Deciding how to plan your time when vacationing can be difficult. How much time should I spend exploring versus how much time should I spend relaxing? To make your life easier, I’ve put together a list of my favorite activities while vacationing in Maui!
Road to Hana is one of the top attractions when visiting Maui. It is a continuous drive that hugs the island’s eastern coastline and provides awe inspiring views of the ocean and rainforest. While travelers can drive their rented vehicles on a self-guided tour, I HIGHLY recommend booking through a tour company. The winding road becomes extremely narrow in areas and include blind turns that require beeping before taking the corners. The company I used unfortunately no longer runs the Road to Hana tour, however there are several other popular companies worth booking. Tours typically include stops at red and black sand beaches, as well as hikes through the rainforest to various waterfalls. Whether using a tour or traveling the road to Hana on your own, it is important to start early because this is a full day event. Another option is to break-up the trek into two days and to stay in Hana (halfway point) for a night.
Haleakala National Park is the dormant volcano that makes up about 75% of Maui and is great to visit for the sunrise, during the day or for sunset. I had the privilege of seeing the sunrise and it was stunning! It was a moment in time I will never forget. While not everyone may be lucky enough to see the sunrise or sunset depending on the clouds and weather, I think it is worth visiting regardless. Beginning in 2021 you must now have a permit to drive to the top for sunrise. A permit is not needed for sunset. I used a tour for the sunrise and thought it was great as I was able to catch some extra sleep on the early drive. A popular option I would consider for future visits would be the sunrise excursion where you bike down the mountain afterwards. I had friends who did this and had a blast! And of course, there is always visiting during the day to see the endless views and to take a hike. (Advice: Dress warm for sunrise as it is in the 30s and 40s)
Old Lahaina Luau is a traditional Hawaiian luau that specializes in presenting the Hawaiian culture through food, hospitality, and entertainment. The luau is in an outdoor venue with oceanfront views. Expect your greeting to include a fresh orchid lei before being escorted to a private table, whether raised or traditional mat style depending upon what you booked. The night continues with a Hawaiian feast featuring pupus, a main course (featuring the kalua pig roasted in the sand), and dessert. Also let’s not forget the flowing cocktails. After the feast concludes you will experience the story of Hawaii’s history through drums and dance. The show was very captivating!
Maui Pineapple Tour is located upcountry in Hali’imaile on the working Maui Gold pineapple plantation. The tour is 90 minutes long, where you will learn about the growing cycle of the pineapples and see the various stages up close. For those ready to taste fresh pineapple, the guide will cut up pineapples in the fields for tasting! I walked away learning more about pineapples then I ever thought possible, and another advantage is the tour includes a Maui Gold pineapple!
Molokini Snorkel features snorkeling at the Molokini crater, a crescent-shaped, partially submerged volcanic crater known for its outstanding visibility. While many companies offer tours, I booked through Sail Trilogy who did a fantastic job. The excursion was 5-hours in duration and included snorkel stops at the Molokini crater and turtle town. Between locations you get about an hour and 45 minutes of snorkel time. The Molokini crater is the clearest water I have ever seen! It was astounding to see all the assorted colors of the fish and the textures of the coral reef. Turtle town, while less clear, brought us five turtles in 45 minutes! I am not talking about the tiny turtles’ people have as pets, but rather 3-5 foot, 40 years old turtles that were extraordinary to watch in their natural habitat. When you’re not in the water, the staff goes above and beyond to keep the food and drinks constantly flowing. Cinnamon rolls, tropical fruit, juice, and Kona coffee are served for breakfast and teriyaki chicken, tossed green salad, rice and Hawaiian sweet rolls are serviced for lunch. I had a fantastic time and would make snorkeling in Maui a priority!
Sunset Cruise which Ibooked through Sail Trilogy (again) was the perfect “happy hour” before docking for dinner. The itinerary is over a 2-hours and included an array of appetizers and premium bar drinks while sailing the Lahaina harbor. The day we sailed there was not much in the way of wind, but our crew was determined to make it fun and entertaining for everyone. They made the decision to search for whales and despite not being “whale season”, we got the surprise of a breached whale! The staff at Sail Trilogy makes sure you have a wonderful time and leave happy. While Sail Trilogy cannot control the skies, we saw the most beautiful pink and coral sunset.
Surfing Lessons There is no place quite like Maui to start surfing…even if it is just for two hours. Lahaina features multiple surf schools welcoming all ages. On a beginner’s surfboard, a professional instructor will teach you a few fundamental surfing techniques on land before heading out to the ocean. The instructor stays with the group for two hours giving pointers as well as assisting in catching Maui waves! The top-rated surfing schools in Lahaina include Maui Surfers Girls, Royal Hawaiian Surf Academy, and Goofy Foot Surf School (I took lessons through Goofy Foot Surf School and had a wonderful experience.)
Whale Watching (seasonal) is a popular attraction during whale season which runs from December through May. Tour companies run boat excursions that take you into the bay for a few hours to search for whales. Despite visiting just before whale season, I was lucky enough to see a couple whales breach on our sunset cruise! Seeing these majestic beauties up close in the wild was breathtaking and an unexpected bucket list item. If you are planning to visit during whale season, I recommend booking a whale watching tour.
Explore the Beaches The top-rated beaches along with my favorites include Makena “Big” Beach (South Maui), Ka’anapali Beach (West Maui), Napili Bay Beach (West Maui), Hamoa Beach (Hana), Waianapanapa State Park & Beach (Hana), Palauea “White Rocks” Beach (South Maui), Kamaole Beach Park (South Maui), H.A. Baldwin Park & Beach (Central/Paia), Ho’okipa Beach (Central/Paia) Wailea Beach (South Maui) and Ulua Beach (South Maui).
Nakalele Blowhole can be reached along a 1.2 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail near Wailuku Maui. In the morning there is often a rainbow that forms in the mist next to the blowhole. Remember to keep your eye out for the Maui heart shaped rock. When reaching the bottom, with the blowhole on your left, turn so the blowhole is now at your back and here you will find the heart shaped formation in the middle of the rocks.
Maui Brewing Company located in Kihei is a brewery/restaurant that features island inspired cuisine, thirty-six craft and specialty beers in the tasting room, and guided brewery tours of the facilities and brewing process.
Explore Front Street a walkable ocean front town featuring bars, restaurants, boutiques, souvenir shops and art galleries.
Lahaina Banyan Court Park located in the historical town of Lahaina is the largest Banyan tree in the United States. It is more than sixty feet tall and a quarter of a mile in circumference and has sixteen trunks. This tree is worth looking at especially if you are going to visit Front Street as you will be in the vicinity anyway.
Eat Ululani’s Hawaiian Shaved Ice
Have Couples/Family Beach Photos Taken
