Rekindle Your Romance in Maui and Lanai

Credit: Fairmont Kea Lani

Treat your loved one to a private, romantic oceanfront dinner called Hoku’Lani, or Dining under the Stars, at the Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui

Two of the most romantic Hawaiian islands, Maui and Lanai, offer lovebirds the opportunity to relax, reconnect and rejoice in the beauty of nature (and love, of course)

With their picturesque secluded coves, fiery sunsets and lavish beachfront resorts and restaurants, Maui and Lanai offer the perfect opportunity to rekindle romance; and it’s no surprise that thousands of couples tie the knot and honeymoon in Hawaii each year. 

Maui’s relaxed island vibe, soft brown sugar sand and salty sweet scent of plumeria, pineapple and coconut oil mix with the ocean breeze to lure lovebirds from around the globe.

These small islands also provide would-be grooms with a ready-made romantic backdrop for popping the question. Whether your style is DIY or luxury turnkey, your soon-to-be blushing bride will be swept off her feet.

Waterfall hikes, snorkelling, golfing, kayaking, windsurfing and beachcombing are plentiful in Maui, as are the more indulgent pastimes of shopping, dining and day spas, if you decide to venture away from your love nest.

Romantic Dining Options in Maui

Private Oceanfront Dining at the Fairmont Wailea

The Fairmont Kea Lani in Wailea offers a private oceanfront dinner experience with its Hoku Lani ‘Dining Under the Stars.’ Ocean views with the islands of Lanai, Kahoolawe and Molokini in the background, tiki torches and the soft glow of candlelight dancing on the table create the perfect romantic setting.

The chef’s four-course menu is inspired by Hawaiian, Filipino, Portuguese, Korean and Japanese cultures from Hawaii’s sugarcane plantation era. Highlights of the fusion fare include Kalua pig pot stickers and crispy calamari with a trio of dipping sauces; grilled lamb chops with mango‐mint salsa, marinated in coconut milk soy sauce; and banana lumpia served with a dark salted butter caramel sauce. 

Customized menus as well as live entertainment are also available to personalize the evening.

Sunrise Renewal Champagne Breakfast at the Westin Maui Resort

The spectacular location and view from the Westin Maui Resort, Hawaii (Image: Curt Woodhall, ArrivalsTravel.com)

If you’re more of a morning person, book a champagne breakfast poolside at the Westin Maui Resort on Maui’s west shore. From the seclusion of a private cabana overlooking Ka’anapali Beach you can toast the future while watching the sunrise. 

The two-course champagne breakfast features a choice of four starters and seven main course items including lobster benedict and macadamia nut sticky bun French toast with pineapple sausage, accompanied by tropical fruit and a freshly baked pastry basket of cinnamon buns, butter croissants and pineapple bran muffins.

For a small additional cost you can prolong the celebration and take full advantage of the beachfront setting by extending the cabana reservation for the rest of the day.

Romantic Activities in Maui

Watch the Sun Rise from Haleakala Mountain

View the sunrise from above the clouds at Haleakala in Maui. (Image: Curt Woodhall, ArrivalsTravel.com)

Standing 10,000 feet above sea level, the formidable Haleakala in southeast Maui can be seen from almost anywhere on the island. The sunrise viewed from the summit is legendary and continues to entice visitors out of their beds as early as 3 a.m. to experience one of Mother Nature’s great masterpieces. 

Haleakala means house of the sun, and as you watch the dark starlit sky turn to fire from the top of the mountain high above the clouds, you’ll understand why. The air is very cold at the summit so bring a warm blanket and a thermos of hot chocolate, and snuggle up for the show. After the sunrise, stop at the Kula Lodge for a hot breakfast of fluffy pancakes, eggs, fresh fruit and Kona coffee. 

Take a Day Trip to Lanai

Dine in an orchid greenhouse surrounded by the pleasant scent of tropical flowers at the Four Seasons Lodge at Koele (Image: Four Seasons)

A short one-hour passenger ferry ride from Maui, Lanai is an exclusive paradise that can be visited as a day trip from Maui or as longer stay.  

Formerly Dole’s largest pineapple plantation, the tiny island is now home to only one stop sign and three hotels, two of which are Four Season Resorts; the oceanfront Manele Bay in South Lanai and The Lodge at Koele in Central Lanai. 

The Lodge at Koele, surrounded by Cook pine trees and immaculate gardens in Lanai’s cooler misty highlands, offers the unique experience of staying in a grand country manor. Wandering the expansive grounds, curling up with a book on your private veranda, or having a nightcap by the stone hearth in the Great Hall are just some of the ways to spend your time at Koele. 

The lodge also offers a private 5-course candlelit dinner in the breathtaking Enchanting Orchid House, a fragrant greenhouse filled with orchids and tropical flowers. Your own private server, fine champagne and a seasonal chef’s tasting menu that draws from the land and sea complete the intimate affair.

For the more adventurous, rent a 4-wheel drive, pick up a picnic from Pele’s Other Garden café and go off the beaten path to explore the island’s stunning and diverse scenery.  

Sixty miles North of Lanai City, you’ll find a two-mile stretch of golden sand beach. Always quiet, and often deserted, Polihua is a secluded, picturesque paradise requiring little more than a blanket and well-thought out question for the big moment. 

The magnificent windswept Shipwreck Beach in Lanai, Hawaii is a quiet spot for contemplation (Image: Curt Woodhall, ArrivalsTravel.com)

Go a few miles east and you’ll find another beautiful and quiet spot on Shipwreck Beach where an oil tanker from the 1940s remains stranded on the coral reef. Although these beaches can experience high winds and the current makes them unsafe for swimming, they are spectacular, secluded and well worth the drive.

A peaceful ride through the Lanai countryside is a lovely way to explore the island. The Stables at Koele, beside the Four Seasons Resort, offers private guided trail rides through the unspoiled wooded highlands, where roaming sheep, turkeys and wild deer are often spotted. A special picnic or hearty sunrise cowboy breakfast can be arranged and enjoyed while taking in the sweeping views of Molokai, Maui, Koho’olawe and on exceptionally clear days, the Big Island of Hawaii. 

The Stables’ horse-drawn carriage rides are a nice alternative for less experienced riders, or those who prefer a more relaxing journey.

Mhairri Woodhall is a travel writer at Arrivals Travel.