We spent a week in Maui this year fall and it was a fantastic getaway filled with adventure and relaxation and some amazing food. Here are our top 10 things to do when you’re in Maui.
Eat Shaved Ice
Don’t just eat some shaved ice, eat ALL the shaved ice. It is some of the best you’ll ever have. Be sure to try lots of flavors and get a scoop of ice cream in the bottom. There are lots of shops all over the island so pretty much everywhere you turn there’s another opportunity to try some shaved ice. Ululani’s Shaved Ice was our favorite, but everything we tried was so good.
Swim With The Turtles
Turtle Town in Maui has some of the most amazing snorkeling. Giant turtles will cruise right past you while you drift along just watching them in their majestic glory. We took a tour with Redline Rafting and one of the stops was Turtle Town, but you don’t need to take a tour to see them. There are lots of areas in Maui where you can snorkel right off the beach and see amazing things.
Get Lei’d at a Luau
You can’t go to Maui without going to a luau. This is more than just a show, the luau experience is an evening of food, drinks, dance and story telling. There are lots of luau options on Maui, we choose to go Old Lahaina Luau because of it’s excellent reviews.
Drink some Mai Tais
Every restaurant offers them, and many have their own special twist. If the Mai Tai isn’t the state drink of Hawaii, then it should be. Our favorite Mai Tai was the one we had at Monkeypod Kitchen, the foamy top made it light and delicious on a warm afternoon.
Eat at Mama’s Fish House
Mama’s Fish House in Maui is a family owned restaurant offering the freshest fish you’ll find on the island. Mama’s has been ranked as one of the top 10 restaurants in the United States. Be sure to make a reservation because it’s always busy. The restaurant sits with a view of the ocean, and has some of the best food I’ve ever eaten in my life. It’s not to be missed!
Tour a Real Pineapple Farm
Did you know that there is exactly 1 pineapple farm in the US and it happens to be on Maui. The Maui Gold Pineapple Tour was one of the highlights of our trip. We learned so much about pineapples and the industry and they let you eat pretty much as many samples as you want.
Visit Haleakala National Park
There are 2 different areas of Haleakala National Park. One side will allow you to see the most amazing sunrise, and the other has lots of hiking and waterfalls. It’s worth it to try to visit both. We loved the Pipiwai Trail and hiking all the way to Waimoku Falls.
Treat Yourself
Maui is not cheap. I’m sure there are plenty of blogs that will tell you how to save money, this is not one of them. My advice to you is to plan to stay somewhere nice. We stayed at the Wailea Beach Marriott and loved it, but there is no shortage of luxury resorts on the island of Maui.
Explore a Black Sand Beach
The black sand beaches of Hawaii are not really sand, but crushed up lava rock. It’s hard to describe, but amazing to see in person. Even being a beach resident from Florida, these beaches were like nothing I’d ever seen. I recommend visiting Waianapanapa State Park, which is a stop on the road to Hana. There were lots of area to explore, including beaches and caves.
Drive the Road to Hana
You absolutely cannot go to Maui without driving the Road to Hana. This iconic drive is a unique experience like no other. You can take the traditional route, or you can go the back way, which is what I recommend. Plan for an entire day so you can enjoy all the stops along the way. Driving the Road to Hana isn’t about the destination, it’s about the journey.
