After a seven hour plane ride over the Pacific Ocean, my mom and I were starved. We spoke to a few Hawaiian locals, and concluded that Aloha Mixed Plate was an affordable restaurant to sample authentic Hawaiian cuisine. We both decided to try the Kalua Pork dish. The pork is wrapped in seaweed, cooked in an underground oven, and seasoned with Hawaiian sea salt. It was served with taro sauce, rice, and a coconut paste for dessert. The meal was only $7.95, making Aloha Mixed Plate a cheap way to experience Hawaiian food.
The entire second day was spent driving the Road to Hana. It is a long trail that travelers drive and can see parts of Hawaii that otherwise would not be visible. I strongly suggest bringing food, water, and the audio guide that can be rented from resorts because it gave the names of beaches, and even told you where to look for sightseeing. At first the road is in the middle of a forest, surrounded by giant trees, waterfalls, Hibiscus flowers, and even pineapples. After about an hour, the amount of trees decreased significantly, and the environment was grassy and you could see chickens walking across the street. Maybe that is why the chicken crossed the road- to venture the Road to Hana. Exploring the Hawaiian wildlife was utterly amazing. After driving a couple more hours we stumbled across two beaches; the Black Beach and the Red Beach. Both were named accurately based off the beach sand/rock color. It was hard to grasp that one island could contain so many different types of landscapes. And then the scenery changed again, suddenly we were driving through the desert. Miles of rocky land that looked like it had never been touched by moisture surrounded us before the end of the journey. The Road to Hana was a unique experience; the pictures came out amazing and gave the impression that we traveled to numerous islands due to the different landscapes.
On the third day we woke up bright and early to go zip-lining. After comparing prices along with customer reviews, Skyline Eco-Adventures was by far the best choice. We went on eight zip-lines, each one longer than the last. Some overlooked the ocean, while others were over the forest and a waterfall. Getting to zip-line over the waterfall that had a slight reflection of a rainbow on it was my favorite part of the trip. Not only was the view breathtaking, but the thrill of zooming down the zip-line was unforgettable. Not to mention the two guides were hilarious. They really made the group feel comfortable. After zip-lining my mom and I went back to the room and changed for some fine dining at Plantation House. My mom convinced me to get the Ahi, which was to die for. I am pretty picky with my food, and not typically a fan of fish; so for me to love (and I mean love) this dish says a lot about how delicious it was. Although the meal was a bit pricey, it was worth every penny.
On our final day in Maui, Hawaii we sipped some Bad Ass Coffee (Bad Ass being the company name. I know, I was shocked too). With our coffee and beach towel in hand, we headed to the nearest beach. My mom and I swam in the ocean and tanned on beach. Lying on the beach hearing the crash of the waves as it hit the sand was surprisingly peaceful. It was the perfect end to the perfect vacation.
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