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Ultimate Maui Guide

by Leah Moran

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21 October 2021

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Want to travel Maui like a local?  Well we’ve got you covered!  While we can’t call ourselves locals, we did live in Maui for 6 months and know all the best places to hike, snorkel and eat!  Maui is one of the most incredible places to visit with such diverse landscapes, your adventure options are truly endless.  We recommend visiting for at least a week to truly get the Hawaiian experience. 

* Hawaii is a special place with rich history and culture.  Please be very respectful of the people and land while visiting, and always leave places better than you found it!

There is so much to see on the Island of Maui, so I will split it up into sections so that it's easier to digest.  At the end of this post you can find a 10 day itinerary to make the planning easier for you!

North Maui: 

 

Paia is dubbed the hippie town of Maui and it consists of cool shops, great places to eat and beautiful beaches.  On Paia’s main street you will find many shops filled with jewelry, beachwear and art.  

 

Best Restaurants:

  • Mama’s Fish house - Ready to drop some $$$ on the best meal of your life?  Mama’s Fish house is the best place to be.  Great vibes and even better food, just make sure you get a reservation well in advance!

  • Paia Fish Market- The best fish tacos you will ever have! Perfect for a quick bite at any time of the day.  There is also a location in Lahaina and Kihei if you can’t get enough on your trip to Paia!
  • Polli’s Mexican Restaurant- Okay not technically in Paia, but its only a 10 min drive and so worth it for the best Mexican on the island! Its so authentic that you can expect to see waiters chasing the islands famous roosters out the door every few minutes! 
  • Ululani's Hawaiian Shaved ice- Maybe not exactly a meal but this tasty treat is a must while you’re in Hawaii.  Try flavors unique to Hawaii like lychee and Lilikoi with their incredible Mochi on top! There are many locations on the island and I’m sure you’ll need to get your fix more than once during your trip!

 

Best Beaches:

  • Ho’okipa - This is the perfect place to see turtles (Please keep at least a 10 foot distance between you and a turtle!  It's actually illegal to touch or come close to turtles in Hawaii!) Also check out the overlook to watch surfers ride some pretty crazy waves!
  • Baldwin Beach - Turquoise waters and absolutely incredible views of the lush mountains of the Central Coast! Also a great place to watch kite surfers!

 

Best Shops:

  • Alice in HulaLand- This quirky shop has the best clothes!
  • Ho’okipa Surf- The best shirts!  Matt got so many cool shirts and hats here that are great quality and colors!
  • Tribe Maui- If you went to Polli's Mexican restaurant, make sure you stop in this store that's across the street. This boutique has my favorite unique jewelry and clothes!

East Maui: 

 

The famous road to Hana!  If you have a 4x4 vehicle there are technically three ways to do the road to Hana.  You can (1) start by Paia and go to Hana and back, (2) Start by Paia go all the way around and end up on the south side of Maui, or (3) start on the south side go to Hana and back.  My personal favorite is the last option because I get pretty car sick, but if it's your first time you really should try to go all the way around to experience the full beauty of this ride!  Note: rental cars do not insure you if you take the Southside way to Hana because you are mostly on a dirt road and it can get a little sketchy.  We took our 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee on the road many, many times and it handled the roads, and turns just fine! This road isn't for the faint of heart though with its many hair pin and cliffside turns.  If you go slow and stay very aware of cars around you, you will be just fine! Also let locals pass, as they will be used to the roads and going much faster!

If you’re starting from Paia make sure to download the “Road to Hana Maui GyPSy Guide'' in the app store.  It tells you where to stop, how long each stop might be and gives you history along the way!  It's about $5 and so worth it for all the information you get.  There are so many turns it's easy to pass up some pretty incredible spots if you don't have it.  Just make sure you download the app before you take the drive because you will lose service along the way. 

Road to Hana:

Some of our favorite places to stop along the way (in the order that you will pass):

  1. Twin Falls 
  2. Garden of Eden Arboretum 
  3. Halfway to Hana Stand
  4. Upper Waikani Fall: Swimming area with 3 waterfalls
  5. Pua’a Ka’a State Wayside Park- great place to have a picnic, use the restroom and enjoy another waterfall and swimming area. 
  6. There are too many waterfalls on this drive to name, so if you see something cool, safely pull over and check them out!
  7. Hana Lava Tube ( Mile Marker 31) Turn Left on Ula’ino road to check out the coolest lava tube!  Make sure you bring your flash lights!

8. Honokalani Beach - Black sand against an incredibly blue ocean.  Need I say more? There are hiking trails, and even a campground here. 

 

9. Hana Town- as you can see this is a pretty extensive list, so if you can spend the night in Hana you can make the most of your trip! Check out the many yummy food trucks for dinner. 

10. Koki Beach- A gorgeous red-ish sand beach that is perfect to relax on!

 

11. Venus Ponds- A must stop in my opininion! A short trail down to a secluded swimming area off of the ocean.  You can cliff jump here and the water is clear and and so refreshing!

12. Wailua Falls- Pull off on the side of the road in the many parking spaces.  You can see the falls from the road, or take the short path to a pool area where you can jump in!

13. The Pools of Phe’o and Pipiwai trail- My favorite hike on all of Maui!  Do not miss this stop!  Check out the pools and then go on this 4 mile hike to the 400 foot Waimoku Falls through an incredible bamboo forest.  Trust me, its one of the coolest hikes Ive ever been on with multiple waterfalls along the way!

South Maui: 

 

We lived in Kihei so we might be a little biased to this side, but there are so many amazing beaches and places to eat that we fell in love!

Best Restaurants:

  • Maui Brewing- Incredible beers with an amazing outdoor seating area.  Try to come here at sunset!
  • Isana- Our favorite sushi in the whole wide world! Please just do us a favor and go here.  And don't forget a reservation! Check out Happy hour for 40% off select sushi and drinks from 3-5pm and 9-10pm daily. 
  • South Shore Tiki Bar-  This was our favorite spot to hang out! Great tiki drinks and Pizza in a cute atmosphere!
  • Food trucks off of Piikea Ave- A fun area to come if no one can decide on what they want.  Come here and choose from several food trucks and then meet at the picnic tables as a family!
  • 5 Palms- This is a more expensive dinner, but the views and food are worth it!  Take a nice walk on the beach before or after dinner. 

Best Beaches:

  • Makena Beach (Big Beach) - If you make it to any beach on this side of the island, make it this one!  Better yet come here for sunset and you will not be disappointed.  Word from an over cautious nurse- the waves here are STRONG.  Please never turn your back on the ocean and be careful while boogie boarding or body surfing.  The waves are known to slam you into the beach and if you don't know what you're doing you could get very hurt or paralyzed.  Trust me I saw it at the hospital.  So just be smart and have fun! 
  • Little Beach (Nude Beach) - This is a fully nude beach that is incredibly beautiful, but if you're not into nudity do not venture over here.  To get here from the big beach, go to the far right side (if you're looking at the ocean) and climb over the dividing rocks. 
  • Makena Secret Cove- Not much of a secret anymore, and it shows because it's constantly packed!  But if you can find a spot it's so worth it!
  • Kamaole park I,II & III- most locals have their favorite, check out all three and let me know your favorite!

Activities:

  • La Perouse Bay and Lava Field hike - Rent some snorkel gear from Snorkel Bob’s in Kihei for the day and head out to La Perouse bay for some amazing snorkeling! You will see tons of fish and even some sea turtles! Always remember to wear Reef Safe sunscreen as we want to keep the reefs healthy and vibrant! Afterwards, head down the road a bit to the Lava Fields hike along the ocean.  It's truly a unique experience!
  • Day trip to Molokini- There are so many options for half day or full day boat trips to the molokini crater.  The snorkeling is incredible and it's so fun to sail around on a catamaran!  If you have time for a longer trip, I suggest booking one that also goes to “turtle town”.  This is the Mala Wharf on the Westside of Maui and you are guaranteed to see many turtles because the turtles come here to have fish eat the algae off their shells and flippers, kind of like a turtle car wash! You can start these trips from Maalaea Harbor or Lahaina Harbor. 

West Maui: 

 

Best Restaurants:

  • Fridas Beach House-  The cutest spot on the water with the yummiest Mexican food.  Plus their margaritas are to die for!
  • Down the hatch- Super fun atmosphere with great food!  Make sure to check out the alcoholic shaved ice next door at Breakwall!
  • Star Noodle-  In the mood for asian eats by the sea?  Look no further than this delicious spot where everything you get is drool worthy.  Make sure you get a reservation!
  • A’a Roots- Did I go here every time I passed through the area, you betcha! The most delicious locally sourced vegan food, and I'm not even vegan.  You have to get one of their acai bowls!

Best Beaches:

  • Napili Bay- Small Beach, big reward!
  • Ka’anapali- The whitest sand and bluest water! Plus its just fun to say!  Shopping mall on the beach here as well. 
  • Black Rock Beach- Gorgeous beach, and cliff jumping for the adventurous! 
  • Oneloa- Beautiful white sand and turquoise water.  What more could you ask for?!

 

Best Shops:

Lahaina has multiple shops and restaurants to walk around to.  Make sure you check out the Lahaina Banyan Court in town! Get the famous Dole Pineapple soft serve at Lappert's Ice cream!

Activities:

  • Honolua Bay- Walk through a literal fairytale land of banyan trees to a perfect snorkeling bay. 
  • Dragon's Teeth- Nice half mile walk along the ocean to see a cool lava flow formation that looks like jagged dragon teeth! Parking for the hike is from a parking lot off of office road, next to the Maui Pineapple Chapel. 
  • Surfing- This is a great area to try surfing for the first time.  I do recommend starting with a trainer as surfing is hard to learn on your own and you don't want to take on waves that are too big for you!  Launiupoko is a great place to learn! (pro tip: stay out of the way of other surfers if you don't want to get yelled at!) Another great area is anywhere along the Honoapiilani Highway past Olowala Beach area. Youll see people pulled over and surfing wherever they see waves!
  • Mala Wharf- If you opted out of taking a trip to Molokini, you can still reach “turtle town” by car! Park at the wharf and swim out to the sunken wharf to see turtles and coral!  Caution: do not attempt this if you are not a strong swimmer!  There is a decent current here and it's a little ways out to reach the coral! Take a life jacket or choose to snorkel with a tour if you are unsure. 

Central: 

 

Activities:

  • Iao Valley (Pronounced EE-ow) - This is a must stop for its beautiful scenery and interesting historical events.  I suggest parking in the large parking lot at the very top of the hill and doing the short hike up to the viewpoint of the Iao needle.  From there you can walk down the path to the river and if the water is calm you can lounge in the various pools that are created in the river.  If you go back down to the parking lot, you will see many small paths cut into the trees where you can walk out to other calm pools.
  • Waihee Ridge trail- This is a 4 Mile trail that offers gorgeous views of the ridge-line and the ocean.  It is rated as hard due to its steep climb in some places. If you're not up to this milage, there is a viewpoint halfway that's absolutely breathtaking.

Driving on to Olivine Pools?  Make sure you stop at Karen Lei’s Gallery for beautiful gifts to take home to family and friends.  There is local jewelry and other beautiful pieces of art to enjoy. If you forgot food there are also a few packaged snacks and drinks if you're in a pinch. 

  • Olivine Pools- *Please only visit if the ocean is calm, and never turn your back to the ocean!*  People have been pulled out to the ocean and have even died here, so please use your common sense and do not go close if there are waves crashing into the pools. Even if it’s a calm day, always face the ocean and stay away from the edges just in case. That being said, on calm days this is one of the coolest spots to see tide pools and jump into crystal clear pools carved out by the ocean.  You are going to park in a red dirt area off the side of Kahekili Highway.  It's best to type in “Olivine Pools'' into google maps and be on the lookout for a dirt parking area.  From the parking lot, take the short and steep hike down to the pools.  There isn't a clear cut path, but you should usually see people down below and make your way towards them. The lava rock makes a very cool and beautiful landscape to view on the way down.  Bring sturdy shoes and water shoes to change into as the rocks at the bottom will be slippery. 
  • Blow Hole- Once you've left the olivine pools continue up the road to the Nakalele BlowHole. Just as with the Olivine pools, please be very cautious near the edges and always respect the ocean!

Upcountry: 

 

Activities:

  • Haleakala National Park - You’re not going to want to miss this one of a kind experience.  Make sure you book a sunrise reservation way in advance as it fills up quickly.  I think it’s so worth it to go for sunrise, although sunset is equally as beautiful if you are unable to get a reservation in time. Click here to book a reservation.  Make sure you bring a hat, gloves, and coat with you as it is around 40 degrees. Get to the lookout points early as they fill up and you want to have a great view of the sun peaking out throughout the clouds for the first time! If you have time after sunrise, hike the sliding sands trail for views that make you feel like you're on mars!

 

Best Restaurants:

  • Kula Bistro- All day cafe that has the best food and sweets! You're not going to want to miss out on their amazing case of baked goods  filled with pies, cakes and other yummy treats.  Trust me, if you’re anything like me you will have trouble picking just one to take home!
  • Bullies Burgers- Small shop on the way to Hana (If you're going the back way). They sell their all beef burgers from their cattle ranch and it is delicious!
  • Maui Wine - Have you ever had pineapple wine?  Try the pineapple flight here along with so many other delicious selections in a beautiful setting. 

Adventurous 10 days in Maui Itinerary

If you’re adventurous and really want to see the WHOLE island, then this itinerary is for you. 

Day One: Fly into Maui (OGG) and rent a 4x4 vehicle (even better if you can rent from a local) and check out Paia Town and Beaches. Stay in Paia. 

Day Two: Road to Hana.  See spots 1-9 on the Hana List above.  Stay in Hana!

Day Three: Hana to Kula. See spots 10-13 on the Hana List above. Start early so you can make it to the Maui Winery and Kula Bistro for dinner.  Stay in a hotel or air bnb in central Maui. 

Day Four: Haleakala for sunrise. Then drive to Iao Valley and stay in the Wailuku area. 

Day Five: Start the day at Waihee Ridge Trail, then drive the coast to Olivine Pools and finally the Blow Hole. Spend the night in Napili Area. 

Day Six: Sunrise at Napili Bay and lunch at A’a Roots.  Drive to Honolua Bay for snorkeling. End the day at Ka'anapali Beach for sunset. Stay anywhere from Ka'anapali to Lahaina.

Day Seven: Morning surf at Launiupoko, then check out the town of Lahaina.  There are lots of cool shops and great places to eat. Stay in Lahaina.

Day Eight: Head to Kihei for breakfast at Kihei Cafe.  Then check out Kamaole Beach I, II, or III.   Make your way to Makena Beach for sunset. End the day at South Shore Tiki Lounge and stay in Kihei. 

Day Nine: Drive to La Perouse Bay for hiking and snorkeling.  Stop at Makena Cove, or any other beach you see on the way back. Go to the 5 Palms for dinner and stay anywhere from Wailea to Kihei. 

Day Ten: Half day snorkeling trip to Molokini out of Maalaea Harbor. Pack up and leave…. A hui huo, until we meet again! So sad to see you leave but wow, you've seen so much!

**Driving around both ends of the island (Hana, and the opposite coast) are a little treacherous in areas.  The roads are built on the side of cliffs so they might seem scary to some.  I had absolutely no issues driving either of these roads, but just wanted to point out to you that they might seem scary if you’re not used to driving tight, hilly roads. Go slow and pull off to the side to let any locals pass who might be pushing you past your comfort zone!

 

Pro tip: Check out rentals that offer roof top tents.  That way you can have a car and a place to sleep all in one!