Ashmita and Shaleen – Hawaii
These school sweethearts zip-lined in the mountains and explored the deep ocean on their Hawaiian honeymoon
Our relationship started in school in Surat, where I was a teacher’s daughter and he was a friendly student. He asked me to be his girlfriend on email around the time we transferred to New Delhi due to my dad’s job transfer.
So our relationship became a long-distance one, and had its own ups and downs, but strengthened over the 10 years we dated before tying the knot. We decided to pursue our Masters degrees in the US, and flew to San Francisco where we studied together and grew a lot closer. We had a beautiful destination wedding on the 15th of December 2015, at The Deltin, in Daman. It was the perfect celebration of our love story that had started in school.
Honeymoon Planning
Both wanted a relaxed honeymoon after the stress of a destination wedding that had involved a lot of travelling. “Ashmita always thought we would visit Paris and Switzerland for our honeymoon, but due to the cold weather there in December, we opted for Hawaii,” recalls Shaleen. As the couple face a snowy winter every year in December where they stay in the US, they were keen on a warmer spot closer to home for their honeymoon – and Hawaii proved to be the ideal choice. They do, however, plan to have a second honeymoon in Paris and Switzerland in May this year.
Honeymoon Highlights
The couple spent four days at Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach Hotel in Honolulu, before moving to the island of Maui where they spent six days at the sprawling Grand Wailea Resort.
“We both enjoyed zip-lining in the Maui mountains, and exploring the corals and marine life of the ocean in a submarine. We highly recommend the sunset dinner cruise at Honolulu – it’s a ‘must do’ experience for honeymooning couples. We also indulged in some retail therapy at the popular Ala Moana Mall in Honolulu, and the outlets in the Wailea resorts in Maui,” recounts Ashmita happily.
Best meals of the trip
Wailea is known for its luxurious 5-star resorts, which have some renowned restaurants, and the couple decided to have their special ‘Dinner Dates’ at some of these.
Ashmita shares a delectable experience… “Ko, at the Fairmont Kea Lani hotel, offers authentic Hawaiian and Asian food. We got delicious complimentary desserts here after our excellent dinner of Korean Style Spicy Chicken for me, and Spicy Buckwheat Soba Noodle Stir Fry for Shaleen who is a vegetarian.”
At Ferraro’s Bar e Ristorante at the Four Seasons Resort in Maui, the couple tucked into Grilled Organic Jidori Chicken and Vegetarian Lasagna, which they say is a great option for non-meat eaters.
Ashmita loved the fresh fish dishes and the Chef’s three-course special meal on Sundays at the Humuhumunukunukuapua’a (named after a Hawaiian fish) restaurant at the Grand Wailea Resort in Maui. “The chef can customise dishes for vegetarians so don’t forget to mention that when you book your table,” she advises. The couple released their stress of trying to pronounce the restaurant’s name over cups of flavourful French press coffee here – which they highly recommend.
Here’s their tip for a memorable dining experience – “Always reserve your table in advance and mention that you are there on your honeymoon. That way, you get the best seats and sometimes even complimentary desserts with congratulatory greetings from the staff. It adds a special touch to a romantic evening.”
Most romantic moment
The couple’s best moments were spent at the private beach of the Grand Wailea Resort in Maui. “It was expensive but completely worth it. We also enjoyed chilling out in cool cabanas by the hotel’s swimming pool, which need to be reserved in advance,” shares Ashmita. The absolute romantic highlight of the honeymoon for these lovebirds was the sunset dinner cruise at Honolulu.
Must-experience
Shaleen suggests zip-lining and submarine tours in Maui to add an adventurous element to a beach honeymoon. For shopaholic ladies, Ashmita recommends Honolulu’s upscale Ala Moana Mall that features some of the top brands in the world.
Can-avoid
Whale Watching: Some people might recommend this, but as the couple found out, it is highly unpredictable if the whales will actually show up!
To book a bespoke romantic trip for two, click here
