Maui is the second-largest island in Hawaii and full of diverse and stunning landscapes to discover. Dramatic cliffs, clear waters, and multicolored beaches are just a few of the attractions that Maui has to offer. Best of all, most of the best things to do in Maui are free! Here are all the things that I recommend doing in Maui.
Disclaimer: Out of respect to the locals, I highly urge you to not visit Maui if you are not vaccinated. Maui County has very scarce healthcare resources – there is only one hospital in the entire county, which consists of three islands. Therefore, a widespread Covid outbreak on the island would be a disaster. Please be mindful when planning your trip here – my entire party was vaccinated and we took all social-distancing and mask precautions very seriously.
– Covid Travel Information –
In order to arrive in Maui from outside the county, you must follow the guidelines as outlined by Hawaii Safe Travels. If you want to bypass the 10-day quarantine upon arrival, the current steps as of April 20, 2021, are as follows:
- You must get a negative COVID test from one of Hawaii’s approved partners within 72 hours before your arrival in Maui, and it must be a NAAT test.
- Upon getting your negative results, make an account to register your trip on the Hawaii Safe Travels portal under the “Trips” section, and upload your negative covid test results to the “Documents” section. Make sure that under the STATUS column next to your test results it says “COVID NEGATIVE.” If it says “Verification in Progress”, there might be an issue with your document.
- Download the Aloha Safe App to your phone and activate it, for covid exposure tracking.
- Within 24 hours before your flight, you must take the Health Questionnaire in your Hawaii Safe Travels account. This will ask if you have symptoms, have received a positive test result, or have recently been exposed to Covid.
- After taking the questionnaire, you will receive a QR code to the email you signed up with. Save this QR code and present it upon landing.
- Starting at the end of April 2021, Maui county will start requiring visitors to also take a rapid Covid test upon arrival.
Of course, be sure to visit the official Maui county website for the most up-to-date guidelines and restrictions. These are just the steps that I took when I went.
– Road to Hana –
Before embarking on the Road to Hana, there are a few logistical details to keep in mind. First, the road itself is extremely narrow and winding. This is not the place to drive recklessly – as the road also often converges into a single lane. If you’re prone to motion sickness, you may want to take some medication ahead of time. The parking situation is also quite difficult – if there are too many people visiting, you may run out of places to park at the most popular attractions.
Finally, unless you’re a highly skilled driver, I do not recommend looping around the rest of the island on your way back from Hana. If you think the initial road was bad, further down the loop of the road where Route 360 merges into 37, you start having to drive on unpaved precarious roads. Therefore, I recommend planning your itinerary so that you have time to turn around and drive back the way you came before dark.
With that in mind, there are so many gorgeous attractions along the Road to Hana; these were just a few of my favorites!
Ho’okipa Lookout
This is the first stop on the road to Hana, as after this the road becomes one-way. This is a great spot to watch surfers in their natural habitat, as Ho’okipa beach is world-renowned for its waves! There are also picnic tables and portapotties at this spot, but all in all, I would say ~5-10 minutes is all the time you’ll be spending here.
Twin Falls
This is one of the most accessible falls on the Road to Hana, so if there’s only one waterfall you go to, make it this one. It’s an easy ~30 minute walk through the trees to get to these falls, and I recommend doing it in flip flops as you’ll be wading through some shallow streams. Don’t stop at the first falls you see, as many tourists do, continue through toward the “farm roads.” You’ll be greeted with a picture-perfect waterfall and swimming cove. There’s also a snack stand out front if you’re hungry!
Honomanu Bay
Although you can hike down to the beach at this bay, I really recommend it more as a lookout point. The beach itself is rocky, and there are many other picturesque spots to see on the road.
Ke’anae Peninsula
This peninsula has a nice lookout, but I recommend it mostly as a break from the nausea-inducing winding road and for the next stop below!
Aunty Sandy’s
This spot is famous for their banana bread! Apparently, you haven’t had good banana bread until you’ve had it on Maui. I can’t dispute this claim – the banana bread I had here was fresh and absolutely delicious. They also offer full size meals like nachos and chili if you’re hungry, making this a good lunch stop.
Hanawi Falls
There are endless falls along the road to Hana that you can see straight from the road, but this one is my personal favorite. Park along the edge of the road and slip through a crack in the barbed wire fence to get to these falls. Once you’ve scaled down some rocks, you’ll be met with a perfect little swimming cove. If you’re up for a challenge, try swimming behind the main set of falls. The current is extremely strong, so making it to the other side is a bit of a workout!
Hana Farms
You’ve finally made it to Hana! If you’re hungry, another food stop I recommend is Hana Farms. There’s The Bamboo Hale which is a restaurant serving fare such as wood-fired pizza, farm plates, and salad, a bakery for pastries and other baked goods, and a stand where you can buy local Hana products.
Wai’anapanapa State Park
This state park features a dramatic lava coastline and stunning views. Known mostly for its famous black sand beach, there are also other attractions such as a blowhole and cliff jumping! Be sure to make a reservation ahead of time, we didn’t and unfortunately got turned away at the entrance.
Kaihalulu Beach (Red Sand Beach)
This beach hidden in a cove is full of rusty red sand! This stop was probably my favorite of the entire road – it really is a landscape like no other. However, it is a bit difficult to find. We parked across the street from the Hana Ball Park, and then walked down Uakea Road. You have to pass by a Private Property sign, then make a left onto someone’s literal backyard, then walk diagonally down to the water. Then you have to walk on a ~10-15 minute hike along the cliffside. This path is extremely narrow and the dirt is loose, so it can get quite dangerous. Be very careful when walking along this path! But when you get to the end, the views are totally worth it. Keep in mind to be respectful of the locals when coming here – you are technically on private property, so be extra careful to leave no trace of yourself at the beach.
Pipiwai Trail
Unfortunately we ran out of time to visit this spot, but if you have a few hours left to dedicate after all your other stops, then be sure to check this spot out! It’s a gorgeous 1.8 mile trail through a dense bamboo forest that leads to Waimoku Falls, a 400 foot tall waterfall. The trail is fairly accessible, having been paved and with boardwalk laid over the muddy parts.
– Non-Hana Attractions –
Iao Valley State Park
This is a must-see, as it’s very accessible yet the views are so rewarding! Most people don’t spend much time here, but be sure to see the ‘Iao needle, a sharp and narrow peak extending upwards from the valley. You can also hike down into the valley for a dip into the stream below.
Haleakala State Park
The Haleakala crater towers over Maui and is visible from almost any spot on the island, and is so high that it rises above the clouds. If you’re willing to deal with the 2-hour drive up, then you cannot miss this spot. Watching the sunrise from here is so popular that you now have to make reservations. If you can’t get a sunrise slot, try going up for sunset! It is truly an otherworldly view.
Makena Cove
This cove is an absolutely stunning beach. Also known as Secret Cove or Secret Beach, it’s apparent that the secret is out, because when I went the beach was packed with other people. However, it’s still absolutely stunning, and you can enjoy the view of Kaho’olawe, Hawaii’s 8th and smallest island. Be careful when swimming, as the waves are rather strong and there seemed to be a riptide while I was there.
Ali’i Kula Lavender farm
If you’re looking for a change of scenery, try this lavender farm! You can get a stunning instagram-worthy picture of yourself among the fields of flowers. It’s only $3.00 per person, and kids 12 and under are free. We were going to visit this spot but unfortunately didn’t realize it closed at 4PM so plan accordingly!
Kanaha Beach
This is a beach on the north shore that is mostly frequented by locals. It’s a great spot for windsurfing or just chilling on the sand if you’re looking for an attraction close to the airport.
Want to visit other Hawaiian islands? Check out all my Hawaii guides.
– Where To Eat –
Maui Coffee Roasters
One of the best coffee shops on the island, Maui Coffee Roasters offers delicious Kona coffee and also brunch food. Highly recommend their sandwiches.
Eskimo Candy
According to my friends this spot has the best raw fish on the entire island, and was second best in all of Hawaii. I can’t verify, but nevertheless it is a must visit for poke lovers.
Wow Wow Lemonade
Craft lemonade stand serving the tastiest fresh pressed lemonades, acai bowls, smoothies, and healthy bites.
Paia Fish Market
This local spot has multiple locations and offers huge portions for a very reasonable price. From fish tacos to seafood chowder to even burgers for those who aren’t a fan of seafood, there’s definitely something for everyone here.
Akamai Coffee
Modern industrial style coffee shop in Wailea serving coffee and breakfast bites.
Tasaka Guri-Guri
This spot is well known among locals for their delicious guri-guri! Guri-guri is a cross between ice cream and sherbert, and you can get 2 scoops for only $1.50.
Honolulu Coffee
Great spot for coffee and acai bowls in Wailea Shopping Center.
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