Hawaii, USA

HAWAII: Top 15 Things You Must Do on Maui

The island of Maui was our final stop on the trip, but in no way was it any less impressive! Maui is fairly similar to Kauai, in that it’s very green and beautiful. This is due to a lot of rainfall, particularly surrounding the mountains. But unlike Kauai, Maui’s landscape varies a lot from very mountainous to very flat. Maui was the island where we did the most activities, including snorkelling, a 2 day road trip on the Road to Hana, sunrise at Haleakala crater and numerous hikes. In this post I’ve put together my top tips and everything you need to know before you set off on your own adventure to Maui. The guide includes where to stay, how to get around the island, as well as 15 incredible things you must do on Maui!

Where to Stay:

For your trip to Maui you’re most likely going to need to stay in two different places – if you want to drive the Road to Hana that is. The Road to Hana is one of Maui’s most incredible attractions. It is a stunning coastal road trip which ends in a town called Hana in East Maui.

For your main accommodation, I recommend staying in either Kahului or Lahaina. Lahaina is a vibrant town in the north-west of Maui. There is a lot to do there, and it’s a short distance away from many great beaches. Kahului on the other hand is a great central location on the island. We stayed in the Northshore Hostel in Kahului. This was a great base for us to access the rest of Maui’s attractions.

You’ll need to book your main accommodation for all but one night of your stay on Maui. For the remaining night, book somewhere in Hana. This is so you have somewhere to crash at the end of a long day of driving the Hana Highway. Allowing yourself two days to do the road trip means you won’t have to rush. You won’t have to get to Hana and back in the same day, and can enjoy each stop. In Hana we stayed in the Hana Inn, formerly Joe’s Place, which we found on Airbnb. After the road trip return to your original accommodation.

How to Get Around:

Hire a Car – This is my main tip for all of the Hawaiian Islands. Having a car will allow you to make the most of each island and schedule in a busy itinerary. However, on Maui in particular, a car is absolutely essential. You’ll need it to get up to Haleakala Crater, and also to drive the Road to Hana!

For car hire I recommend downloading the app ‘Turo’. Turo allows you to hire cars from locals in the places you’re travelling to. This option was more flexible and a lot cheaper than traditional rental cars, particularly because we were all under 25. You still have to pay the young driver surcharge, but it is much lower than with big car rental companies.

Things to See and Do:

1. Nakalele Blowhole

The Nakalele Blowhole is located on Maui’s northern tip. The blowhole is caused by seawater getting trapped in an underwater lava tube. As the waves crash against the rocks, the water bursts out of the blowhole frequently. Be very careful and don’t get too close, as it’s dangerous and some people have got sucked in. We chose to watch and enjoy it from a distance on the hillside above.

2. Kapalua Bay Beach

This great beach is on the northwestern coast of maui. It’s a great beach to relax, sunbathe and swim at. We spent several afternoons here as Maui was at the end of our trip and we were exhausted!

Relaxing at Kapalua Bay Beach is one thing you must do during your downtime on Maui.

3. Wander Around the Town of Lahaina

Lahaina is a vibrant town on the northwestern coast of the island, with lots of shops and restaurants. Make sure to set aside a few hours to have a wander around, and grab lunch in one of the many restaurants.

4. Try Dole Whip

Dole Whip is a delicious dairy-free pineapple based dessert, similar to soft-serve ice cream. The Dole Plantation is located on Oahu, so Hawaii is the perfect place to taste Dole Whip for yourself. There are several places in Lahaina that sell Dole Whip.

5. Sit Under the Enormous Banyan Tree

Lahaina is home to the largest Banyan tree in the USA. The tree was planted in 1873, and now spans almost 2 acres. It takes up the entire courthouse square of the town! The tree is so large it seems like numerous different trees, but it’s actually all one. Grabbing a delicious Dole Whip and sitting under the enormous Banyan tree to enjoy it is one of the things you must do on Maui! The perfect way to end an afternoon exploring Lahaina.

Visiting the biggest Banyan Tree in the USA is something you must do during your stay on Maui.

6. Grab Some Tasty Tacos

Ono Tacos is a famous Mexican food truck located on the outskirts of Lahaina in the north-west of the island. Grabbing some street food from this famous truck is another of the things you must do on Maui. They offer burritos, tortas and combo meals, all for great value. But, make sure to bring cash as they don’t accept card payments.

7. Go Snorkelling in a Sunken Crater

Turtle Town is the name given to a long stretch of coastline on the southwest coast of Maui. This is one of the best spots for snorkelling on Maui as you are almost guaranteed to see turtles. Molokini Crater is a partially sunken volcanic crater off the coast of Maui. The part of the crater above the water is a crescent-shaped tiny uninhabited island. Molokini is another great snorkelling spot, as there is a flourishing coral reef protected by the crater. The best way to visit these places is on a snorkelling boat tour. There are many tour companies on Maui that offer trips to Turtle Town, Molokini Crater, as well as other stops too. You may even spot some dolphins on the boat tour too!

Whilst on Maui, a snorkelling tour to Turtle Town and Molokini Crater is a must-do activity!

8. Learn to Surf

No trip to Hawaii is complete without a surfing lesson, and Maui is the perfect place to do just that! We booked with the surf school Maui Waveriders, which is based in Lahaina. We had a private lesson for just two of us. You get much more value for money with private lessons, as you have more time with the instructor individually.

9. Discover a Black Sand Beach

One of the best black sand beaches is called Wai’anapanapa Black Sand Beach which is located in Wai’anapanapa State Park. Visiting this stunning beach is definitely something you must do on Maui. The black sand contrasts sharply with the surrounding greenery and bright blue water. Be cautious of swimming at this beach as the water gets deep quickly and the tide can be very strong. This beautiful state park is located on East Maui and is one of the stops along the famous Road to Hana (read on to find out more).

10. Watch the Sunrise Over Haleakala Crater

Maui is home to the world’s largest dormant volcano, Haleakala, which is over 10,000ft high. The crater at the top is an incredible place to watch the sunrise or sunset from. Despite the 2:30am start, and the long drive up, this was one of my favourite things we did on Maui. As the sun crept up over the edge of the crater, some men even sang a native Hawaiian song. The entire experience was magical. Visiting Haleakala Crater was one of my highlights of the trip, and something you absolutely must do when visiting Maui!

All vehicles entering the park before sunrise (from 3:00am to 7:00am) must have made a reservation prior. Entrance to reach the summit costs $1 per vehicle, and can be booked online here.

Tip: Remember to wrap up warm with lots of layers to watch sunrise at Haleakala. The temperatures can drop down to 0°C or even lower before the sun comes up!

11. Tuck Into an Acai Bowl

There are countless spots all over Maui where you can find delicious acai bowls. Some of my personal favourite places were Baya Bowls and Brekkie Bowls. Acai bowls are the perfect tasty snack to fuel your adventuring around Hawaii.

12. Drive the Road to Hana

The Hana Highway is a 64 mile long stretch of highway. It is famous for being one of the most dangerous roads in the world. This is because it’s a winding road along the coast with steep cliff drop offs. There are many blind corners, and the road often isn’t wide enough for both sides of traffic. Nevertheless, it’s an absolutely stunning highway with countless stops to make along the way. This includes rock pools, waterfalls, scenic viewpoints and food trucks. This highway is not to be feared, so long as you drive carefully and pay attention to who has right of way in the narrow sections.

Read the full blog post here: 2 Day Road to Hana Itinerary – Best Road Trip on Maui

13. Stop Off at a Food Truck

One thing Hawaii is famous for is its food truck scene. On Maui, there are certainly plenty of them to choose from! There are many different cuisines to choose from, including Thai, Mexican and Mediterranean. Some of the main places you’ll find food trucks on Maui are around Kahului, Kihei and Hana. Trying out some tasty food truck meals is another thing you must do on a trip to Maui!

14. Go On a Hike

In a place with such scenic landscapes, you’d be crazy not to take advantage of it and go hiking whilst on Maui. I mean this even if you are a complete amateur when it comes to hiking, or feel like hiking is not for you. Hawaii is such an incredible place full of hikes for all abilities – I guarantee you can find an easy one to start you off.

My favourite hike on Maui was the Pipiwai Trail to Waimoku Falls. This incredible trail is around 3.5 miles long and should take around 2-3 hours to complete. It cuts through a beautiful bamboo forest.

15. Find Maui’s Only Red Sand Beach

Kaihalulu Beach is a gorgeous red sand beach tucked away in a hidden cove on Maui. Red sand beaches are pretty rare and we were blown away by the beauty of this one. Kaihalulu Beach is located on East Maui and is one of the stops along the famous Road to Hana. The beach can be accessed by a short hike from Uakea Road in Hana, which takes around 10 minutes. The hike is relatively easy, so long as the trail is dry and weather conditions are good. However, visitors must take care as the trail has steep drop offs into the ocean and is very narrow in most places. It’s also advisable to wear proper shoes rather than flip flops or sandals to avoid tripping.

I hope this list of 15 things you must do on Maui helps with planning your own unforgettable adventure! If you’re interested, check out my other Hawaii blog posts below:

Thanks for reading!

Abbey x