Aloha from Maui: The Best Hikes, Beaches, Activities & More

Out of all the Hawaiian islands that can be visited, Maui is probably the most popular and for good reason. The island has so much to offer from lush green tropical vibes of Iao Valley to a stunning drive lined with waterfalls on the road to Hana. What we found unique was the ease of access to the Haleakala volcanic crater. Hiking into the crater is definitely a possibility for the adventurous ones. The island is known for its luxury oceanside resorts and five-star accommodations. Not to forget sprawling white sand beaches and the most delicious banana bread!

This blog post will allow you to explore the abundant natural beauty the island of Maui has to offer. Including some rugged and untouched parts of the island that are not so touristy but will enrich your Hawaiian experience by a lot more! Excited? Read on.

Best Season to Visit Maui

January to March – Good time for whale watching. Expect some rain showers. Expect flight and accommodation pricing to be on the higher end due to favorable weather and whale watching opportunity

April to June – Best time to visit in terms of pricing as this is a shoulder season. However, expect high temperatures and the least amount of rainfall.

July to September – One of the busiest periods in Hawaii. Expect weather to be very warm and prices to be sky rocketing.

September to Nov – Again shoulder season in terms of pricing. Weather is still warm but generally better as compared to summer.

November to January – Wet season on the island but peak season in terms of crowd. Expect flight and accommodation prices to be at the higher end. However, the perks of visiting in this season is that the waterfalls on the Road to Hana will be brimming with water.

We have visited Maui twice. Once in November and the next time in December. We loved the experience of hiking some of the trails, especially on the Road to Hana, in the rain! Watching the gushing waterfalls only elevated the experience.

Where to stay in Maui?

Depending on the purpose of travel and the kind of traveller you are, you could choose to stay at either one or a combination of the places listed below.

1. Kihei
2. Wailea
3. Kahului
4. Hana
5. Kapalua/Lahaina

Kihei – For budget travelers and those who spend more time outdoors, Kihei has plenty of airbnbs, hotels and resorts at reasonable rates. It’s a lively place with a variety of restaurants, breakfast joints and bars. It is also conveniently located in terms of distance from most touristy places.

Wailea – With its dry and sunny weather, Wailea is home to luxury resorts. If you plan on staying in one place & enjoying a relaxed vacation, this place has a good selection of resorts to choose from.

Kahului – Located close to the main airport on the island with budget-friendly accommodation options. This also happens to be closer to Hana than any other town with hotels at reasonable rates. So if you are planning to get an early start on the Road to Hana, staying at Kahului helps.

Hana – Although many choose to drive through this town in one day, we highly recommend staying a night here if you have the time for it. Read about the things to do in Hana to know why. This town has very limited accommodation options that get sold out months in advance so plan accordingly.

Kapalua/Lahaina – Located on the North Western Coast, Kapalua & Lahaina are known for premier, upscale resorts which are more secluded and quiet compared to Wailea. If you plan to be moving around the island, exploring different places, this is not for you. It will easily take a couple of hours of drive time to get to most other places. On the other hand, if you plan to have a quiet, relaxed vacation, this is the place to be.

Top Things to do in Maui

In the following sections we have broken down things to do on the island region-wise.

• Road to Hana
• Hana
• Haleakala National Park (Coastal Section)
• Haleakala National Park (Summit Section)
• Wailea
• Lahaina
• Kapalua

Road to Hana

This popular scenic drive lives well up to its hype. Hana is a small, scenic town on the east coast of Maui. Although it is only about 50 miles from Kahului Airport (the main airport in Maui), the drive could easily take an entire day depending on the number of stops. We highly recommend not rushing it. The drive amidst a lush tropical rainforest that opens up to views of the ocean every so often, is stunning to say the least.

Pro Tip: Roll down windows of your car to elevate the experience by a notch. The sound of gushing waterfalls and chirping birds is not something you want to miss.

Please be mindful of where to pull over since the road is narrow and winding. All official viewpoints and trailheads have designated roadside parking. Parking anywhere else will block through traffic. Aside from the drive itself being scenic, there are quite a few viewpoints and short hikes along the road. Here’s a list of our favorites:

Kaulahao Beach (Turtle Beach)

At the very end of the Road to Hana, just before entering the town of Paia, do make a stop at this beach. You will be pleasantly surprised at the number of Sea Turtles making their way to the beach for nap time!

Ho’okipa Lookout & Beach

A surfers’ sanctuary in the winter. You could spend hours watching world class surfers in action from the Ho’okipa lookout.

Twin Falls

Highlight: Waterfalls
This is the first of a long list of waterfalls you will encounter on the Road to Hana. It is a quick out and back hike to a pair of waterfalls. It is worth a stop especially after heavy rains when the falls are gushing with water. Watch out for flash flood warning.

Bamboo Forest Falls

Highlight: Waterfalls amidst a bamboo forest
This place is easy to miss as it has only got popular recently. In fact the first time we drove the road to Hana in 2020, we did not know of its existence. This is a short and quick hike but slightly steep and slippery. The trail goes through a bamboo forest eventually leading to the base of a waterfall.

Note: If you feel more adventurous, there are three more waterfalls further down the same trail. The trail is unmaintained and gets a lot more muddy. But our fellow hikers who had gone all the way to the fourth waterfall and back had good things to say about the rest of the hike.

Waikamoi Ridge Nature Trail

While this one was a fun walk in the rain, there wasn’t much for views. Definitely no waterfall access. We recommend passing on this if you are short on time.

Garden of Eden

If you wish to see the diversity in Hawaii’s flora all in one place, then this walk in the botanical garden is for you. If you are short on time or are not a botanical garden kind of person, skip it.

Note: This place charges an entrance fee. Find out details here.

Aunty Sandy’s Banana Bread

Highlight: Banana Bread with ocean views
A definite must stop for some of the tastiest, freshly baked Banana Breads, or so it seems after a long day full of activities. Located on mile marker 16. Grab your banana bread, cross the road, find a quiet place to watch the waves crash against rocks while savoring your slice of heaven.
Note: They are closed on Sundays.

Pro Tip: Though the stall is open until 4pm, Banana breads usually get sold out before 2. If you cannot make it well before 2, you could call and ask them to save a loaf for you! Make sure to arrive before 4 to pick up your order.

Ke’Anae Peninsula

Highlight: Beach area with volcanic lava rocks
A little beyond mile marker 13, there is a parking lot with plenty of parking that allows access to a rocky and rugged coastline. The beach is made of volcanic lava rocks that are surprisingly sharp and pointy. It is a great place to watch waves crash against these rocks.

Halfway to Hana

Highlight: Concession stand with snacks and beverages
This one’s a hard-to-miss stop. There is a big signboard that reads ‘Halfway to Hana’. If you’re hungry by now, this place carries cold sandwiches, shave ice, snacks and beverages. However we recommend carrying your own food if you have dietary restrictions as the options here are very limited. This is probably the only decent place that carries food throughout the drive (other than Aunty Sandy’s Banana Bread). So plan accordingly.

Upper Waikini Falls

Highlight: Waterfalls
Also know as three bear falls. The falls are viewable from the bridge around mile marker 19. It is also possible to take a short hike down to the base of falls but the path is muddy and slippery with some steep drop offs. There is limited road-side parking just past mile marker 19.

Pua’a Ka’a State Wayside Park

Highlight: Picnic tables, Waterfalls, Restrooms
Not the most picturesque waterfall on this drive. But if you chose not to hike to the other waterfalls earlier on, you could do so here without having to go down any steep, muddy path. There is a well maintained, paved trail that gets you close to the base of the falls.

Hana

Now that you have finally made it to the vibrant little town of Hana, we highly recommend spending a night here at the least. And the reason is that you will not need to rush the stops on the Road to Hana and still find sufficient time to explore parts of Hana and beyond. There are quite a few people who choose to do the entire thing in one day and return to the western parts of Maui the same night. Although strenuous, it is do-able and the key is to start early.

Hana is the opposite of commercial. We saw more local Hawaiians at the beaches and stores here than anywhere else on the island. There are very limited accommodation options here that get sold out months in advance, especially in peak seasons.

Hamoa Beach

A quiet, secluded beach in Hana with lush cliffs and palm trees is worth spending an evening at.

Wai’anapanapa State Park

Highlight: Rugged shoreline views, black sand beach, lava caves, blowhole, sea arches
Note: Reservations are needed to visit the park and can be made up to a month in advance. Click here for further details.

There is a coastal trail that parallels the dramatic lava coastline and extends in both directions from the parking lot. You can choose to hike as far along in either directions. We recommend going towards the black sand beach first. There is a clear signboard at the parking lot with directions to each of the points below.

Things to do in Wai’anapanapa State Park

Black Sand Beach – The trail to the beach is well paved and easy to hike . There are stairs that go down to the beach. The striking contrast of the black sand beach against the deep blue of the ocean makes it worthy of a visit.

Black Sand Lava Cave – From the black sand beach, make a right as you face the ocean and walk a few yards to the lava tube. It is possible to walk inside the lava tube during low tide. The cave opens up to the ocean. When inside the the cave, keep an eye out for rogue waves that come crashing inside.

Blowhole – The experience is better during high tide when ocean water shoots up from a narrow lava tube.

Sea Arch – Back on the coastal trail continue further down for views of naturally formed sea arches.

Beyond these, you can hike for as long as you like for stunning views of the coastline. You will get to explore more blowholes and black rock beaches amidst a lush green backdrop.
Pro Tip: The terrain is mostly flat but rough and rocky (lava rocks can be very sharp!). We highly recommend wearing hiking shoes.

Haleakala National Park (Coastal Section)

Area wise this National Park is vast and has two separate sections that are practically discontiguous. The coastal section, also known as Kīpahulu District, is lush green with numerous waterfalls. The summit region with the Haleakala crater is a barren volcanic land. Visitors cannot drive from one section to another. The coastal section is approximately 30-minute drive from Hana. The drive is an extension of the Road-to-Hana experience, only more beautiful.

Things to do in Haleakala National Park

Pipiwai Trail

Highlight: Waterfalls, Bamboo forest, Banyan tree, Stream crossing, hike a short distance across boulders to get to the base of Waimoku falls
When we hiked this a few years ago, the place had received a lot of rainfall. It was quite a show to watch the falls descend from a 400ft sheer cliff. However, more recently we visited in the dry season and the same falls did seem a little disappointing given the less volume of water. Nevertheless, the views along this trail are rewarding and worth the hike.

Seven Sacred Pools Trail – ‘Ohe’o Gulch

Highlight: Tiered waterfalls flowing into the ocean, dozens of pools, lush greenery, ocean views
This is a short but rewarding hike definitely worth doing.

This concludes the Hana story and the things to do in East Maui. Be prepared for a long drive back.

Haleakala National Park (Summit Section)

There is one 37-mile winding road that goes to the summit of Haleakala National Park. It’s a beautiful but steep drive climbing over 10,000ft in only 37 miles. Clouds almost descended down to the road and the visibility reduced to only a few meters as we got closer to the summit.

Note : The weather is highly unpredictable in this part of the park. It could change from being windy and cold to warm and sunny in a matter of minutes. Wear layers.

Sunrise at Haleakala Summit

The unique experience of watching the sun rise from a blanket of clouds probably makes it the most popular activity here.
Note: Reservations are required to access the park between 3 am and 7am and can be made up to 60 days in advance. Find out details here.

Hike to Leleiwi Overlook

This is a short and easy hike to stunning views of the Haleakala crater. It’s definitely worth a quick stop on the way to the summit.

Hike the Sliding Sands Trail – Keonehe‘ehe‘e

This is a challenging trail that will get you to the base of the crater with endless views of a volcanic landscape. Cinder Cones in varying shades of red and black make for unique mars-like views. The difficulty of this hike could be deceptive since it starts from the rim of the crater and descends to the base. Surrounded by stunning views, you could easily lose track of the elevation lost. The uphill climb could get strenuous and demanding as the trail is completely exposed without any shade.

Note: The actual hike is a C-shaped point-to-point trail, starting from the visitor center parking lot at the summit and ending at Halemau’u Trailhead. To avoid walking back to the car after ending the hike, we did it as an out-and-back hike. The stats below represent details of our hike.

Sunset at Haleakala Summit

For those who could not secure park permits for sunrise, sunsets are almost equally beautiful from the summit and do not require permits. The likes of us, who cannot get around to waking up at 2 am and driving for over an hour are welcome to avail this experience.

Wailea

Located on the south shore of Maui, Wailea is a posh, luxury beach town. With acres of meticulously manicured golf courses, world-class resorts and gourmet cuisines, this place is a tourist paradise. Some of the best white sand beaches on the island are here.

Wailea Beach Walk

This is a paved path along the shoreline connecting a string of beaches. There are beaches and the ocean on one side of the path and some of the luxury resorts on the other. Here are some options for exploring the beaches in this region:

• Walk the Wailea Beach Path: The path is around 1.6 miles one way (3.2 miles roundtrip). You can park at Polo beach and walk to Wailea, Ulua and Mokapu beaches along the path. Starting point would be Fairmont Kealani in front of Polo beach ending at Andaz on Mokapu beach.
• Do the reverse i.e park at Mokapu beach and walk the path in the reverse direction.
• Walk a part of the path, choose a beach of your liking to spend time at. Wailea beach is the most popular one and also a good place to snorkel.
• Drive from one beach to another. We don’t recommend this since distance between these beaches is small and you will end up spending time getting in and out of parking lots.
• Although the paved path ends at Mokapu beach, by all means you could continue further on the beach to Keawakapu beach – an additional 1.5 miles one way.

Pro Tip: The Wailea beach path is exposed with little to no shade. Apply sunscreen and carry plenty of water.

Secret Cove Beach

Probably the least crowded of all the beaches on this part of the island. You could easily drive past it since it is a small beach and hard to identify from the road. One of our favorites in Maui and also a good sunset beach!

Hoapili Trail or The King’s Highway

This is not a must do hike unless you are feeling extra adventurous or have the time for it. This hike is by no means easy. You will be walking over a massive field of sharp, hardened lava rocks. We gave up on the trail halfway through as the views were average and walking in the scorching heat with endless views of barren land stopped being fun after a point.

Pro Tips:

• Wear closed toe shoes with good soles.
• Carry lots of water and sunscreen

Lahaina Historic District

Located on the West coast of Maui, Lahaina has an artsy beach town vibe. With numerous souvenir shops, art galleries, restaurants and one of our favorite beaches on the island, this is a popular touristy town for good reason. Here are some of our top picks for things to do in Lahaina.

Self Guided Walk Tour

We parked at one end of Front Street, Lahaina, near the big Banyan tree and walked the length of town. We explored some of the art galleries and picked up our souvenir from one of the many stores here.

Shave Ice and Big Banyan Tree

Grab shave ice from Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice and find a seat under the big Banyan tree to savor it.
Fun Fact: The sprawling Banyan tree was imported from India and planted here.

Buddha Temple (Jodo Mission)

If you are looking for respite from the touristy and bustling town of Lahaina, this is the place to be. It’s secluded and usually quiet.

Kaanapali Beach

This is a really good beach for watching sunset.

Kapalua

Driving further up North from from Lahaina on the West coast of Maui, comes the resort town of Kapalua. It is a gateway to the more rugged and untouched parts of the islands. Here are our top picks from the things to do in this area.

Kapalua Bay & Honolua Bay

Two of the best places on the island for snorkeling, especially during summers when the tides are low. Honolua Bay is also a popular surfing spot during high tides.

Nakalele Blowhole

Visit this place for some spectacular natural water show. Watch the ocean waves enter a lava tube and get sprayed several feet up in the air. The coastal views surrounding this area are also beautiful.

Drive the infamous Kahekili Highway

If you have visited Nakalele Blowhole, you are already on it. Driving further, it becomes a winding one-lane narrow road spanning the North coast of Maui. With speed limit of 5mph in some places, it is full of blind curves and vehicles going in the opposite direction. If you are a fairly good driver, don’t let this deter you. You will be treated with endless views of the coast lined with rugged cliffs. There are several turnouts and fruit stalls along the drive to stretch your legs and take in the scenery. The best part about this section of Maui is the natural scenic beauty and that it is the least crowded and touristy.

Waihee Ridge Trail

Highlight: Fog covered ridgelines, lush greenery overlooking the blue Pacific
Hike this moderately challenging trail to take in views of the dramatic ridgelines on the north coast of Maui. We hiked this trail in winter when the ridges were almost fully engulfed in fog making the views almost mystical.

Note: The first parking lot you arrive at is the overflow parking area. Continue driving further to reach the actual parking lot where the trailhead is located.

Iao Valley State Park

If a lush green tropical rainforest surrounded by elusive fog-covered mountain peaks sounds even remotely interesting, this is where you will find it. Take a short 0.6-mile hike to the Iao Needle. The views are a treat!

Best Bars and Food in Maui

Bars & Restaurants in Kihei & Wailea

• Kihei Caffe – Best breakfast in town. Get here early to avoid long wait times.
• Monsoon Bar & Grill – For those craving good Indian food in Kihei
• Maui Brewing Co – Kihei
• Pita Paradise
• Penny’s Pizza & Pasta
• Braddah Chics – A food truck on the infamous Kahekili Highway. Stop for lunch with a view.

Food on the Road to Hana

• Island Fresh Cafe, Paia – The Avocado toast here is to die for!
• Aunty Sandy’s Banana Bread, Keanae – Call in advance to reserve freshly baked banana bread. You will thank us for this!
• Hana Farms – Roadside Stand, Pizza and Bakery
• Ae’s Thai Kitchen & other food trucks
• Hana Ranch – Probably the only place open late for dinner

Bars/Restaurants in Lahaina

• Olowalu Juice Stand – Quick stop for Acai bowls, smoothies and fresh Coconut Water
• Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice, Lahaina
• Banyan Treats – Ice cream, cookies & more (Chocolate Lover? Highly Recommend the Kona Mud pie Icecream!)
• Maui Tacos, Napili
• Moco Roots
• Hula Grill Kaanapali – Drink & Dine on the beach with the your feet in the sand