Top Things to do in Maui, Hawaii
One of the many things we loved about Maui is that it caters to every type of traveller. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing beach vacation at a luxury resort or seeking an adventure through the rainforest, this is where you can find it all.
We spent 5 days exploring Hawaii’s second largest island and feel like we didn’t even touch the surface of everything it has to offer. If you’re planning a trip to Maui or wanting to visit sometime in the future, we highly recommend you add these things to your list!
Explore Lahaina Town
Lahaina is one of the most popular towns in Maui. It is right on the water and even offers a great view of Lanai, which is Hawaii’s smallest inhabited island! You could spend all day here exploring the local shops, restaurants, bars, and breweries. The town also has a marina where you can book excursions for snorkeling, diving, cruises and fishing!
If you’re looking for a place to eat we recommend Waikiki Brewing, Down the Hatch, and Kimo’s.
Road to Hana
The Road to Hana is the most popular tourist attraction on the island. It is a narrow highway stretching 64 miles along Maui’s coast to the town of Hana and ending at Haleakala National Park. Along the highway you’ll find stops to hike to waterfalls, black and red sand beaches, lava tubes, and some of Maui’s most scenic viewpoints.
We’ve put this towards the bottom of the list because it is a very long day in the car. Be prepared to wake up before sunrise and be on the road as early as possible. There’s no specific amount of time it’ll take because it depends on the amount of stops you decide to make and the road can get backed up with traffic.
While there is so much to see here, if you only have a few days on the island we would recommend skipping the Road to Hana because it will take up a full day of your time that you could spend doing other things. If you have a week or longer, it is definitely worth adding to your itinerary!
Our favorite stop on the road was Wailua Falls and the bamboo forrest. Don’t forget to stop at the Halfway to Hana sign for some banana bread and shaved ice!
Tip: download offline maps or an offline Road to Hana app as a guide because many areas will not have phone service
Kaanapali & Black Rock Beach
Kaanapali Beach is a popular public beach on Maui lined with many luxury resorts and an outdoor shopping mall. If a relaxing beach resort type of vacation is what you’re looking for, this is where to stay. Some resorts even allow beach visitors to come in and use theirs pools and pool bars!
Just a quick walk down the beach will lead to surf lessons, beach fronts restaurants & shops, and connects to Black Rock Beach with a small cliff jumping area. This spot gets very crowded during the day so get here early if you want to beat the crowds!
Snorkeling
Any tropical vacation is not complete without a snorkeling trip, and Maui is no different! Any beach on the island with be thriving with tropical fish and sea turtles, or you can book a boat tour.
We chose to take a morning boat trip to snorkel off the coast of Lanai Island where we were surprised with sea turtles, octopus, and our personal favorites, spinner dolphins! Another option is a boat trip out to Molokini Crater, which is the most popular snorkel spot in Maui. We chose Lanai over the crater to avoid the tourist crowds since we heard it gets packed with boats everyday.
Olivine Tide Pools
Our second favorite spot on the island: The Olivine Tide Pools. Located about 30 minutes from Lahaina, the pools are a little hidden spot on the side of the road. They involve a short hike down some steep lava rocks, so be prepared with the right shoes.
ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK!
Use your best judgement when entering the pools. If the ocean levels are too high or too rough, the water will come crashing over the rocks separating the pools from the sea. The bottom of the pools are also very slippery but so worth it for a swim!
Haleakala National Park
Our top thing to do in Maui: Haleakala National Park! Being one of two US National Parks located in Hawaii, this is a must do on your trip. Haleakala, meaning “house of the sun” in Hawaiian, is one of Hawaii’s dormant volcanoes.
The national park is located on the Road to Hana but if you really want to experience it all, make it it’s own trip. There is so much to do here such as, watching the sunrise over the top of the volcano, exploring the bamboo forest, hiking to waterfalls, and swimming in the seven sacred pools (if allowed).
Most popular spots in the park: Pipiwai Trail, Seven Sacred Pools, & Haleakala Summit
Have we convinced you to visit Maui yet?
