We absolutely love Maui. The natural beauty, the warm blue water, the culture, the adventure activities, and the incredible food make Maui our favorite Hawaiian island and one of our favorite travel destinations of all time.
Simply put, Maui is paradise.
We typically like to experience new places and new adventures rather than go to the same destination, but Maui is one of those places we could travel back to again and again. And we have!
Over the years, we have explored all over the island and have found the top things to do in Maui. These are our favorite Hawaiian adventures.
Top 12 Things to Do in Maui
1. Explore the Road to Hana
The Road to Hana is a thrilling drive along Maui’s coastline. While the drive alone is an adventure in itself, along the way, there are many beautiful sights to stop at.
Along the way towards Hana, check out the rainbow eucalyptus trees, take a swim at Pua’a Ka’a Falls, and sink your toes into the black sand beach at Wai’anapanapa State Park.
If you have the time, we highly recommend continuing past Hana to the Kipahulu District of Haleakala National Park for hiking the Pipiwai Trail and the Seven Sacred Pools (‘Ohe’o Gulch).
2. Visit Haleakala National Park
Haleakala, Hawaiian for “house of the sun,” is a dormant volcano and Maui’s highest peak. Visiting Haleakala National Park is like stepping foot on another planet. The volcanic landscape is a stark combination of red, black, and green spotted with rare silversword plants. The scenery of Haleakala is especially striking in contrast to the beaches and forests on other parts of the island. When you drive to Haleakala, you’ll likely be starting at sea level, and in a matter of 90 minutes, you’ll be 10,000 feet up above the ocean and within the clouds.
For daytime activities at Halekalaka, we recommend stopping at the Kalahaku Overlook. If you have time, hike the Keonehe‘ehe‘e (Sliding Sands) Trail.
As for nighttime activities, Haleakala is a particularly beautiful spot for sunrise, sunset, and stargazing. We recommend viewing either a sunrise or a sunset from the summit, both are great. Stargazing on a clear night close to a new moon is worth sticking around for as well.
You may be thinking – Is sunrise or sunset better at Haleakala? I think both are beautiful so choose based on the logistics of the rest of your trip. Keep in mind that accessing Haleakala for sunrise requires a reservation. Sunset does not require a reservation, however, it is a good idea to arrive at the summit parking lot well before sunset to ensure you are able to find a nearby parking spot.
3. Snorkel with Green Sea Turtles
Maui has amazing snorkeling. The warm water is teeming with a variety of sea life like honu (green sea turtles in Hawaiian), coral, manta rays, humuhumunukunukuapuaa (the state fish), sea cucumbers, octopuses, urchins, and eels.
There are many snorkeling spots in Maui. A boat isn’t even necessary to access most of the snorkel spots around the island – you can walk right in from shore and snorkel. Honolua Bay, Black Rock, and Ulua Beach are some of our favorite snorkel spots.
For a unique adventure, take a snorkeling tour to Molikini Crater. The crescent-shaped crater is ~3 miles offshore and is only accessible by boat.
Before heading out to snorkel, be sure to check the Maui Snorkel Report from The Snorkel Store to see which parts of the island have the best visibility and water conditions for the day. Remember to snorkel responsibly and do not touch or harass the marine animals.
4. Go Surfing
Surfing is an intoxicating combination of nature and sport. If you haven’t surfed before, we highly recommend giving this bucket list adventure a try. Maui is a wonderful place to learn how to surf and for beginner surfers to hone their skills. The warm blue water makes for comfortable and scenic surfing, and there are several beginner surf spots with small, consistent waves that offer long rides. You may even spot a sea turtle during your surf session!
There are countless fantastic options for surf lessons in Maui. We’ve had great experiences with Royal Hawaiian Surf Academy and Goofy Foot Surf School in the past. If you’re traveling with someone who isn’t surfing, the Breakwall in Lahaina is a nice location for your lesson because spectators can get a great view of the surfers from the breakwall which juts out into the ocean.
For surfboard rentals, we love Maui Waveriders. We’ve been renting boards from them for years. They are located right near the Cove in Kihei, which is our favorite beginner surf spot in Maui. There is plenty of space to catch a wave, there are sea turtles everywhere, and the locals are friendly (…and occasionally surfing while dressed in a full Wookie costume and wielding a lightsaber…).
We highly recommend surfing in the morning for the best conditions.
5. Swim, Snorkel, and Cliff Jump at Black Rock Beach
Black Rock Beach is one of the best beaches in Maui. It’s one of our favorites for a few reasons:
- It has a sandy bottom near the shore that’s good for swimming
- When conditions are favorable, the snorkeling at Black Rock is great. We always see turtles, and we’ve even spotted manta rays here!
- The Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa and its amenities are just steps away from the water.
- It has incredible cliff jumping!
Black Rock has it all!
6. Cliff Jump at the Kapalua Cliff House
For cliff jumping enthusiasts, the Kapalua Cliff House is a must-do. Getting to the Cliff House takes a ~0.25-mile walk, but it’s well worth it for the typically uncrowded and picturesque cliff jumping.
We recommend heading here in the morning for higher chances of getting a parking spot. The beach areas around Kapalua are very popular and parking fills up quickly.
7. Eat Hawaiian Poke
We crave poke from Hawaii! Mainland poke does not compare! For those who are new to this Hawaiian dish, poke is raw fish mixed with scrumptious sauces and seasonings. The poke in Hawaii is incredibly fresh and melts in your mouth.
Believe it or not, some of the best places in Maui to get poke are Foodland and Tamura’s Fine Wine & Liquors. Yep, that’s right – head to the grocery store or liquor store to get your poke and try out the different flavors. If there’s a spicy ninja ahi poke, get it!
8. Eat Locally Grown Tropical Fruit
During your trip, be sure to eat locally grown Maui fruits like mango, avocado, pineapple, star fruit, guava, lychee, papaya, and our favorite, lilikoi (or passion fruit). These fruits can be found at farmer’s markets, roadside stands, grocery stores, and even along some hiking trails.
We have found wild passion fruit while hiking in Maui, though passion fruit tends to be uncommon. Guava is plentiful on hikes, so much so that the trails sometimes get coated in squished guava that have fallen from the trees. It makes for a fruity smelling hike.
9. Eat Hawaiian Shave Ice
Ok, this is the last eating related item on this list. Can’t you tell that we love Hawaiian food?
Shave ice is a delicious Hawaiian treat that you’ll likely become addicted to and need to eat more than once during your trip! Hawaiian shave ice is unique from a mainland snow cone in that the ice is very finely shaved, making it soft and fluffy instead of crunchy. The ice is topped with syrup flavors of your choosing.
During your trip, head to Ululani’s Hawaii Shave Ice, the best shave ice in Maui. We recommend ordering the No Ka Oi (“The Best”) which is a combination of Mango, Passionfruit, and Coconut. Add macadamia nut ice cream and a snow cap to finish it off.
There are several Ululani’s locations throughout Maui so it should be easy to find one nearby, but if you have a craving and there isn’t an Ululani’s in sight, be sure to look for a shave ice shop that has syrups made from real local fruit and macadamia nut ice cream.
10. Walk the Wailea Beach Path
The Wailea Beach Path is a free ~1.5-mile public walkway that offers beautiful coastline views, beach access, and access to several world-class resorts. Walking along the Wailea Beach Path is a great way to beach hop and take in the sights and manicured grounds of the upscale resorts.
As if the views along the Wailea Beach Path weren’t enough, one time when we were walking through the lobby of a Wailea resort, a guy who was checking out and heading to the airport gave us a bottle of prosecco! You never know what will happen while exploring the resorts.
11. Take a Shelter Dog Out on an Adventure
Maui Humane Society has a Beach Buddies program that lets volunteers take a shelter dog out on a field trip for the day. These outings are important for teaching the dogs socialization skills, giving them activity and enrichment, and providing them with the opportunity to potentially meet a new family. It’s also a great time for the humans! The dogs are so adorable and loving, and it feels good to give them a great day and make them feel special.
We highly recommend taking a shelter dog out on an adventure while in Maui. We did it in Kauai, and some of our most talked about moments from the trip was our outing with a shelter dog named Chupa Chups Lollipop. He was such a sweetheart and a charmer! We had a wonderful day together, and it was hard to say goodbye. After our trip, we checked the shelter page every day to see if he got adopted. We were so happy when he finally found his forever home!
12. Watch the Sunset
The sunsets on Maui are spectacular. As the sun sinks into the ocean, the sky becomes a magical watercolor of pinks, purples, and blues. It’s a beautiful and special way to end the day.
Sunset can be viewed from any of the many beaches along the west coast of the island. In Kaanapali, the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa has a sunset ceremony that includes the blowing of a conch shell, torch lighting, and a cliff dive at Black Rock to honor the ancient Hawaiian tradition.
That wraps up the top things to do in Maui. We hope this list of adventures will help you experience the magic of the island to the fullest and help you make your own special memories.
For help with planning you trip to Maui, head to our Maui Travel Guide, which covers which islands to visit in addition to Maui, how many days you need for your trip, what time of year to visit, and where to stay.
Head to our Maui Packing List to make sure you have everything you need for all the different types of adventures on the island.