10 things to do in Maui Hawaii you MUST consider

ALOHA!

Of course you think of beaches when you think of Hawaii. There are plenty of beaches that you can spend your time when you go to Maui.

There are also a lot of other very Hawaii outdoor things to do on Maui!

To see the best of Maui, it’s best to rent a car or do a tour.

If you want to take it easy (like beaches or easy coastal walks!) then there are also places that you can reach by bus. (aka Maui on a budget!)

There is a bus stop about a 20 minute walk from the Kahului cruise port, and there are bus stops in major tourist towns on Maui including Kihei, Wailea, Kaanapali, Kapalua, and Paia. I have taken the bus plenty in Maui and it works quite fine to get around! Just think of it as experiencing slow island life.🤪

 

Below I will give you ideas about planning your trip to Maui, with the absolute BEST things to do on Maui that you MUST consider!

 

There are affiliate links included on this blog. I may earn a commission.

 

 

First here are the quick tips for some activities you need to know about for a visit to Maui!

Popular things to do include the Haleakala sunrise, the Road to Hana, and a Hawaiian luau with a fire show. You will need an overnight on Maui to do these.

And then it’s Hawaii, so you can go hiking and snorkeling!

Maui has incredible hikes that you can do on your own, and Maui is also one of the best islands for snorkeling! (Although you can really find fun snorkeling on any of the Hawaiian islands!)

You will need a car to do the best Maui hikes, and these include hikes to see mountains views, ocean views, lava fields, waterfalls, and a bamboo forest! I will talk about these below.

Some of the most popular snorkeling tours include Molokini Crater and Turtle Town.

There are also lots of snorkeling spots you can get to on your own even without a car. You can go by bus to snorkeling beaches like Kaanapali Beach (Black Rock) and Ulua Beach.

If there is one Hawaiian island that is the best for whale watching, that’s Maui. So if you are going to Maui in the winter (aka whale season), then you must do the eco-raft whale watching tour!

While a tour will be the best way to see humpback whales, if you want to pack your binoculars, you can look for whales from shore on the western side of the island.

Once I happened to be walking along the coastal path in Wailea, and I was right in front of one of the oceanfront resorts, I think the Wailea Beach Resort, and it was like the whale was putting on a show for us as it felt like the was continuing to swim directly along the shore!

Another one of the most popular tours is a trip to a Maui pineapple farm.

 

 

I have spent 3 weeks on Maui, so I like to think that I’ve done a lot to be able to tell you about the best!

These are the things that I really think you should know about Maui!

 

1. Haleakala summit

Your must-do in Haleakala National Park is the Haleakala summit! You can drive yourself to the top of Haleakala, which is a drive to high altitude at 10,000+ feet. It’s super popular to watch the sunrise from the top of the Haleakala volcano.

Your must-do hike in Haleakala National Park is the Sliding Sands Trail, which you can start a half mile from the summit. This is THE Haleakala crater summit to do!

 

👆 Rent a car and drive to the Haleakala summit! Search for the cheapest car rentals at Kahului airport. (I booked my Maui car rental through this website and all was well.)

 

👆 Do the Haleakala crater hike! aka Sliding Sands Trail.

 

 

While many people do the Haleakala sunrise tour, it’s also possible to DIY it.

You can go to see the Haleakala sunrise on your own, but you do need to make a reservation at recreation.gov in order to do so.

There is a reservation required to enter the park between 3am and 7am.

This also means that if you want to go during the day on your own (like to hike the Sliding Sands Trail!), you don’t need to buy any tickets before you go.

Haleakala National Park does have a national park entry fee. It’s $30 per car. See current fees.

The Haleakala summit is a 1 hour 45 minute drive from Kaanapali, a 1.5 hour drive from Wailea, and a 1 hour 15 minute drive from Kahului. (map)

 

 

2. Road to Hana

Your must-do on the Road to Hana is to see tons of waterfalls! You will see waterfalls without even trying. You can see waterfalls just by driving the Road to Hana (aka a drive on the Hana Highway), and there are quick stops and longer stops you can make for waterfalls too.

Your must-eat food on the Road to Hana are banana bread and huli huli chicken!

You can drive the Road to Hana on your own which will give you more flexibility (download the Shaka guide before you go), or if you want to leave the all-day driving to someone else, you can do a Road to Hana day trip tour.

If you are on a Sunday cruise ship arrival, here is your Road to Hana cruise excursion.

If you want to do things differently (and not just make it a day trip like most others), then your must-stay hotel is the Hana Maui resort.

 

👆 To see lots of waterfalls when you are in Maui, drive the Road to Hana! There are waterfalls along the side of the Hana Highway.

 

👆 You can drive the Hana Highway by paying attention to the mile markers and the Shaka Guide, or… just drive and see what you come across! (Although, it would be best to know of at least a few things you want to see!)

 

👆 The Road to Hana is also a coastal drive!

 

👆👇 Some waterfalls you can park on the side of the road and make a quick stop to see them. If you are going to get near them, take care!

👆 There are also waterfalls that you can stop and then go for a walk to see. I used the mapsme app to find these waterfalls.

 

👆 There are also some stops you can make to go for a short hike. This is the Waikamoi Nature Trail.

 

 

The Road to Hana is a long winding drive to see the lush and green East Maui.

It’s seems like people either love the Road to Hana, or think it’s not worth it.

I guess for those who say it’s not worth it is because they think it’s too much time in the car? So only you will know if the sights to see on the Road to Hana will be worth it to you.

I say, be sure to make stops often! I could come up with a list of 40+ Road to Hana that you can make (I’ve spent around a week on the Road to Hana!), but the short list is basically waterfalls, waterfalls, and more waterfalls! And coastal views.

The unofficial start of the Road to Hana is Paia.

Paia is a 45 minute drive from Kaanapali, a 30 minute drive from Wailea, and a 15 minute drive from Kahului. (map)

You have options for how to drive the Road to Hana. It’s up to you how far you want to go! It is called the Road TO Hana. Hana is the name of a town!

Paia to Hana without any stops and with normal traffic is a little less than 2 hours one way. You don’t need to go all the way to Hana to make the Road to Hana worth it, as you will see many waterfalls before you even get there.

There are reasons that you may want to go all the way (and beyond!), but if you do want to shorten it, then you need to at least go to the Keanae Peninsula. That’s more or less a reference point, and also where you’ll find the famous Aunty Sandy’s banana bread.

But in saying that, there are many waterfalls just past Keanae on the way to Nahiku. And then if you make it to Nahiku, you’re 30 minutes to Hana!

In Hana, you will find the famous huli huli chicken at Koki Beach!

Both Aunty Sandy’s banana bread and Koki’s huli huli chicken were featured on one of Gordon Ramsay’s shows.

 

 

For tons more things to consider, see my Road to Hana map.

 

 

3. Waianapanapa State Park

So, another big reason to go all the way to Hana is Waianapanapa State Park!

Your must-see at Waianapanapa State Park is the famous black sand beach of Maui! Do not miss the lava tube that’s off to the side of the beach! (I missed it on my first visit! It’s easy to pass right on by it!)

Your must-do at Waianapanapa State Park is hiking the lava fields!

Your must-stay is either the cabins or the campground… or both! (I stayed at both!)

 

👆 See a black sand beach when you go to Maui!

 

👆👇 Hike from the black sand beach to see lava fields!

 

Waianapanapa State Park requires reservations, so you’ll need to buy tickets through the Hawaii state park system before you go. It’s $5 per person and $10 per car. See current fees.

Paia to Waianapanapa State Park is around a 1 hour 45 minute drive if you drive straight there and there’s no traffic. (map)

You can make your overnight stay in Hana at a cabin in Waianapanapa State Park. The cabins are bring your own everything.

You’ll make cabin and camping reservations through the Hawaii state park camping reservation website. The cabins may have a 2 night minimum.

 

 

 

4. Kapalua

The beach resort towns in West Maui are Kapalua and Kaanapali.

Your must-do in Kapalua is the Kapalua Coastal Trail! This is an easy walking path along the coast, basically from the Ritz Carlton resort on one end to the Montage beachfront resort at Kapalua Bay on the other.

Walk out to Dragon’s Teeth and Makaluapuna Point before you start walking the trail on the Ritz Carlton side!

Kapalua Bay is a snorkeling beach where you have a chance to see turtles.

 

👆 Walk the Kapalua Coastal Trail!

 

👆👇 Walk out to see the “dragon’s teeth” in Kapalua at Makaluapuna Point!

👆 The Montage Kapalua Bay is one of the oceanfront resorts on Maui.

 

👆 You might see turtles if you go snorkeling at Kapalua Bay!

 

If you’re not staying in West Maui, it’s a long bus ride, but you can get to Kapalua by bus! (bus directions)

If you’re staying in Kaanapali, then it’s a 40 minute bus ride.

 

 

5. Nakalele Blowhole

If you drive to Kapalua, then you must continue driving further up north!

That’s where you’ll find more amazing views when you go to places like the Nakalele Blowhole, Ohai Loop Trail, and Olivine Pools.

 

👆 Drive to see a blowhole on Maui!

 

 

 

6. Wailea

The beach resort town in South Maui is Wailea.

Your must-do in Wailea is the Wailea Beach Path! This is the easy walking path of South Maui! This is also basically a resort to resort walk, walking from Ulua Beach and Wailea Elua Village to Polo Beach and the Fairmont Lea Kani.

Along the way, there are several oceanfront resorts including the well-known Grand Wailea resort and Four Seasons Maui resort.

 

👆👇 The Grand Wailea is an oceanfront resort on Maui.

 

You can get to Wailea by bus. You can start the Wailea Beach Path with Ulua Beach as your starting point. (bus directions)

Ulua Beach is also a good snorkeling spot where you have a chance to see turtles.

 

 

7. La Perouse Bay

If you have a car, drive south past Wailea until the end of the road. That is where you’ll find La Perouse Bay!

Your must-do from La Perouse Bay is to hike the lava fields!

 

👆 Hike through some Maui lava fields!

 

 

La Perouse Bay is a 40 minute drive from Kahului. (map)

There are also several snorkeling spots between Wailea and La Perouse Bay. You can stop by Ahihi Kinau Natural Reserve or Maluaka Beach (aka turtle town).

 

 

8. West Maui mountains

Your must-do hike in the West Maui mountains is the Waihee Ridge Trail! It’s a hike with mountain views and ocean views!

Your must-visit state park in the West Maui mountains is Iao Valley State Monument!

 

👆 Hike the West Maui mountains!

 

 

The Waihee Ridge trailhead is a 20 minute drive from Kahului. (map)

Iao Valley State Monument is a 15 minute drive from Kahului. (map) Reservations are required for Iao Valley. You’ll buy tickets through the Hawaii state park system. $5 per person and $10 per car. See current fees.

 

 

9. Hookipa Beach

Your must-visit beach for the best “easy” chance to see turtles is Hookipa Beach!

This is a spot that’s known to be a beach that sea turtles frequently come up for a rest!

But, they are wild and do what they want, so there is no guarantee that you will see them.

On the other end of this same beach is a spot that Hawaiian monk seals frequently come up for a rest! So be sure to walk to the other end of the beach, too!

 

👆 Look for sea turtles on a Maui beach!

 

👆 Look for Hawaiian monk seals on the beach when you go to Maui!

 

Hookipa Beach is a little past Paia. It’s a 20 minute drive from Kahului. (map)

The nearest bus stop is a 20 minute walk away, so you can get there by bus too if you don’t mind the walking! You will be walking along the side of a busy road, though, so take care! (bus directions)

 

 

10. Kipahulu

You must-do in Kipahulu is the Pipiwai Trail to hike through a bamboo forest!

Your must-see in Kipahulu is waterfalls! (Many of them, actually!) You can see waterfalls hiking the Pipiwai Trail, and you can also see them a short walk from the Kipahulu national park visitor center.

Your must-stay in Kipahulu is the Kipahulu campground!

 

👆 Kipahulu district of Haleakala National Park has waterfalls!

 

👆 Do the Pipiwai Trail for a bamboo forest hike on Maui!

 

👆 At the end of the Pipiwai Trail is Waimoku Falls!

 

👆 Go camping on Maui at Kipahulu campground! Make camping reservations at recreation.gov.

 

 

You’ll drive the Road to Hana to get to Kipahulu. It’s past the town of Hana.

So if you have the time and/or you are willing to make it a priority, you can make Kipahulu your “final destination” on the Road to Hana!

It’s the Kipahulu District of Haleakala National Park. It’s in a completely different area from the Summit District of the national park (aka where you go for the famous Haleakala sunrise).

There is no road through the park that connects the 2 sides, so you’ll do them on different days.

If you’re doing both areas of Haleakala National Park, then you will want to do them within 3 days of each other so you can use the same Haleakala National Park pass for both sides. The standard park pass you’ll buy at the national park entry station is a 3-day pass.

If you will also be going to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island within a year, then you will want to buy the annual Hawaii national park pass!

Generally speaking, if you’ll be going to 3 national parks within a year, you’ll save money if you buy the annual national park pass… that is unless you’re 62+ years old, then there’s a senior pass for you!

 

More Hawaii travel ideas:

• Things to do in Hawaii
• Best beaches in Hawaii
• Best waterfalls in Hawaii
• Best hikes in Hawaii
• 10 best things to do in Honolulu
• Things to do near Hilton Hawaiian Village (biggest hotel in Waikiki)

 

Happy doing things on Maui!