We interrupt this regularly scheduled full-throttle Christmas season with a quick (not really) blurb from the beautiful and vibrant area of Hana, in Maui, Hawaii!
How’s my timing?
Truth be told, I know many of you love to read about these adventures, in which a few of you have even booked your trips based on some of these tips! I’ve already been asked where we stayed when we ventured down the road to Hana, so that part’s today!
You may wish to read this post first: Road to Hana – Day 1
Welcome to Day 2!
Two days before this day, once my sis and I decided to stay one night near Hana, I attempted to get a place there. However, with such short notice, our options were super limited as most places wanted you to stay 2+ nights.
So I scanned VRBO until I found our cottage. It wasn’t IN Hana, but pretty close! The area was called Nahiku, approx 15 minutes before Hana, right off the Hana highway. How easy would that be?!
All these years I envisioned winding through some crazy cliff ridden jungle roads trying to find a place in the middle of the night, complete with big bugs or worse. A place right off the highway would be free of all that, right? RIGHT?
Hey, it was a legitimate fear.
Since this place allowed one night… that right there pretty much sealed the deal! But when I found the listing, I called my sis down to my condo and together we scrolled through the pictures.
“Oh my gosh… ”
“Right?! It’s in a botanical garden setting, right off the highway. A whole house all to ourselves, overlooking the ocean!”
With full approval met, we booked and seconds later, the place was ours.
Entabeni Cottage located in Nahiku, sits above the Road to Hana overlooking the Pacific Ocean on the north shore of Maui, Hawaii.
It’s a good thing I had stared at the photos before heading here. We were so busy watching mile markers and map reading and bolting across the road taking pictures, the only thing that warned me that we were near our cottage was the sign with the roof along the road. Thank goodness!
Right off Hana highway. Seriously, so easy.
So, we pulled in and both gasped…
“What in the world?!”
The driveway was super long, curvy in some area, steep in others, bricked in other places… and so long.
I mean, our little car was buried underneath all the rambling forest growth. Spectacular!
Although I did say several times, “Where ARE we? Is this right?!”
We were obviously on ACRES upon ACRES of tropical jungle filled land, so this was quite an experience!
And there she was. Our sweet, quaint little cottage we got to call home for a night buried behind all that incredible growth
According to the listing, we were to honk upon our arrival. So I did! And within moments, owner Terry came out to greet us.
We got a quick tour of the place, were encouraged to roam the property, then it was time to get settled in.
The height of everything was so mesmerizingly distracting!
Come here in good neck health because you will want to look straight up all the time.
Just like the pictures told us it would be! Look at all those windows… and see those big leaves to the left?
They were wider than both my arms held straight out from my sides. One leaf nearly as tall as us. MASSIVE.
Could you imagine having to rake them?
And right in front of us…
… was our very own ocean view with a jungle intact. Complete with one of the most outstanding soundtracks ever. Screeches and tweets from every bird sound imaginable.
No bug sounds nor creepy critters. Positive. I was so relieved…
It was so beautiful, in the most natural of ways.
When we walked inside, all I heard was WOW in unison from both of us.
This place isn’t like your regular condo. It’s a cottage with all the touches of a real home. Plus.
The bed was actually two twin beds so they could be pushed apart if desired too. Smart!
The office area on the left side of the bed.
A real wood burning stove, cushy seating area… and to watch TV, you’d spin the chairs in the opposite direction towards the kitchen, and open the sliding doors in the kitchen island. Clever!
The entire one side of the house was encased in doors actually. Not windows. Amazing. And perfect! Oh the sounds of nature were out of this world when you had them all open!
We were encouraged to sleep with just the screen doors closed, however us town folk closed the glass ones too. It wasn’t too warm. The ceiling fan above us was wonderful and super quiet.
The bathroom was so unique, much like a plantation house would provide. Just perfect!
We then unpacked the groceries, and fired up the grill on the lanai. We had brought along steaks and potato salad and a green salad and shared one of Wendy’s beer. I had forgotten my beloved ginger ale back at my condo and HAD to have a cold hit of something, ya know?!
A little about Nahiku…
Nahiku is the prettiest, most heavily forested areas along the entire Hana highway, and we got to stay there! Being that Hana was 15 min away doesn’t sound very far, however when you are beyond beat, hitting those hair pin curves and sharing bridges is not enticing. So we settled in for a couple of movies and just relaxed after dinner. We new once dark hit, it would be blacker than black out.
And then we hit the hay. But it was nothing like sleeping on hay. I don’t know what the mattress was made out of, however it was like the most perfect angelic cloud we’ve ever laid on! I’ll never forget it.
Once morning hit, all I had to do was open my eyes to experience the sunrise without moving an inch. That entire wall of doors facing the sunrise over the ocean… spectacular.
And as promised, Terry brought us over fresh farm eggs and some veggies from the garden the evening before so we could whip up an omelette for breakfast.
Groan… SO. GOOD!
We enjoyed our coffee and breakfast on the lanai, appreciating and dreading leaving. Two nights would have been epic!
And honestly, due to what we had planned next, I now know 2 would have been amazing.
So… a few tips…
The only entertainment you have once here is the quiet lanai, TV with movies and wifi.
Bring all your food and beverages. The drinking water here is very good. There were some little road side places where you could grab a coffee or eat something light, however I personally wouldn’t drive the roads to find them in the dark. And it gets dark early.
And… no bugs. I had done a LOT of reading over the years on staying in or near Hana, and most often saw so many complaints about bugs. We didn’t experience even one. The resident mouser cats hung out on our front lanai and did such a good job, we didn’t see any of those either.
The only thing that roamed around on this yard other than the cats (I was in Heaven!) were some peculiar chickens from Australia. I think. So, if you come here, forget about the bug thing.
I would personally recommend staying at least 2 nights. You will be tired after the trail, and we did miss out on some sights we wanted to see. And to actually enjoy the black sand beach for a spell would have been cool.
Regardless, this place was amazing and I most certainly do highly recommend staying here.
The following day promised to be exciting, yet challenging.
We were about to drive past Hana and bolt straight for the infamous bamboo forest taking the 3+ hour ‘strenuous’ Pipiwai trail, then head ALLLLL the way back home to Kihei.
Before dark.
So, equipped with sunscreen, water, bug spray, extra shoes, water, we hit those hair pin curves once again and sped towards what would turn out to be the most challenging AND incredible adventure that we will never forget…
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This post became so long, I’ve added a Day 3. Egads!
And I promise I’ll publish it tomorrow so you don’t have to wait…
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Read the entire Road To Hana Series HERE
Read ALL TRAVEL HERE
Oh so perfect Donna!! I love thinking about this trip and so many have asked and I give you an Aloha Mahalo, my dear seester.
While I was writing and editing this post, I could barely stand it. I wanted to do it all over again! We had such a blast! And it would not have been the same without you!
Amazing!
And this post was such a welcome relief from all the holiday stuff out there in blogland!
Haha! I was hoping someone may feel like that. I know it did me a world of good to depart from the glitter to pretend I was back on the island!
Sounds like you enjoyed this place! I wish I knew what kind of mattress it was as not ever found one as heavenly as you make that sound. Maybe a miracle foam???