Maui, Hawai'i: A Guide to Your Tropical Adventure

See a traditional Hawai'ian luau

Traditional luaus are a great combination of entertainment and traditional food, sometimes also featuring a beautiful sunset over the water! I recommend the Old Lahaina Luau, which reopened after the Lahaina fires in 2023 for a great and traditional luau experience.

Go Whale Watching

If you’re visiting Maui between December and March, I highly recommend you take an early morning trip to go whale watching. If you’re lucky and the whales cooperate, you will be shocked by how majestic and huge the whales swimming below you are. For an up-close look, I recommend a kayak tour. Whales are curious and sometimes swim right up under your kayak!

Take a Surf Lesson

When you think of Hawai'i, you often think about surfing! It is fun to watch the skilled surfers off the shore and equally as fun to join them yourselves. By the end of your lesson, you may be able to fit in with the “renter” crowd.

Snorkel in Makena Landing Park or at Black Rock

Maui has great snorkeling in the clear waters, and if you take an early morning trip, you can sometimes catch turtles swimming off the shore while you snorkel.

Watch the Haleakala Sunrise and Hike into the Haleakala Crater

If you’re big on hiking and national parks like I am, you won’t want to miss visiting Haleakala National Park and hiking down into the crater. The experience feels like you’re on another planet! Make sure to book your tickets to see the sunrise in advance as they often sell out. Tip: leave early and take a jacket! The road is windy and it’s about 45 minutes up the volcano after you enter the park. You don’t want to miss the sunrise after waking up early to see it! It’s often cold and windy despite the warm weather early in the morning at the top, so take a warm jacket.

Cliff Jump at Ka’anapali Beach

Relax on the beach and then swim out, climb up and jump off the rocks at Ka’anapali Beach with the other beachgoers!

Travel the Road to Hana

To get the full Maui experience and see the gorgeous landscape of the island, do not miss taking a day trip down the Road to Hana. Rent a smaller car as the road is windy and tight and make sure to make plenty of stops along the way. You truly cannot see all Maui has to offer without driving down the Road to Hana to see black sand beaches, freshwater caves, bamboo forests and rainbow trees.

Explore the Local Shops in Kihea or Paia

When you want to get a feel for the local Hawaiian culture, head to Kihea or Paia to explore the local shops and restaurants. Grab a shave ice and walk down the street stopping in the shops, then grab some lunch to go from a local market and wander over to the local beach parks to experience the Hawaiian lifestyle!

Breakfast

• Kihei Caffe - Located across from Kalama Beach Park. Stop in to Kihei Caffe for a variety of healthy or traditional breakfast options served all day long!

• Baked on Maui - This breakfast spot is a little out of the way, but has fantastic coffee, sandwiches and fresh-baked pastries. It was so good, we went back multiple times during our trip!

• Grandma’s Coffee House - Grandma’s Coffee House is family-owned and has the best organic coffee and homemade food for breakfast!

Lunch

• Like Poke - Featured on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives, this food truck right outside the airport offers a unique — and delicious — take on the traditional Hawai'ian dish. It’s the perfect stop right when you arrive at the food truck park close to the airport to kick off your Maui adventure. Don’t love poke? There are plenty of other delicious options to try in the park.

• Coconut’s Fish Cafe - For a quick bite, this fast-casual restaurant option is perfect to sample traditional Hawai'ian flavors and offers fresh, healthy fish.

• Leoda’s Pie Shop - On a trip to Maui, you cannot skip Leoda’s Pie Shop. It’s busy, so there may be a wait, but it is truly the BEST pie I’ve ever had. If you’re in a hurry, get pie and a sandwich to go — you can order ahead online!

Dinner

• Morimoto Maui - Located at the Andaz in Wailea Beach, Morimoto Maui, curated by Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, is a beautiful location to end your evening, watch the sunset over the water and enjoy some delicious sushi and sashimi.

• Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman - With two Maui locations, Monkeypod Kitchen is perfect for fresh, modern flavors, a lively atmosphere and a cold beer at the end of a long day exploring the island. It’s a popular destination, so expect a wait.

• Flatbread Company - This spot located in Paia on your way to or from the Road to Hana has incredible flatbreads and great beer!

• Mama’s Fish House - A trip to Maui truly would not be complete without dinner at Mama’s Fish House. This restaurant is gorgeous, located along the water, and offers beautiful, elevated dishes and fantastic cocktails. Make a reservation prior to your trip as this restaurant is in high demand.

Snacks

• Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice - You can’t make a trip to Maui and not try Hawaiian shave ice! It is the perfect refreshing treat in the hot weather. You can try up to three flavors — don’t forget to get a “snow cap” of sweetened condensed milk to up your shave ice game!