I’ve spent a few winters in Hawaii over the years and it holds a very special place in my heart.
Photography by Jesse Joeckel
Made a quick pit stop in Maui first, this time. Neither of us had ever been, and, since she works in the travel industry my wife wanted to check out some hotel properties. Let’s call it “research.”
It’s cold at the top.
The trip started with a drive up to catch the sunrise atop the Haleakala crater which was everything it was hyped up to be. We were told it was going to be cold. But you’re coming off a plane from New York, thinking “do they know what cold is?” Turned out to be impressively chilly, and crowded, too, but everyone is there for one thing—that is to watch the sunrise from above the clouds.
A fun surf at Ho’okipa, an unbelievable flatbread pizza in the town of Paia and we were off to our hotel in Kapalua. Timing is everything, and I got to score a wave I’ve always dreamed of surfing, Honolua Bay.
Timing is everything, and I got to score a wave I’ve always dreamed of surfing
Bay views
Another day of surf at Honolua and it was off to the airport to hop over to Kauai, the Garden Island, one of my favorites—if not my most favorite destination. Here the days seem to blend together with fun surfs, scary surfs, dinners with friends, farmers markets, waterfalls and endless hikes. I’ll leave the rest up to you with this place, enjoy.
