new peeks: east maui love

summertime has been quite the design whirlwind over at everything is jake! which recently released a new island to its delightfully retro travel poster series. this time around maui's made by mother nature landmarks have been recreated to remind locals and visitors alike of chilly treks up to haleakala to greet the sunrise, rambling along the oh-so-curvy road to hana, and wandering through the whispering bamboo forests of kipahulu.

$18 online.

p.s. click over to the EIJ! design blog where nick is giving away a set of prints to two lucky winners.

morning crush: road to hana

road to hana

a happy discovery from san francisco illustrator nidhi chanani. love how her road to hana sweetly captures the wonderment of wandering through the rainforest.

$25 online.

maui underground

hana lava tube

the next time you find yourself traveling down the world famous hana highway, consider taking a detour to explore the hidden caves of hana where lava once flowed deep beneath the earth. the ka'eleku cavern, aka the hana lava tube, is estimated to be over 1000 years old and is believed to be the 18th largest lava tube on earth.

if you have ever meandered through the thurston lava tube at volcanoes, the hana tube is a bit longer at two miles and is tall enough to fit a 6 story building. as adventures go, the self guided tour sounds relatively mellow so you don't have to be an experienced spelunker to make the trip underground since pathways have been cleared and guide rails lend a helping hand.

ti leaf maze

and, for those who prefer to stay up where the sun shines, additional amusement can be had by wandering amongst the red ti leaf plants which form an island style botanical maze on the property.

happy traveling!

island nomad

luana spa retreat

a few years ago i read a very evocative story in the newspaper about living in a yurt (the article is long gone but you can read this one to get a sense of what it is like). the coziness of the round structure and the thought of gazing at the stars through the skylight completely captured my imagination. sigh.

lucky me, it turns out there are a handful of yurt vacation rentals around the islands! the luana spa retreat in hana has a yurt located on its property with a panoramic view of hana bay. it sounds like a romantic getaway especially when you consider that there is a separate bath house (complete with outdoor shower) and that you can indulge in a massage at the spa which is just steps from your hideaway.

click here to read the reviews on tripadvisor before you go.

there is also this fabulous yurt nestled on the grounds of the kona kine coffee farm on the big island. it is luxed out with all the modern amenities you could want and features a wraparound deck with views of the pacific and nature as far as the eye can see. take a peek at the photo gallery for a little tour.

kona yurt

there is a three night minimum so do double check your dates on the availability calendar, but that just means you will have more time to lounge on the deck and soak up the view while you enjoy the complimentary organic coffee grown by the yurt's owner.

free night in hana

now that your ticket is booked you'll need a place to rest your pretty little head. if you're off to maui and can afford to stay at the hotel hana-maui . . . well, let's be honest, the savings from the discover hana package is probably just pocket change for you.

anyhoo, book 4 nights in select sea country cottages and the 5th night is on the house. they've even tossed in breakfast for two for the length of your stay. go see why the hotel recently earned the no. 12 spot on travel+leisure's top 25 hawaii hotels and check in with us after your stay so we can live vicariously through you.

the fine print:

• stay: sep 1st to dec 21st
• blackout: thanksgiving (nov 23rd to 30th)