I’m kicking off my very first blog post with one of the most unforgettable trips of our lives- our Hawaii honeymoon. My husband and I are high school sweethearts, and ever since we started dating back in senior year, we dreamed of traveling the world together, Hawaii always being one of the top places on our list. We have always imagined our honeymoon being in either Hawaii or Bali, but with COVID restrictions in place at the time not allowing us to visit Bali, Hawaii became the obvious-and absolutely perfect- choice.
We spent 11 days between Maui and Oahu, soaking in every waterfall, sunset, beach, and bowl of poke we could find. It was beautiful, but I won’t lie, I made a few mistakes (and had a few “I wish someone told me this” moments). So if you’re planning a trip to Hawaii soon, here are 8 things I wish I knew before I went.
1. You need reservations for way more things than you think.
Whether it’s sunrise at Haleakalā or entry to Black Sand Beach in Hana, lots of spots now require advance reservations- especially post-COVID. I learned the hard way that “showing up” isn’t always an option anymore.
2. Expect to drive a lot — and enjoy it.
Especially in Maui, a rental car isn’t optional. The good news? The drives are stunning. I still dream about the Road to Hana and cruising past lava fields in our Jeep.
3. You can’t “do it all,” and that’s okay.
There’s so much to do, but cramming it all in will leave you exhausted. Some of our best memories were slow, like sunset walks in Waikiki or sipping coffee by the beach in Kihei. We plan to come back and see different areas next time!
4. Don’t overlook coffee shops.
Some of our favorite spots weren’t big attractions- they were coffee shops with ocean views, acai bowls, and the best people-watching ever. Hawaii’s café culture is real and worth exploring.
5. Food trucks >>> fancy dinners
The shrimp truck we stopped at randomly in Oahu? Better than most sit-down meals. Island food is best when it’s fresh, casual, and a little unexpected.
6. Beach sunsets hit different.
You haven’t seen a sunset until you’ve watched one from the sand with poke in hand and zero plans after. Slow down. Soak it in.
7. Expect to fall in love, hard.
The colors, the calm, the warmth of the people- it’s hard not to leave a piece of your heart in Hawaii. I already want to go back (and this time, I’ll be more prepared!). I’ve since done countless hours of research since then for our next Hawaii adventure.
8. Planning in advance makes everything better.
This was our honeymoon, so between the wedding and life, I didn’t fully plan it all ahead of time — and I regretted that. I ended up researching on the go, which took me out of the moment. Everything still turned out amazing, but it showed me how important it is to plan ahead. I’ll definitely be posting more Hawaii resources here soon, sign up for my email list if you’d like to get updates when new guides drop!
