Maui, Hawaii
Hawaii is an archipelago located in the Pacific Ocean and part of the United States. It is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts offering abundant watersport activities from surfing, boating, snorkeling and more. One of the most visited islands is Maui. This incredible island has beautiful beaches, fantastic hiking, wonderful national and state parks and tons of things to do! Here are some of the top tourist destinations around Maui!
Getting around
This itinerary is a driving tour so renting a car is a must. If you do not want to rent a car there are other ways to get around such as shuttles, taxis, ride-shares. Many people when visiting Hawaii set up at a resort and can take day tours from their accommodations. I definitely prefer the flexibility to have a car. Plus if you want to do the Road to Hana in Maui it is a must!
Top things to do in Maui
Hiking
Maui is full of incredible hiking. Haleakalā National Park has some great hikes including Sliding Sands and the Halemau’u Trail. Some of the other amazing hikes include the Pipiwai Trail which leads to the Waimoku Falls through bamboo forests. The Waihee Ridge Trail gives panoramic views of the Waihee Valley. The Hoapili Trail is a coastal trail through rugged lava fields. ʻĪao Needle Lookout Trail gives incredible views of the needle and the valley.
Beaches
Beaches are one of the big draws to Hawaii. There are so many wonderful beaches to explore and relax on during your vacation in Maui.
Some of the top beaches are located in the resort areas such as Wailea and Ka’anapali Beach.
Makena Beach also known as Big Beach is known for golden sand. Ho’okipa Beach Park is known for windsurfing. Napili Bay and Palauea Beach are great for snorkeling. Kaihalulu beach is a red sand beach surrounded by volcanic cliffs.
Breweries
Maui Brewing Company is the largest and most known brewery in Hawaii. They have several taprooms or you can do a brewery tour for $20 a person. Other breweries include Koholā Brewery which is located in Lahaina, Out of the Woods Brewery located in the Makawao Forest Reserve and Taste of Aloha Brewery in Waikapu.
enjoying sunsets
Watching the sunset is one of the best ways to wrap up your day on the island. No matter where you are you can catch the amazing sky. Some of our top places to watch the sunset included Makena Beach, Wailea beach and watching the sunset over the clouds at Haleakalā National Park.
Haleakalā National Park
Haleakalā National Park is the big national park on the island of Maui. There are two portions of the park. The volcanic portion is central. It is a great place to catch the sunrise or sunset and boasts incredible hiking. Of note the road there and back is winding. Getting there for sunrise or leaving after sunset means driving in the dark. If you are interested in sunrise make sure to get tickets in advance. Also bring layers when visiting as can be chilly. The other portion is located at the end of the Road to Hana. It has the Seven Sacred Pools and Pipiwai Trail which leads to waterfalls through a bamboo forest.
ʻĪao Valley State Monument
The ʻĪao Valley State Monument which is in the central part of the island is a wonderful park to explore. There is a 0.6 mile paved trail to the lookout of the Needle. There is also a botanical garden to walk around. Reservations are now required to visit the park.
Road to Hana
One of the top must do things in Maui is the scenic and iconic road to Hana. There are so many incredible stops along the way. Some of the must see stops include: Ho’okipa Beach Park, Twin Falls, Honomanu Bay, Wailua Valley State Wayside, and the Upper Waikani Falls. The road continues past Hana to the Seven Sacred Pools and the Pipiwai Trail.
Whale watching
Between the months of December and April you can see majestic humpback whales on a whale watching tour. This will get you up close to these wonderful creatures. If you are visiting during this time you can even see the whales from the shores.
Snorkeling
Snorkeling is so wonderful around the island. Turtle Town is a great place to see sea turtles. There are several beaches that are great for snorkeling including Napili Bay, Honolua Bay, and Palauea Beach. A popular excursion is snorkeling on Molokani Crater.
Catch some rainbows
Hawaii is the rainbow state and you will undoubtedly see some rainbows. The good thing is that rain is usually passing.
Plan your trip
If you haven’t made it to Hawaii yet, consider this your inspiration to go. It is beyond beautiful and you will not be disappointed. We loved week in Maui and I can say without a doubt we will be back. We only scratched the surface of all the incredible things this state has to offer!
