Over five years ago, I was able to travel to Hawaii and cross that state off of my bucket list. With the best Maui guidebook in hand, we covered the entire island in a matter of days. My finance’s (now husband) father rented a house on the beach in Maui. We walked out to the back patio and pool, right onto the beach. I wasn’t kidding when I say it was directly on the beach. The photo above was taken from the patio.
That trip was full of beautiful scenery and adventure. We had the BEST tour book which offered hidden gems and off the beaten tourist path locations that you would never find. Our co-worker recommend Maui Revealed by Andrew Daughty. Per Amazon’s description:
Maui Revealed Guidebook by Andrew Doughty
The finest guidebook ever written for Maui. Now you can plan your best vacation–ever. This all new ninth edition is a candid, humorous guide to everything there is to see and do on the island. Best-selling author and longtime Hawai’i resident, Andrew Doughty, unlocks the secrets of an island so lush and diverse that many visitors never realize all that it has to offer. Explore with him as he reveals breathtaking trails, secluded beaches, pristine reefs, delicious places to eat, colorful craters, hidden waterfalls and so much more. Every restaurant, activity provider, business and resort is reviewed personally and anonymously. This book and a rental car are all you need to discover what makes Maui so exciting.
Maui Guidebook Highlights
• Frank, brutally honest reviews of restaurants, activities and other businesses show you which companies really are the best…and which to avoid–no advertisements
• Driving tours let you structure your trip your way, point out sights not to be missed along the way and are complemented by 140 spectacular color photographs
• 22 specially created maps in an easy-to-follow format with mile markers–so you’ll always know where you are on the island
• Clear, concise directions to those hard-to-find places such as deserted beaches, hidden waterfalls, pristine rain forests, spectacular coastlines, natural lava pools and scores of other hidden gems listed nowhere else
• Revealing chapter on hidden sights along the Hana Highway
• Exclusive chapter on Maui’s beaches with detailed descriptions including ocean safety
Maui Revealed covers it all–from the wind-swept top of Haleakala to the sparkling underwater reefs. This is the best investment you can make for your Maui vacation. Whether you’re a first time visitor or a long time kama’aina, you’ll find out more about Maui from this book than from any other source. Discover the island of your dreams with Maui Revealed.
[see more details about this book] [see more details on ALL the “Revealed” books by Andrew Doughty here]
In my opinion, this description really doesn’t do the book or the author justice. Our vacation to Maui was spectacular and I owe much of it to this little book. We like mini adventures and this travel book gives you just that and more. Turn your day into a treasure hunt, but with good maps and tips on how to find these glorious finds. This book gives recommendations on where you should just continue driving to avoid the popular tourist trap and in order to reach the hidden gems that are far more magical. It is hands down, THE best tour book I have every used on travel.
One of the many amazing gems that we discovered from this book was Red Sand Beach. In order to get there you have to drive down a random street and park. Make sure you’re parked 100% legally! Citations are plentiful in the area for infractions such as parking left wheel to curb. We saw a car with a citation for having the front 2 feet of the car past a No Parking sign. Take it seriously! I’m not kidding. Then look around to find the trail to hike to the beach.
Photos of Red Sand Beach also known as Kaihalulu Beach
Part of the trail is on a cliff edge and could be tougher for those not steady on their feet. But if you are comfortable with a mild hike this is worth the trip. Red Sand Beach is a crescent beach in a beautiful hidden cove. With a deep, almost surreal teal blue water, the ocean rages relentlessly against the dramatic and rugged coastline. [WARNING, I’ve read that the trail may have become more dangerous since I was there in 2016. Traverse at your own risk.]
The guidebook gives you tips on which waterfalls you should actually stop at on the Road to Hana. As you drive, you see lots of people stopped at various places and this book will tell you which ones to skip. It was incredibly helpful in maximizing our trip.
Even though I was terrified, we took a helicopter trip with the Blue Hawaiian helicopter company. Our pilot reminded me of Owen Wilson and I am grateful that he was able to give us a tour and bring us back safe and sound. As we flew around the coast, we saw whales in the water from above during our flight. Check out Owen below along with some other photos from our trip.
A few other photos from our Maui trip.
