Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Trilogy Excursions.

Mother's Day on Maui

*Written by: Cyndie Ellis*

Mother's Day on an island can be tricky, since you're quite a bit more limited in the quantity of activities to choose from, but you're in luck! I've curated a creative and handy list of the top 8 activities for your Mother's Sunday Funday, all located right here on Maui! Adventure, Relaxation, Wine times - there's a little something for every(mom) here, so we hope you enjoy...!

#1: Upcountry Ali‘I Kula Lavender Farm Tour

photo credit: @seascape62

Nestled on the slopes of Haleakala, the Ali‘i Lavender Farm is a perfect spot to spend a gorgeous Maui day. This 13.5 acre farm can be found 4,000 feet up the famous Haleakala Volcano, and is home to a staggering 55,000 lavender plants, made up of 45 different varieties. Though not native to Hawai‘i, the cool, dry climate of Haleakala is a match made in heaven for these fragrant plants to thrive, allowing the Horticultural Master & founder, Ali‘i Chang, to create this amazing oasis full of breathtaking views and beautiful walking paths. For a nominal $3pp admission fee, guests are free to roam the grounds of this working lavender farm under the shade of the many olive trees that dot the landscape.

Big into history (or just a fan of fun facts)? Guests can opt to go on one of their 5 daily walking tours for $12 per person, or a motorized cart tour, offered twice a day for $25 per person. Rest assured, your ticket cost actually goes toward the maintenance of these serene botanical gardens, which are an important environmental sanctuary for countless tropical birds & creatures. Since you drove all that way, I suggest you also stop by the adorable little gift shop – I personally purchased a heat-able lavender eye pillow for my migraines and it is one of my favorite things! Built on the philosophy of Sustainable Aloha, this animal & earth-friendly company will leave you and your mum in a serene state, with new appreciation and respect for the natural beauty of our island home.

Oh, and ps! If you happen to grab a bag of Culinary Lavender from the gift shop, be sure to check out the amazing recipes that Ali‘’i features online! We’re loving these savory Lavender & Spinach Egg Muffins for breakfast.

To book, call 808-878-3004. Maui residents, make sure to get your kama‘aina discount!

#2: an Exciting Snorkeling Excursion to Maui’s Mother Reef

photo credits: (top & bottom) Island Dream Productions

Perfect for that adventuring spirit; those daredevil moms; the thrill-seeking dynamo – you can’t miss Trilogy’s Discover Olowalu snorkel & sail on Mother’s Day, May 13th! The oldest family owned & operated business here on Maui, Trilogy Excursions was founded in 1971 and I will say that you genuinely feel the aloha & ohana vibe of this excursion company from the very start of your tour. Climb aboard with them on a luxury sailing catamaran and get ready for excitement (and breathtaking views) as you set sail along the west coast of Maui!

Snorkeling Maui’s 1,000+ acre “Mother Reef” at Olowalu is truly a one-of-a-kind experience that brings you up close and personal for an amazing peek into Hawaiian sea life. Home to thousands of tropical fish, as well as a cleaning station for honu (Hawaiian Sea Turtles) and Manta Rays, you and your mum will enjoy an exciting morning of swimming & snorkeling above the 150 year-old coral reefs that line the ocean floor. Included in the $140pp ticket price is a delicious breakfast of sweet and fluffy cinnamon rolls (baked with a 4th generation recipe from Mom Coon herself!) and for lunch, grilled teriyaki BBQ chicken, luau rice, and soft Hawaiian sweet rolls. Nom!

And since I’m sensing the next question already… the answer is YES! All drinks are ALSO included in the ticket cost! So why not cheers your glass with your mom, sipping on a Lana’i Mai Tai (my personal fave), made with Cruzan mango rum, pineapple juice, a secret hand-crafted mix that includes Hawaiian ginger, and topped off with a float of dark rum. Sailing back to Lahaina Harbor, you can take in the amazing views along the Pali and know that you’ve just created forever-memories with your amazing mother! After this ½ day of adventure, next up on your afternoon agenda: a little afternoon snooze.

Book online or call 808-874-5649 to reserve your spot.

#3: A Day of Pampering at the Spa at Grand Wailea

photo credit: The Spa at Grand Wailea

Voted one of the Top 10 Spas in the U.S. by Travel & Leisure magazine and Conde Nast Traveler, the Spa Grande at the Grande Wailea is the perfect locale for a relaxing and rejuvenating mother/daughter day. This 50,000 square foot spa is the largest in Hawai‘i with an astounding 40 treatment rooms, including the exclusive healing waters of Maui, a hydrotherapy circuit, and multiple water therapy pools. Um, yes, please! Bask under the cascading waterfalls and Swiss jet showers as you and your mom shrug away all the stresses of life and enjoy the Spa Grande’s Japanese furo and five specialty rotating baths, each filled with different aromatherapies that soak and soothe away all your tension.

Offering a combination of ancient Hawaiian, West and East massage treatments, I’d go for the Pala‘au Journey Massage. Meaning “to heal with plants”, your certified masseuse starts with a Hawaiian lomi lomi massage, followed by a full body cocoon, and finished with a foot and scalp massage. For me, there is possibly nothing better than an amazing foot massage, and this one does NOT disappoint! Looking for a skin treatment instead? Try the Hydrating Vitamin C facial, with age-defying hydration that helps rebuild collagen and provides additional antioxidant protection (because who DOESN'T want that amazing Jennifer Aniston skin?!). So, go ahead – treat yo’self!

After all those long days raising her most cherished little ragamuffins, we know mom will LOVE this truly all-about-her day to relax her body & mind.

To book, call 808-875-1234 x4949 or book online. The Spa is open daily from 8am-7pm, and is located in South Maui.

#4: Handmade Hawaiian Haku Workshop

photo credits: (top & bottom) Angela Nelson Photography

When in Hawai‘i… do as the Hawaiians do! If you’re looking for a truly unique way to treat your mom for her special day, why not take her to a Haku Workshop! Lost you already? Let’s back up. A traditional Haku is a Hawaiian style flower crown, also known as Lei Po‘o. This lei-making technique strings tropical flowers together using a manai or lei needle, which is then braided together to make a truly one-of-a-kind Hawaiian headdress.

This year, Haku Maui is offering a Mother’s Makana just for all the special mothers out there, which will be held at The Steeple House at Kapalua. Including “bites & sips” from Twisted Tiki Maui, guests will attend a Lei Po‘o workshop, where they will learn how to make a lei from start to finish with fresh, local tropical flowers & foliage. This special event, complete with live music by Ikaika Texeira, is scheduled for Saturday May 19th, with a $75pp admission. O nline Signup is available!

Not feeling those creative juices? No problem, I got you. You can still make mom feel super special by ordering a custom Haku from master Haku maker, Nicole, a 3rd generation born & raised resident here on the island. Nicole’s Grandmother always had a passion for gardening, with literal mazes of flowers, foliage & fruits sprawling her property, and it was the fond memories of these early days, spent weaving haku leis with Grandma Sue, that eventually inspired her to start a business. I’m positive your mum will love wearing this custom Haku from Nicole for her special day! Order online here.

#5: Island Art Party & Wine Bar

photo credit: Island Art Party Facebook Page

Looking for a more creative way to spend quality time with Mom? Calling Maui home, Island Art Party was founded by a husband and wife couple who fell in artsy love with their own experience on the mainland at a local paint & sip studio. Settling in Maui, they opened this family-owned and operated business with the hopes of sharing their love for painting with all those who travel to the island each year, looking for sun & fun. Located in Kihei, guests choose from a 2 ½ hour afternoon or evening class, don their aprons and prepare to get their creative juices flowing (don’t worry, wine tends to help)!

Follow along as a “Partista” provides step-by-step instructions to create the day’s featured painting in a bright, relaxed, and inspiring studio space..… but don’t forget to take a break to sip on your glass of chilled wine or frosty beer, and enjoy a handful or two of complimentary fresh popcorn! Ticket price includes a 16x20” canvas, acrylic paint, and the use of the studio’s easel, brushes, and aprons, and alcoholic bevvies are available for purchase at the bar! For $39-$59 per person, Island Art Party is sure to provide a fun time out with your mum, with the built-in bonus of a souvenir art piece (and obviously fun memories to last a lifetime).

To book, call 808-419-6020 or book online. Hawai‘i residents, don’t forget to ask for your kama‘aina!

#6: Om-Inspiring Ocean-side Yoga Class

photo credit: @marion_michele

Health-conscious mumsies are sure to delight in this one-hour outing to start off their Mother’s Day. Maui Massage & Yoga offers yoga classes directly on the sandy shores of Kihei three times per week – and one of them happens to be on Sundays at 8am! It’s a match made in yogi heaven. Open on a first-come, first-serve basis, start your morning off with decreased stress, increased energy, and a relief of muscle pain & stiffness, not to mention a spectacular ocean-side setting to boot.

Join Johanna Waters on the beach and enjoy an hour of her moderate-level yoga class that uses a winning combination of asana (posture), pranayama (breathwork) and meditation. (Psst.. need a refresher on your breathwork? Try some of the lessons in this great pranayama article.) Beginning her health career in 1998, Johanna is now a state licensed and nationally certified massage therapist, and a 500hr Kripalu & Yoga Alliance certified teacher. With a focus on healthy living and building mental clarity and confidence, this morning class is sure to put mom in a great mood to start out her Maui Mother’s Day! Just swing by with a mat and a towel (no mat? No problem! Rental mats are available for $2 each) and $10pp, and you won’t regret this relaxing morning activity.

NOTE that the class fee is cash only, and yoga events are weather permitting, as they are held outdoors. Classes are held at the beach near Kamaole Nalu Resort in Kihei.

#7: an All-inclusive Culinary Night out

photo credits: (top) @jasonthetiger / (bottom) @bayday808

Looking to escape those bustling Maui restaurant crowds but still want to enjoy an amazing night filled with fine dining and drinks? Well look no further because I have the perfect answer! The Captain’s Dinner Sunset Sail by Trilogy Excursions conveniently departs 5 nights a week out of two locations – and yes, you’re in luck! You can catch the Mother’s Day sail on the 13th out of Lahaina Harbor. This 4-course dining sail is sure to include everything you need for a relaxing, unique night out with your mom - oh, and did we mention the included premium bar drinks?! Swoon.

Starting with a warm basket of baked breadsticks and 3 plated tapas-style appetizers, you’ll then lighten things up a bit with a crunchy, crouton-filled Caesar Salad (with homemade dressing)! But we’re giving you fair warning… make SURE you save room for the main course, because it is to-die-for. My favorite? Try the pan-seared rosemary & garlic crusted top sirloin, served with Moloka‘i sweet mashed potatoes and sautéed seasonal veggies. Other entrée options (all served with the mashed potatoes & vegetables) include a juicy, gourmet citrus chicken breast or a locally caught, panko-crusted island fish with lemon caper butter sauce. And for all you vegetarians, don’t you fret! Trilogy’s got you covered with a delicious penne pasta, tossed with Thai basil marinara and a topped with a hearty portobello mushroom cap.

Not full yet? Enjoy the unobstructed, breathtaking sunset views with the islands of Lana‘i and Moloka‘i as your backdrop, as you sip your Mai Tai and finish off your Mother’s Day meal with a trio of desserts. We know, we know. You’re all of a sudden hungry…

Book online or call 808-874-5649.

#8: Kapalua Coastal Trail & Merriman’s Happy Hour

photo credit: @seascape62

Ok, ok, I have just one more excellent idea for you to make mom’s day extra special, and this one is sure to please. Feeling those Maui island prices on your wallet? (me too!) BUT, here is the idea to save the day - the Kapalua Coastal Trail is completely FREE, and completely amazing. This extremely mild 1.8 mile loop (3.6mi round trip) follows the west-most Maui coast, along some of the most expensive resort frontages here on the island. You’ll start off at the trailhead by Kapalua Bay beach, and follow the combination paved/boardwalk trail along the beautifully groomed gardens of the Montage and the Ritz Carlton. One section does get a little rocky (read: no baby carriages here!) but for the most part, this easy-going trail is a great way to get outside, talk story with mom, and take in the sweeping west-facing Maui views of Moloka‘i.

My pro tip? Set out on your trail walk around 3pm, and as you near the loop’s end, head (literally) directly up the steps to Merriman’s Kapalua for a very reasonably priced happy hour drink (or two) & appetizer! Known for their infamous Merriman’s Mai Tai, you will be truly addicted to the lilikoi foam garnish (not even joking, I’ve considered asking for a bowl of it). My favorite appetizer is the Honokohau Valley Taro Hummus – a perfectly sized plate of house-made crispy Moloka‘i potato chips, fresh cut veggies and a hummus that is addictively delicious, with hints of lemon and rosemary.

With live daily music from 3-5pm on their expansive outdoor deck overlooking the Bay, you and mom will have trouble leaving this gorgeous venue (just make sure you watch the time... the minute that clock hits 5pm, those drinks are almost double the price!). The best part? No reservations required! Just show up to this amazing trail and end your Mother’s Day with a fun hike and gorgeous view of an unparalleled Maui sunset.

And there you have it! I hope you're now full of fun, unique ideas to make Mom’s day super special. Now get outside, celebrate your mom, and enjoy everything that this beautiful island has to offer. <3

Written by: Cyndie Ellis

8 Totally Amazing Maui Mother’s Day Activities