at Black Sand Beach, you can even do this hike in reverse. Note: wear at least tennis shoes because you’ll be on lava rock most of the time. We end the day at one of our favorite places: Gus’ Hawaiian Shave Ice in Kihei. Aloha!

This week we go into our 3rd year of The Aloha 360 podcast! Mahalo to all of our listeners and followers who have graciously joined us on this journey. On this week’s episode we’re sharing some of our favorite episodes over the last 2 years and also some favorites from the audience. Here’s to another year of Maui living, activities and food! Aloha!