Aloha, lushes! The Boozy Blondes are taking you to Maui in this episode! Maui in known for its natural beauty, lush rain forests, the Road to Hana, abundant marine life and amazing beaches – and the girls cover their recommendations including some great boozy stops to hit while you’re there.
The DOE for this episode is a selection from Maui Brewing, Hawaii’s oldest craft brewery! Molly is drinking the OMG Hazy, a 6% IPA brewed with orange, mango, and guava while Chrissy enjoys the Coconut Hiwa, 6% Porter with hand-toasted coconut and hints of mocha.
Molly was the Boozy Blonde lucky enough to make this trip, and this episode covers things to do in Maui – what she experienced and what she wish she had experienced. The girls hope this episode helps any of you planning a trip to Maui – there is so much to do and see, planning can be a bit overwhelming!
Rent a car if you are visiting Maui. Two major attractions are the Road to Hana and Haleakala. The Road to Hana is about 65 miles of rainforests, waterfalls and the coastline. There are black sand beaches, one lane bridges and windy, scenic roads. Lots of places to pull off and explore. You can book or a tour or drive yourself.
Haleakala is a dormant volcano and is known as one of the world’s best sunrise spots. You’re basically above the clouds when the sun rises. You need to make a reservation to enter the national park and make the ascent. Haleakala means “house of the sun” in Hawaiian and Legend has it demigod Maui lassoed the sun from Haleakala’s summit on its journey across the sky slowing its descent to make the day last longer.
Molly stayed at the Grand Wailea and would highly recommend it, although it’s a bit pricey. At the time of this recording there are 10 pools, over 5 miles of beach access and 9 culinary offerings – the tenth was under construction when Molly was there. The daily resort charge includes two refillable water bottles, hula and ukulele lessons, photography session, fitness classes (it’s a huge two story fitness center), beach yoga, beach cruisers, scuba and snorkel lessons, beach chairs and wifi – there is so much to do! If you book remember the difference between “ocean view” and “ocean front” rooms. Ocean view could mean you can barely see a piece of the ocean if you hang over your balcony and crane your neck.
Molly’s favorite thing about the Grand Wailea was the Kilolani Spa. Treatments here are inspired by and follow the Hawaiian moon calendar which divides the month into three moon phases. Before or after your treatment you can enjoy the Hydrotherapy Gardens – which include high impact purification and contrast bathing circuit – hot, cold, hot, cold – which stimulates the circulatory system and stabilizes your nervous system to invigorate the body, strengthen your immune system and activate the body’s self-healing power.
The gardens include a steam room, sauna, ice bucket splash or misters, a warm waterfall shower, hot tub, heated benches, and beautiful botanicals. The co-ed area has a salt water vitality pool for a weightless floating experience, more showers, Halotherapy-infused infrared saunas in which warming light wavelengths are directly absorbed into the body, reducing pain, stiffness, and fatigue, while medical-grade salt inhalation enhances respiratory health, reduces inflammation, and improves skin function.
While waiting for your treatment there is the reflection lounge – this offers the best views on property, over looking the grounds straight to the pacific ocean. With your treatment, you get an hour to spend in the hydrotherapy gardens, but you can also buy a 2-hour pass to the gardens.
One of Maui’s most famous restaurants is Mamas Fish House. Its doors opened in 1973 on the north shores of Maui. It was named Mama’s Fish House because most Maui restaurants at the time were steakhouses and they wanted their customers to know they served fish. If you want to eat here, reservations open 6 months in advance! So plan ahead, you won’t regret it!
Molly’s favorite place on the island (aside from the Kilolani Spa) was Ocean Organic Farm & Distillery. She booked a cocktail and food pairing here and ended up spending hours enjoying the grounds, taking a tour and shopping for the best boozy swag she’s found. That’s a bold statement, and she stands by it.
Ocean Organic Farm & Distillery produces premium organic spirits, including their flagship Ocean Organic Vodka – you will recognize it from the beautiful blue spherical bottles. They also produce Ocean Espresso (pre-crafted espresso martini), Kula rum, FY gin and Brum – barrel aged rum. The distillery emphasizes sustainability by cultivating over 30 varieties of Polynesian sugar cane and utilizing deep ocean mineral water in their production process.
The views here are spectacular – panoramic views of Maui’s north and south shores. You can book tours that showcase the distillation process and the company’s commitment to organic farming – along with tastings, of course. The on-site café offers a menu featuring local ingredients. Fun fact, Ocean Organic Farm & Distillery is voted top 10% Attractions Worldwide.
Keeping with the boozy theme, Molly visited three breweries on Maui: Maui Brewing, Waikiki Brewing and Kohola Brewing.
Maui Brewing is Hawaii’s largest craft brewery and was established in 2005! It has 5 locations, 3 on Maui and 2 on Oahu. Their commitment to sustainability is evident through eco-friendly practices, including solar-powered brewing facilities.
Molly visited the Kihei location just up the road from Grand Wailea. This is the brewery headquarters and has a restaurant with delicious food and 36 beers on tap! They also host a full bar. They have live music every night of the week and yard games. It’s a great space! Molly was obsessed with the Mango Stickee Rice, a 6.2% milkshake IPA with mango, rice and coconut.
Waikiki Brewing was within walking distance from the Grand Wailea in an open air space. They had a full bar and kitchen. Molly had a mimosa flight here – pineapple, orange, cranberry and POG.
Waikiki Brewing was established in 2015 starting with just 7 barrels – which they quickly outgrew. Their commitment to sustainability is evident through practices like repurposing spent grain as livestock feed and utilizing locally sourced ingredients such as chocolate, lemongrass, honey, and coffee in their brews.
Kohola Brewing is across the street from Waikiki Brewing. Molly loved this space; it was branded so well with red accents throughout the open air bar just like in their logo. It was established in 2016 in Lahaina and sadly was destroyed by the wildfire in 2023. They reopened in Wailea with a taproom and restaurant. The brewery’s name, “Koholā,” means “whale” in Hawaiian, symbolizing their deep connection to the island’s culture and environment. The red accent in the K of Kohola is a whale tale. The taproom has live music, happy hours, and a vibrant atmosphere. Molly enjoyed the Shandy Beach which was a pilsner with paradise cider. Field drinker Tanya was with Molly and loved her IPA flight.
Molly ended her time in Maui with the Grand Wailea Grand Luau. The dancers were beautiful and the fire dancers were intense! The luau is a beautiful celebration of Hawaiian culture and the performers take you on a journey through history. This comes with an amazing feast during sunset.
The girls wrap up the episode with a few things Molly was unable to see but would recommend:
- Whale watching – she was there in February, which is prime whale watching season (January – March). During this time thousands of North Pacific humpback whales migrate from Alaska to Hawaii to breed, give birth, and nurse their young in the warm, shallow waters around the islands. Jose from 4 Ever Acres Kitchen and his wife Charlie went through PacWhale Eco Adventures.
- Golfing – if you’re a golfer, Wailea Golf Club has three courses with breathtaking views.
- Turtles and Taco Snorkel Sail – this is definitely an excursion for the Boozy Blondes!
• guaranteed turtles
• premium open bar
• gourmet fresh tacos
• photographer on board
• whale sightings likely (December – April)
If you find yourself on Maui, the girls guarantee you’ll enjoy your time there. One of the most beautiful places in the world with so much to enjoy – boozy or not! Have you been to any of the places the girls recommended? Send them a message, and let them know what you think! Or send them a rec for a place they missed! Cheers!
Boozy Blondes 