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Want to Make $1,000 of Passive Income Each Year? Invest $22,000 into These 3 Top High-Yield Dividend Stocks.

Key Points

Investing money in high-yielding dividend stocks is a super-easy way to generate passive income. You just buy the stocks and watch the dividend income flow into your account.

For example, investing $22,000 across the following three dividend stocks could net you over $1,000 of dividend income each year:

Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Learn More Β»

Dividend Stock

Investment

Current Yield

Annual Dividend Income

Federal Realty Investment Trust (NYSE: FRT)

$7,333.33

4.67%

$342.47

EPR Properties (NYSE: EPR)

$7,333.33

6.05%

$443.67

Sun Communities (NYSE: SUI)

$7,333.33

3.26%

$239.07

Total

$22,000.00

4.66%

$1,025.20

Data sources: Google Finance and author's calculations.

These real estate investment trusts (REITs) all generate stable and growing rental income to support their high-yielding dividends. Here's a closer look at these high-quality, high-yielding dividend stocks.

A person in a suit holding out a fan of cash.

Image source: Getty Images.

Federal Realty Investment Trust

Federal Realty Investment Trust is a REIT focused on owning high-quality retail properties. The company has always prioritized quality over quantity when investing in retail properties. It currently owns 103 properties across nine strategically selected metro markets, primarily major gateway cities. The REIT invests in the first-ring suburbs of these markets because those areas benefit from the best demographics, given their highly dense populations of high-income earners. Space in those properties tends to remain in high demand by retailers, keeping occupancy high and driving steady rent growth.

It routinely upgrades its portfolio by selling lower-quality properties and recycling that capital to acquire higher-quality locations. Federal Realty will also invest money to improve its existing locations, including adding residential and other properties to its retail centers to draw more traffic to its retail tenants.

The REIT's focused and high-quality real estate portfolio has produced durable and growing income. That has enabled Federal Realty Investment Trust to raise its payment for 57 straight years, the longest record in the REIT industry.

EPR Properties

EPR Properties is a REIT focused on owning experiential real estate, including movie theaters, eat-and-play venues, and attractions. It leases these properties to operating tenants, primarily under triple net (NNN) terms. NNN leases generate stable rental income because tenants cover all property operating costs, including routine maintenance, real estate taxes, and building insurance. That stable income enables EPR Properties to pay a monthly dividend.

The REIT generates meaningful excess free cash flow after paying its high-yielding dividend. It reinvests those funds to grow its portfolio. EPR Properties buys experiential real estate in sale-leaseback transactions and invests in build-to-suit development and redevelopment projects. At its current annual investment rate of $200 million to $300 million, EPR can grow its cash flow per share and dividend at a 3% to 4% annual rate.

Sun Communities

Sun Communities is a REIT that invests in manufactured home communities and RV resorts. Those properties produce pretty durable income. It's expensive to move a manufactured home, which keeps occupancy high. Lot tenants typically sell their home to a new tenant rather than moving the house. Meanwhile, demand for space in RV parks is strong and growing, with limited new supply.

The company's properties are so durable that Sun Communities has delivered more than 20 years of positive annual net operating income (NOI) growth. For comparison, multifamily REITs have experienced three periods of declining NOI during that timeframe, because of recessions. Sun has also grown its NOI faster than other REITs, with 5.3% compound annual growth since 2000, compared with 3.2% for the industry as a whole. In addition to steady income growth at its existing locations, the REIT routinely acquires new properties and invests in expanding and redeveloping its existing ones.

Sun Communities' stable and steadily rising income enables it to pay a resilient and growing dividend. It recently raised its dividend payment by 10.6%.

Great ways to generate passive income

Federal Realty Investment Trust, ERP Properties, and Sun Communities pay attractive and growing dividends. That makes them great options for investors seeking to generate passive income. They should provide investors with durable and growing dividend income for years to come.

Where to invest $1,000 right now

When our analyst team has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,048%* β€” a market-crushing outperformance compared to 179% for the S&P 500.

They just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now, available when you join Stock Advisor.

See the stocks Β»

*Stock Advisor returns as of July 7, 2025

Matt DiLallo has positions in EPR Properties and Sun Communities. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends EPR Properties. The Motley Fool recommends Sun Communities. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Every winter, they'd leave Saint Tropez for Thailand. Eventually, they bought a boutique hotel and moved to the tropics for good.

6 June 2025 at 00:33
Rows of beach chairs along a pool, facing the ocean, in a boutique hotel in Koh Samui, Thailand.
Pauline Cabessa left France and moved to Koh Samui, Thailand, to take over a boutique hotel she'd vacationed at for years.

Amanda Goh for Business Insider.

The sun was shining, the sea was glistening, and the woman in front of me looked every bit the boss of this little slice of paradise in Thailand.

Dressed in breezy beachwear β€” a matching set with bold prints in yellow, pink, and orange β€” she stepped out of the hotel's front office and greeted me with a bright smile.

"Sunglasses are a must," she told me with a laugh, as she led me down the long entryway lined with lush greenery, the tropical sun blazing overhead.

A woman in a colorful outfit posing in front of a metal boutique hotel sign.
Cabessa had no prior experience running a hotel, but her background managing a restaurant in Saint Tropez helped.

Amanda Goh for Business Insider.

Pauline Cabessa runs Cielo Samui, a boutique hotel on Koh Samui's Bo Phut beach.

For more than a decade, Cabessa and her husband escaped their home base in Saint Tropez every winter to holiday in Samui.

They were frequent guests of the hotel β€” then named Eden Beach Bungalows β€” where they struck up a friendship with the French owner. One day, during a casual conversation, he let slip that he was looking to sell the property.

Almost immediately, Cabessa and her husband, Francois Vargas, found themselves imagining what it would be like to take over the place.

The idea stuck, even after their vacation ended. "As we were on the plane, going back to work, we kept thinking, 'Oh, we need to find a way to make it,'" she said.

In 2017, they packed up their lives in France, said goodbye to their loved ones, and moved across the world to run the hotel β€” never mind the fact that neither of them had ever managed one before.

"I felt like it was time in life for a challenge," Cabessa, now 43, said. "Being an employee, doing the same thing all your life β€” if you don't do things that are a little bit crazy, then afterward it might be a little bit too late."

Renovating the hotel

As much as she loved Asia, Cabessa never thought she'd put down roots in Samui.

But her job managing a restaurant in Saint Tropez had started to feel hollow. It was as if the essence of hospitality was being replaced by a culture of showing off, she said.

"I was really losing the authentic connection I shared with people, and time with my family as well, because I was working a lot," she said. "Well, it was thanks to that that I am here now. With the money I earned there, I was able to take on this project."

She preferred to keep financial details private but said she and her husband co-own the hotel with another couple β€” longtime friends who came onboard as business partners. While their business partners are primarily investors and live in the US, she and her husband run the day-to-day operations of the hotel in Samui.

One of the villas in Cielo Samui, a boutique hotel in Koh Samui, Thailand.
When tourism ground to a halt during the pandemic, she took the chance to redesign and renovate the entire property. This is a photo of one of the villas after the renovation.

Provided by Cielo Samui.

The opportunity to take over the hotel came at the right time, since she and Vargas were also thinking about expanding their family. Saint Tropez no longer felt like a place where they wanted to raise their kids.

"I wanted my daughter to learn more English and be in contact with people from different places. I wanted a second child as well," she said, adding that her son was born on Samui.

Her husband needed little convincing β€” he had been vacationing in Samui since 1997, long before the couple had even gotten together.

Although the idea of leaving his previous life behind to start anew in a foreign country felt daunting, Vargas told me he wasn't too worried.

"Moving to Samui was an opportunity to create our own dream," Vargas, 48, said. "I love what we do, the island, the security we can offer our kids, and the people."

Renovation progress photo. Thatched roofs are being removed from a villa in a resort in Koh Samui, Thailand.
The pandemic provided an opportunity for her to renovate the property.

Provided by Cielo Samui.

For the first two years, Cabessa ran the hotel as it was, while Vargas, a chef, oversaw the in-house restaurant.

But when business ground to a halt due to the pandemic, she decided it was time to renovate.

"That was not part of our original plan at all," she said.

Cabessa redesigned the hotel herself. Like many modern women, she drew inspiration from her Pinterest board.

With textured limewashed walls, stone floors, and an earthy-neutral palette, it's hard not to notice the strong Mediterranean design influences that Cabessa infused into the space.

The restaurant in the hotel.
All room types come with breakfast. Meals are served in the hotel restaurant, which is located by the beach.

Amanda Goh for Business Insider.

She also added a yoga studio and a spa to the compound.

The renovation took nine months to complete and was "quite stressful," she said.

To stay afloat during the pandemic and retain their original staff, they opened a restaurant in the nearby tourist district of Fisherman's Village.

"Everybody moved back here when we reopened," she said.

These days, nightly rates for a regular suite begin at 8,500 Thai baht, or $260, with the largest option β€” a three-bedroom villa that accommodates up to eight guests β€” going for 26,000 baht.

Running the biz

Running a hotel is no walk in the park.

"People tell me, 'Your life is cool.' OK, there are coconut trees, there is the sun, I get it. But that doesn't mean that there are no challenges," Cabessa said.

With 45 staff members under her wing, she also finds herself smoothing things over with the occasional picky guest.

The beach in Koh Samui, Thailand.
Guests occasionally leave complaints about things beyond her control, like the noise from the waves or the sand on the beach being too hard.

Amanda Goh for Business Insider.

"I've got reviews from some people complaining about the noise of the waves when they live in the rooms near the beach," she said. "Sometimes people even tell me that the sand on the beach is too hard to walk on."

While Cabessa is always on-site and ready to fix any problems, some things are simply out of her hands. At the end of the day, Samui is an island. "I cannot control nature," she said.

Thankfully, her background working in Saint Tropez prepared her for high-pressure situations.

One of the rooms in the hotel.
Rates start at 8,500 Thai baht for a standard suite and climb to 26,000 baht for a private three-bedroom villa.

Amanda Goh for Business Insider.

"We were doing around 600 people per lunch per day back then," she said. No matter how challenging things get in Samui, she says it's hard to find guests with higher expectations than those in France.

It's easy to see Cabessa's dedication in action: She pauses to greet each staff member by name β€” and in Thai β€” and never misses a chance to speak with passing guests, even as she's showing me around.

Most of her guests come from Europe, Australia, or around Asia, including Singapore and Hong Kong. In recent months, she's also seen more American tourists.

A bath tub and shower in one of the hotel rooms.
Guests can enjoy complimentary activities daily in the hotel, like Pilates, yoga, and Muay Thai classes.

Amanda Goh for Business Insider.

An Australian couple in their 40s told me it was their first time in Samui, and they chose to stay here because the place seemed tranquil and the beach was, in their words, "right there."

All room types at the hotel include breakfast. Guests can also enjoy complimentary activities daily, like Pilates, yoga, and Muay Thai classes. Padel and kayaking are also available.

The idea is to create a place where guests can happily spend their entire stay without needing to step outside, Cabessa said.

Adapting to life on Samui

The pool at Cielo Samui, a boutique hotel in Koh Samui, Thailand, leads right to the beach and the sea.
The pool area leads right to the beach and the sea.

Amanda Goh for Business Insider.

Cabessa says adapting to life on the island was a breeze.

Her kids, now 11 and 5, go to an international school. Her mother, who is retired, even moved to Samui from Lyon three years ago. She now lives just down the street from Cabessa.

"This is a safe country. You can let your kids play in a mall or on the beach, and you are not worried about that," Cabessa said. "I also love the culture of showing respect for your elders."

Working in hospitality, she also appreciates the friendliness of the Thai people.

"People are always smiling, and this is such a relief. Because if you live in Paris and you take the subway, nobody's smiling," she said.

The island has changed significantly since the first time she visited.

It's much easier to find international products or fresh produce now. And if something isn't available locally, she can order it from Bangkok, and it'll arrive within 24 hours.

Cabessa says she'll "never, ever" move back to France. And even if she doesn't live in Samui, Thailand will always be home.

"I'll never quit this country," she said.

Do you have a story to share about moving to a new country to run a hotel or resort business? Contact this reporter at [email protected].

Read the original article on Business Insider

Should You Buy Ethereum While It's Down 47% This Year?

Let's be perfectly clear: Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) is having a very bad year. It's now down 47% in 2025, making it the worst-performing top cryptocurrency. At a time when rival cryptocurrencies are finally starting to regain momentum, Ethereum is down another 10% over the past 30 days.

So is it time to give up on Ethereum? Or is there still hope that it can somehow turn things around? Let's take a closer look.

Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue Β»

Ethereum's competitors

Of foremost concern, Ethereum no longer looks as formidable as it did even 12 months ago. Upstart rivals continue to proliferate, and there are now four direct competitors -- Solana (CRYPTO: SOL), Cardano (CRYPTO: ADA), Avalanche (CRYPTO: AVAX), and Sui (CRYPTO: SUI) -- that are taking market share away from Ethereum.

All five of these competitors boast market caps of $9 billion or higher, all of them now rank among the top 20 cryptocurrencies in the world, and all of them are performing better than Ethereum this year. Moreover, if you look outside the Top 20, there are plenty more smaller competitors, many of them focusing on a specialized niche of the blockchain world that Ethereum once had the potential to dominate.

Ethereum's existential crisis

So this rapidly changing competitive landscape is one obvious reason why Ethereum's crypto price continues to tank. It's no longer enough for Ethereum to roll out a new blockchain upgrade every year and expect investors to be impressed.

Moreover, Ethereum appears to be experiencing an existential crisis right now. At the beginning of the year, there were even signs that Vitalik Buterin, the legendary co-founder of Ethereum, might actually quit and hand over the reins to someone new.

Stressed out investor with laptop.

Image source: Getty Images.

At the same time, developers within the Ethereum blockchain ecosystem are squabbling over its future direction. And there has already been a big leadership shakeup this year at the Ethereum Foundation, the nonprofit organization responsible for guiding the future direction of Ethereum.

Adding insult to injury, some blockchain competitors are now raising the question of whether Ethereum will even exist a decade from now. Charles Hoskinson, one of the co-founders of Ethereum who went on to launch rival Cardano, recently suggested that Ethereum is running out of time and is in imminent danger of becoming the next MySpace or BlackBerry.

There's too much competition, Hoskinson says, and Ethereum is at real risk of losing its foothold in decentralized finance (DeFi), the one area where it has been historically dominant. Moreover, economic value is rapidly flowing away from Ethereum (the Layer 1 blockchain) to new blockchain scaling solutions (the Layer 2 blockchains) that are designed to help Ethereum run faster and more efficiently. Investors are waking up to this reality and significantly marking down their price forecasts for Ethereum.

The Trump factor

All of this, of course, is the reason for doom and gloom about Ethereum. However, there is one silver lining: the Trump White House still thinks Ethereum is core to the growth of the blockchain and crypto sector and is devoting considerable resources to propping it up. For example, it made Ethereum a centerpiece of the new U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile, and World Liberty Financial, the crypto company affiliated with the Trump family, has been buying Ethereum for its own portfolio.

It's up to you to decide, of course, whether these efforts are going to help. For example, take the U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile. Yes, it commits the U.S. Treasury to consolidate the government's holdings of Ethereum. But it does not commit the U.S. Treasury to buy new Ethereum, which is what investors were hoping for. Any large-scale buying of Ethereum by the U.S. government, of course, could send its price soaring.

Only buy Ethereum if this one thing happens

At the end of the day, it's almost impossible to recommend Ethereum these days. And that's really a shame because Ethereum has been a star performer for nearly a decade. It remains the second-largest cryptocurrency in the world and is one of the few cryptocurrencies widely held by both large institutional investors and small retail investors.

But here's the thing: Digital assets need to be valued based on their future growth projections and not on past accolades or past performance. There are simply too many competitors these days, and Ethereum is starting to lag its biggest rivals. Unless the Trump White House commits to a full-scale buying of Ethereum as a national strategic asset, there are better investment targets elsewhere.

Should you invest $1,000 in Ethereum right now?

Before you buy stock in Ethereum, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Ethereum wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $594,046!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $680,390!*

Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 872% β€” a market-crushing outperformance compared to 160% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.

See the 10 stocks Β»

*Stock Advisor returns as of April 28, 2025

Dominic Basulto has positions in Cardano, Ethereum, Solana, and Sui. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Avalanche, Cardano, Ethereum, Solana, and Sui. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

2 Types of Cryptocurrencies Getting Slammed by President Trump's New Tariffs

Only a handful of cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) and XRP (CRYPTO: XRP), have been able to avoid the worst of the declines in response to President Donald Trump's new tariffs.

Most top cryptocurrencies are down at least 20% for the year, with two major categories of cryptocurrencies -- Layer 1 blockchain networks and meme coins -- getting slammed especially hard. Let's take a closer look to see whether any of these beaten-down cryptos might be worth buying right now.

Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue Β»

Layer 1 blockchain networks

Layer 1 blockchain networks, such as Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH), Solana (CRYPTO: SOL), Cardano (CRYPTO: ADA), Sui (CRYPTO: SUI), and Avalanche (CRYPTO: AVAX), have declined significantly. All of them still boast market caps of $9 billion or higher and still rank among the top 15 cryptocurrencies in the world. However, it has become obvious that many investors won't touch them.

The worst performer by a wide margin has been Ethereum. While Solana and Cardano are down a disappointing 20% on the year, Ethereum is down an eye-popping 46%. The investor sentiment around Ethereum is deeply negative, and the gap between Ethereum and its closest rivals appears to be narrowing.

Quite frankly, this shouldn't be happening. After all, Ethereum is the world's second-largest cryptocurrency, with a market value of almost $220 billion. It is one of only two cryptos (Bitcoin being the other) with a spot exchange-traded fund (ETF). During the past decade, it has had an impeccable track record of delivering outsized returns to investors.

Despite its current slide, Ethereum still appears to have the support of the Trump administration, which made it a cornerstone of its new U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile back in March. Members of the Trump family, including President Trump himself, have publicly vouched for Ethereum on social media. And World Liberty Financial, the crypto company affiliated with the Trump family, has made Ethereum a high-profile holding.

Meme coins

If there's any category of crypto that's performing worse than Layer 1 blockchains right now, it's meme coins. The current tariff environment has led to a stark risk-off mentality among investors, and there hasn't been a good reason to invest in meme coins for months now.

Disappointed investor looking at smartphone.

Image source: Getty Images.

Dogecoin (CRYPTO: DOGE), the top meme coin by market cap, is down 45% this year. Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: SHIB), the second-largest meme coin, is down 37%. Pepe (CRYPTO: PEPE), the third-largest meme coin, is down 53%. And the Official Trump meme coin (which trades under the ticker TRUMP), the fourth-largest meme coin, is down a face-melting 84% since its debut back in January.

The message from investors could not be clearer: Stay away from meme coins. Even before tariffs, meme coins were risky, speculative investments. Now, they are complete dumpster fires, with Cathie Wood of Ark Invest recently suggesting that nearly all of them will soon be worthless.

That's not to say that some meme coins won't pop every now and then, but that's likely to be a dead cat bounce. (Or in the case of Dogecoin and Shiba Inu, a dead dog bounce.) Sorry, pet lovers, but I can't think of a worse place to invest your money right now. If you're buying animal-themed meme coins now, you're providing the exit liquidity for investors sitting on big losses right now.

Are any of these beaten-down cryptos worth buying now?

It might be tempting to sift through the crypto discount bin to see whether there are any bargains to be found. After all, we're talking about multibillion-dollar digital assets that have seen their value slashed anywhere from 20% to 50% in a matter of months. Surely, there's a good deal somewhere?

With that in mind, one crypto that might be worth exploring right now is Solana. Even amid tariff uncertainty, activity appears to be picking up on the Solana blockchain. And Solana has clearly emerged as the top challenger to Ethereum, which appears to be mired in an existential crisis these days. Best of all, we've seen how much Solana can pop. Back in 2023, Solana soared by more than 900%.

Just keep this in mind: Concerns about recession, inflation, and a potential trade war mean there is absolutely no appetite right now for many cryptocurrency investments. For now, Bitcoin remains the top crypto to target amid tariff uncertainty. Historically, Bitcoin has been more resilient than other cryptos in the face of economic and geopolitical uncertainty, and it could be your best option as a potential hedge against a global economic slowdown.

Should you invest $1,000 in Ethereum right now?

Before you buy stock in Ethereum, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Ethereum wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $594,046!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $680,390!*

Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 872% β€” a market-crushing outperformance compared to 160% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.

See the 10 stocks Β»

*Stock Advisor returns as of April 21, 2025

Dominic Basulto has positions in Bitcoin, Cardano, Ethereum, Solana, Sui, and XRP. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Avalanche, Bitcoin, Cardano, Ethereum, Solana, Sui, and XRP. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

I was born and raised on Maui. Here are 5 of the best things for visitors to do on the island — and 5 they should skip.

26 April 2025 at 11:22
Aerial view of trees, greenery in Road to Hana in Maui
As a Maui local, I've got a lot of recommendations for tourists β€” but I also suggest they skip certain things, like driving the Road to Hana.

Reinhard Dirscherl/ullstein bild via Getty Images

  • I'm from Maui, and there are spots I recommend for visitors and things I suggest they avoid.
  • Some of the best things for tourists to do in Hawaii is visit Haleakala National Park or Twin Falls.
  • Proceed with caution if you plan to drive the Road to Hana or go to Makena State Park.

As a born and raised Hawaii resident, navigating the beauty of Maui has been both a privilege and a joy.

While serving as a tour guide for loved ones who've visited, I've crafted a list of must-see attractions and identified spots that don't live up to the hype or, in some cases, may even pose risks.

So, consider this list a local perspective on the best ways to appreciate Maui's wonders β€” and which places or activities might be worth skipping.

Experience an authentic luau in Lahaina

A luau provides a glimpse into Polynesian culture through traditional cuisine, music, dance, and insightful education on history and cultural practices.

The award-winning Old Lahaina Luau has always been a personal favorite. Although the property sustained fire damage, it has since reopened and continues to welcome guests with its renowned spirit of aloha.

Let the luau staff and performers β€” many of whom are longtime Lahaina residents β€” transport the audience back in time to ancient Hawaii with the Pacific Ocean as a serene backdrop.

The evening includes a captivating performance paired with a multicourse meal with dishes like locally sourced Κ»ulu (breadfruit) hummus, kalua pork cooked in an imu (traditional Hawaiian underground oven), and fresh-caught fish.

Explore rare landscapes and vegetation at Haleakala National Park

ʻOheʻo Gulch and the palikea Stream at the Haleakalā National Park, the waterfall
A waterfall at Haleakala National Park.

fitopardo/Getty Images

One of my favorite activities while growing up on Maui was spontaneously driving up to Haleakala National Park (home to the island's dormant volcano) to watch the sunrise.

The park is a great spot for a sunset or a daytime hike, whether you want to try a short walk to a viewpoint or a full-day hike into the crater.

Drink in the sunset and cocktails at Ocean Organic Vodka

Nestled on the slopes of Haleakala is an 80-acre organic farm and distillery that produces Ocean Organic Vodka and other liquor, including my personal favorite, Kula Rum.

Guests can take a guided tour of the farm and distillery that's followed by a tasting.

Alternatively, head straight to the al fresco Cafe at The Point to enjoy dishes like poke nachos, teriyaki chicken sandwich, and an array of cocktails. With its panoramic views of the Maui landscape, this is the perfect place to catch a sunset.

Connect with the local community at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center

The Maui Arts & Cultural Center is a venue for education and entertainment, including performances of Hawaiian music and dance as well as cultural programs and gallery exhibitions.

Some standout events include the annual Slack Key Guitar Festival, with live music, and the Maui Brewers Festival, with beer and food tastings.

Plus, there are shows by renowned musicians, comedians, and much more all year round.

Have family-friendly fun at the Twin Falls

Woman posing under waterfall near Twin Falls
The water in Twin Falls can feel refreshing during hot days.

Ashley Probst

This leisurely hike through Wailele Farm includes various waterfalls and fresh-water pools that are fun for all ages to swim in.

The path to the upper falls is only about a mile roundtrip and is an ideal place to immerse yourself in some of Hawaii's natural wonders.

The family-owned-and-operated farm also grows more than 350 species of tropical plants. Try a taste of fresh produce like mangoes, lilikoi (passion fruit), coconuts, and more β€” all of which are available for purchase at the on-property Wailele Farm Stand.

Be sure to check trail conditions before heading out, as there can be closures due to flooding.

On the other hand, don't play in the waves at Makena State Park

Makena State Park, also known as Big Beach, is a popular spot for experienced surfers, but I don't recommend coming here if you want to float around or go for a swim.

The shorebreak can be dangerous, and the powerful waves frequently create hazardous conditions. Although there are sometimes lifeguards on duty, even experienced swimmers can struggle to keep up in the waters here.

The waves may look fun to play in, but the risk simply isn't worth the potential reward.

Be discerning about driving on the Road to Hana

Hana is my favorite place on Earth, but the road to get there is treacherous, with dozens of one-lane bridges and hundreds of curves, many of which are on the edge of a cliff.

This journey is not recommended for novice drivers or those who are prone to getting carsick. Parking is also an issue, as the narrow roads don't provide much room to pull over.

Instead of driving yourself, consider booking an official tour with a professional guide if you want to visit the Road to Hana.

It's better to view the Nakalele Blowhole from a distance

A warning sign at Nakalele Blowhole
Nakalele Blowhole is perhaps best viewed from afar.

Ashley Probst

The Nakalele Blowhole is a natural wonder that's caused by ocean waves shooting through an underwater lava tube to create a geyser-like spout.

It's certainly a sight to behold, but witnessing it up close requires hiking across rocky terrain. This can be dangerous if you have children or other curious souls who could venture too close and slip on the rocks or (worst case scenario) get sucked in.

Instead, consider just enjoying the sprays of water from a distance.

A hike on Waihee Ridge Trail can be great, but only in the right conditions

The Waihee Ridge Trail is stunning but fickle. The trail typically has one of two extremes: It's either hot and sunny with minimal shade or covered in slippery mud on a steep slope with no views from the top due to thick clouds.

Even my friend who's an avid hiker wasn't inclined to hit the Waihee Ridge Trail when they visited.

It's really only worth going on this hike if you go early in the morning on a day with great weather. Otherwise, your trek may be a lot more taxing than it might be worth in the end.

Leave jumping off Black Rock to professional cliff divers

Black rocks above water in Hawaii
Black Rock is pretty but I wouldn't suggest diving off of it.

Ashley Probst

At the north end of Kaanapali Beach stands Black Rock, which is a popular cliff-jumping spot about a dozen feet (or more in some places) above the water.

It's frequented by locals as well as hotel employees who light torches along the rocks before diving into the water at sunset most evenings.

However, cliff diving can be extremely dangerous, especially when done without proper precautions, supervision, or prep.

Even if you don't get seriously hurt, it's still painful if you hit the water wrong, and you're sure to hear commiserating cries from onlookers β€” something I know from personal experience.

There are also strong currents around Black Rock, so please carefully consider entering the water.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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