Maui As a Solo Traveler?

Is Maui Worth It Alone?

When I think of Maui, I think of a honeymoon. I think of all those tinder profiles fulfilling their “long walks on the beach.” To me, that just screams long fights with your partner in between Instagram photo ops.

To be completely honest, I found Maui to be an extremely accessible island. Flying into OGG, the Kanaha Beach Park is simply a 20 minute walk from your arrival. No Uber, taxi, or bus needed. Convenient, right? As soon as you step on the trail to the beach, you are greeted with the most insane views of clear water, mountains, and shirtless kite surfing babes. Sounds like a great destination for a solo traveler to me.

HOT TIP:

If it is overcast and you think you’ll be fine without applying your sunscreen for a bit, PUT THAT SHIT ON. Common sense, but sometimes people (me) think they can outpower nature. It doesn’t work, nature will always overcome.

However, if you do find yourself burnt to a crisp head over to Maui Coffee Attic for the owner to cut off a piece of an aloe vera plant to heal your skin. Not only do they accommodate tourists who are too white for their own good, but they let you relax with live Hawaiian music.

I came across this coffee shop on my last morning in Maui, starving and in dire need of something that wouldn’t break my bank account. The kindness of the owners as well as the surprise from the music was just a sweet touch to the $15 bagel and coffee breakfast I had. 

Disclaimer: Check out their website linked above for live music updates as it has changed from when I was there

FREE MUSIC WEDNESDAY MORNINGS AT THE MOMENT

Are Islanders Helpful to Solo Travelers?

To my surprise, the Hawaiian locals were VERY willing to go out of their way to help me. Me and my trust issues almost found it to be too helpful. Why would someone tell me to hitch a ride with a stranger on the way back from Iao Valley State Monument instead of letting me figure it out on my own? Or let me charge my phone in the back of their truck? It seemed too good to be true until I just went with the flow of things.

Hold up, charging your phone in the back of a stranger’s truck you said? Yes, I did say that. I am also saying I felt completely safe.

How Do You Know If Someone Is Going To Kidnap You?

You don’t! So go ahead and charge that phone!

HUMAN INTERACIONS OVERPOWER MEDIA

I am tired of hearing the fears instilled in women of solo travel and talking to strangers. The truth is that you don’t know a person until you talk to them. You don’t know what kind of situation you’ll be in until you put a foot in and test the waters. I believe in common sense and gut feelings that if you aren’t completely comfortable then you have enough willpower to not go through with it. When traveling alone, you learn to read people very fast. Who is going to screw you over and who you know for some reason you can rely on. This man who let me charge my phone just seemed like a clueless surfer boy who never went back home from his Hawaiian vacation twenty years ago. 

Maybe I got lucky, or maybe I just trusted what I felt. The thing is, you can too. Give yourself more credit. If you’re traveling solo, tap into that confidence and know what you feel in those moments. That is going to help you more than anything.

Hitchhiking

Daunting, isn’t it? Some parts of the Island past Lahaina don’t have bus routes, so locals will hitch a ride if they don’t have their own vehicle or walk. I learned this from a friend of mine living in Honolua Bay around the time I visited in February. Naturally, she asked if I wanted to try it out myself. As anyone would be, I was very hesitant at first. After not enough time thinking it over, that “fuck it” attitude came out and I stuck my big (small) thumb out to the treacherous road beside me. 

Absolutely no luck. 

Until we decided to give up and a stranger pulled up beside us asking where we were headed and graciously gave us a ride to the market. 

The thing is that hitch hiking can be an awesome way to get to know the locals in an area and you NEVER have to accept the ride. I am a huge supporter in testing comfort levels, but you know yourself better than anyone and the bus might be testing it enough.

The Bus

The public transit in Hawaii is amazing for being able to get from one side of the Island to the next. It does take up time, but you absolutely never know who you will meet on it. It is cost effective, has insane views of the island  and is very comfortable.

If you leave early, you can spend a whole day from the area around OGG to Lahaina without spending more than $3.50. This is great for those travelers that are looking for a full experience while being cost efficient. The buses have plenty of room and you’re surrounded by locals and travelers alike.

TIP
As I mentioned earlier: transit to certain parts of the island can be difficult.

If you want to get to specific locations on the island, bus to where it will take you and Uber/walk/hitchhike from there

I rode the bus early in the morning to Lahaina and left on the second to last bus of the evening to catch my flight back home. The whole experience was easy and I met another solo traveler from Japan along the way doing whale watching research for work in Maui. We stayed with each other all the way to the airport and exchanged photos we had taken from our time on the island. I helped him find his airline and felt like I had really made a friend despite the language barrier that came up.

Sometimes when I travel, I don’t want to speak to anyone as an intruder to my mindset. While this is completely fine, I highly recommend getting out of your comfort zone and greeting people you feel drawn to. 

You never know what kind of conversations you’ll have.

Maui Farewell

Maui is a beautiful island with lots of exploring to do at every part. I really hope you push yourself to find those cost effective ways to get there or even splurge out and treat yourself to beach front hotels where swimming with the sea turtles is just steps away.

However you decide to explore the island is the right decision. Don’t forget to sunscreen up and speak to the locals, asking about their secret to happiness.

From my Uber drivers, to the owner of Maui Coffee Attic, to the waitress/gift shop worker who made her Maui dream a reality, to my friend from Japan, I thank you all for making my first larger solo trip something so effortless and exciting.

There is power in exploring a new destination alone and pride in connecting with people who don’t surround you daily.

The only way to grow is to trust yourself in every interaction, every room, and every step of your journey. We’re all here for it;)