Before dawn on Haleakala, a line of headlights crawls up the switchbacks and people wrap themselves in blankets to wait for the sun to spill over a crater above the clouds. By afternoon the same island smells of sunscreen and grilled pineapple, and the trade winds rattle the palms along a Kihei beach. Maui is a good fit for couples, families, and everyone seeking a true blend of volcano, rainforest, and sand on a single island.
What are the best things to do in Maui?
The best things to do in Maui are the big natural set pieces: a volcano summit, a rainforest road, a protected crater for snorkeling and the winter whales.
- Watch the sunrise or the stars from the summit of Haleakala, above the clouds.
- Drive the Hana Highway, a green coast of waterfalls and one-lane bridges.
- Snorkel at Molokini, a crescent crater rim alive with fish.
- Spend an afternoon on the sand at Kaanapali, Wailea or Big Beach.
- Walk the short path into Iao Valley beneath the Iao Needle.
- Go out on the water to see humpback whales in winter.
- Watch the Black Rock cliff diver at sunset in Kaanapali.
- Eat your way through plate lunches, shave ice and fresh poke.
Sights and landmarks in Maui
Maui’s landmarks are mostly landscapes, and the three that define a visit are a volcano, a valley and a historic coast.
Haleakala National Park
At the island’s highest point, the crater beneath resembles Mars rather than the tropics, dotted with cinder cones colored rust, gray and gold. Most visitors come for sunrise, but the late afternoon light and the stars after dark are just as memorable. From Kahului Airport the drive takes close to two hours.
It is far colder up there than on the beach, often below freezing, so bring layers, a hat and gloves. Because the park has neither gas nor food, fill your tank and pack your snacks before you make the climb. It suits early risers and anyone who wants a very different Hawaii.
| Site | Open | Admission |
|---|---|---|
| Haleakala National Park (private vehicle, 3 days, summit and Kipahulu) | Sunrise reservation needed 3 a.m. to 7 a.m. | $30 per vehicle, $25 per motorcycle, $15 on foot or bicycle; $1 sunrise reservation per vehicle |
| Iao Valley State Monument | 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. | $5 entry and $10 parking; advance reservation for out-of-state visitors |
Iao Valley
Iao Valley is a cloud-wrapped green cleft in the West Maui Mountains, and the Iao Needle rises from its floor like a thumb of rock draped in vegetation. A paved walk leads to viewpoints over the stream and the ridgelines. It lies only a short drive from Kahului Airport, so it fits an easy morning or a gray day.
The valley carries a heavy history, since a decisive battle was fought here in 1790, and it is a place to walk quietly. Mornings are clearest, because clouds and showers often gather by afternoon. Bring a light rain jacket.
Lahaina and Front Street
Lahaina was once a whaling port and the capital of the Hawaiian kingdom, and its waterfront was among the most visited places on Maui. The wildfire of August 8, 2023 destroyed much of the historic town, and rebuilding continues. Front Street was scheduled to reopen to vehicles on August 1, 2026.
Today the visit is more about respect than sightseeing. Stay out of fenced areas and off private property, and check mauirecovers.org for the current picture. Many travelers now spend their money at shops and restaurants in nearby Kaanapali and Kihei, which are open for business.
Beaches and outdoor things to do in Maui
Maui’s beaches sit on the dry leeward coasts, West Maui and South Maui, which is where sunshine is most reliable.
Kaanapali and Black Rock
Kaanapali is three miles of white sand along the west shore, lined with resorts and a beachfront walkway where families stroll at dusk. It was Hawaii’s first planned resort, and its energy is easygoing and social. At the north end, the dark cliff of Puu Kekaa, Black Rock, draws snorkelers by day.
At sundown a diver from the cliff sets torches aflame along the rock and dives into the ocean to honor a deed of King Kahekili. Arrive a little early to claim a spot on the sand. The drive from Kahului Airport takes about 50 minutes.
Wailea and Makena
Wailea is a polished resort coast with five crescent beaches, including Wailea Beach, Polo Beach and Ulua Beach Park. Paths along the shore link them, and the sunsets look out toward the islands of Lanai and Kahoolawe. It is about 35 minutes from the airport.
Just south, Makena State Park holds Big Beach (Oneloa), a wide golden stretch backed by dunes, and Little Beach. The state warns that the shore break can be very dangerous, so watch the waves, read the signs and check the day’s surf and currents before you go in, and swim near a lifeguard only where one is on duty. Non-residents pay $5 per person and $10 per vehicle, and Big Beach closes in the evening.
Molokini and snorkeling
Molokini is the crescent rim of an extinct volcanic crater about 3 miles off the southwest coast, and the water inside is clear and full of reef fish. It is a protected marine preserve and a seabird sanctuary, so landing is prohibited and you reach it only by boat. Most trips leave from the South Maui coast in the morning.
It suits confident swimmers and anyone happy to spend half a day on a boat. Maui County allows only mineral sunscreen to be sold without a prescription, so choose zinc oxide or titanium dioxide and keep off the reef.
Whale season
Humpback whales arrive in Hawaiian waters from about November through April, with the busiest weeks from January through March. The sheltered channel between Maui, Lanai, Molokai and Kahoolawe is part of their sanctuary, so sightings are common from boats and even from the shore.
Morning departures from Lahaina-area and South Maui harbors tend to be calmer, and a clifftop walk with binoculars works too. Boats and swimmers must stay more than 100 yards away. It suits families, couples and anyone who likes wildlife without a long hike.
Day trips from Maui
The day trips people take are all drives within the island, because there is no car ferry and each island needs its own rental car.
The road to Hana
The Hana Highway runs 52 miles from Kahului and takes two to four hours one way, with 620 curves and 59 bridges. The reward is waterfalls beside the road, bamboo groves, banana bread stands and sudden views of the surf. Hana itself is tiny, with Hasegawa General Store and the Hana Ranch Store as its shops.
Start early so the stops do not feel rushed, and expect a tiring return drive. Waianapanapa State Park, with its black sand beach Pailoa, needs a reservation for non-residents, at $5 per person and $10 per vehicle, and is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. This day suits patient drivers who enjoy stopping often.
Kipahulu and Waimoku Falls
The Kipahulu District of Haleakala National Park lies 12 miles past Hana. Through bamboo forest, a trail makes its way to 400-foot Waimoku Falls, and from Kuloa Point Trail you can see the Pools of Oheo, where entering is not allowed for safety reasons.
The park fee covers both Kipahulu and the summit for three days, so pairing them across two days makes sense. Many visitors turn this into an overnight in Hana rather than a rushed round trip. Bring a rain layer and sturdy shoes.
Upcountry and Haleakala by day
Upcountry Maui is cooler ranch and farm country on the slopes of the volcano, with lavender, flower farms and little towns such as Makawao. It makes a gentler day than the summit at dawn, and the drive up gives wide views over the central isthmus.
Pair it with a daytime visit to the crater, when the sunrise reservation is not required. Travelers without a car can reach Kahului Airport on two Maui Bus routes, the Haiku Islander and the Upcountry Islander, for $2.00 a boarding. A rental car is far easier for most of these stops.
What to eat in Maui
Eating in Maui means plate lunches, poke and fresh fish, plus a growing farm-to-table scene fed by Upcountry produce. A plate lunch of rice, macaroni salad and kalua pork or teriyaki chicken is the island’s everyday comfort meal. Poke, cubed raw fish dressed with soy, sesame and seaweed, is best bought from a grocery counter and eaten on a beach. Fresh mahi-mahi and ono show up on nearly every menu.
For something sweet, order shave ice with a scoop of ice cream underneath, or a warm slice of banana bread from a roadside stand on the way to Hana. Local coffee, tropical fruit and farmers’ market stops add more variety. Dinner at a luau brings kalua pork, poi and hula.
Things to do in Maui at night
Maui evenings are unhurried and built around the sunset, a drink and live music. In Kaanapali, the torch-lighting and cliff dive at Black Rock opens the night, followed by dinner at a beachfront restaurant. Wailea resorts host slack key guitar and hula under the stars. Kihei has casual bars and food trucks, while the southern coast is ideal for sunset walks.
A luau is the classic evening out, with an imu-cooked feast and Polynesian dance. Haleakala at night is another option, as the sky is dark and the stars are thick above the clouds. It gets very cold, so dress warmly.
Things to do in Maui with kids
Kids do well on Maui, because the island hands them sand, tide pools, boats and waterfalls without much planning. Calm-looking resort beaches in Kaanapali and Wailea are easy for building sandcastles, but waves change, so locals read the posted warnings and the day’s surf and currents before going in, and they swim near a lifeguard wherever one is on duty. Whale-watching boats in winter and glass-bottom or snorkel trips in warmer months thrill older children.
The sun is strong, so reapply mineral sunscreen often and bring hats and rash guards. The Hana road is long and winding, so pack snacks and motion-sickness remedies. Haleakala is very cold and has no food, so plan a daytime visit for small children.
Good to know before you go
Maui is easiest with a rental car, since sights are spread across the island and the public bus covers only part of it. The Central Pacific hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, and short inter-island flights link Maui to its neighbors.
| Fee | Amount | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| State transient accommodations tax | 11% | Hotel guests |
| Maui County transient accommodations tax | 3% | Hotel guests |
| Maui Bus day pass | $4.00 | Riders |
Sources
- DBEDT, press release « Visitor Spending Increased in December 2025 », dbedt.hawaii.gov/blog/26-04, checked September 24, 2026
- Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, map Driving Times from Kahului Airport (gohawaii.com/sites/default/files/maui_drive_map.pdf, edition 2010), checked September 25, 2026
- Hawaii DOT Airports, OGG, Maui Bus (airports.hawaii.gov/ogg/getting-to-from/ground-transportation/maui-bus), checked September 25, 2026
- County of Maui, Maui Bus Fixed Route Program (mauicounty.gov/609), , checked September 25, 2026
- NPS, Haleakala National Park, Fees & Passes (nps.gov/hale/planyourvisit/fees.htm), checked September 25, 2026
- NPS, Haleakala National Park, pages Fees & Passes and Sunrise (nps.gov/hale/planyourvisit/sunrise.htm), checked September 25, 2026
- NPS, pages Puuulaula (nps.gov/places/puuulaula.htm) and Summit District, checked September 25, 2026
- Hawaii DLNR, Division of State Parks, Iao Valley State Monument (dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/maui), checked September 25, 2026
- Hawaii Tourism Authority, Go Hawaii, Hana (gohawaii.com/islands/maui/regions/east-maui/hana), checked September 25, 2026
- Hawaii DLNR, Division of State Parks, Waianapanapa State Park, checked September 25, 2026
- Hawaii DLNR, Division of Aquatic Resources, Maui – Molokini Shoal MLCD, checked September 25, 2026
- NOAA, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, pages Responsible Recreation and About, checked September 25, 2026
- County of Maui, Mineral Only Sunscreen Maui County (mauicounty.gov/2483), relayed by Maui Now, September 20, 2022, checked September 25, 2026
- Hawaii Department of Taxation, Announcement 2025-03 ; County of Maui, TAT Announcement 2021-01 (mauicounty.gov/2537), checked September 25, 2026
- County of Maui, Office of Recovery, « Lahaina's Front Street scheduled to reopen on Aug. 1, 2026 » (mauicounty.gov newsflash 19055, mauirecovers.org), checked September 25, 2026
- Hawaii DLNR, Division of State Parks, Makena State Park (dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/maui/makena-state-park), checked September 25, 2026
- Hawaii Tourism Authority, Go Hawaii, Kaanapali Beach (gohawaii.com/islands/maui/regions/west-maui/kaanapali-beach), checked September 25, 2026
- Hawaii Tourism Authority, Go Hawaii, Wailea (gohawaii.com/islands/maui/regions/south-maui/wailea), checked September 25, 2026
- NPS, Haleakala National Park, pages Kipahulu District and Fees & Passes, checked September 25, 2026
- NWS Honolulu / Central Pacific Hurricane Center, « 2026 Central Pacific Hurricane Season Outlook », weather.gov/hfo/hurricaneOutlook2026, checked September 24, 2026