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50 things to do in Maui

There are some obvious things to do on Maui, like visiting the fantastic sandy beaches. However, Maui is so more than beautiful beaches and clear blue water.

You can tour pineapples farms, take hula lessons, learn to surf, visit rescued animals and so much more.

If you’re trying to figure out your Maui vacation, check out my Maui itineraries. I have a sample 4-day Maui itinerary and a sample 7-day Maui itinerary.

No matter how much time you have in Maui, you’ll find something for everyone on this list of the best things to do in Maui.

The best things to do on Maui

Don’t forget to check out The 40 best places to eat in Maui after you’ve finished reading this!

1. Snorkel Molokini Crater

You probably already know that Maui has some of the best snorkeling in all of Hawaii. My favorite place to snorkel in Maui is Molokini Crater. 

If you want to learn more, I have a blog post all about snorkeling Molokini Crater. You can also check out The 10 best places to snorkel in Maui for even more snorkeling ideas!

2. Watch the sunrise at Haleakala

You’re not likely to find a list of “the best things to do on Maui” that won’t suggest a sunrise at Haleakala. This is truly a Maui bucket list item. Any Maui sunrise is a good sunrise, but Haleakala is the best.

3. Road to Hana

The epic Road to Hana is just one of the things that Maui is famous for. Whether you drive yourself, take a tour, or fly over via helicopter, the Road to Hana is a must-do for anyone. Some of the best stops along the Road to Hana (roughly in order) include:

• Ho’okipa Beach Park
• Twin Falls
• Keanae Peninsula
• Wailua Valley State Wayside
• Pua’a Ka’a Falls
• Hanawi Falls
• Nahiku Marketplace
• Wai’anapanapa State Park
• Hana town
• Hamoa Beach
• Wailua Falls
• ‘Ohe’o Gulch (Seven Sacred Pools)

Some of these stops along the Road to Hana will have their own spots on this list because they’re just that good! If you want to learn more, check out The Ultimate Guide to the Road to Hana.

If you don’t have a rental car yet, I recommend Discount Hawaii Car Rental. You’ll find the best deals on any of the Hawaiian Islands.

4. Watch Whales (seasonal)

If you’re fortunate enough to be visiting during whale season, make sure to take a whale watching tour. If you’re staying in West Maui, you might even see whales from your own lanai.

Although I love the Kihei/Wailea area, I recommend staying in West Maui (Kaanapali/Lahaina) during the winter for the best chance of spotting whales from your resort.

5. Visit the Maui Ocean Center

The Maui Ocean Center is fun and educational. It’s also a great rainy day activity. If you’re bringing kids to Maui, this is a must. 

6. Maui Golfing

Maui has some of the best golf in Hawaii. Check out one or all of the island’s 12 public or resort courses.

• Kaanapali Golf Resort – Royal Course in Lahaina
• Kaanapali Golf Resort – Kai Course in Lahaina
• Kahili Golf Course in Wailuku
• Maui Nui Golf Club in Kihei
• Kapalua Golf Club – Bay Course in Lahaina
• Kapalua Golf Club – Plantation Course in Lahaina
• Waiehu Golf Course in Wailuku
• Wailea Golf Course – Emerald Course in Kihei
• Wailea Golf Course – Gold Course in Kihei
• Makena Golf Course in Makena
• Wailea Golf Course – Blue Course in Kihei
• The Dunes and Maui Lani Golf Course in Kahului

All of the Maui golf courses mentioned are either resort courses or public courses. There are other private courses on-island but these are all open to the public.

7. Maui Ocean Vodka Tour

Did you know that Maui is home to breweries, wineries, and distilleries? Don’t worry, I’ll talk about all of them. For now, take a tour of the home of Ocean Vodka.

For more things to do in upcountry Maui, check out the ultimate guide to Upcountry Maui

8. Go horseback riding

When you think of animals in Hawaii you probably don’t think of horses, but there are lots of them! Join some real Paniolos (cowboys) at Mendes Ranch. 

9. Maui Atlantis Submarine Tour

If you’d like to check out the underwater sea life but aren’t comfortable in the water, a submarine tour is a great option. This is another great option for families traveling to Maui.

Kids and adults alike will love taking a dive underwater (without having to snorkel or scuba) to see all of the aquatic life on Maui. 

10. Drive the West Maui loop

You’ve heard about the Road to Hana, but the West Maui Loop is equally beautiful (and treacherous.) Much shorter than the Hana Highway, the West Maui Loop has less traffic and equalling stunning views. Some notable stops along the West Maui Loop include:

• Dragons Teeth
• Honolua Bay
• Nakalele Blowhole
• Olivine Pools
• Khakauloa Village 

If you stop in Khakauloa Village make sure to stop at Julia’s Banana Bread.

The drive gets pretty rough after Olivine Pools, so proceed with caution. It’s always a good idea to check your rental agreement as some prefer that you not go on these adventures.

11. Makena State Park

Makena State Park is home to one of the most popular beaches on the island, Big Beach. Little Beach (next door) is unofficially a clothing-optional beach, so keep that in mind. It’s better to know first than to show up and be surprised, right? 😉 

If you’re looking for Little Beach, check out how to find Little Beach in Maui.

12. Kapalua Coastal Trail

if you love hiking, you’ll love the Kapalua Coaster Trail.

13. Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge

Take a leisurely walk on the boardwalk of this wildlife refuge. 

14. Visit MauiWine

Remember when I talked about wineries, breweries, and distilleries? Well, here is one of the wineries. If you take my advice and drive “the back way” from Hana, stop at MauiWine for a well-deserved drink on the way. You can also visit MauiWine without doing the entire loop and it’s worth a visit either way. 

15. 7 Sacred Pools

7 Sacred Pools is another stop after the Road to Hana that can’t be missed. Sometimes it is closed so keep an eye out for that. 

16. Hula Lessons at Lahaina Cannery Mall

Learn to Hula at the Lahaina Cannery Mall. 

17. Watch a sunset

One reason that I love staying on the West Side is the beautiful sunsets. Check out the best resorts in Maui and the best luxury resorts in Maui for some of my favorite resorts on the west side. 

I have a blog post with the best places to see sunsets in Hawaii if you need more ideas.

18. Kayak Turtle Town

Take a short kayak trip to Turtle Town to check out the sea life. This is another good family activity on Maui especially if you have older kids or teens.

19. Kula Botanical Gardens

Check out cooler temperatures and beautiful botanical gardens in Kula. Although most of the things on this list of things to do in Maui are in the “tourist” areas of the south side or west side, upcountry Maui is the real Maui and a must-see. 

20. Zipline over the Jungle

If you want to fly over the jungle, ziplining with NorthShore Zipline Co. is a fantastic experience. Taking a zipline tour is a Hawaii must-do and Maui has some of my favorite ziplines in all of Hawaii.

21. Check out Lahaina’s Banyan Tree

While you’re checking out the shops on Front Street, don’t miss the Banyan Tree.

22. Dine at Mama’s Fish House

Mama’s Fish House is the most popular restaurant on Maui – by far. Make sure to get a reservation in advance. 

23. Iao Valley State Park

Enjoy hiking and view of the Iao Needle at Iao Valley State Park. 

24. Explore Haleakala from the sky

If you can’t get enough of Haleakala, explore it from the sky with Air Maui Helicopters.

25. Wai’anapanapa State Park

Located in Hana, Wai’anapanapa State Park is home to one of the island’s black sand beaches. Make sure to check out where to find black sand beaches in Maui for even more ideas.

26. Tour Hali’imaile Pineapple Plantation

This unique tour offers insight into Maui’s past and present pineapple cultivation. As a bonus, you get an airport-ready pineapple to bring home!

You can read more about pineapple farms in Hawaii here.

27. Shop and dine on Front Street in Lahaina

Front Street in Lahaina is home to several chains that you’ve heard of and some fantastic local shops and restaurants. Make sure to check it out. Some of the top restaurants on Front Street include:

• Kimo’s 
• Fleetwood’s on Front Street
• Pacific’O
• Paia Fishmarket
• Down the Hatch
• Lahaina Fish Co.
• Captain Jack’s Island Grill
• Cool Cat Cafe
• Breakwall Shave Ice Co.

28. Snorkel at Black Rock

The best snorkeling on Maui is arguably at Molokini Crater, but you can snorkel Black Rock by simply walking into the water. Black Rock is at the north end of Ka’anapali Beach, another great reason to stay in one of the many resorts located on the beach.

Some of my favorite resorts on Ka’anapali Beach include:

• Hyatt Regency Maui
• Sheraton Maui Resort and Spa
• Marriott’s Maui Ocean Beach Club

28. Feast at Lele Luau

Maui offers some of the best luaus in all of Hawaii. The Feast at Lele is a personal favorite. Check out the best luaus on Maui for more ideas and to find the perfect luau for you. 

30. Attend a luau at sea

One of the most interesting luau options is attending a luau at sea. This is the same company that offers one of my favorite Molokini snorkeling tours.

31. Leilani Farm Sanctuary

If you love animals as I do, you’ll want to check out the Leilani Farm Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is an island paradise where farm animals rescued from slaughter. The sanctuary offers 1-hour tours twice a week. Reservations are required. 

32. Tour Maui Brewing Company

Now we’ve made it to the brewery. Yes, you can take tours at a winery, distillery, and brewery on the same island. Why choose one when you can do them all? 

33. Honolua Bay

Honolua Bay is another great snorkeling spot on Maui. 

34. Make a day trip to the Lanai Cat Sanctuary

Here is another must-do for animal lovers. Actually, it’s over on Lanai but it’s a quick ferry ride. The Lanai Cat Sanctuary is one-of-a-kind.

The Lanai cat sanctuary was started to protect the birds of Lanai and also give a home to stray cats. With no shelter or vet on the island, this sanctuary is truly necessary and runs off of visitor donations. If you love cats, you have to do a day-trip to Lanai to check it out. 

This photo is courtesy of the Lanai Cat Sanctuary.

35. Enjoy a spa treatment

Enjoy a relaxing spa treatment at one of the many resort spas. Check out the best 5-star resorts on Maui for some of the best resorts with the best spas. 

36. Go Parasailing

Go Parasailing with UFO Parasail Adventures in Ka’anapali.

37. Take a surf lesson

If learning to surf in Hawaii is on your bucket list, Maui is one of the best places to learn. Whether you have surfed before or are an absolute beginner, I recommend Maui Surf School.

38. Bike down Haleakala

Most visitors watch the sunrise from Haleakala, but only the most adventurous bike down Haleakala! This is a great activity for families with teens or older children, or for any adventure-loving adults.

39. Day trip to Molokai

One of the unique things on this island is the proximity to other islands. Thanks to ferries, you can take day trips to Lanai and Molokai. 

40. Go stand-up paddleboarding

What better place to SUP than Turtle Town?

41. Take a helicopter tour

There are several helicopter tours offered on the island. I recommend the West Maui and Molokai Tour by Blue Hawaiian. Blue Hawaiian is my favorite helicopter tour company no matter what island you visit. 

42. Take a ride on the Tropical Express

If you have a fan of trains, take a ride at Maui Tropical Plantation.

43. Rent a Slingshot

Regular cars are fun, but have you tried driving a Slingshot? 

44. Take a pottery lesson in Upcountry 

I had to share more things to do upcountry. You can take a pottery lesson in Makawao. This is an excellent option for creative travelers. 

45. Learn to scuba dive

If you’re looking to take your underwater activities to another level, learn to scuba with Banyan Tree Divers. 

46. Have photos taken

You won’t find a more beautiful backdrop than the islands. Whether you’re celebrating a honeymoon, anniversary, or just a regular Tuesday, considering booking one of the islands many talented photographers. 

Did you know that I’ve photographed weddings in Hawaii?
 

47. Enjoy a picnic

Pack a picnic and enjoy the sunset. Celebrating an anniversary or planning a proposal? You can turn it up a notch with Maui Luxe Picnics. 

48. Check out the penguins at the Hyatt Regency 

Did you know that the Valley Isle has resident penguins? Check them out at the Hyatt Regency Maui. If you’re looking for a great resort, the Hyatt Regency is one of the best. 

49. Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm

Ali’i Kula Lavender farm offers self-guided tours, golf cart tours, craft classes, and more. 

50. Learn about Japanese culture at Lahaina Jodo Mission

The temple is located on Puunoa Point in Lahaina, the first capital of the Hawaiian Islands, and overlooks three neighboring islands—Moloka’i, Lana’i, and Kaho’olawe.

50 things to do in Maui

There you have it, some of my favorite Maui activities. When booking tours, I always use Viator. Viator is the #1 company that I use for tours and excursions. They offer the best price guarantee, and most tours are fully refundable up until 24 hours in advance.

Many of my clients end up rescheduling tours due to plans changing, sunburns, flights delayed, etc., so it’s nice to have that option.

More Hawaii Travel Tips

If you’re looking for more vacation tips, I’ve got plenty of them. Check out the following blog posts to plan your vacation.

• How to plan a Maui vacation.
• 15 Free things to do on Maui.
• 7-day Maui Itinerary.
• The best 5-star resorts on Maui.
• 4 day Maui Itinerary.
• The 7 Best Things to do in Maui.
• What is the best Hawaii island for honeymoons?
• The 10 best honeymoon hotels in Maui

The best things to do in Maui

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