Is it Time To Get Out of Your Beloved Hawaii Neighborhood?

Why we all need to “get out of your own neighborhood.”

I admit it, I’m guilty. I’m a typical Westside resident. I stick to “my” side of the island with the exception of a monthly Costco/TJMaxx and Walmart run. Sometimes I throw caution to the wind and pick someone up from the airport, but that’s it. When my husband and I ride our motorcycle every Sunday, we’re lucky if we make it past Ma’alaea and Beach Bums. That’s literally 14 miles from my house. Maui is an awesome, ever changing landscape with so much more to offer and I’ve forgotten that in the 26+ years I’ve lived here.

It started this past Sunday as we purposefully drove right past Beach Bums (we do stop on our way home, we love that place). Our ultimate lunch destination is Polli’s Mexican restaurant in Makawao, but we take the “long” way. It’s one of those beautiful, blue sky, clear days upcountry, and who doesn’t love that? Through Wailuku, Kahului, Pai’a, Sprecklesville, Ho’okipa, and on to Makawao. It was wonderful. Nothing but sun, wind, and the smell of everything tropical in the air. Monday our 16-year-old daughter declared she wanted to go to the Kula Lavender Farm…with us no less! Hurry, get her in the car before she changes her mind. We are ready to see more of Maui.

We spend 2 wonderful hours walking the property trails and after making a quick stop in the gift shop (we couldn’t resist the lavender syrup for pancake Sundays), we head to Kula Bistro. The food was amazing and the dessert display is so tempting, you may skip lunch and just have a sweet treat instead. I give you permission. I already have plans to make the trip to Wailea next week for the annual Maui Film Festival, that Hawai’i Life is a participating sponsor.

Within the next 10 days, I’ll have traveled more miles on Maui than I have in maybe…6 months? A year? Why don’t we do this more often? It’s truly started a conversation in our household about leaving our beloved Lahaina at some point and moving to another part of the island. Have you been thinking about doing the same thing? I can help, because sometimes…you need to get out of your own neighborhood.