Best places to visit in Maui, Hawaii

Aloha!! So you’re planning to visit the “Valley Isle”, also known as Maui for a vacation and want to know the best places to visit in Maui and fun things to do in Hawaii’s second largest island?

Right after landing in Maui, it immediately hits you that you are on vacation. The island vibes, warm weather, lively Hawaiian music playing in different restaurants, the lushness that you are surrounded by combined with the ocean air relaxes the visitors so much so that my husband was visibly downhearted when we boarded our plane back to California. You are going to have the time of your life!

Best time to visit Maui

• June to August – This is a popular time to visit the island, the weather is hot with temperatures in the range of high 80s to low 90s.
• November – March – the temperature drops and it’s also rainy season in the island. December to April is also whale migration season so if that’s something you want to see, you should visit between January and March.
• April to May and September to October – these are shoulder months with relatively pleasant weather and less crowds.

Where to stay in Maui?

The West side of the island is the most popular area among tourists. There are lots of hotels and restaurants in the Lahaina and Ka’anapali neighborhoods. You can also choose to stay in the Kihei or Wailea areas in the South where it’s much quieter. All of them have beaches close by so you can’t go wrong with either of the choices.

We stayed in the Kihei area and our condo was pretty close to the beach. It was a beautiful and comfortable stay.

Must-do things on a Hawaiian vacation

Before we go into different places, here are some amazing things to do during any Hawaiian island vacation.

• Visit less crowded and serene beaches. The Hawaiian islands are full of these!
• Go snorkeling, kayaking, swimming, scuba diving, boating, whale watching or surfing. Whatever water activity interests you.
• Go hiking. Hawaii has some incredibly beautiful hiking trails and expansive views of mountains and oceans, so don’t forget to bring some active wear during the trip.
• Watch a Hula show. If you are comfortable enough, go for a Luau.
• Load up on ripe and delicious tropical fruits such as Papayas, Pineapples as well as fresh coconut water to cool down.
• Don’t forget to do “shaka” to a few people since it’s a friendly and fun Hawaiian hand gesture.
• Relax!! Soak up all the island vibes and actually spend at least a day or two to slow down, relax and completely disconnect from all the busyness.

Best places to visit in Maui

1. Road to Hana

Ready to drive along one of the most stunning places on Earth?

With lush greenery, beautiful waterfalls, white and black sand beaches, there aren’t many great adjectives to describe the beauty of this Highway. You will need one full day for this since you have to see some of the beautiful spots along this 52 mile drive. Don’t try to do everything and exhaust yourself. Instead pick a few of your favorite kind of adventures and have a relaxing time. If you get motion sick, take it easy because the roads are windy with almost 500+ bends. Be prepared with a rain jacket because it can rain here at anytime. Here are some of my recommendations:

• Wainapanapa State Park – This black sand beach in the island of Maui is a must-see. You need to make reservations to go here since same day reservations will not be accepted. So make sure to do that here. For non-Hawaiian residents, there is a $10 parking fee.
• Seven Sacred Pools – Aka Oheo Gulch is located inside Haleakala National Park. If you have the annual National Park pass, don’t forget to carry it with you. This is one of the highlights of the drive with beautiful cascading waterfalls, pools and hiking trails. Hike the Pipiwai Trail to see Mahaiku Falls and Waimoku Falls. Adhere to any warning signs near pools since there is a danger of falling rocks near waterfalls.
• Wailua Falls – this is a beautiful 80 ft waterfall with a pool. This waterfall is right by the highway and easily accessible.
• Paia Town or Hana Town – You can stop in one of these cute and charming towns for gas, snacks or even some food. If I had to choose between the two, I would recommend Paia Town since there are more food options there. Don’t forget to try some delicious tropical fruits and sip on fresh coconut water to cool down.

Other than these if you have more time and energy, you can consider visiting Garden of Eden Arboretum, the Rainbow Eucalyptus Grove and some of the beaches and waterfalls that you see on the way.

2. Snorkeling and Swimming with Sea Turtles

Snorkeling is a must-do in any island of Hawaii with its gorgeous coral reefs. You need not know swimming but you should be comfortable being in the water. If you do a guided tour, then there are lifeguards on duty who also provide any additional flotation devices that you need.

We did a guided snorkeling tour to Molokini Crater and Turtle town and absolutely loved the experience. It was extra special for me since it was my first time Snorkeling.

3. Ioa Valley State Park

Pronounced as “Eee-yow” Valley, to me, this was one of the most magical places in West Maui. The lush green mountain peaks covered in mist looked otherworldly. You may have heard about King Kamehameha I. This place is an important landmark that witnessed the Battle of Kepaniwai.

The park currently requires reservations which you can make here. The 1200 ft Ioa needle is a popular attraction in this park. You can find many hiking trails in the area.

4. Haleakala Sunrise

Visit Maui’s highest peak for the most beautiful sunrise in the island! Haleakala aka House of the Sun is a dormant volcano. There is a mythical belief that the demigod Maui slowed down the sun here to allow its residents to grow more food and dry their clothes. Isn’t that interesting?

Separate reservations are needed for vehicles entering the park between 3am and 7am. You can book this on recreation.gov either 60 days or 2 days in advance.

5. Go Beach hopping in Maui

You are on an island! In fact on one of the most beautiful islands in the world so allow yourself to relax in beaches, go swimming or surfing etc. The following are some of my recommendations:

• Kaanapali Beach (West Maui)
• Honokalani Beach (Hana Highway)
• Hamoa Beach (Hana Highway)
• Secret Cove Beach (best for sunset)

Some others such as Napili, Makena, Wailea and Kapalua are also amazing beaches.

We stopped at a beach called Po’olenalena which was so uncrowded and quiet. Our friends had chosen a beautiful beach that was only popular among the locals. Please be respectful and leave no trace!

6. Watch a Hula dance performance

Attending a Luau is almost universally recommended by all blogs and articles. This is an intimate part of Hawaiian tradition and this is how the people of Hawaii have celebrated their special moments for years. However if you are not a meat-eater, then you might not enjoy this. The Vegetarian options in a Luau are not great either. In that case, you can attend a Hula dance performance.

Many hotels have free Hula shows at certain times of the week. Checkout the ones in Four Seasons Resort at Wailea, Kaanapali Beach Hotel, Lahaina Cannery Mall or at the Queen Ka’ahumanu Center.

Hope you have the most amazing and relaxing Maui vacation. Feel free to leave any comments or questions that you have to plan your next Maui trip!