I’m happy to be back travelling again, but I can’t help but laugh while writing this because our honeymoon wasn’t exactly the dream vacation we had hoped for 😅. It’s surprising because Hawaii is usually a paradise for everyone, but we had a bit of bad luck.

After the mishaps on our wedding day, we were eagerly anticipating our honeymoon. We bid farewell to Iowa and welcomed Hawaii with open arms. Although we had a layover, all our flights were punctual and we didn’t encounter any problems. Upon our arrival in Maui, our travel agent presented us with a gorgeous lei, and things were off to a phenomenal start.

My partner and I arrived at the Mana Kai Maui resort with great excitement. The views were stunning, and we anticipated a dream honeymoon. 😂 The tagline for the resort, “Mana Kai Maui – where heaven meets earth,” became a running joke throughout our trip and even now, because it was anything but.

So what happened? Gosh… I think I’ll make a list, haha!

• Resort General Store, Restaurant, & Bar Closed
  Upon arrival, we were informed that the resort’s restaurant, bar, and general store had shut down a few weeks ago. As we had intended to spend most of our time at the resort, we didn’t rent a car. After a tiring 10-hour journey, we decided to tackle the issue the next day.
  • Highlight: We woke up early and decided to go down to the beach as the front desk wouldn’t be open for another few hours. The warm sunshine and refreshing ocean waves were the perfect backdrop for one of the most memorable moments of our trip.
    
• No Honeymoon Package
  When the front desk finally opened, I inquired about the ‘honeymoon package’ we had paid for, which included champagne on ice, chocolates, and macadamia nuts. To my surprise, they claimed to have no knowledge of the package and even asked for proof of where we had received the information. I forwarded our confirmation email to them and, two days later, they delivered some champagne and nuts straight from a grocery store shelf after being contacted by our travel agent. Our agent was understandably upset and worked tirelessly with the resort to rectify the situation. Additionally, the front desk initially informed us that they could only hold our bags until 4 pm on the day of our flight, but after speaking with our agent, they allowed us to stay in the room until 8 pm. However, on the day of our flight, they contacted us in the afternoon to inquire why our bags were still there and to remind us that we needed permission to stay any longer. It was a hectic experience, but the front desk worker did apologize for the confusion.
  • Highlight: The next day, we went on a Sunset Luau Dinner Cruise, and we had an amazing time! While it wasn’t exactly what we expected, it was still a great experience. The cruise was run by a lovely married couple who poured their hearts into making sure everyone had a good time. We loved the personal touch, from the live dancing to the fascinating history lesson. Although it wasn’t an authentic luau, we still had a blast being out on the water and taking in the stunning sunset. Even though we didn’t spot any whales on this trip, we’re confident that during peak season, it would be an unforgettable sight. We highly recommend this cruise to anyone who wants to add some excitement to their trip. Whether you’re looking for a boose cruise-style adventure or simply want to enjoy some dancing and a beautiful view, this is the perfect choice for you. Don’t miss out on the chance to attend an authentic luau too!
    
• Stranded at Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm
  We started the day off at the Kula Botanical Garden and planned to go to the Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm and Maui Wine. Although the botanical garden was pleasant and inexpensive, parts of it had been damaged by a recent storm, including the koi fish pond that we had wanted to see. However, we met a lovely older couple who had been to Maui on their honeymoon and never left. They gave us a beautiful card, which lifted our spirits.
  
  Next, we arrived at the Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm, which was smaller than we expected. Nonetheless, it had a charming gift shop, and I adore all things lavender. We spent about 30 minutes there and decided to look for a ride to Maui Wine, which was our last destination of the day. After a long search, we became worried and asked the staff for advice or a taxi service phone number. Unfortunately, they informed us that cars rarely come out there, and the nearest bus station was quite a distance away. After about 30 minutes of asking strangers if they could take us down the hill (around a 10-minute drive), we started walking. We finally found a lift driver to take us back to the resort after about 30 minutes of walking!
  
  Due to our long journey, we decided to head back to the resort since our reservation at Maui Wine had passed. Unfortunately, the car service we had arranged to pick us up from the winery sent us a confirmation email, which only added to our exhaustion and disappointment. As you can see from the photo, my outfit was not suitable for walking or hiking.
  
  • Highlight: Our ride back to the resort was quite memorable! We had a driver from Poland who shared some interesting conspiracy theories about Poland and Russia. It was a unique experience that we won’t forget. Moreover, he even recommended the restaurant at the Mana Kai Maui Resort, emphasizing how fortunate we were to stay there, not realizing it had closed. 😂
    
• Horror Massage
  My partner and I decided to book a beach massage  to relax and enjoy the calming ambiance of the ocean. We emailed about the option of having the massage outdoors near the beach and confirmed our appointment over text. We were excited as we waited for the massage and finally heard the door knock. Once we opened the door, she looked shocked and said, “This is your room!? You had to have known we couldn’t fit in here?!” My husband, and I were confused as we had discussed the massage being out on the beach, which she had said was fine as she’d done it before and was familiar with our resort. We let her know that we thought the massage was outside, and she left for a moment and said, we’re just not going to do this then, and then peaked back in the room to ask if we had even asked the resort about having the message on their property outside. Since we had discussed this previously, and she said she had done it before, I figured this was part of her job. A few minutes later, we ended up getting permission, and we went to the beach. Of course, she picked the busiest area, claiming there was no shade elsewhere, I tried to point out different shaded options, and she just said we needed to get started because they weren’t going to drag their equipment everywhere. It was so embarrassing. I thought, well, let’s try to relax, but then the massage started, and I have never had a more… aggressive massage. When she asked if the pressure was OK, I told her to have lighter pressure, and she said, “trust me, you don’t want it much lighter.” She also stuck her hands up my swimsuit bottoms, which was bizarre. Needless to say, the massage did not relax us. 😂
  • Highlight:  She did a good job on my neck, which has actually never happened to me before.
    
• Overall Trip Highlights
  • I would recommend trying the Maui Tropical Express Tour! It’s a fun and exciting adventure. The smoothie I had was beyond delicious and it’s an affordable outing at only $25 for adults. Trust me, you won’t regret it!
  • The Ocean Vodka Distillery tasting is not only fun but also interesting! Not only was it enjoyable, but we also gained knowledge about the production process. I recommend trying the food, which is expertly prepared by Tom Cruz’s former personal chef. The poke bowl I tried was great. We had a fantastic time at the tasting, and I would recommend this experince to anyone.
  • The sea turtle cove by the resort where we spotted sea turtles was absolutely incredible! We were fortunate enough to spot multiple turtles.

I am so happy to have shared the experience of our trip together, even though it wasn’t perfect. Given that it was for my wedding, I trusted the professionals we hired to handle everything. However, in retrospect, I wish I had taken the time to double-check everything beforehand. Nevertheless, I am thankful for the memories we created and remain… optimistic about future adventures. 😂

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