We kicked off our trip with a hike along the Waihe’e Ridge Trail, and wow, it was a challenge! The trail climbs steadily, with a 1,600 ft elevation gain over 4 miles, but the stunning views along the way made every step worth it. The real highlight for me? Spotting several White-tailed Tropicbirds during the hike – we saw at least 3 or 4 soaring above us! It was incredible.

At the top, we even had a little wildlife encounter with a mongoose. They’re adorable, but we learned they’ve been disastrous for Hawaii’s ecosystem. Introduced to control the rat population, it turns out mongooses are active during the day while rats are nocturnal—so instead of helping, they just added to the problem!

After conquering the trail, we headed to Down the Hatch in Lahaina for some well-earned food. We started with their lava lava shrimp, and for the main course, we shared a cajun ahi. Both dishes were packed with flavor. Dessert was where things got interesting: I went for the classic POG Hawaiian shaved ice, while Jordan opted for a decadent pina colada shaved ice with coconut ice cream, light rum, coconut shavings, and condensed milk. Naturally, I liked his better – happens every time, right?

We wrapped up the day by relaxing back at our hotel, watching the sunset from Ka’anapali Beach. From the beach, you can see the islands of Moloka’i and Lanai in the distance. It’s going to be tough going back to Florida’s beaches without these views! Speaking of Moloka’i, we found out that until 1969, it was home to a leper colony where those with leprosy were sent. It’s wild to think about that history while enjoying such a peaceful, scenic spot.

Day 1 = success!