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Maui Life
From the summit of Haleakala to the tropical beaches below, the island of Maui is filled with a rich variety of activities for travelers of all ages and interests. Whether you’re more inclined to hop in a car and explore the Road to Hana, or you prefer a more relaxing afternoon just gazing at the sea, the “Valley Isle” has so much to offer. From an authentic farm-to-table experience, to a hike through verdant tropical valleys with waterfalls, here are just a few of the best ways to spend time on your trip to Maui.
✦ Attend a Luau
Not many people travel all the way to Hawaii without attending a quintessential Maui Luau. The traditional feast typically has music accompanied by dance, and no shortage of food. The Feast at Lele in Lahaina puts on one of the few luaus in Maui that is not a buffet. Though another popular choice is The Old Lahaina Luau.
It’s definitely best to book your seats in advance, as this is one of the top activities to do on the island. Here are a few more options for doing so online:
- An Evening at the Old Lahaina Luau
- Feast at Mokapu Farm-to-Table Luau in Wailea
✧ Go Whale Watching
When you visit Hawaii in the winter season, from November to March, whale watching is the activity that should be at the very top of your list of things to do in Maui! These boat tours take 2 to 3 hours, typically in the morning time, where you’ll get to enjoy beautiful Hawaiian scenery from the ocean as you try to get lucky and catch sightings of whales. There are plenty of tours to choose from, but we love the Allii Nui.
✦ Swim with Sea Turtles
Though sea turtles can be found in many snorkeling/swimming areas on the island, one of our favorites is Olowalu Reef. Kayak Olowalu has an excursion where not only can you kayak through the smooth waters, but also pop on a mask to snorkel, and if nature is on your side quite possibly swim with some sea turtles.
✦ See the Pools of Oheo
Known for its gorgeous waterfalls and pools, The Pools of ‘Ohe’o is perhaps the most popular attraction in Eastern Maui—a popularity which it most definitely deserves. Located in the Haleakala National Park, the valley and its pools can make for an amazing day when combined together with a hike, such as taking the Pipiwai Trail.
To enter, you will have to pay a fee of $15 (per pedestrian or bicycle) or $30 (per private vehicle), but for that price you have access to the entire park, including the trails and summits and the pools, for 3 full days.
✦ Explore a Black Sand Beach
While contemplating which of the Road to Hana stops you will make, don’t miss the one at mile marker 32, the Wai’anapanapa Black Sand Beach. Take the short, steep trail down to the beachfront, take off your shoes and walk along the shiny black sand.
✧ Learn to Hula
Hula is a Polynesian style of dancing, originating on the Hawaiian Islands. There are numerous sub-styles of hula, with Hula ‘Auana (the direction Hula evolved to through Western influence) and Hula Kahiko (the ancient form of Hula) as the main categories; all styles of hula come accompanied by a chant or a song, either played on traditional instruments or “Western” instruments like a guitar and ukulele, with hand movements often directly representing the words in the chant or song.
You will have plenty of opportunities to catch an actual Hula show while you’re on Maui, but to actually `learn to Hula, you may want to look into arranging a lesson with Hawaii Hula Company.
✦ Drive the Road to Hana
One of the absolute best things to do in Maui is to drive the picturesque 53-mile, curvy Road to Hana. With breathtaking waterfalls, hiking spots and beaches, this drive should absolutely be on your adventure list.
✧ Snorkel Molokini Crater
This stunning and unique crater, located off the Maui, is the remains of a violent eruption that took place more than 200,000 years ago. It’s an amazing spot for snorkeling, as well as scuba diving for those daring enough to go deeper. To reach Molokini Crater you will need to go by boat, so the best way to do it is with a tour. The Molokini Crater is worth visiting for its unique shape alone, but once you see all the colorful fish and coral, you’ll be extremely pleased you chose to go on a snorkeling or diving trip there. Always wear reef safe sunscreen!
✧ Take a Helicopter Tour
While Hawaii and Maui are beautiful when seen up close, they may look their most stunning when seen from high up! Perhaps precisely for that reason, this spectacular experience is one of the best things to do in Maui, having made its way on many travelers’ bucket lists.
Whether you choose to take a flight over Hana or Molokini, if will not disappoint. There are several helicopter tours you can choose from, and here are some of the highest rated available:
✧ Visit a Goat Farm
Maui is home to Surfing Goat Dairy which is located in lower Kula of Maui’s Upcountry and has been producing gourmet goat cheeses for over ten years. They offer a variety of tours, one of which you can milk an actual goat! After the milking is complete don’t forget to eat a creamy goat cheese truffle.
✧ Go Ziplining
Another spectacular way to experience Maui from above is by getting your blood pumping with adrenaline on a ziplining course! For an epic adventure close to the cottages we love The Pihiholo Zipline and North Shore Zipline.
✦ See a Blow Hole
Though the Road to Hana is one of the most famous roads in Maui, it is not the only place to take an incredible drive. Traveling north from Kapalua to the Nakalele Blow Hole won’t disappoint either. The natural wonder gives off quite a show when the tide and surf combine. Just don’t get too close, because it can be dangerous!
✧ Rappel Down a Waterfall
Dubbed the most unique of activities to do in Maui, rappelling down a waterfall can sound both exhilarating, and nerve wrecking, all at the same time. An experience offered solely by Rappel Maui, you’ll surely bring home not just unforgettable memories but unique travel stories that’ll excite and thrill many curious ears! And don’t worry if you’ve never rappelled down a waterfall before, as both courses available also include some basic training.
✧ Bicycle Down a Volcano
Haleakala Bike Company will take you on a bicycle adventure starting at the summit of Haleakala, Maui’s largest Volcano. The thrilling 27-mile downhill bike ride includes bicoastal and crater views, as well as pit stops along the way.
✧ Learn to Surf
It’ll probably come as no news for you that Maui, especially its North shore, is an excellent place to learn to surf, with spots for both beginners and experts to get their surfing game on. After all, it is the state’s official sport. Because of how popular and accessible surfing is on Maui, you won’t have to put on a lot of effort into finding a spot to go surfing in or where you can learn how to surf – for example you might want to book with Goofy Foot Surf School. Or if you’d feel more comfortable being in the water with the best female teacher we know, check out Maui Surfer Girls.
✦ Chill out in a Surf Town
One of the absolute must things to do in Maui is to spend time relaxing in a cool surf town—and Paia is a perfect choice. With its beachy boutiques, stunning waterfronts and fresh fish restaurants, it is definitely the epitome of a funky, cool town.
✧ Standup Paddle Board
If surfing isn’t your thing, you might be happy to hear Maui is an equally excellent location for stand up paddle boarding – SUP for short. Maui is where SUP was invented in the first place, so you absolutely cannot miss out on adding this to your list and then checking it off there! You won’t have to put a lot of effort into finding a decent spot for some lessons and rentals, with Maui Stand Up Paddle Boarding being the highest rated and most popular one to start from.
✧ Smell the Lavender
In the Upcountry region of Maui, you will find Alli Kula Lavender Farm. Although lavender is not native to Maui, and they are not always blooming, a walk through the gardens and enjoying a hot lavender scone while taking in the view is a treat.
✧ Learn to Play the Ukelele
The ukelele, which means jumping flea, is commonly associated with Hawaiian music. So, what would be a more perfect thing to do in Maui than learning how to play one while on the island? At Ukelele Mele you can not only master how to play this instrument, but also purchase one as a souvenir.
✧ Make a Fresh Flower Lei
While a few ancient Hawaiian customs have faded from memory, the tradition of lei-giving has managed to subsist and flourish. In the beautiful islands of Hawaii, everyone wears leis. A lei is a common symbol of love, friendship, celebration, honor, or greeting. In other words, it is a symbol of Aloha. With all of the gorgeous Hawaiian flowers you will find in Maui, why not learn to make your own? Visit Haku Maui and Flora + Fauna for all things lei.
✦ Be Amazed by Lava Rock
Another one of the amazing things to do in Maui is to take a drive along Makena Road and through the Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve for cool peek at the lava fields. The surreal landscape was created by the lava flowing from Mt. Haleakala. We love the hike at the end of the road especially on a rainy day.
✦ Hike Amongst a Bamboo Forest
The Bamboo Forest on Maui is a beautiful hike that takes you into a bamboo forest that encloses a stream with 4 waterfalls. It is found on the Hana Highway (mile marker 6.5) 20 minutes out of Haiku and five miles further towards Hana from Twin Falls.
What + Where to Eat & Drink
✧ Eat Pie at Leoda’s
Leoda’s Kitchen is popular for its comfort food and pies, and often dubbed as one of the best places to eat on the island. They’ll have some truly unique items on their menu, such as ahi eggs benedict, but also a fair amount of familiar dishes like the garden salad. And you can’t enter Leoda’s without trying one of their pies! You can’t go wrong with their signature coconut cream pie, but other options on the menu sound just as tasty, including the pineapple mac nut and Olowalu lime and peanut butter.
✦ Indulge on Shave Ice
Take a step up from the kiddie snow cones and indulge in a Hawaiian delicacy, flavored Shave Ice. What is it? This dessert is made with shaved ice (not crushed like that of a traditional snow cone) and then topped with an array of flavors.
Try one of the best at Ululani’s Shave Ice shop, which has several locations throughout Maui.
✧ Eat Seafood at Mama’s Fish House
Mama’s Fish House is a highly rated and world famous restaurant located on Maui’s North Shore 10 minutes from our cottages. It is a family-owned restaurant with decades of history, with their fish guaranteed to be local and fresh, brought in by their trusted fishermen on a daily basis. On their menu you can not only find ahi and mahi mahi, but you’ll also learn who caught the fish and how, making each day’s menu unique. Book in advance!
✦ Eat at a Roadside Stop or a Foodtruck
From banana bread to fresh fruit smoothies to jumbo shrimp, you can get it all on the Maui roadside. On the Road to Hana, stop at Halfway to Hana for some of their famous pieces of banana bread. Or go to any of the tasty Food Trucks all over the island. One of our all time favorites close to the house is All Kine Maui Grindz.
✧ Drink Local Craft Beer
Even if you’re not a big drinker, one fun aspect of travel can be to try the local drinks, with trying out local craft beers being a particularly easy and tame to do. There are two big breweries on Maui, Maui Brewing Co. and Kohola Brewery.
✦ Go Wine Tasting
Experience a different side to Maui and go wine tasting. Just under an hour away from our cottages, you will find Tedeschi Winery, a small place with a handful of varietals.
✧ Eat Farm to Table at O’o
O'o Farms, located in Upcountry Maui, is the only one of its kind on this island. On the weekday mornings, you can get a coffee tour on the premises, which includes a filling breakfast, while the 3-course lunch tour comes with vegetarian options as well as fish and chicken choices. The price for this activity can feel a bit steep, but once you’ve tried their food and seen the views its estate holds, you won’t regret a single dime spent!
✧Get a Poke Bowl
Poke is a dish native to Hawaii, made of diced raw fish, served in many different styles. Traditionally the fish is prepared with maui onions, roasted candlenut, limu, soy sauce green onions or sesame oil. For some of the best poke on Maui, taste the dishes served at Takamiya Market and Eskimo Candy Seafood Market & Café.
✦Try Coconut Candy
Nahiku Marketplace is a small Hana shopping center, which consists of a tiny handful of Hawaiian product shops. This is where you can discover one of our absolute favorite Maui treats, coconut candy. The coconut is hand cut, sprinkled with brown sugar and slow baked.
✧Buy Fruit Using the Honor System
While driving on the island you will see several unattended stands selling a small selection of fresh fruit. Each has its own money slot with the cost of the product, allowing you to buy your fruit using the honor system. Consider picking up a fresh pineapple for the road. Always a nice way to support the locals!
✦ Snack on Spam Musubi
Along with shave ice, Spam Musubi is another popular Hawaiian delicacy. It is a slice of Spam canned meat (made mostly of ham) that is wrapped in seaweed. It an be found at many delis, grocery stores and even gas stations.
✧ Drink a Cup of Maui Grown Coffee
Hawaii is one of the rare states and territories belonging to the US that is capable of producing their own coffee, therefore offering the visitors to Hawaii yet another delicacy to try out whilst there. Maui Grown Coffee is the main local coffee provider on Maui, growing its coffee on an estate in Lahaina, specializing in various Arabica coffee varieties. You can get a cup of their steaming hot and tasty coffee at their company store in Lahaina, and you can also compare it against a smaller coffee grower by checking out Grandma’s Coffee’s coffee selection as well.
✦ Try Kalua Pig
Kalua pig is cooked in an underground oven, a traditional Hawaiian cooking technique. And, of course, it is tender and tasty. You can find it on many menus, but Flatbread Pizza in Paia sells a popular choice, the Mopsey Kalua Pork, which features the most tender Kiawe smoked free-range pork shoulder.
✧ Eat like a Local at a Mixed Plate Restaurant
When you’re in Maui, you won’t be low on choices of dining spots to choose from. Another rather quintessential type of meal on Maui is a mixed plate, also referred to as a plate lunch. This dish typically consists of two scoops of rice, two scoops potato mac salad and some meat, usually kalua pork. Aloha Mixed Plate is THE place to go for such a meal, especially if you want those gorgeous oceanfront views to go with your meal.
✦ Eat Fresh Fish Tacos
Located in Kihei, you will find one of the most popular fresh fish tacos and yummiest of things to do in Maui. At Coconuts Fish Cafe each fish taco is made with 17 different ingredients, plus the fish is no older than five hours and the tortillas are made in house. What could be better than that?
✧ Eat Manapua Buns
Have you ever had a Chinese steamed bun? Well, Manapua buns are somewhat similar to them, and yet quite uniquely its own kind of a Hawaiian style steamed bun. It’s typically filled with pork, although other variations also exist.