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Maui Family Vacation 2018 (VIDEO)

    We just returned from our favorite family vacation spot: MAUI! Are you ready to be slapped with 100 photos? Don’t worry though, once you get through them, there’s a very relaxing video for you at the end :). My husband makes THE BEST family videos!

    A family on the beach

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    It’s amazing to see how much the kiddos have grown from  2011 when our son was just a little guy to 2014 (pre baby), then 2015 with the cutest baby on the beach and 2017 when we did some good eating! We didn’t go on vacation in 2016 and regretted it. 2016 was a roller coaster year with house hunting then building our house and all the stressors that are associated with that, and not living in our own place. We should have rested. Getting away from every day work and resting your mind is so good for your soul and should be done at least annually (GOALS!).

    Beach Bums

    Here’s my very favorite picture from the trip. I can still feel that happy carefree moment jumping through a wave…

    A young girl with her mother holding her riding a wave with a shovel in hand

    Being on the beach is the very best thing about Maui. It’s free entertainment and seriously therapeutic to dig in the sand, walk the beach, swim in the ocean with your hair down (makeup free!!), jump through the waves and boogie board. The kids just couldn’t get enough of it and we get so much joy watching them have a great time. Joy is contagious!!

    A mother and daughter at the beachA boy running at the beachThree vertical photos of boys playing in the water with bodyboardsA close up of a coupleThree vertical photos of boys playing in the water with bodyboards

    Two photos one of a woman sitting and one of girl playing in the sand Two photos side by side of a little girl sitting at a beachTwo photos side by side of a father and daughter at the beach Two photos one of a man another of son and father at the beach A mother and daughter at the beachA person riding a surf board on a body of water

    A couple standing on a beach

    Where to Stay in Maui:

    Our past 2 trips to Maui, we shared a condo in Wailea Beach Villas with my sister’s family. It was a ritzy and expensive place but we kind of outgrew it and this time, we each stayed in our own condos at the Wailea Ekahi Village.

    A bird\'s eye view of the beach

    The beach was really lovely and about 1 mile from last year’s Wailea beach except they didn’t provide umbrella service which was still ok. The condos had easy to carry folding chairs available. The umbrella service was SO NICE when we had a baby along but I didn’t miss it now that our kiddos are older.

    A bird\'s eye view of a hillside with houses

    The Ekahi units were half the price and the grounds were  nicely manicured with lush greens and flowers and a pool close to the beach. The units weren’t as new or modern as the Wailea Beach Villas and the kitchen was not as well stocked but for the price, it was still a good deal. Also, our walk to the beach was much shorter at this place with a unit closer to the water; super convenient with kids in tow.

    A bird\'s eye view of a home and a pool

    With kids, we really did have a lot of fun in the pool. It was the perfect spot when the water got too rough in the ocean in the afternoons and swimming with the kids into the sunset was a cool experience.

    A father tossing his daughter in the air in a pool A father and two children in a pool

    Go to Costco:

    The prices at Costco are pretty reasonable compared to everything else in Maui. Everything is imported into Maui so groceries are considerably more expensive than on the mainland. We always hit Costco right after we grab a rental car.

    A mother and two children holding hands and walking in a parking lot

    Cooking in Maui:

    While you’re at Costco, buy pineapples (like 4 of them) because they disappear quickly. I saved an Instagram story about why HERE (click on the “Maui” tab). Also, if your kitchen is not well stocked, buy meats that are pre-marinated and ready to bake. There’s no shame in that and cooking on vacation should be easy! We hit up Costco twice to buy the Salmon topped with pesto butter and my kids LOVED every bite!

    Another stop for smaller items (say to make soup for the kids), is FoodLand Grocery Store. If you register your phone number at FoodLand, there’s a big savings for doing it.

    Most of the condos have a grill either on the individual balconies or in the common area of the resort/community. There’s something so pleasant about grilling on your balcony in Maui with a glimpse of the ocean!

    Two photos one of an ocean view and one of a woman standing next to a grill

    Going out to Eat is:

    1. Expensive (especially for a family)
    2. Kids Menu Choices are Limited (i.e. no fruits and veggies)

    It’s way better to cook at least some of your meals if you’re traveling with children. It made me feel great knowing they were getting wholesome fruits and vegetables. All of these homemade meals were devoured by our children because they are hungry and way less picky after a solid day of playing on the beach!

    Two photos of plates both have salmon and salad, one has bread other has mashed potatoes
    LEFT: Asian Salad, Pesto Salmon and Mashed Potatoes (All Costco items)
    RIGHT: Toasted Bread, Pesto Salmon and Caesar Salad (All Costco items)

    Two photos one has a plate of rice, salad and meat and another soup and sandwich
    LEFT: My sisters and I came together for dinner (Steak and Caesar salad form Costco, My sister’s cabbage salad, white rice and poke from Food Land grocery store.
    RIGHT: Mom’s Meatball Soup (ingredients form Food Land), Toasts with avocado and smoked salmon (All from Costco).

    Two photos one with grilled chicken and one with grilled pineapple

    LEFT: Chicken breast with no-marinating time required (because I didn’t have time) and I used up what I had leftover from my other recipes (dill, garlic, clementine juice, butter) It turned out pretty awesome on the grill and on the skillet – yes I made it twice! If you want the recipe, let me know.
    RIGHT: Grilled pineapple (I’ve never seen a pineapple disappear so fast!)

    Dining Out:

    Of course we were on vacation so we went out to a few places. Since we were traveling with such a big group (my sisters and their families were vacationing at the same time), we stuck with our favorites this time.

    A group of children sitting on a bench
    (the hungry children waiting for our table at Cafe O’lei).

    Cafe O’lei – we went there twice for dinner and no one was disappointed.

    A group of people sitting at a table A small child sitting on a table

    Six photos of different types of food on a plate

    For our family of 4, the two times we went out, our bills were $68 and $112 (we ordered the house special at $35 the second visit), so yes it was spendy but the food was very good.

    Two photos one of mother and daughter and another of mother, father and daughter Two photos of mother and daughter
    (in my defense, we were both supposed to be doing silly faces)

    Coconuts Fish Cafe – for their famous fish tacos that I recreated here.

    Two photos one of sandwich one of taco

    Kihei Cafe – for an amazing, reasonably priced, huge portion (cash only) breakfast. It was SO GOOD! Those sure are eggs Benedict over a crab cake and super fluffy yummy pancakes.

    Husband and wife sitting at a table with a group of people

    Two photos one of eggs Benedict and potatoes one of pancakes, bacon and eggs

    Lappert’s was really good for Ice Cream with homemade waffle cones

    Two photos side by side of two children eating ice cream

    If you’re looking for some pick-me-up power in the middle of your day, the gluten free paleo smoothie bowls at Choice Health Bar were great (reader recommendation from @itsme.albina on Instagram).

    Two photos one of Choice Health Bar and one of an acai bowl

    Activities:

    We beached most of the time in Maui but did go on a parasailing trip through the UFO company (My first time – also recorded in Instagram stories).

    A mother and son being strapped in to go parasailing Two photos side by side of people parasailing

    We go to the aquarium every single time (look up the Visa Discount at the Maui Ocean Center to save 15% which you’ll want because tickets are pricey. Show them the discount you find online and then pay with your Visa card and it works in the gift shop).

    A group of children standing in front of an aquarium

    Maui Sunsets:

    We always make a goal of dressing up one evening; hair, makeup and the whole shazam and head to the beach for sunset family photos. The first night we attempted happened to be the only evening it was pouring rain. We tried anyways, trudging down to the beach with our umbrellas. It was a funny moment of everyone huddled under giant umbrellas.

    A mother and two children standing at the beach with the mother holding an umbrella

    Our last evening we tried again and the sunset was gorgeous.

    A couple standing on a rocky beach

    A family standing on a beach at sunset

    My sisters families:
    Two photos of families standing at the beach

    MAUI VIDEO:

    My husband creates the most amazing videos of our family vacations but he’s never shared them with the world until this year. I did some convincing and told him if we loved it, other’s might be interested to see them as well. Enjoy the video!

    P.S. I’d love to hear your feedback in a comment below and if you’d like to see more personal videos and vlogs.

    A photo of a couple standing at the beach at sunset

    Aloha friends! I hope you liked this post as much as I loved writing it 🙂

    A sunset over a body of water

    Natasha Kravchuk

    Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.

    Read more posts by Natasha

    Leave a Comment

    Comments

    • Ileana
      October 1, 2022

      Those were great pictures! Hope you had fun. 🙂 🙂

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        October 1, 2022

        Thank you, Ileana! We had the best time! So many wonderful memories!

        Reply

    • Valerie
      June 13, 2022

      We always stay at the Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort. Great restaurants in that area (from low to high), and a reef not more than 3 feet out complete with turtles, all kinds of fish, rays, and octupi. It’s heaven on earth. I spend most of my time diving so I only see the family at night. LoL. That area of the island is just lovely. Not quite as windy as Wailea. There is a restaurant in Lahaina where the crabs climb up to the deck when it high tide and beg for food. It’s amazing. Try Kaanapali–not quite as expensive as Wailea–with lots to do. In the winter the whales hang out in that large area between the islands. Napili is up the street and Lahaina is down the street. Aloha! (p.s. just checked in to print the chicken mango and cobb salad. LOL)

      Reply

      • Natasha's Kitchen
        June 13, 2022

        Sounds like a wonderful place to visit! Thank you for sharing that with us, Valerie.

        Reply

    • J
      October 13, 2021

      Hi Natasha,

      Saw your Maui trip clips 2 days ago. I was wondering which resort did you book with kitchen included?

      Reply

      • Natasha
        October 13, 2021

        HI J, we stayed at the same resort as our 2017 trip.

        Reply

        • J
          October 14, 2021

          Thank you and also rentals for kids car seat is also from the same place as 2017?

          Reply

    • jen
      October 6, 2021

      hey natasha would love to see more of your personal vlogs they are such fun

      Reply

    • Mrs. Steffy
      June 21, 2021

      Hi Natasha! The Steffy family here we just wanted to say thank you for all of your wonderful recipes. I used to be a terrible cook but after making a good amount of your delicious recipes I have found a new joy in cooking and my husband hasn’t lost any more weight!

      Reply

      • Natasha's Kitchen
        June 21, 2021

        Hi there, you are very welcome! That’s so inspiring and I’m glad you are enjoying cooking! I hope you and your family will love the recipes that you will try.

        Reply

    • Lani A
      June 4, 2021

      Beautiful family Natasha. I enjoyed watching them. Thank you for sharing.

      Reply

    • DD
      February 24, 2021

      WOW! I love the pictures and your family. You are so bless to have them. May God continues to bless you with the spirit you have for cooking and the way you share.

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        February 24, 2021

        You’re so nice! Thank you for that wonderful compliment!

        Reply

    • Frank
      February 20, 2021

      Thanks for sharing your vacation with us. Awesome stuff! And we’re making the crab cakes today!

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        February 20, 2021

        I hope you love the crab cakes Frank!

        Reply

    • Odielia Davis
      December 31, 2020

      You are so cool and beautiful and real love your recipes!

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        December 31, 2020

        Thank you for that wonderful compliment!

        Reply

    • Ed
      August 3, 2020

      My son just passed his licensing exam as a physical therapist and I decided to treat him with a nice dinner since this COVID is preventing us from going out. I found your broiled lobster recipe and decided to try it. My family loved it. It was so easy to make.
      Thanks for sharing this recipe.
      Maui is also my family’s go to vacation spot. Our last trip was in 2019. We had a total of 28 people in that trip. All cousins, uncles, aunts, nieces and nephews are present. We all stayed at the Westin Nanea Ocean Villa. You should try this place. Once this COVID has cleared, we are planning to go back.

      Reply

      • Natasha's Kitchen
        August 3, 2020

        Congratulations to your son, great job! I am glad you chose this recipe and I’m also happy that you loved it. Wow, that sounds like a fun trip and yes Maui has always been one of our favorite spots!

        Reply

    • Ellen Amoncio
      July 23, 2020

      I may, I might have been that or this LATE in sharing my view; BUT, CERTAINLY am thankful and inspired to HAVE HAD the chance to PEEK at your amazing FAMILY ALBUM…so beautiful and so HAPPY in spirits, esp with the KIDS. WE all used to be young once in our lifetime. FAMILY days OFF are certainly MOST MEMORABLE to boot…to treasure…NOT to erase from hearts.

      Reply

      • Natasha's Kitchen
        July 23, 2020

        Totally agree – family first always. Thank you for your kind words and I am also wishing you and your family all the best!

        Reply

    • Luis
      May 29, 2020

      I am so glad I found your page! You are a great chef and have a gorgeous family! Thanks for sharing! Many blessings!

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        May 29, 2020

        Thank you for that wonderful compliment!

        Reply

    • Nancy Mote
      May 8, 2020

      Every recipe of yours that I have made has been great! I end up printing and keeping them all. My husband is always happy with them too and he’s a bit of a picky eater. The night I made the chicken and broccoli stir fry after we ate he asked where I had gotten it. Haha he thought it was from a restaurant. Love watching the videos too. You are blessed to have such a sweet family. Thank you for sharing with us!

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        May 8, 2020

        That’s just awesome!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!

        Reply

    • Ida Olas
      March 16, 2020

      What a fun vacation you all had!!! Love your pictures!!

      Your cooking shows are awesome!! You’re a great chef!! Keep up the good work!

      Reply

      • Natasha's Kitchen
        March 16, 2020

        Thank you I’m glad you loved it and I appreciate your great feedback too!

        Reply

        • Trudy Johnson
          June 15, 2020

          Thank-you so much for sharing this with us,loved it very much may Our Lord continue to bless you and your family would very much enjoy seeing more videos, also thank-you for your food blog follow all the time. With love and respect.Trudy

          Reply

    • Milton Pope
      January 10, 2020

      Your pictures showing that you enjoyed your trip. Next time Visit us for a Zipline experience in Maui.

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        January 10, 2020

        Hi Milton, thank you for stopping by and shearing that with us.

        Reply

    • Gretchen Morones
      October 27, 2019

      What a lovely, lovely family you have! Enjoyed this video and your tips immensely! Thank you for sharing! I just love all of your recipes. You are such a darling!

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        October 28, 2019

        You’re so nice! Thank you!

        Reply

    • Aasiyah
      April 6, 2019

      Great fun there!!!

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        April 6, 2019

        Yes! We sure love it over there!

        Reply

    • Haley
      March 18, 2019

      Those pictures look awesome. It looks like you guys had a lot of fun.

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        March 18, 2019

        It was so great! Thank you Haley!

        Reply

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