Maui, the "Magic Isle," has been voted the "Best Pacific Island" by readers of the Conde Nast Traveler magazine for 16 years in a row, and it’s easy to see why. Maui has something for everyone - whether you’re looking to sip Mai Tais on a beautiful white sand beach, hike into a dormant volcano, snorkel with green sea turtles, or putt on one of the island’s championship golf courses, Maui has it all.
Below are my top ten personal favorite ways to spend time on the island.
- Attend a traditional Hawaiian luau
Maui offers a wide assortment of luaus, although the best is definitely the Old Lahaina Luau, renowned for its authentic presentation of traditional Hawaiian food, music, and Hula, as well as the excellent service and smiling faces of the staff and performers. Be sure to book well in advance, however, because this luau sells out quickly. For $95/person, you’ll receive an Aloha lei greeting, tropical drink and souvenir program, premium open bar throughout the evening, arts & crafts demonstrations, Hawaiian music, a traditional Imu presentation with the roasting of the pig, a glorious dinner, and an authentic Hula show.
- Go snorkeling with the turtles
Although there are several places on the island that you can wade right in off the beach for a great snorkeling experience, the tiny island of Molokini, off the southern coast and only accessible by boat, is home to some of the most unusual and beautiful fish in the Pacific. I’d recommend the Molokini & Keawala’i Snorkel Cruise which departs daily from Maalaea Harbor and includes continental breakfast, a deli lunch buffet, beverages, all snorkel equipment, and two snorkel sights where you’ll spot all sorts of fish and plenty of green sea turtles. The total tour lasts about 5 hours and prices are $84 for adults, $65 for teenagers and $53 for children under 12.
- Spend a day or evening in Old Lahaina Town
Maui has a lot of great tropical little towns. A visit to Lahaina Town is a must. This old whaling town is a great place to spend a couple hours checking out the shops, restaurants, galleries, and there are a lot of places here to book discounted activities as well.
- See the sunrise or sunset at Haleakala Crater
A visit to Maui wouldn’t be complete without visiting Haleakala Crater. If you can get up early enough, sunrise is absolutely spectacular - you really feel like you’re on the moon! If not sunrise, sunset is amazing as well. On Haleakala, I say driving up there yourself is the best bet. Haleakala is cold at the top (after all, the crater rises to over 10,000 ft!), so be sure to bring a sweatshirt of jacket with you, and plan on spending at least two hours in the Park to drive up to the Summit and back to the entrance, and longer if you plan on hiking or attending any of the natural/cultural history programs. If you’re interested in hiking or walking throughout the park, there are 27 miles of trails that range from 1/4 mile to over 11 miles. When you get to the Haleakala Visitor center on the way up the road, you’ll be able to find detailed information and maps on the trails that are available. There is a $10 per vehicle charge to enter the park, which is valid for seven days. Daily tours also go to Haleakala daily that will pick you up right at your hotel.
The famous Road to Hana is one of the most scenic and breathtaking drives in the world. However, I wouldn’t recommend taking children on this trip and if you have any chance of getting carsick, it’s not worth it. The road is probably the curviest road in the world! If you do the drive to Hana and back, you’ll want to plan a whole day for it because the trip, with all the stops and curves takes about three hours each way, plus the time you actually spend in the small, sleepy town of Hana. You’ll want to stop in a small town right at the beginning of the Hana Highway on the north shore called Paia. You can’t miss it. In Paia, there are several cute little funky places to pick up picnic lunches or stock up at the natural foods store, and they have several brochures available all over the town which will map out the Road to Hana and list various places to stop and sites to see on the way.
- Relax on a sunset dinner or cocktail cruise
- Educate yourself on Hawaii’s marine life at the Maui Ocean Center
Open daily from 9 - 5 pm in Maalaea Harbor Village, the Maui Ocean Center is three acres of marine park and the largest tropical reef aquarium in the western hemisphere, dedicated to the understanding, wonder, and preservation of Hawaii’s marine plants and animals. Here you’ll find exhibits on thousands of fish, sharks, turltes, stingrays, and other marine animals that are only found in the waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands. There are also presentations by marine naturalists and biologists, as well as two restaurants and a gift shop. Admission is $24 for adults and $17 for children 3 -12.
- See the island by helicopter
- Hike through the rainforest to a waterfall
Maui is filled with rainforests and waterfalls, and if you’re an "outdoorsy" person like myself, you’ll have a fantastic time exploring the contrasting terrain. Maui Eco Adventures offers guided tours for all fitness levels. The "Waterfall Experience" includes a light 1-mile hike through the West Maui tropical forest, along with a driven sight-seeing tour of the west side. The "West Maui Rainforest/Waterfall Hike" is a more moderate 5-mile hike through the rainforest, complete with taro fields and waterfalls.
- Enjoy life at one of Maui’s many beautiful beaches
Need I say more? Maui has more miles of gorgeous and swimmable beaches than any other island in Hawaii, and you’ll sure to find several spots where you can relax, play, or just enjoy being alive.
I hope that helps a little! This list, however, doesn’t even come close to skimming the surface of what’s available on Maui.
If you have any questions about any other activities that you’re interested in, or if you’d like to book anything listed above, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I’d love to chat with you about this wonderful island!
Abby Lapointe
Hawaii Aloha Travel
1-800-843-8771 ext. 23
abby@hawaii-aloha.com
