Maui nō ka ‘oi, or “Maui is best” in Hawaiian, was a slogan commonly heard when interacting with tour guides and locals across the island. The pride in the culture and unparalleled beauty of Maui was palpably felt on a daily basis from the people who call this paradise island home. Although each of the 4 main Hawaiian islands have countless similarities as well as unique experiences to offer, we find ourselves regularly agreeing with the old mantra Maui nō ka ‘oi.
We’ll start with just a general overview of lodging in Maui. Feel free to skip to our top attractions in Maui list further down if your lodging is already secured. When visiting Maui, there are two main resort type regions with adjacent small towns where most travelers stay. The first resort area is Kaanapali, on the western most side of the island. The nearby city of Lahaina is one of the top attractions in Maui. The second resort area is Wailea, located near the town of Kihei. Both locations are excellent but have some subtle differences.
Kaanapali is located along 3 miles of golden sandy beach. These beaches have much calmer waters and for that reason are often considered better for snorkeling and swimming, particularly for newbies to intermediates. Kaanapali also contains the open air shopping center of Whalers Village and is next to the lively whaling town of Lahaina. These nearby amenities result in more action and better nightlife should you choose to partake.
Wailea is typically considered a little more luxurious and quiet overall. It similarly has beautiful beaches, however they come with the caveat of rougher waves. One pro is that Wailea is more centrally located and therefore slightly closer to many of the top attractions in Maui. A second is that, although Hawaii is known for basically year round perfect weather, Wailea typically gets less rain than Kaanapali overall.
Enough with generalities though. Regardless of where you stay, your time in Maui is sure to be magical. Keep reading to find out which of these awesome attractions in Maui will be on your next travel itinerary!
1. Take a Helicopter Tour
Undoubtedly, one of the fondest memories from our Hawaiian honeymoon was our helicopter tour of Maui. The vast untouched beauty of the inner West Maui mountains really cannot be experienced in any other way. Breathtaking canyon walls showered in greenery are cut and shaped by rivers and waterfalls, too numerous to count. Viewing the Kalaupapa Cliffs (tallest sea cliffs in the world!) and the Oloupena Falls (tallest waterfall in Hawaii and unofficially fourth tallest in the world!) on our tour of the adjacent Molokini Island was particularly fantastic as well.
When choosing a helicopter tour safety should always be the number 1 priority. With this in mind, choosing a company with a PERFECT safety record over 25 years of service, was certainly reassuring. We opted for a doors off 45 minute tour of the West Maui Mountains and nearby island of Molokini with the company Air Maui. We could not be more pleased with our experience.
Our pilot (shout out Richard Olsten) tastefully narrated our experience and provided interesting anecdotes from his many years living on and flying around the islands. The soothing Hawaiian tunes, humming peacefully through our headsets, certainly added to this unforgettable experience.
2. Hit the Beach
Widely considered Maui’s most attractive feature, the scale and diversity of beautiful beaches dotting Maui’s coast is certainly an attraction worth experiencing. There is certainly no “best beach” however, depending on your objectives, there is certainly a Maui beach that best serves any mood or activity.
Looking for stunning scenery and a unique experience? Look for further than the black sand beach of Waianapanapa State Park or the gorgeous secluded cove of Kaihalulu (red sand beach). Each of these marvels is located along the famed road to Hana and are conveniently less than 15 minutes apart. More about these unique beaches can be found in our “Best Stops on the Road to Hana” post HERE!
If you are looking for more of a relaxing experience, gently paddling through crystal clear waters with minimal waves, then Kaanapali beach is more likely your vibe. Consistently rated one of the top beaches in the entire US, Kaanapali beach also has some great snorkeling with opportunities of seeing friendly sea turtles as well. For the more adventurous, black rock beach (at the northern end of Kaanapali) offers cliff jumping and world class snorkeling as well!
The last main category of beach goers are the surfers and wave riders. Maui has these travelers covered as well. Hookipa beach along the north shore is widely touted as a top spot for surfing and windsurfing. The nearby Pe’ahi beach (for experts only) is also home to “Jaws,” one of the largest waves in the world! Hamoa beach, near the eastern town of Hana, has crystal clear water and a baby soft sand bar stretching far from the shore. One side of the beach is typically more calm, whereas the other unsheltered part is great for body surfing and riding the waves!
3. Visit Haleakala Summit for Sunrise or Sunset
Full disclosure, we are not morning people. With this in mind, the age-old decision of visiting Haleakala summit for sunrise or sunset was an easy one for us. We found that visiting Haleakala summit for sunset was a preferred, unique, and beautiful experience and we think you will agree for the following reasons.
Firstly, sunrise is the most popular time and therefore you will need to make a reservation far in advance (make reservation HERE). You will also have to contend with more traffic. This includes not only cars but also the droves of bike tours that capitalize on viewing the sunrise before riding down. Depending on where you are staying on the island, this extra traffic and the fear of missing the sunrise, often leads people to get up at 2-3AM, not our speed. Secondly, the summit of Haleakala is cold. Very cold compared to the weather along the coast. This cold is unavoidable, but worse first thing in the morning. Lastly, when going for sunset, you can have more time to enjoy the park before the main event (and not have to chug coffee to do so). Not requiring a reservation also provides more flexibility to pick and choose the best day for visibility and weather before making the drive.
For those visiting the summit for sunrise, you are sure to have a remarkable experience as well. It is commonly referred to as one of the top sunrise spots in the entire world! The only tip would be to make the reservation early on in your adventure, when you already jetlagged and the early wake up was going to happen anyway!
4. Drive the Road to Hana
The Road to Hana is a must do for any adventurous travelers visiting Maui. Extending 65 miles from Kahului, past the sleep town of Hana, and effectively ending at the Kipahulu District of Haleakala National Park, this windy scenic route is considered one of the most famous drives in the United States.
The drive is typically done in 1 very long day, but some break this down into 2-3 days. Numerous scenic lookouts and unique and fascinating stops litter the Hana Highway. Our most recommended stops include the black sand beach at Waianapana State Park, Kaihalulu Beach (red sand beach and secluded cove) in Hana, and the Pipiwai Trail in Haleakala National Park. For a more detailed description and list of top spots visit our “Best Stops on the Road to Hana” HERE.
For those with the time, we also suggest completing the loop around the island along the backside of Haleakala. This route does not double back along the Hana Highway (like most people do) but instead runs west along the coast before turning north again through the Maui high country. The views and rugged beauty along this portion of the route is stunning.
5. Experience a Luau
The task of choosing a Hawaiian Luau can at times seem like a daunting one. Many resorts and private ventures commonly claim top honors, and with prices around $200 a ticket, you certainly want the best experience.
We did a lot of research on different Luau’s when planning our trip to Maui and came to the following conclusions. Overall, it seems that the Old Lahaina Luau is most commonly considered the best. It is an authentic experience with a beautiful venue. If this is your choice, book well in advance. We checked 2 months before our trip and our dates were already sold out.
Next point is that many of the Luau’s are open bar. If you plan on indulging, you certainly will have options within walking distance of your resort if staying in Wailea or Kaanapali. We were staying in Kaanapali, and with the Old Lahaina Luau booked, we chose the Wailele Luau. We loved it! They have a beautiful venue, great food and service, and fire dancers to end the show. Note that not all Luau’s include fire dancers (which is not traditionally Hawaiian) so check in advance if this is important to your experience.
6. Take a Submarine Tour
A submarine tour is a unique experience you should take advantage of when visiting Hawaii. The company Atlantis Submarines operates out of three locations in Hawaii. Their Maui location launches from front street Lahaina, right next to the massive banyan tree. We actually took the tour out of Oahu (which is where the pictures are taken) but the details and logistics of both tours are very similar.
The tour includes a short boat ride out to the dive site. The boats are comfortable and have bathrooms, concessions, and both lower and upper open air seating options. During the winter months, this may be an opportunity to even see whales.
Once at the dive site, you will transfer to the submarine to start your tour. Please note that severely claustrophobic people often do not do well with entering the submarine. On our tour, one woman immediately left after having a panic attack. A man had a similar experience on the tour after ours and our boat had to loop back and pick him up. This is said not to scare anyone, just to make everyone aware. We had no such issues and thoroughly enjoyed our tour. It was certainly one of the highlights of our trip and a great way to see another beautiful side of Hawaii!
7. Hike the Waihe'e Ridge Trail
Frequently touted as the top hike on the island, the Waihe’e Ridge Trail is a must do for outdoor enthusiasts visiting Maui. This 4 mile out and back trail, provides breathtaking views of the abundant greenery forming the deep canyon walls of the Waihe’e Valley and provides hikers with one of the best access points for experiencing the dramatic beauty of the West Maui Mountains.
It should be noted that reaching the trailhead does often involve quite a drive and that parking at the main lot is limited. With this in mind, for those willing to take the journey, hiking the Waihe’e Ridge Trail certainly will provide you with some of the finest views and scenery in all of Maui. For more info on this hike as well as other top hikes in Maui please read our accompanying post HERE.
8. Bike Down Haleakala Volcano
Our next item on this top attractions in Maui list brings us to the famed bike road down Haleakala. For those not aware, Haleakala is a massive 10,023 feet tall dormant volcano that makes up 75% of the island of Maui. The summit is now protected by a popular National Park and the adjacent flanks are home to quaint mountainside villages and sprawling ranch lands.
Numerous companies provide both guided and unguided tours down Haleakala but we strongly recommend Maui Sunriders. This company provides a competitively priced narrated drive to 6,500 feet followed by a self guided ride down the volcano itself. Note that none of the rides actually start at the summit.
The ride typically takes 2-4 hours, depending on your pace and frequency of stops. Your guide up the volcano will provide tips for the best stops along your ride down and can always be contacted should a question or concern arise. Many stop for lunch and a view at Kula Lodge. We particularly enjoyed sampling the wares at Maui Tea Farm and exploring the quaint upcountry village of Makawao. Makawao is best known for the boutique dessert shop called the Maui Cookie Lady and housing some of the finest cowboys, or Paniolos, in all of Hawaii. The relatively new farm to bottle maker of blue agave spirits (known as tequila if made in Mexico), Waikulu Distillery, is also located just outside of Makawao as well.
The bike rides often begin and end in Paia, an oceanside community known for fine seafood (Mama’s Fish House) and world class surfing/windsurfing.
9. Go Snorkeling
With abundant schools of tropical fish and spectacular coral reef formations, Maui truly is a snorkelers paradise. The coastline is dotted with sheltered coves and the consistent water temperatures make it an enjoyable year round activity as well.
As far as snorkeling goes, several spots on Maui consistently stand out. Overall, the top snorkeling is often found along the west and northwest coast of the island. The calmer clear water on the west side of the island provides ideal conditions much of the time. Honolua Bay is regularly regarded as a top spot on the island. Kapalua Bay and Kaanapali Beach (in particular at the northern end near Black Rock Beach) are excellent and convenient choices as well. Kaanapali Beach in particular was where we happened upon sea turtles while snorkeling on two separate occasions.
It’s impossible to discuss Maui snorkeling without mentioning Molokini Crater. This is a snorkeling paradise located 3 miles off the southern Maui coast. A boat is required for accessing this location which does limit the convenience to an extent. However, if snorkeling is your thing you would be remiss to not book a tour of Molokini Crater the next time you are in Maui. Note that another boat only access spot called Turtle Town is also often included in tours of Molokini Crater, and no shocker here, is said to be the best spot to view Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles.
10. Visit Lahaina
Once the capital of a sprawling Hawaiian Kingdom, Lahaina is now a tourist hotspot with numerous art galleries and oceanfront lanes packed with unique restaurants and shops. The main attractions in the downtown district include the shops and restaurants along front street and the Lahaina Banyan Court, home to the oldest and largest banyan tree in the US. The tree is massive, spanning nearly 2 acres across 16 separate trunks and rising over 60 feet in the air.
On front street, particular highlights include Waikiki Brewing Company, Fleetwood’s on Front Street (trendy upscale bar restaurant with rooftop seating owned by Mick Fleetwood), and, if you’re into history, the Baldwin House. Finished in 1835, the Baldwin house is the oldest home in Maui. It is a former mission with daily tours.
Lahaina was also once home to a prominent whaling community. It is even said that Herman Mellville got the idea for Moby Dick while living in the town. Far from the industrial scale whaling operations of the past, Lahaina is still a great place to book whale watches in the winter months. And for just $30, Lahaina is also the only place to get a ferry to the nearby remote island of Lanai (click HERE)!
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