Plan a Perfect Adventure Between “The Gathering Place” Oahu and “The Valley Isle” Maui

Palm-fringed beaches and pikake-scented breezes have long lured travelers to Hawaii, but don’t settle for just seeing and experiencing one island when it’s easy to hop between two of the Rainbow State’s most famous and oft-visited ones: Oahu and Maui. Home to world-famous Waikiki Beach and the iconic Diamond Head Crater, it makes perfect sense to start in Honolulu. This city not only boasts iconic surf breaks, a thriving local food scene, several shopping destinations and lo-fi cool cocktail bars, but it also makes a brilliant base to explore Oahu. Then, hop over to Maui where championship golf courses, superlative spa treatments and an authentic Hawaiian luau at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua—plus the chance to experience the resort’s Ambassadors of the Environment Program—are all major draws.

 

Island 1: Oahu

STAY
The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach

No other hotel promises quiet luxury island vacation vibes in Waikiki quite like The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach. Voted the No. 1 Best Hotel in Hawaii, this five-star stay is positioned perfectly for exploring the city and beyond. But if you wish to stay on property, superb amenities—including two infinity pools with dazzling views—fine dining restaurants, a fitness center, a spa and lobby boutique Lako Waikiki all await. Located across two towers, sea views from the 552 residential-style guest rooms and 246 suites (the most on Oahu) are stellar, but whether traveling with family or stealing away on a romantic escape, consider booking the A Tale of 2 Beach Cities package. Reserve four nights in any multi-bedroom ocean-view suite—from two bedrooms to the spacious four-bedroom duplex suite—and you’ll receive a generous $300 resort credit that can be used throughout the hotel. 

Location: Honolulu

 

DINE
Omakase Experience at Sushi Sho

Crafted with premium ingredients and seafood sourced from Japan, Hawaii and beyond, the Edomae-style omakase experience at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach is best complemented by a paired selection of Japanese sake chosen by the chef. But with only two set dining times (5 or 8 p.m.) and just 10 seats at the sushi counter in the main dining room—plus availability for up to six at a private counter—reservations are essential and should be made two months in advance.

Location: Honolulu

Brunch at Dean & DeLuca

Originally founded in New York City in 1977 and renowned for its premium selection of foods and wines that have become gourmet staples, Dean & DeLuca Hawaii’s breezy two-story cafe is located on the ground level of The Ritz-Carlton Residences, making it easy to swing by for brunch or afternoon tea before heading to the beach or beyond. Standout dishes include the Kalua pork polenta eggs Benedict and Hawaiian honey waffle ala strawberry banana Foster. For something lighter, however, try the vanilla bean oatmeal with sliced fruit medley.
Location: Waikiki, Honolulu

 

Explore Kaimuki’s Culinary Scene

Oahu’s Kaimuki neighborhood rocks a different vibe than Waikiki, and its main thoroughfare, Waialae Avenue, is lined with cool local restaurants well worth venturing across town to explore. For a meal curated by a renowned chef duo (Chef Chris Kajioka and Mourad Lahlou), head over to French-Japanese bistro Miro Kaimuki, but if you’re craving Hawaiian fusion dishes, head to Mud Hen Water or The Surfing Pig. Homemade ice cream and malasadas at Pipeline Bakeshop & Creamery are the bomb, but Via Gelato on nearby 12th Avenue is worth a visit too. And don’t forget Koko Head Café for brunch.

Location: Kaimuki

 

Enjoy Craft Cocktails and Trendy Bars in Downtown Honolulu

Honolulu’s bar scene is buzzing with plenty of modish watering holes to enjoy a modern taste of the tropics. Hit up Bar Podmore downtown for the Brit-influenced specialty cocktail The Dartmoor, which is made with Plymouth gin, or swing by EP Bar for highballs, vinyls and vintage vibes. At cocktail club The Lei Stand, a DJ plays most nights while the drink list spans zesty and refreshing and bold and boozy to clear-headed for zero-proof tipples.
Location: Downtown Honolulu and Chinatown

 

DO
Shop Local in Kaka‘ako

Tucked between downtown Honolulu and the Ala Moana Center and dubbed Honolulu’s “hippest neighborhood,” Kaka‘ako has become a cultural hub for young locals peppered with some great places to shop. Boutiques to bookmark include surf shop Milo and the flagship of Hawaiian surf-sportswear label, Salvage Public. Urban creative market Mori by Art + Flea features artwork and handmade items from over 200 local artists, while Jana Lam specializes in fashion accessories adorned with pretty Hawaiian floral prints.

Location: Kaka’ako

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SEE
Hollywood Movie Sites Tour at Kualoa Ranch

Located on Oahu’s eastern coast, Kualoa Ranch served as a sacred place for Hawaiian chiefs, with remnants of ancient temples still visible on the property. Today, zip lining, horseback riding and ATV adventures entice travelers here, but film buffs will love the Hollywood Movie Locations tour of Ka’a’awa Valley aboard a vintage school bus. Over 200 movies and TV shows have been filmed at Hollywood’s “Hawaii Backlot” since the ‘50s, and the tour also weaves in tales about Hawaiian culture.

Location: Kaneohe

 

EXPERIENCE
Endless Escape Treatment at The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Waikiki Beach

Many of the rituals performed at The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Waikiki Beach are rooted in tradition and use native elements like volcanic stones and lehua blossoms. But one of the best mind-body soothing treatments is the Endless Escape, which uses botanical farm-to-body elixirs throughout the 105-minute service. This Signature Service includes a lomilomi massage with CBD oil and head-to-toe warm stone placement to release deep-seated tensions, elevate mood and leave you in a state of bliss.

Location: Honolulu

 

Friday Night Fireworks and Nightlife in Waikiki

Friday night in Waikiki means fireworks. Often themed to celebrate special occasions, such as Hawaii’s independence, a dazzling display of 7,000 fireworks lights up the night sky over Waikiki Beach between 7:45 and 8 p.m. each week. After the show, make a beeline for haute nightlife destinations, including Sky Waikiki Raw & Bar or the Green Lady Cocktail Room at Heyday, which serves up inventive cocktails and is hidden away in a hotel room. Round out the evening Straits Honolulu—one of the hottest spots for a nightcap!

Location: Waikiki

 

Island 2: Maui

STAY
The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua

If the scene-stealing pool deck with private cabanas, luxurious and recently redesigned accommodations and championship golf courses at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua don’t do the trick, then its roster of cultural and wellness activities should sway you. There’s lei poʻo (flower crown) making classes, hula lessons and native cordage weaving with local cultural ambassadors, along with fitness hikes and labyrinth meditation walks. Plenty of ocean adventures can also be had across the resort’s six bays and beaches in addition to stunning hikes along the Kapalua Coastal Trail. This Maui resort’s Jean-Michel Cousteau Ambassadors to the Environment program also has family-friendly morning and afternoon activities for adults and children. A perfect base for exploring the island and a luxury travel experience definitely worth the splurge, a three-night stay at the tony but low-key resort, which includes accommodation in a deluxe ocean view room and daily breakfast buffet for two, is priced at $4,600. 

Location: Kapalua

 

DINE
Breakfast at ​​Ulana Terrace

Overlooking the gardens, pool and ocean, you’ll sit down to breakfast with sweeping views at Ulana Terrace. Although the daily brunch buffet here is often included in room rates, its a la carte menu features traditional and local favorites: the Maui acai bowl is made with seasonal fruits and drizzled with local honey, while braised short ribs in the Kapalua Loco Moco come with garlic fried rice and Hamakua mushroom gravy. Pair your meal with a fresh cold-pressed juice or Maui mimosa. 

Location: Kapalua

 

Fresh Coastal Cuisine at The Banyan Tree

The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua is home to several award-winning restaurants, including the Banyan Tree, whose name pays homage to the history of banyan trees in Hawaii as a gathering place to enjoy a meal. Surrounded by lush gardens and dreamy orchids, this renowned and romantic destination dining spot serves sublime Pacific Rim and Hawaiian cuisine made with local ingredients sourced from land and sea. Order the Kauai prawns, Maui onion dip, Kula corn with miso butter and Banyan Tree seafood curry. Save room for dessert and savor the local banana cream pie.

Location: Kapalua

 

Farm-to-Table Bites at Merriman’s Kapalua

Chef Peter Merriman is a pioneer of Hawaii regional cuisine, so it should come as no surprise that his farm-to-table restaurant, Merriman’s, highlights seasonal dishes made with the best ingredients from land and sea. Backdropped by ocean views, sit down for a specialty cocktail (we suggest the Merriman’s Mai Tai) and apps like ahi poke—line-caught in Hawaiian waters—and the Chow Fun Noodles with pork and shrimp, before rounding out the meal with some decadent (but oh so good!) pineapple macadamia nut bread pudding. 

Location: Kapalua

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Wild-Caught Seafood at The Fish Market Maui

Another Maui go-to is this seafood market and casual counter-serve spot in Honokowai where local fishermen bring in their catch of the day. Tacos, burritos, market plates and sandwiches come stuffed with your choice of ahi, mahi mahi, opakapaka and ono and are served from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Pro tip: there are separate lines for hot and cold food. Plus, with limited space to sit down, you’ll want to take your food to-go and eat alfresco-style along the waterfront at the nearby Honokōwai Beach Park.

Location: Honokowai

 

DO
Tee Off at Kapalua’s Championship Courses

Golf Digest added Kapalua’s two 18-hole championship courses to its “Best Golf Resorts in Hawaii” list with good reason. Golfing greats, including Tiger Woods and “The Big Fijian” Vijay Singh, have teed off on the Plantation Course while the resort’s Arnold Palmer-designed Bay Course is famous for its dramatic oceanfront 17th hole. For practice sessions or to improve your swing, schedule an hour or two of award-winning private instruction at the Kapalua Golf Academy.

Location: Kapalua

 

Bliss Out at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua Spa

The world’s best spas create a tranquil setting to unwind with therapies inspired by local traditions; at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua Spa, you’ll enjoy both. There’s the lush garden, relaxation lounges, saunas, whirlpools and steam rooms to go with a wide-ranging menu of therapies using botanicals and herbs—some of which are sourced from the resort garden. For the ultimate bliss, book the Awa Nui Journey that includes a full-body sugar exfoliation, body wrap, lomilomi massage, scalp and foot treatment.

Location: Kapalua

 

Go Off-Road With an ATV Tour 

Adrenaline-pumping thrills meet a leisurely exploration of mountains and bamboo forests on the Lahaina ATV Tour with Maui Off-Road Adventures. Led by knowledgeable local guides, you’ll get to commandeer an advanced four-seater off-road vehicle, the Can-Am Sport MAX 1000, taking it along epic trails accessible only by ATV or helicopter. This means exploring a side of Maui few are ever granted access to or get to see in person, including an old pineapple plantation being re-forested with native Koa trees.
Location: Kapalua

 

Meet the Herd at Surfing Goat Dairy

Run using sustainable farming practices, Maui’s largest commercial dairy is home to a herd of more than 120 goats that visitors can meet in person during a “kid” feeding tour. For an even more hands-on glimpse into daily operations, the Evening Chore and Milking Tour explores the secrets behind their award-winning Maui goat cheeses and cheese-making techniques. You’ll have an opportunity to feed goats in the pasture, and you get to take home a flight of Surfing Goat Dairy cheeses to enjoy later.

Location: Kula

 

SEE
Tales of the Kapa Moe Lūʻau

The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua is dedicated to hosting events that showcase the rich heritage of Maui. Its newly renovated Aloha Garden Pavilion provides the perfect setting to see authentic Hawaiian chanting and hula at the Tales of the Kapa Moe Lūʻau, along with an impressive gourmet dinner feast. An aerial performance and a dramatic fire knife dance are just two elements to this lively depiction of a day in the life of Hawaiian ancestors as they display the different kuleana, or tasks, of everyone in the village.

Location: Kapalua

 

EXPERIENCE
Ambassadors of the Environment Program 

Committed to sustainability, The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua has earned numerous accolades for the eco-friendly adventures offered through its Ambassadors of the Environment Program. Look for native birds, Hawaiian sea turtles and seasonal humpback whales on a guided tide pool exploration, or learn about the inhabitants of Maui’s reefs on the Cities Under the Sea snorkel tour, which is led by Cousteau-trained and lifeguard-certified Naturalists. Group activities include a chance to volunteer with community nonprofit partners to support local conservation efforts. This is the perfect way to round out your trip to one of the best hotels in Maui!

Location: Kapalua