Maui is regarded one of Hawaii’s best known hidden treasure. This was a trip long time in making and was pushed back due to COVID 19 several times in ’20 and ’21. As April neared we realized it would be the best time to make this trip happen, as this is the beginning of the travel season for the islands. We referred multiple resources including our community of fellow travel bloggers, their accounts for traveling in Maui and other websites to compile a rough guide for us to refer when we were in Maui. Our thought process around this was to try and fit in all the absolute unmissable things that we should in Maui and leave some room for us to relax as well. We are definitely happy that this strategy paid off, and If you resonate with our travel philosophy, read along as we organized our recommendations into a easy to consume format so that you don’t have to spend too much time planning and instead focus on fitting all those beach clothes in your bag!

Lets start by answering some of your obvious questions first:

1. How many days should I budget for my vacation in Maui? It depends on the activities and places you want to cover on your trip here. But Generally to make a good worth of time and money you are spending on air tickets to get here, we suggest you plan a minimum of 5 full days of vacation. We spent around 9 days in Maui, making it a mix for touristy activities and relax/chill days.
2. I am a Vegan/ Vegetarian, will I get food in Maui? Most definitely you will. Most restaurants will have a Vegetarian friendly meal options at the least and my recommendations in this blog also had Vegan options.
3. Will I need a rental car? If your travel budget can accommodate a rental car, you should not think twice. Although there is some public transport, it is not very frequent and not all parts of the Island can be accessed in this manner. We also noticed taxi cabs in the airport and resorts we stayed in, but they are going to more expensive than renting a car in general.
4. What should you reserve in advance?
   1. Haleakela Sunrise Tickets: if you are not able to secure tickets for sunrise like us, you can visit the summit for sunset and its also very beautiful. For us, it was our favorite sunset in Maui and definitely better if you are not a morning person as it involves waking up at 3 am.There are sunrise tours you can reserve if you dont get the tickets and they roughly cost around 200$, we did not go with this option as we did not feel it was worth the cost. Also, found an interesting biking tour for sunrise but it was booked out so we did not try.
   1. Luau: You will have to make prior reservations if you want to attend the Luau in Maui. The Famous Luau in Maui is —– . We were invited by Hyatt Maui for their Drums of Pacific Luau and we loved our experience there.
   2. Mamas fish House and any other famous restaurants you plan on trying: unfortunately we couldn’t get a reservation here thought we tried more than a month before our trip but everyone I have spoken to highly suggests going to this place.

Where to Stay

We recommend you split you stay on your island into at least 2 regions. This is entirely up to you, but the reason we make this recommendation is so that you can explore more nearby rather than traveling back and forth and if its your first time in Maui then it would be definitely good to explore 2 different stays involving less driving. Maui also boasts some of the finest resorts in Hawaii, so it will be a good idea to stay in one of them for at least a couple of days. Here’s where we stayed during our trip. Our trip to Maui was for roughly 9 days and we chose 2 airbnb’s in the initial duration of our trip and ended our trip with a relaxing weekend stay at Wailea at Wailea Beach Resort.

1. Where to stay near Lahaina – Our recommendation – Hyatt Maui

2. Resort in Wailea, Wailea Beach Resort(https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/hnmmc-wailea-beach-resort-marriott-maui/), We stayed here in the oceanfront sundeck room and it was absolutely amazing waking up every single morning, highly recommended! Personally we feel the resort experience at Wailea is much better than Kaanapali as it is less crowded and offers really great views and amenities.

We planned this way so that we could visit the attractions near these locations without a lot of driving and could also relax and just chill at a beach in the evenings. You could follow a similar pattern and stay

1. For a few nights in the North part of the Island, the towns of Paia, Kihei and Kahului have plenty of hotels and Airbnb options. This would be an ideal location to start one of the most sought after tourist activity, the Road to Hana. Alternatively look for accommodations in Kihei and surrounding areas as well. South Central Maui is home to so many hidden beaches, and a big chunk of natives live here too. We highly recommend spending a few days in the resort town of Wailea, south of Kihei, if that agrees with your budget.
2. On the West side of Maui, are the true hidden gems of the island. Home to Maui’s biggest city and some of the best restaurants Lahaina won’t disappoint you in terms of options. Check out resorts and hotels in Kaanapali, which are more affordable than the ones in Wailea. You could also go further North, like we did, and find more resorts and Airbnbs in nearby towns like Kapalua & Napili.

Our Fav Maui Experiences

The Road to Hana

You may have already figured out that this is the number one attraction you want to visit once you are in Maui. And it won’t disappoint you at all, this is easily one of the best times you will have in Maui, and experience a diverse landscape as you reach Hana and beyond.

Time Needed :

At least one entire day. Don’t under budget your time for Hana, Start bright and early in the morning to make most of out of this attraction. Some people suggest staying a night in Hana, but we don’t think its really worth it if you are in Maui for just 5-7 days.

Wow-ness Factor:

You will be Wowed no doubt. The road itself is mesmerizingly narrow, so you have to be careful while driving, but you will undoubtedly enjoy the views. Almost every switchback here leads to something beautiful, so plan ahead for the attractions you don’t want to miss and attractions you can go if you have time. Our recommendations are

1. Rainbow Eucalyptus at Ke’anae Arboretum. There are other native plants here and a taro plantation at the end of the short trail, but the Eucalyptus trees are the showstopper here. Spend about 30 – 34 min here.
2. The Keanae town and Aunt Sandy’s Banana bread. if you skipped on breakfast, this would be a good place to get some. Enjoy the lookout and read about the tragedy that have befallen this place in the past. Spend about 30 min here.
3. Waiʻānapanapa State Park – You shouldn’t skip this one, the beach in this park is famous for its black sand and makes for picturesque scenes. We actually hit this one on our way back and spent time until sunset here before making our way back. You need reservations to enter the park so make sure you have done those in advance.
4. Hana Bay – In the case of Road to Hana, the Journey is more captivating than the destination. The Hana Bay Beach park is a quiet place to settle in, dip your feet in water and relax. Alternatively check out the nearby Koki and Hamao beach for even better views.
5. Kipahulu – We highly recommend driving another 45 min further on, to visit Kipahulu, the other end of Haleakala National Park to gaze at the Pools at Oheo and if you are up for it, a short 4 mile out and back highly trafficked trail called the Pīpīwai Trail which leads to a beautiful waterfall.
6. Kaihalulu Beach – If you have still have some time left, we recommend you hike to this beach with red sand. This is optional and wasn’t part of our plan, just keep in mind that the trail is steep.

$:

There is no additional cost to do the road to Hana drive. Incidentals include reservations to Waiʻānapanapa State Park which should be about $20, If you don’t have a National Park Pass then a 30$ admission fee to Kipahulu, which you can also use for your trip to Haleakala. If you really want to understand all the culture and towns that you will be crossing on this road, we recommend purchasing this Shaka Guide and listening along (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/maui-road-to-hana-driving-tour/id1070908005).

TL;DR :

A One day drive punctuated with stops with interesting landscapes, beaches, waterfalls and a highly recommended trail.

Quick Tips:

1. Start early, if possible eat or pack your breakfast before you begin this trip. There are limited options for food on this road that include food trucks just outside Hana and various road side shops vending fruits and coffee. Ae’s Thai Kitchen is where we had our lunch and the food there was very good.
2. You may be tempted to stop at every waterfall that you see, but would suggest that you first try and do the unmissable attractions.

Haleakala National Park

Time Needed :

Typically Half a day, either beginning early in the morning for sunrise or later in afternoon to after sunset.

Wow-ness Factor:

It’s recommended to watch at least a sunrise or sunset at the peak of this Volcano. Yes!, Maui is home to the Worlds largest dormant volcano. You won’t usually notice this mountain easily while driving around Maui, because after 10 am on most days, the base of the peak is covered with clouds until sunset. You should drive through the park’s main road to reach the peak. There are several short and long hikes along the way, but you will be amazed by the varying landscape around this volcano. On one side lies a desert that stretches all the way till the ocean and on the eastern front a rain forest, with a vibrant eco layer. There is a lot to admire here, but the sunset or sunrise is unbeatable.

$:

Park Entrance fee is $30 if you don’t have an annual national parks pass.

TL;DR :

Drive to the top of world’s largest dormant volcano for sunset/sunrise views one only dreams of!

Quick Tips:

1. You need reservation to go to the peak for sunrise. For sunrise, cars line up at the park entrance really early in the morning at 4 am. Reservation slots are opened 2 days in advance at 7 am Island time for just 30 slots, so you have to be really on it to get a slot. We tried for 3 days, however we weren’t lucky enough to get one, so we chose to do the sunset at the peak instead. Although we can’t compare, but the sunset was totally worth it and doesn’t require reservations. Just make sure you are at the peak by 5 pm as parking lots fill up quickly after that, and be sure to get some warm clothes, it gets really cold up there. We took some chairs, our camera and tripod and ofcourse some snacks to enjoy the views.
2. There are no food options inside the park so please plan ahead. We had a late lunch at Cafe Des Amis, Paia and loved the veggies and chicken curry there before we went for our sunset adventure.

Iao Valley State Park

Time Needed :

2-3 hours including travel time from most places in Maui.

Wow-ness Factor:

Iao Valley is mostly famous for the needle monument that basically rises outwards of the surrounding landscape. In addition, there is a botanical garden where you can spend some time admiring local vegetation on the short trail to the needle monument. You can also enjoy the the lush green views and take a walk. We loved the vibe here.

$:

A parking permit available once you enter the park.

TL;DR :

Views of the needle moutain surrounded by lush green forest as a backdrop.

Water Activities

Time Needed:

Dedicating an entire day or two for various water activities is definitely worth it. Maui is home to some of the most pristine beaches around, and the water is very inviting. We chose to split our water activities into two half days and we tried surfing and snorkeling on each of those days.

Wow-ness Factor:

Clear beaches make for really fun beach adventures. Whether it means relaxing and putting your feet in the sand to taking a dip in the warm water, Maui has a range of beach activities and you should not miss out. If you do choose to do water activities like snorkeling, scuba-diving, kayaking etc, you will be amazed by the amount of sea life you will encounter. We had Giant Sea turtles swimming along us during our snorkeling tour and it was super fun.

We didn’t have in our itinerary to fit a snorkeling tour to Molokini Crater and Reef as Gurneha is not a confident sea swimmer, but we have heard very good things about it, if you do check it out, let us know what you thought of it. We would love to do that the next time we are in Maui.

$:

Depends on the activity and where you choose to do it from. Our snorkeling tour cost us around 120$ per person and was in the Wailea Beach Resort that we were staying at.Wailea beach resort had other water activities as well as rentals like paddle boards, kayaks and snorkeling equipment. Our surfing lesson cost us 80$ per person. Most resorts will have these activities within similar price range. There are other companies offering these lessons and activities at a cheaper rate in and around Kihei as well.

TL;DR:

Dont miss water activities in Maui, they are super fun, affordable and you get to see Giant Sea Turtles on most of these activities.

Luau

Time Needed:

The Luau show typically is about 3-4 hours long. It includes food, drinks and performances typically.

Wow-ness Factor:

On our previous trips to Hawaii, we always felt we missed the cultural aspect of Hawaii and wanted to get a sense of that. Luckily this time, we were invited to the Drums of the Pacific Luau, at the Hyatt Maui Resort in Kaananapali. We jumped on this opportunity and we were really looking forward to it. And it didn’t not disappoint one bit, for the entire duration of the show we were glued to our chairs, listening to Hawaii and other island’s native history.

Luau is a traditional celebration in the Island nations like Hawaii, Samoa, New Zealand, Polynesia etc to congregate and celebrate occasions in family or with neighbors or within a village. Typically Luau begins with roasting of an entire hog, followed by drinks, foods of various kinds and of course dancing. We were given a rich summary of various cultures from island nations, their dances, history and yes in the end we watched the fire dance!

$:

Its not cheap, our VIP tickets to the Drums of the Pacific Luau were worth around $500 for the both of us. You could be shelling anywhere from 200$ to 600$ for two people for a really good Luau show. Check out Old Lahaina Luau, probably the most popular Luau, hence you should be reserving well in advance and Drums of the Pacific, which is very popular as well.

TL;DR:

Experience Hawaii and other Island nations traditions, culture, food, dance and drinks and enjoy sunsets!

Paia town

Most blogs you may read mention Paia town in passing, which is fine, but we think you can easily spend half a day or an entire day here. Paia is a really chill town with local vibes. Yes you will find tourists but you will also see locals hanging out in the same jaunts which for me creates a very lively atmosphere. Here you will find some really must try restaurants and coffee shops. Check out our recommendations below. Paia is also home to beaches where advanced and expert level surfers come to try their luck in the sea. Explore around the town for some magnificent views.

Central Maui

Kihei and Wailea, where we spent a majority of time residing in Airbnbs and resorts, were really cool towns to explore. Surround by each on the western front, there are beaches every 100 ft, some of them unmarked and for you to explore. There are plenty of food options to find and yes we have some recommendations for you below.

Wailea has some of the best resorts in the world, and is mostly a resort town. Book a stay in any of these resorts and be prepared to relax and forget the outside world! Our recommendation for resort to check out is the Wailea Beach resort by Marriott, where we stayed for a couple of nights. This resort has some really amazing views of the ocean from the rooms, as well as a dope infinity pool.

NW Maui: Lahaina, Kapalua and Napili

You absolutely cannot miss traveling to Lahaina, Maui’s biggest city and probably also the city with most choices for things you could do or places to eat (This has changed since the 2023 Hawaii wildfires since lahaina region was impacted, so we recomend spending more time in Wailea and Paia). You can plan your water activities here like surfing, snorkeling etc or chill in the nearby resort town of Kaanapali.

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A post shared by Nia – lifestyle & Travel Creator (@espressoandmartini)

We also made a short trip north of Lahaina to the towns of Kapalua where we stayed for a couple of nights and to Napili, another local town with plenty of airbnb options. Both of these towns have many beaches, but the ones not to miss are the Kapalua beach and Napili beach. Some scenic points of interest here are the Makaluapuna Point and Dragon’s teeth which are a short hike from DT Fleming beach near Oneloa Bay. If you have time we suggest you do the Kapalua Coastal trail, preferably in the evening or early morning to get a good walk around the Bay. Its a easy trail with a lot of beautiful views.

Also a little north of here is another attraction, Nakalele Blowhole, a Geyserish blowhole that erupts between lava rocks.

In Lahaina be sure to check out the Banyan tree which is hundreds of years old and is the largest in the US. Lahaina beach is a great place to relax an evening, most restaurants have a view of the beach and ocean, so its highly recommended to make a reservation there.

Some Things We didn’t try But you should

1. Sunset Boat Tour from Lahaina or other nearby harbor towns are something you should definitely an eye out for. Every sunset in Maui is special, but on the boat it would truly be captivating. Most sunset tours include some food and drinks, so pick the one that suits you the most and book in advance especially in peak season, because they run out pretty quick. Here are some links to get you started
   1. https://calypsomaui.com/dinner-cruise/
   2. https://www.pacificwhale.org/cruises/maui-dinner-cruises/
2. A helicopter tour is recommended for access to most of the islands hidden treasures. Do a quick 45 min tour or a more longer one if you prefer and there are plenty of options for what you want to see. You can choose between West Maui, Molokini crater, Hana and even Haleakala. Some links below:
   1. https://www.airmaui.com/tourslist
   2. https://www.maverickhelicopter.com/tour-listing/maui?gclid=CjwKCAjwkN6EBhBNEiwADVfyax1atST4YYtl1Z2XWVAxct_DnY2PX6Tdq6GjDSbbB94-sLESBmB1rhoCeyIQAvD_BwE

Our Restaurant Picks by Location

Not really going into details about the food/restaurants but there is a lot of everything in Maui and we will be writing another blog soon and will cover food too. But this would be good start to know the restaurants we tried and loved, you can pick the ones that suit you.

Paia

1. Paia Fish Market
2. Café Des Amis & Artisan Ice Cream by Cafe Des Amis – One of our favorites
3. Flatbread Company
4. Paia Bay Coffee Bar
5. Island Fresh Café – Paia
6. Mama’s Fish house – You must reserve this.

Wailea/Kihei

1. Akamai Coffee
2. Kihei Caffe : Brunch food & dont take reservations
3. KAPA Bar & Grill : Lunch & Dinner, Good to reserve
4. Humble Market Kitchen
5. Spago @ FS Maui
6. Tommy Bahama Bar

Lahaina/Napili

1. Star Noodle : Definitely recommend having prior reservations
2. Merriman’s Kapalua
3. Coco Deck Kitchen + Bar

A 7 Day Itinerary

We were in Maui for 9 days and it was mix of relaxation, work from home and travel/food so our exact Itinerary may not be fit for everyone. Keeping that in mind we are sharing a sample 7 day Itinerary to help you you plan your Maui experience. You can also check out my instagram story highlights(click here) on my feed to help you get a better visual experience of our Maui trip.

Day 1

Arrival, Explore and Food at Paia (Click here)

Arrive & Relax in your accommodation, depending on where you are arriving from, you would have at least flown for 6 hours, so take it easy. If you are feeling like heading out check out some of the local breweries or restaurants. Maui Brewing Co, is a good hangout spot. You could also explore Paia town this day and check out the food scene there.

Day 2

Haleakala Sunrise/Sunset & Iao Valley (Click here)

Take a sunrise trip to Haleakala if you have made the reservation and spend the after noon there. Or head out to Iao Valley for some easy hikes and views and in the afternoon make way to Haleakala if you want to take a look at the sunset from the top of the volcano.

Day 3

The Road to Hana (Click here)

You will need an entire day to enjoy the road to Hana so plan ahead for your breakfast and head out as early in the morning as you can! Paia is a good pitstop while going and coming back for food and some relaxing drinks.

Day 4

Relax & Luau Or Sunset Boat Ride (Click here)

Take a pause, spend time at Maui’s beaches. If you need ideas check out the beaches on Wailea side like Makena beach, or towards lahaina – Kaanapali Beach, Napili Bay, Kapalua. If you are staying in a resort, check out their pools and activities they have in store for you! It’s also a great opportunity for you to try attending a Luau or a sunset boat ride if you have made advanced reservation.

Day 5

Water Activities (Click here)

Water activities day, hire a instructor or join a group class for surfing, snorkeling and any other activity you plan to do. If you are doing this in Kihei, check out snorkeling tours to Molokini crater and reef from here or Ma’alaea harbor nearby. Once you are exhausted with playing in the ocean, head back to Kihei and enjoy some delicious food or explore the town.

Day 6

Explore NW Maui (Click here)

Lets take a break from the water and explore seaside attractions, check out the Kapalua Coastal hike and the views from there. Afterwards make way to Nakalele Blowhole and Dragon’s teeth. If you some time left before sunset, explore Lahaina town, have some Maui Gold Pineapple at the road side shops or other tropical fruits like Mango & Papaya.When you are in Maui, be sure to try fresh coconut water, as it is not only soothing for a hot day but also very healthy.

Day 7

Aloha

Take an easy day before your flight out, enjoy time at a pool in the resort or relax in the beach before its time to check out, clean out sand from your shoes and board your flight back home! We hope you experienced some spectacular sunsets in Maui, don’t forget to tag us (@espressoandmartini) on Instagram.

Mahalo