Explore Maui, Hawaii from Aston Maui Hill Resort in Kihei on a Budget
Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler
Getting to Maui, Hawaii for this vacation was like pulling teeth! Originally I had booked The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Ka’anapali through my Marriott affiliate deals which was a steal… but it was over my birthday on September 7 and we all know what happened then – the tragic Lahaina fires. Immediately I canceled everything once it happened that August and had to fight with The Westin to get refunded, but eventually it happened. My heart broke for this beautiful island and its amazing community of people. So once the new year rolled around in January, my friend offered to book her parents timeshare for us – and you guessed it, the only place available for that timeframe was in the South Shore section Kihei in Maui. So we booked it, wanting to help add some money to the local economy but for me, on a budget. The trade off of living the single lady entrepreneur life is that you have to always have a budget because sometimes you don’t know when your next gig is coming and with this current icky economy, it seems to be crawling even slower. And I don’t have rich parents, aunt or uncle – or anyone actually – to fall back on. It’s just me, myself and I!
Where to Stay in Maui
So with an RCI fee, we booked the Aston Maui Hill Resort for a glorious week of exploring the island of Maui while being mindful of staying away from Lahaina and also all the conversations around it. Maui Hill is just above where the luxury resorts start in Kihei, the affordable beach alternative. Kihei (pronounced key-hey) beaches are good for sunning, swimming and snorkeling in the south with the mountains and trails north. It’s relatively walkable too, a good 20 minutes from town to our condo. But the best part is the beach that we could walk to down the driveway and across the street – where I swam with not one but two turtles – one even eating an octopus. It was crazy cool and one of those core memories I will never forget!
What Car to Rent in Maui
Do not and I repeat DO NOT rent an electric car! Sure, the pricing is attractive and alluring however the tiny island does not have the EV infrastructure to sustain them. Also, it will die on top of many hills – especially the lone Haleakalā volcano which makes up 75% of Maui where you can drive to the top and people with EVs had to be towed off. Some resorts do have charging stations which is good for overnight charges but it literally takes hours of wasted vacation time to charge. We had to take an Uber to the condo and back just for it to barely charge for eight hours! We also watched a lady have a nervous breakdown which I talked her down from the ledge by teaching her the PlugShare map and into the correct charging station nearby. In the end, we paid the $30 fee to have them recharge at the airport drop off. Lesson learned the hard way – of course.
Maui, Hawaii Airlines
I’m pretty sure at this point I was using up my American Airlines credit card points, which the equivalent flight is like East Coasters going to Florida expect one million times better in Maui! The funny thing is there’s always a nice daytime flight in but a red eye flight back to Phoenix not matter what part of Hawaii you visit. And you’ll do it because it’s worth it. Literally no where else will I accept red eyes, minus international flights of course. Southwest, United, Delta and of course Hawaiian airlines currently service this island. There’s a reason people are so drawn to Hawaii… if you really want to get into which island will heal what ails you, read below.
How the Hawaiian Islands Mirror Your Chakras
The root chakra is the first of the seven chakras, located at the base of the spine, and is associated with feelings of grounding, safety, security, and connection to the Earth and is said to be tied to The Big Island (Hawaii). The sacral chakra is an energy center in the body associated with creativity, sexual pleasure, and sensuality, located below the navel at the pubic bone and linked to the water element tied to Maui. The solar plexus chakra is the third, located in the upper abdomen, and is associated with personal power, confidence, self-esteem, and the element of fire and is connected to Lānaʻi. The heart chakra is the fourth, located in the center of the chest, and is associated with love, compassion and emotional balance representing Molokaʻi. The throat chakra is the fifth, associated with communication, self-expression, and speaking ones truth and is tied to Oʻahu. The third eye chakra is the sixth, located between the eyebrows, and is associated with intuition, perception, and insight relating to Kauaʻi (where I went on vacation right before the pandemic hit). The crown chakra is the seventh and highest chakra, located at the top of the head, symbolizing spiritual unity and connection to the divine, often represented by violet or white light and represents Ni`ihau, better known as the forbidden island as no one is allowed to go there…. rumors swirl about this mysterious space and you can go down a rabbit hole of theories. Your best bet is a dive or a snorkel nearby! But back to Maui…
We lucked out with almost picture perfect weather with home base at Maui Lea at Aston Hill in Kihei. Mostly a timeshare, there are rentals available and are “reasonably priced” for Maui (which means less than $500 a night). It was very low key and a blast from the past 90s decor style but what really matters are the beds are comfy, AC works well and the epic views on the patio! We enjoyed a welcome pool party with homemade potato chips, macadamia nut ice cream and sorbet from Roselani ice cream local beer and seltzer from Maui Brewing Company and many a potent mai tai. Lots of slim steps to climb up and back down as it’s on a hill so may not be best for elderly. The fresh Kona coffee in the lobby every morning was a delight as well as the fresh water jugs available (bring a metal bottle and skip the micro plastics) and the bananas hanging in the tree by the pool to just pluck off and enjoy a snack. The end of the week we got to experience a true wild island tropical storm (upgraded to a tornado at one point) where those glass doors were shaking. But after it cleared, we were back to exploring!
Welcome to the Maui Dharma Center in Paia, Hawaii! We were just walking around this tiny town way too early in the morning (still stuck in our time zone three hours ahead of Maui time) and stumbled upon this very zen space. We were lured in by the beautiful structure and garden, then invited inside the temple with shoes off, of course. It’s a beautiful space and wonderful way to enjoy your morning coffee or tea from the only place open that early above. The center follows the teachings of Buddha Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha known as Gautama Siddhartha Buddha, who lived over 2,500 years ago. Make sure to spin the giant metal prayer wheel and do a walking meditation inside too.
Watch turtles take a nap at Ho‘okipa Beach! We were poking around the Pāʻia area in Maui, Hawaii with snorkel in hand but the waves were much too turbulent so we took a walkabout, stumbled upon this slow moving crew and were mesmerized. One was kind of stuck on rocks but the rising tide helped him out, no doubt. And there seemed to be some sort of turtle hierarchy where the larger ones pushed the smaller ones out – in slow motion of course.
We then went over to Mamas Fish House but the pricing was just too high for a vegetarian to enjoy a $40 salad so asked the valet where to go and he said (and many others) to enjoy lunch at Paia Fish Market which is more cafeteria style but my oh my that massive seared ahi tuna sandwich, french fries and a Coke hit the spot!
Only earth signs can understand how buzzed you get from grounding down in mother nature! I was in my happy place at Maui Tropical Plantation, which is just visually stunning in every direction. Enjoy all the nature in Wailuku! This completely free space to roam around boasts majestic mountains in the background of a working farm featuring sugarcane, pineapples and coconuts. Shop Maui’s agricultural bounty in their farmers market as well as dine at Cafe o’Lei or the restaurant facing the mountains, which some say is the best food on the island. Take a tour where you used to taste and take a pineapple home (thanks Covid) or just walk around this land and absorb all the energy of nature.
Relax and watch the sunset at Keawakapu Beach! From our home base at Maui Lea, this was only a 5 minute walk down the road and ended up being one of my favorite beaches we visited. With a grassy knoll, snorkeling cove and reef right there, live musicians gathering just for fun and jam sessions, wind surfing, athletes galore and more, it is refreshing that all the beaches in Maui, Hawaii are free and open to the public – even at the fanciest resorts as is should be!
In the morning, we were up and at ’em for me to drive the Road to Hana! My friend was scared of heights so I grabbed the EV car wheel and figured how bad could it be compared to Los Angeles and New York City driving? The 52-mile Hana Highway that runs along the east Maui, Hawaii coastline is hella stressful with blind curves, 56 one-lane bridges, more than 600 switchbacks and several 1,000-foot drop-offs and I was not ready for it. We’re lucky that the electric Chevy Bolt was almost all the way charged up before we left! Not really knowing what we were getting into but ready to explore, we went up, down and all around those windy roads stopping randomly along the way. Once we already went a couple hours, we thought why not go the rest and drove to Hana where we were greeted by the black beach, food trucks (which I loved sampling all over the island, that’s how chefs are born after all) and more rad places. Definitely not a drive for the timid but plan a full day for this experience with our drive alone being about 6 hours. We survived driving the road to Hana! That’s actually a running joke on the island by the way. My scoliosis fusion back was not happy with me afterwards, it was white knuckling, anxiety filled “fun” around every death-defying turn!
Never rent an electric car in Maui! We (along with other poor, clueless souls) got sucked into what an amazing deal it is to rent one for the week. And then we wasted HOURS charging it after you download a different app for each station, submit your credit card info (one place double charged the amount I authorized) and we even took an Uber and Lyft back to our condo just to charge the damn car. But while charging, we did get to explore a rad tarot card store called Ace of Cups in Haiku where we pulled a card from a fishbowl and got a mini reading. The shop lady told us Adam Sandler loves the sushi restaurant Nuka next door and other tales of stoned celebrities at the grocery store. Then we walked down to the Temple of Peace and poked around in the zen space before heading home – to charge the car again. You’ve been warned!
Learn to surf at Surf Shack Maui! One of the best surfing deals in Maui, Hawaii, in Kihei with 2 hours of surf lessons and experience for $84 per person with additional add-ons like this rad photograph to cherish from @thesunkissedlens. My gal pal easily learned to surf and was up on the board in no time! It’s also a mom & pop business so you’re also supporting local. You can also rent boards if you already know how and walk across the street to start cutting some waves. Narly!
Snorkeling with a sea turtle eating an octopus was the highlight of my Maui, Hawaii vacation! My friend wanted to take surf lessons but I was not even sure if my scoliosis fusion would allow me to bend properly so opted to snorkel where we were told the turtles like the reef. As soon as my face was in the water, I couldn’t believe my eyes! I ran back to the beach, grabbed my phone case and snagged this video. Locals told me this is almost unheard of and I felt honored that he was completely unbothered by my presence and even got too close for comfort as you can hear me make a squeal as I tried to swim backwards. Sea turtles are known in Hawaiian culture to represent strength, fertility, longevity, and wisdom. An octopus is a symbol of good luck and is often used to represent versatility, selflessness, and regeneration. So a turtle eating an octopus means all of the above? His friend then came to share his breakfast and they lingered for a long time as the beach began filling up with folks. So rad and grateful for this experience!
Don’t miss the Maui Swap Meet! For only 75 cents admission and open every Saturday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at University of Hawaii Maui College, you can browse all the small businesses, food trucks and local vendors offering unique items, gifts and souvenirs. This is the place to find the only real bargains in Maui, it’s like a giant flea market where prices drop closer to closing time because you’ll be sizzlin’ in the sun. Make sure to get a freshly sliced coconut to drink and then yeet it down the second floor balcony onto the pavement to enjoy the pulp!
Suns out buns out! It was a wonderful vacation to Maui, Hawaii and digital detox for a glorious eight days which you can always share later. Actually it’s preferred especially for solo female travel. Make sure to pack coral and reef safe SPF like Salt and Stone and Maui Vera both seen sold… and even then I got a weird sunburn. I only wish I had worn a Brazilian back bikini years ago! There were butt cheeks flying free everywhere on the island with full thongs too. Completely unedited pic here and don’t care about my cellulite because we ALL have it. Let’s make the future more about embracing our “flaws”, fine wrinkles and all! My wellness goal this year is to embrace aging as naturally as possible (can’t quit you though, Botox) but with the best hacks which I’ll be sharing along the way. Remember, every precious piece needs polishing through the years!
It was so cool to explore Maui Brewing Company in Kihei! The mothership in Maui is Hawaii’s largest craft brewery! With locations on Maui and Oahu, Maui Brewing Co. is dedicated to the craft beer way of life and uses fresh island fruit in its beer. My favorites were certainly the pineapple wheat and coconut stout with passionfruit IPA in third place. With a full menu and very slim happy hour (only one hour 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday) featuring discounted beers, craft cocktails, pizzas and appetizers, try to go then if you can. If not, even a pile of their garlic fries is really addicting. Staying past sunset usually includes live music like this lovely lady on the ukulele!
Nearly six months from then after the Maui fires in Lahaina, people are still paying mortgages on non-existent properties. According to the Wall Street Journal, “cleanup crews this week are scheduled to begin clearing the charred rubble to make way for a near-total rebuild”. The closest we came out of respect to the land was visiting The Maui Butterfly Farm, Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop and Olowalu Plantation House which is booked out years in advance for weddings. We ended up driving in the wrong direction, seeing burned and flipped cars – some in piles – and immediately exited when we saw signs for Lahaina ahead. We did do a walkabout behind those three properties up toward the mountain but it was eerie and everything was brown and we turned around fast. Thankfully, those three spaces were not touched and were wonderful experiences, just be respectful and don’t ask questions. If someone wants to share, let them but don’t pry in the Aloha spirit!
After the tropical storm that night that was downgraded from a tornado in Maui, I was pretty groggy from rain drops dripping on my head from the roof and we had to wait for a handyman to come “fix” it. I assume it’s an ongoing issue but eventually just moved the bed toward the middle of the room to actually rest from nature’s waterboarding. My friend was in the master bedroom and her glass doors were banging against the wind too, quite a wild experience in island life.
That morning the roads near the beach were flooded, trees uprooted and general island chaos so as soon as the rain slowed down, we headed upcountry away from it all toward Makawao which means “eye of the forest”. With only a couple places in mind, we stumbled upon even more including the Surfing Goat Dairy, Ocean Vodka, attempted Maui Wine (closed probably due to the storm but most places are on Sunday and Mondays), an art gallery and one of the best cookies I’ve ever had at The Maui Cookie Lady! Looking forward to returning and hitting up all the places that I missed like Maui Chocolate too. Mahalo, Maui!
For all my cat lovers, welcome to Surf Cat Ranch! It’s a non-profit dedicated to provide a refuge for feral and non-adoptable cats and kittens on Maui. Surf cat ranch believes that every cat deserves a safe home in a nurturing environment and adopts cats that are not adoptable due to behavior and/or health issues. They work to tame them, and have successfully turned many scared or grumpy cats into sweeties as well as senior cats that may not be deemed adoptable due to age or health status. They do not euthanize and community cats are returned to their homes in the community whenever possible. Currently home to over 250 rescued cats and kittens with about 50 from the fires in Lahaina, all felines are fixed, clipped, vaccinated, provided flea and worm medication, and microchipped. And obviously spoiled!
Later that morning, Maui’s nude beach for all you cheeky monkeys! You can park in the lot and pay a fee at Big Beach or park across the street for free and prepare yourself for a hike to Little Beach. Outhouses line the entrance so take care of business before you go! Little Beach in South Maui is the unofficial place to relax and bare it all. With the clothing-optional vibes, it’s adjacent to Makena (Big) Beach, and wasn’t very packed when I went. Lots of twigs and berries and not too many conch shells seen when I went but it was the day after the tropical storm and the water was a little cloudy and rugged for body surfing, swimming or snorkeling. Also make sure to bring an umbrella, there’s not much shade and you’ll be sure to burn your buns – or worse!
Remember kids, you’ll never be criticized by someone who is doing more than you. You’ll only be criticized by someone doing less. Remember that and carry on with your fabulous self! I’m certainly not an angel, but I try to be a better version of myself every day. It’s me vs. me babes, stay focused and drown out the distracting noise. I plan on taking more self care and digital detoxes this year. Mahalo Maui, for this beautiful gift of zen relaxation and reprieve!
