Maui Bucket List

Maui is one of several islands that make up the state of Hawaii. It is known for its diverse microclimates, world class diving, and endless adventures. I have so many great memories of family vacations to this island throughout my childhood, and I couldn’t wait to share all of my favorite places with my girls. Colby and my rude brother had planned a hunting trip without me, so Melissa and I decided Maui was a great destination for a mother-daughter trip to celebrate New Years Eve! 

It’s a short and easy flight from San Diego or Los Angeles to the island of Maui. The airport is modern and the cute airport train takes you to the rental car area quickly. Absolutely rent a car!!! After leaving the airport, its important to stop at Costco, Walmart, or both before going to your accommodations, because it is really out of the way to go back to these stores after checking in. We always get some easy breakfast, snacks, fruit, popcorn, and some drinks. Most accommodations at least have a mini fridge, which is helpful as the cost of these items at a convenience store can be astronomical. You will probably spend a lot of time exploring so carrying your own snacks and drinks is imperative. 

Where to stay: 

Choosing where to stay in Maui can be such a struggle! Thankfully Melissa booked us at the Maui Sands Condo’s this time, which were absolutely perfect for our trip. The location is awesome and having a condo gave us the space and kitchen we wanted for maximum comfort. If you are not so lucky to have a traveling wife like me, here are my recommendations on the best areas to stay: 

For families with little kids: Kapalua Bay; such as Montage Kapalua Bay or anything geographically close. This area is great because the bay is calm and safe, the sand is warm and white, and the snorkeling can be amazing. Its easy to see turtles here, and little kids that are too afraid to snorkel can look down at the fishies from the safety of their parents paddle board rental instead. Its walking distance from many hotels and bnb’s, so nap time and snack time is a breeze. 

For couples or families, but more expensive: Kaanapali; such as the Royal Lahaina, the Westin Maui Resort & Spa Kaanapali or anything geographically close to Black Rock Beach. This beach is the best for turtles, but can get a little more crowded. There are also tons and tons of options for shopping, dining, and other extracurricular activities nearby, which means you may not need to do much traveling during your vacation. On the other side of Black Rock Beach is a long glorious stretch of white sandy beach which is beautiful for exploring but can have a pretty extreme beach break which makes it not great for swimming. 

Other great places to stay: Wailea is much quieter, offers lots of fun little beaches, and can be much less expensive than the more touristy areas around Lahaina. Hana, at the end of the Road to Hana, is even quieter and more rural and can be a cozy place to stay. 

What do to: 

There are endless opportunities for activities on Maui, from chartered boats to glass blowing, and hiking to road trips. I will list all of my most favorite things here, but know that I do not recommend accomplishing tall of them in one visit. 

1. Rent paddle boards at Kapalua Bay or Black Rock Beach. Paddle and snorkel around with the fish and turtles! I have already mentioned this above but it is worth saying again. There is nothing like discovering the underwater world with your kids or loved ones. I had so much fun here as a child and it was even more fun to experience swimming with turtles with my kids. Although, they did make me paddle them around while they stuck their faces over the edge so they didn’t have to exhaust themselves swimming!

2. Drive the entire Road to Hana, stopping at planned points of interest along the way. Don’t forget your bug spray and know that the road is twisty and slow going. There are exactly 620 curves on the road, many one lane bridges, and dozens of places to stop, so give yourself a whole day to experience this item. My favorite stops along the way are: 

Fruit Stands! These can be found in several locations along the way and I just love them. There’s nothing like some fresh fruit and snacks while sipping coconut water right out of the shell on a tropical island. 

Wailua Falls, a short walk down the Waikamoi Ridge Trail brings you to a smallish waterfall with a nice swimming hole. There are a couple of good rocks and a rope swing for jumping, and its a pretty place to explore. 

Honomanu Bay Black Sand Beach, an easy stop with public parking and unique silky black sand for cool photos. Or, just outside of Hana is the Honokalani Beach, which is the official Black Sand Beach of Maui. I found both to be stunning, so choosing where to stop just depends on how long you plan to travel along the route before turning back. 

The Eucalyptus Rainbow Trees, found along the Kenae Arboretum Walk. These unique trees boast multi-colored bark from peeling layers and oxidation, and its a great photo op. The walk is an easy, paved jaunt but popular and can get quite busy. 

Twin Falls, a much more touristy and popular waterfall spot, but worth it. Aside from the beautiful falls, there are also patches of bamboo groves and scenic meandering trails. 

3. See the sunrise (or sunset) on the crater of Haleakala. This is the largest dormant volcano in the world and it dominates the Maui landscape. Watching the sunrise here is a magical core memory for me, but you must be a super morning person to experience it. It’s also absolutely freezing at such a high elevation so plan accordingly. The sunset can be stunning and offers the option of stargazing on a clear night as well. This can be done on your own with your car, or on a guided tour, but advance reservations are required either way. 

4. Attend a Luau. A Luau is a traditional Hawaiian feast to celebrate milestones or symbolize unity. They include traditional Polynesian dishes, and storytelling through hula dancing and music. Recently we attended the Myths of Maui Luau at the Royal Lahaina Resort, which was fabulous. I like to look for one with fire dancers specifically when booking, since that is my favorite part. Reservations for any Luau are required far in advance. 

5. Visit the Hana Lava Tube or Ka Eleku Cavern. This lava tube is one of the largest in Maui, formed by molten lava almost 1000 years ago. It can be found at mile marker 31 and takes about 45 minutes for a self guided walk. 

6. Fly away Zip Lining. The hills of Maui offer several great options for Zip Line Tours, with a luscious view of the green rolling hills. This time, we went with North Shore Zip Lining, because they cater to young children. It was definitely a more tame zipline experience, but still super fun!

7. Take a Helicopter Tour. Experience Maui from above and you’ll get to see extraordinary sea cliffs, hidden waterfalls and jaw dropping panoramas. Tours can cost up to $600 per person and last about an hour, so this is absolutely a special treat. 

8. Wander around Lahaina Historic District. Take in the water on Front Street, see the historic Banyan Tree, or jump on a tour like Whale Watching or Parasailing. Lahaina is a great place to spend a few hours, grab a bite to eat, or shop. 

9. Hike to the Nakalele Blowhole. on the North-West shore of the island is a unique rock formation that allows the surf to blow through an underwater lava tube and soak visitors! The hike down to the Blowhole can be a bit strenuous and probably not ideal for young kids, but otherwise its a unique place to check out. 

10. Go surfing at Kalama Park or on Kaanapali Beach. Maui can be a wonderful place for beginners or avid surfers. There are tons of great choices depending on the break, your skill level, and the crowd you are traveling with.

11. Observe the turtles at Wailea. Aside from a leisurely coastal stroll, the area of Wailea offers secluded small sandy beaches for turtles to chill. This is a great opportunity to observe them up close, but do not touch them. 

12. Discover the West Maui Forest Reserve. I love the Waihee Ridge Trail for the topography, as lush valleys transform to sweeping coastlines. This is a strenuous hike that can be done solo, with a guide, or even on horseback.

13. Set off scuba diving (or snorkeling). Maui is famous for its reef systems, which admittedly used to be much more vibrant. However, it is still considered a world-class diving destination and is the best island for diving in Hawaii. Choose off shore chartered tours to Molokini Crater or Turtle Town or shore based options from Black Rock or Airport Beach. I highly recommend a charter to Molokini Crater unless you have travel restrictions due to health or small children. The reef is much healthier further out from shore and offers bigger fish like sharks and rays. However, shore dives from Airport Beach or Black Rock can be nice and calm without the boat ride and tour price tag. You can get scuba certified and dive on the same day if you are new, or of course snorkel independently. You can bring your own equipment or rent from a tour operator, but I always recommend traveling with a snorkel and mask at all times just to have the flexibility to see underwater at any moment. 

14. Try Waterfall Rappelling. Canyoning is such a fun adventure, for very little effort. This is a guided tour that must be booked in advance and I recommend Rappel Maui. 

15. Whale Watching. Taking a whale watching tour is the best way to see these beauties up close. My personal favorite option is to take a Kayaking Whale Watching tour for the most quiet and intimate experience. If its the right season, you can also stop at a viewpoint to search for whales from land. We like Papawai Scenic Lookout/Mcgregor Point Lighthouse. This is a nice place to stretch your legs and get a panoramic view of the majestic Pacific Ocean.

16. Go cliff jumping. My favorite spots are at Kannapali Beach, Black Rock Beach, or opposite Cliff House Restaurant. This is an exciting way to submerge yourself into the warm waters of the island. There are many, many places to jump off cliffs and rocks, but it is also super dangerous. A good rule of thumb is to watch others do it first for a while and make a plan where to land in the water. Wear water shoes on the slippery rocks and only jump sober!

17. Take the Maui Pineapple Tour. Sweet Maui Pineapples are a fine delicacy that should be enjoyed several times while on the island! There is no better place than to take a tour at the Maui Gold Pineapple Plantation and learn about the fruit. This is a guided bus tour and can be paired with a distillery tour as well. 

18. Experience the Dragons Teeth.  On the north side of Kapalua, a fun little lava rock formation sits on the edge of a small cliffside. Its an easy walk and something fun for kids. The area is actually a sacred burial site for native Hawaiians so stay on the marked trails. 

What to Pack: 

Aside from the obvious bathing suits and cover up’s, its nice to have the following items: 

A day pack. You should carry your own snacks and drinks with you. Not only is food in Maui expensive, but sometimes it is just too inconvenient or rural to stop and eat. You also need to carry some essentials listed below. 

A quick dry towel. So you can take a random cliff jump and then dry off. 

Reef safe sunscreen. So you don’t damage the fragile reefs any further. 

Your own snorkel equipment, even if it is just a snorkel and mask. There are so many great spots for an unplanned dunk, and its great to have your own stuff handy in the moment.

Under water camera, go pro, or waterproof phone case. Trust me you will want to be prepared for what you see below the surface. 

Lightweight rain gear. It rains. Every day. Sometimes that rain gets pretty cold, so its best to be prepared. 

Versatile shoes. You may be hiking in a rainforest, swimming in waterfalls, cliff jumping, and laying by the beach all in the same day. Choose shoes that you can walk in, can get wet, and that you can ruin, because all of those things will likely happen. 

Maui is a gem for travelers of any age or interest. This list highlights some of the best adventures and experiences across the island, from snorkeling with sea turtles and exploring beautiful beaches to driving the legendary Road to Hana, watching sunrise or sunset from Haleakala, hiking through lush landscapes, and visiting waterfalls and lava formations. Adventure seekers can add ziplining, surfing, scuba diving at Molokini Crater, waterfall rappelling, whale watching, and even a helicopter tour, while cultural experiences like attending a traditional luau and touring a pineapple plantation offer a different side of Maui. We hope you can experience Maui beyond the resorts and make the most of the island’s incredible scenery, wildlife, and adventures.