Heart-pounding adrenaline doesn’t have to stop with “I do” at the alter. For outdoorsy couples who can’t get enough of epic escapades and otherworldly experiences in nature, a trip to Hawaii offers more than just mai tais and beachside relaxation. Plan a honeymoon in paradise and turn it into one adrenaline rush after another with these four Maui adventures:
Haleakala Hike
Haleakala National Park, also known as “House of the Sun,” is a Hawaiian gem radiating with natural wonders, such as lush tropic hotspots, waterfalls and streams. The park’s Kipahulu area offers three miles of vibrantly green coastal environment and tropical beauty to get lost in (not literally, stay on the trails!). You can even journey through a dense, dark bamboo forest on the Pipiwai Trail, or reach the Haleakala summit and dramatic caldera on the Crater Trail.
Photo by National Park Service Digital Image Archives via Wikimedia Commons
Hiking Hack: Hiking into Maui’s dormant volcano to see its cinder cones and charcoal lava flows is typically best to experience as a one to three night trip. For a shorter, yet still challenging half-day trip, take off on the Halemauu Trail. To Holua Cabin and back, it’s an 8-mile trip. Try to make an early start, check the weather forecast and wear shoes with good grip. Also, dehydration is the worst, so bring copious amounts of water.
Waterfall Rappelling
Imagine descending into an amazing rain forest valley and dropping down a privately-owned 50-foot waterfall. Rappel Maui offers the canyoneering adventure of a lifetime in a stunning and safe naturally raw environment. Training takes place on a 60-foot jungle cliff, and then you’ll rappel downstream where a wild canyon awaits. From there you can swim in two large pools and indulge in the aquatic beauty of stunning rain forest wilderness.
Photo by Scarleth White via Wikimedia Commons
Adventuring Attire: Rappel Maui recommends surf shorts, yoga pants or quick-drying pants. For the top half, feel free to wear a bikini, tankini or shirt. A splurge at Roxy.com before your trip will surely cover all the basics. Oh yeah, and your man can also throw on swim trunks, light-weight pants and a quick-drying shirt.
Offroading Tour
Explore the gorgeous ocean coastline and abandoned agricultural fields in the mud and off-road. An ATV tour at Kahoma Ranch in West Maui is the ultimate thrill-seeking adventure on private dirt roads and rugged trails. The ranch sits above the historic whaling village Lahaina and reaches scenic views of the West Maui Mountains, Kaanapali, Lana’i, and Moloka’i. Traverse the Hawaiian landscape and make a stop at “The Garden” where you’ll hike to a cliff overlooking beautiful Maui views.
Down & Dirty: Of course you’re a lady of leisure at times, but leave the bikini and floppy hat back at the suite. All you need is to buy a casual offroading T-shirt and don sporty sunglasses from a reputable brand such as Humps Optics to shield the eyes from dirt and debris. A messy side braid will also fit more suitably in the helmet than sea breeze-dried free-flowing waves.
Ziplining Thrills
After you’ve made a waterfall descent and offroaded through hilly trails, take the leap and zipline through the blue island skies of Maui’s Ka’anapali or Haleakala. The zipline company Skyline Eco-Adventures offers Ka’anapali ziplining adventures of eight crossing lines that start in Mount Kahalawai’s rugged valleys. While soaring through the West Maui mountains, the incredible sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean mesmerizes and captivates. In Haleakala (Upcountry Maui), you’ll fly through a canopy of towering eucalyptus trees and even tackle a swinging bridge.
Photo byn Khaufle via Wikimedia Commons
Fast Fly Tip: Be a daredevil and curl up into an aerodynamic ball to go faster. But still keep your eyes peeled so you don’t miss the panoramic Pacific Ocean views and spectacular Maui coastline.
