The 19 Best Activities and Things to do in Maui
With two visits to Maui under my belt, I can wholeheartedly say it’s one of my favorite places to visit. From towering volcanoes, epic waterfalls, stunning beaches, and wildlife, there are a plethora of things to do in Maui for every type of traveler.
I’ll be honest; I didn’t know how much I’d enjoy it the first time I went, because I’m not a “beach person.” But the island vibes took over, and dang, I was blown away. It is truly one of the best places to be in the United States.
Throughout this piece, I’ll highlight the best things to do in Maui and hopefully inspire you to add a few to your travel itinerary. Have a safe and wonderful trip!
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Best Activities and Things To Do in Maui, Hawaii
Let’s dive into all of the fun things to do in Maui. I promise you, you’ll want to do as many of these as you can!
1. Go Snorkeling at Molokini Crater
On my first visit to Maui in 2021, I had two things that I wanted to do. Snorkel Molokini Crater and swim with sea turtles. We combined the two into an epic tour that lasted a bit over 5 hours. But first, the crater.
We started the tour at Ma’alaea Harbor and took a big boat across. I’d estimate it was about 35 minutes to reach Molokini Crater. Once we arrived, we completed all the safety briefings, and then they allowed us to hop in, staggered in groups. On the ride over, we also had some breakfast snacks and goodies.
I’ll be straight up. This is 100% one of the best things to do in Maui. I had never seen water so clear, nor seen so many fish. Growing up in Arizona, I was blown away! If you’re looking for a unique tour that you can’t do in many other places, do this.
Book Your Own Tour
Molokini Snorkeling Adventure – $180
Molokini and Turtle Town Snorkeling Adventure – $160
Browse all Molokini Snorkeling Tours here
2. Explore the summit of Haleakalā National Park
My goal is to visit all of the National Parks in my lifetime, so I had to get up to Haleakalā. We did it on the day we arrived, so we got up a bit later than I would have liked, which meant we didn’t get to hike down into the crater.
We did watch a gorgeous sunset from the top, which was out of this world.
So, what are the rules for Haleakalā National Park?
- You need your National Parks Pass.
- If you want to watch the sunrise, book a tour or get a reservation, which is quite popular.
- If you don’t want to go for sunrise, there are no other rules. Just drive on up.
Weather at Haleakalā
Haleakalā is 10,023 feet above sea level, which is quite literally 10,000 feet above the beaches you will be hanging out at. This means it will be chilly, if not freezing, in the AM and PM. Rough estimates say that temperatures drop 3 degrees for every thousand feet you gain. So you do the math.
I put on my down jacket and pants, which seems crazy to bring to Hawaii.
3. Helicopter Ride Around Maui
While I haven’t done this on Maui, we did on Kauai, and the doors-off the helicopter ride was remarkable, exciting, and frustrating because we had less-than-perfect weather.
Flightseeing is one of my favorite things to do (I’ve actually just written a newsletter on my top ones), as it allows you to see a lot of a place without taking up too much of your day or time in the area. Because much of Maui is inaccessible, a helicopter ride over it offers perspectives that few people will get to see.
From a photographer, that’s hard to beat.
60 Minute Maui Helicopter Tour – $443
Waterfalls of West Maui and Molokai Helicopter Tour – $667
http://vi.me/WzLB0Explore Maui with a Doors Off Tour – $388
Browse all of your Maui Chopper options
Or do a flightseeing plane ride
4. Go Whale Watching
Alrighty, I couldn’t hold off for any longer. This is my No.1 reason for visiting Maui.
Seeing humpback whales was on my bucket list, and in March of 2024, I crossed it off. From December through March, thousands and thousands of humpback whales migrate from Alaska to the Maui Nui Basin to give birth and to mate.
It’s one of the most incredible things to witness on Earth.
My fiancée and I took two tours – the first on a large boat and the second on a raft. But even cooler, every day we were on the beach, we could see whales breaching. And the craziest thing is that when we went swimming, we could hear whales singing.
Talk about freaking amazing!
I break down everything you need to know about whale watching in Maui here. So, if you’re interested, give it a read!
Recommendations:
- Early morning tour should have fewer waves/wind
- Bring a camera that has a decent zoom. I had a 150-600 lens.
- Bring motion sickness medication if you think you may need it.
Luxury Catamaran Whale Watching | Cheapest Whale Watching Tour
5. Drive the Road to Hana
One of the most famous roads in the world. This is just as narrow and winding as you likely have heard, but it’s honestly not bad at all. You’re supposed to drive slowly, and if you do, incidents will be nonexistent. (We even drove back at night and had no issues.)
There are tons of waterfalls to stop at, if you can remember and/or find a place to park. Much of the road has no parking, so it’s difficult to stop on a dime.
If you’re renting a car, there’s no reason to do a tour. However, if you won’t have a car while on Maui, here’s a tour that should work well for you! However you do it, it’s one of the best things to do in Maui.
Check Available Tours for Road to Hana
Near the end of the Road to Hana (though who actually gets to Hana?) is Wainanapanapa State Park, also known as the Black Sand Beach. It’s one of the gems of the area, and we’ll get to that below.
6. Visit Waiʻānapanapa State Park (aka Maui’s Black Sand Beach)
This was the highlight of our day, driving along the north shore. Maui’s Black Sand Beach is hyped up, and it lives up to the hype.
The combination of blue ocean, black volcanic rock, and green plants is a comically insane one. There are so few places on Earth that I think you’ll find a landscape this stunning, and I was floored.
As you likely know, a reservation is required to enter. And it’s based on time. There are four time slots: 7am-10am, 10am-12pm, 12:30pm-3pm, and 3pm-6pm. And the park closes at 6pm, which is a bit annoying. Lastly, entry is $5 per person, and the parking fee is $10. So a vehicle with four people would cost $30.
There is almost no cell service in the area, so print out your permits or screenshot them on your phone to avoid being turned away.
The hike we did here
We hiked the Piilani Trail to the North (going left once you park) and explored that area for a while. The views were incredible, the sea caves were sweet, and the vibes were perfect.
7. See the Nakalele Blowhole
On the west side of Maui, this one is a fun little adventure. We took a short drive from Kaanapali and enjoyed the Nakalele Blowhole. It’s not more than half a mile from the parking area, but the trail is rocky and uneven.
Once you’re there, you’ll see signs to stay away from the water spout. If you fall in, you will likely die.
8. Visit Iao Valley State Park
I had high hopes for this one, and it turned out to be less exciting. Don’t get me wrong, the area is magical. It’s one of the greenest, most lush regions on Maui. That said, once you’re at Iao Valley, there’s not much to do.
The standard trail is about 3/4’s of a mile to an overlook (there’s a closed trail, yet people hop the fence to get higher) and then another short trail along the river below. After that, you’re basically done.
We spent 2-3 hours here and then went back to the beach because we’d done everything.
Please note that a reservation is required to visit. It’s like a timed entry permit that many National Parks are now implementing. For non-residents, you’ll need a Parking and Entry Ticket.
9. Enjoy Poke and fresh fish
You can’t go to Hawaii and not eat Poke. I think we had this at least three times while in Maui. It was so fresh and delicious. Mmm.
I don’t have any specific locations, but everywhere we went was yummy and worth it!
10. Swim with Sea Turtles
This is one of my favorite things to do in Maui. The second half of our snorkeling tour was to Turtle Town. I had no idea what to expect. And it’s not like there were hundreds of turtles. But we saw a half dozen. And it was my first time ever seeing sea turtles, so I was over the moon!
In Maui, they’re protected, so you must stay at least 6 feet away from them. (Or try your best to.)
How to swim with sea turtles
Free
Spend time on the beach and in the water. There’s no guarantee, but there’s a decent chance you’ll see some swimming through the water. Remember to be respectful and NEVER touch them. Luckily, we saw three turtles on the beach and swam next to them for a bit.
Tours
You can book tours – it’s what we did. We combined the Molokini Crater and Turtle Town trips into one.
11. Go Deep Sea Fishing
I haven’t done this in Maui (but some relatives did it in Kauai and loved it). If you want to go deep-sea fishing, there are options across Maui.
I’ll let you figure out who to go with, but I can say that the ahi tuna they caught off Kauai was some of the best fish I’ve ever had. We ended up making homemade poke bowls, and dang, it was delicious.
12. Check out the Maui Aquarium/Ocean Center
After our first whale-watching trip, we decided to check out the Maui Aquarium, as it is located next door. Guys, it’s fantastic! We had a great time exploring the exhibits, observing the animals, and watching the short whale documentary.
It’s not cheap, though. Same-day admission is $50, but if you buy in advance, it’s $45. However, it’s well worth it, and the proceeds go to a good cause.
I estimate we spent two hours before heading back to the beach to enjoy some sun.
13. Play Golf
There is no shortage of golf courses on Maui. However, I’d still recommend booking yours as early as possible to ensure your tee time doesn’t get snatched up by other tourists. If you’re bringing your own clubs, make sure you have a good travel bag to protect your clubs.
Here’s a list of them all. Hopefully, you can fit in a round while still knocking off all the other best things to do in Maui.
| Kāʻanapali Royal & Kai Courses | Resort | Kāʻanapali, Lāhainā |
| Kapalua Bay & Plantation Courses | Resort | Kapalua (West Maui) |
| Kahili Golf Course | Public | Wailuku |
| Waiehu Golf Course | Municipal | Wailuku/Kahului |
| The Dunes at Maui Lani | Public | Kahului |
| Pukalani Country Club | Semi‑Private/Public | Pukalani (Upcountry) |
| Maui Nui Golf Club | Public | Kīhei (South Maui) |
| Wailea Blue, Emerald & Gold | Resort | Wailea (South Maui) |
14. Paddleboard
The calm waters on the southern coast off Kīhei are a beautiful place to put in for paddleboarding. My fiancée loves getting out on the water, and she had a blast exploring everywhere. She even saw a couple of whales out there, which was super cool!
Even though the waters tend to be calm, remember to be safe and keep an eye on how the current is affecting your location.
15. Go Surfing
From gentle beginner swells in Lahaina and Kīhei to the jaw-dropping waves at Peʻahi (Jaws) in winter, Maui delivers some of the best surfing in Hawaii. There’s something special about paddling out as the sun rises over Haleakalā, feeling the rhythm of the ocean and soaking in island vibes between sets.
This is one of the things in Maui I haven’t done yet, but I hope to do it the next time we visit!
16. Put your toes in the sand and relax
If you’re like me, you always bring a book on vacation, and then it never sees the light of day. Maybe this is the trip where you actually crack open your book on the beach while enjoying the soft, warm sand around you.
17. Rent Kayaks
I rented kayaks in Kaanapali and we explored the coastline and coral reef off the shore for an hour or two. I don’t remember it being too expensive, and it was lovely to get out on the after and away from the crowds. It was with some random vendor on the side of the beach near the Westin.
18. Visit Makena Beach State Park
The golden white sand beaches of Makena Beach State Park were idyllic. This beach was my favorite of the ones we visited. We got out here around sunrise and enjoyed almost complete solitude; just us and the calm waves.
To visit, drive past all the big hotels in Wailea, and you’ll eventually see signs for it. From Kīhei, it’s a 17-minute drive. After parking, you’ll have a short walk to the beach. From here, we walked right, up a small bluff, and down into a cove.
19. Dragons Teeth
This is barely squeaking in, but it’s a nice short walk if you’re looking for a place to watch the sunset or stretch your legs. It’s a lava rock formation with jagged ridges, giving it a dragon-like appearance.
You can find the trailhead here. It’s on/near a golf course and less than a mile round trip.
Where to stay in Maui
Lodging in Maui is divided into several regions (or at least that’s how I describe it). You have our luxury areas in Wailea and Kaanapali, more affordable options in Kīhei and Lahaina, and then easy access to the airport in Kahului.
This is a slight generalization, but it helps you narrow down the choices and locations of where you want to stay. To maximize your time and experience the best things to do in Maui, being in the center of the island is recommended.
On our first visit to Maui, we stayed in an Airbnb in Kīhei before moving to the Westin Resort, where we spent time with family for a wedding. On our second trip, we stayed at another Airbnb just off the beach in Kīhei and had a fantastic time!
Explore Hotels in Wailea
See hotel availability in Lahaina
Check out spots in Kaanapali
Find cheaper options in Kīhei
Stay near the airport in Kahului
Need a VRBO for a large group? Find great houses here.
When to visit Maui
One of the best parts of Maui is that there is no ‘cruddy season.’
Yes, the temperature fluctuates and could be a bit rainier, but overall, it’s pretty perfect to visit year-round. I’ve been in November and March, and our March was much cloudier (unfortunately). Still, the days were in the mid-70s, and coming from Seattle, that was pretty dang nice.
If you enjoy wildlife, the best time to visit Maui is during the winter, when it’s whale season. Here, you’ll get to experience the most majestic creatures all converging in one area for months.
However, if you’re looking for fewer crowds and lower prices, spring and fall shoulder seasons are the ideal times to visit. This is when kids are usually in school (except during Spring Break week) and holiday or summer travel hasn’t started yet.
Maui’s Weather By Season
Spring (March–May)
- Temps: Highs in the mid-70s to low 80s °F (24–28°C)
- Rain: Rainfall begins to taper off from the wetter winter months, especially by April.
- Notes: This is a shoulder season—less crowded, with blooming flowers and pleasant weather. Great for hiking and beach time.
Summer (June–August)
- Temps: Highs in the mid-80s to low 90s °F (29–33°C)
- Rain: Very dry, especially on the leeward side (e.g., Lahaina, Kīhei, Wailea).
- Notes: Peak travel season. The ocean is calmer, great for snorkeling and diving. Expect higher humidity and warmer nights.
Fall (September–November)
- Temps: Highs in the mid-80s °F (29°C), slowly cooling.
- Rain: Still relatively dry through early fall, with rain increasing in November.
- Notes: Another shoulder season. Fewer crowds, warm ocean temps, and beautiful sunsets.
Winter (December–February)
- Temps: Highs in the mid-70s to low 80s °F (24–27°C)
- Rain: This is the wet season, especially on the windward side and in higher elevations.
- Notes: Whale-watching season! Cooler evenings, big north shore surf (great for watching, not for swimming). The west and south sides remain mostly dry and sunny.
Random other tips about completing the best things to do in Maui
The drive to Haleakalā is long. Same for the Road to Hana
On a map, it doesn’t really look like it would take that long to drive to the top of Haleakalā Naitonal park. But, dang, that’s a 2.5-hour drive from Kīhei. Same for the Road to Hana. You’ll want to get an early start for both (unless you’re doing sunset on Haleakalā’s summit).
There’s no quick way to visit the ʻOheʻo Gulch region
Looking at a map, you’d think it would be easy to get from Keihei of Wailea to the southeastern side of the island. But Oprah (I think) owns that section, and she doesn’t let cars drive that road. So, you have to go all the way around, adding what is surely 2 hours round trip.
Should you rent a car?
If you plan to have a more adventurous trip to Maui, then yes, renting a car is a good idea. Almost all the best things to do in Maui require some transportation, and unless you plan to hire tours and private shuttles, it’ll be cheaper to rent a car. I think our 5-day trip in 2024 cost maybe $300 to have a sedan.
But if you’re just there for some beach days, a taxi may suffice.
How many days should you spend in Maui?
I would say 5-7 days is the perfect amount of time to spend in Maui. Any less, and it’s almost not worth it, with parts of two full days being dedicated to just flying. We did a five-night, six-day trip in 2024, and it was fantastic. It gave us enough time to relax on the beach, do some tours, and see other parts of the island we didn’t get to in 2021.
What is a rough cost estimate to travel and stay in Maui?
- The cheapest lodging you’ll find is around $300 per night, with the luxury hotels going well past $1,000.
- Depending on the location, flights will range from $400 to $800 round-trip.
- Rental car $50-70 per day
- Food is pricey, even at grocery stores. We tried to make our own meals at least half the trip.
- Add in any tours which will vary, but let’s say $500 for two activities.
I think you can estimate that a trip for two people would cost around $3,500 to knock out the best things to do in Maui.
Check out all the tours Maui has to offer
Final thoughts on the best things to do in Maui
Maui is honestly one of my favorite places to visit and explore. There are so many things to do in Maui, and you probably won’t get to all of them on your first visit. Which is okay! You want a reason to come back and enjoy the tropical paradise, beautiful views, and wonderful people.
I hope this guide has provided you with plenty of ideas to add to your itinerary, and here’s to an amazing trip ahead!
Until next time, adventurers, stay safe.
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