A Day off Work in the Life of a Maui Resident

6:30 a.m. – Wake up, drink coffee, eat breakfast.

7:30 a.m. – For anyone who knows Maui, mornings are the best times to enjoy the water before the afternoon trade winds start blowing. Whether it be snorkeling, paddle boarding or swimming, exercising in the calm ocean is a great start to a day.

Snorkeling @ Maluaka Beach Makena, Maui

9:00 a.m. – Relax on the beach. After swimming with turtles or paddling up the coast, sunbathe on the sand. This is the time to listen to some music, read a book, call family back on the mainland or meditate by the ocean.

Relaxing @ Palauea Beach Makena-Wailea, Maui

11:00 a.m. – Stop at the grocery store before heading home. While vacationers frequently dine out, Maui residents cook most of their meals at home. Grab a poke bowl, sandwich or salad for lunch, along with something for the slow cooker.

Ahi Poke @ Foodland Kihei, Maui

12:00 p.m.– Eat lunch at home and start dinner. Now is also the time to get organized by cleaning the house, doing laundry, paying bills or taking a nap.

3:00 p.m. – Take a scenic walk. No matter where you live on Maui, there’s natural beauty in abundance.

Wailea Boardwalk @ Wailea Point Wailea, Maui

5:00 p.m. – Shower up from the afternoon walk and eat dinner from the slow cooker.

6:00 p.m. – Head to the beach or park for sunset. Keep in mind, this is for the summer months when the sun sets after 7 p.m. You may notice many people leaving directly after sunset. This is a tourist mistake, as the sky can often look magnificent well after the sun goes down.

Sunset @ Big Beach Makena, Maui

8:00 p.m. – Maui nightlife is minimal. This is the time to be home for a good movie before bed.

10:00 p.m. – Lights out. It’s been a full day and you’ll want to get plenty of sleep. Tomorrow will most likely be another beautiful day and you’ll want to enjoy the calm ocean morning.

A Perfect Day in Paradise?

If you’re reading this and ready to move to Maui, here are a few things to keep in mind. First, this is quite a realistic day off for a Maui resident. Second, Maui is expensive, and people work hard throughout their workweek to be able to afford days like this. Third, notice this “day off” was quite inexpensive. Many residents spend most of their income on housing, utilities, car payments and groceries, without much extra spending money.

Understand too, this somewhat typical day off is not for everyone. Since I first moved to Maui in 2006, I’ve seen countless people come and go. Many of these people loved Maui at first but grew tired of living in smaller homes than what they could afford on the mainland. Some missed their loved ones back home, the change of seasons or felt island fever. While there is a honeymoon phase of moving to Maui, that phase does end. Learn more by reading 3 Phases of Moving to Maui.

In conclusion, a day off on Maui is quite like a day off anywhere in the world. People want to rest, exercise and enjoy where they live. Errands and household chores also need to be done. The difference on Maui is that entertainment is often centered around nature and enjoying what brings millions of visitors here each year.

If this day off work sounds enjoyable to you and you’d like to learn more about life on Maui, contact me. While a 2-bedroom condo may cost $350,000 or a single-family house $700,000, you truly do get what you pay for.