What We Learned From Vacationing In Hawaiian muʻumuʻu

What's the best way to see Maui? With people you love and dressed to impressed. Forget your shorts and bikinis! In this blog post we share what we learned after vacationing in vintage Hawaiian muʻumuʻu for 3 days.

The challenge: We were only allowed to pack muʻumuʻu. Until this trip we had only been brave enough to rock the old school look for special occasions, work on Aloha Fridays, and privately with friends. During this weekend getaway, we wanted to know what it was like to really LIVE in muʻumuʻu. So we packed a bag of 3 dresses each and headed to the Valley Isle for an experience we'll never forget. Here are a few things we learned on our journey.

1. Muʻumuʻu are PERFECT for Hawaii's fickle climate

We arrived at the Kahului Airport on a day of heavy rain and winds. With record low temperatures and snow falling on Haleakala, it was definitely not an ideal day in paradise. Luckily for us, it warmed up throughout our stay, and we got a chance to soak in some Maui sun. We realized by the end of the trip that rain or shine, freezing cold or 85 °, our muʻumuʻu never failed to keep us comfortable. The full coverage of the muʻumuʻu shielded us from both the heat and harsh winds. Loose, breezy, and long are now our vacation wardrobe requirements.

2. You become more approachable

Two millennials walking around in muʻumuʻu definitely stand out in a crowd. We were greeted wherever we went with curious stares and lots of smiles. Strangers of all ages and backgrounds shared their appreciation for muʻumuʻu and were happy to see them on young women again. We heard from so many strangers about memories of an auntie or grandma that once wore them. I believe there is a warm familiarity in muʻumuʻu which just makes people happy and at ease.

3. Muʻumuʻu is a whole mood!

At the start of our trip we were a little shy about standing out, but by the time we left Maui we had a newfound confidence. We were a lot more comfortable with those lingering stares and people approaching us. It's no secret that how we look on the outside affects how we feel on the inside. There is definitely some magic to the muʻumuʻu that makes you feel part princess. We learned that muʻumuʻu posses a feminine dignity that makes you walk a little taller, and smile a LOT more.

While we missed out on many opportunities for bikini pics, we got to enjoy Maui from the comfort of classic Hawaiian dresses and wore the spirit of aloha on our backs. In the words of Patti Cook, Hawaiʻi Island community leader,

"How we dress has to do with how we treat each other. You feel more connected to our community when you wear aloha attire."