Experience Maui
Thank you for considering a stay in one of our condos for your next Maui adventure. This is my list of favorite things to do, restaurants I love, and a few tips for making the most of your time in paradise. Please be aware that some of these activities are dangerous and should be done with caution. Enjoy these activities at your own risk.
I hope this guide helps you plan a great vacation! When you get home, please let us know what your favorite places on the island are.
– Maisie Knowles
Must do
- GyPSy Guide Driving Tour of Maui
Download the GyPSy Full Maui tour available on the App Store for $10 (requires a wifi connection). It’ll be your personal tour guide as you’re driving around the island. Turn the GyPSy Guide on anytime you’re in the car and he’ll tell you where to stop, what to do, and some interesting history of the island. -
Sunrise at the summit of Haleakala is breathtaking Haleakala
Haleakala is a dormant volcano that stretches up out of the sea 10,023 feet. Do Haleakala at sunrise on your first morning in Maui. You’ll be jet lagged and up early anyways. Reservations are required if you plan on entering Haleakala National Park before 7am. - Wailea Beach Path
A stroll on the Wailea Beach Path around sunset is so beautiful. If you park at Polo Beach, just make sure to get back to your car before 8pm when the parking lot closes. We won’t make that mistake again. - Waihou Springs Trail
Harness your inner Indiana Jones spirit and follow the trail down to the springs and irrigation tunnels. -
Waterfall on the Road to Hana Road to Hana
Don’t think about getting to Hana, but stop along the way and take your time experiencing the sights. One stop that isn’t in any tour book is the Bamboo Forest that is after Twin Falls. You’ll see cars parked at the side of the road at Mile Marker 6.7 and you’ll see a keyhole entrance into the Bamboo Forest. Start there and hike into waterfalls, and continue further up ladders and ropes to the very last waterfall and swimming hole. If you follow the GyPSy guide he’s got great recommendations for stops along the way to Hana, but this particular bamboo forest isn’t on his recommendation list. - Cliff jumping
Cliff jump at the Kapalua Cliff House. Take the Kapalua Coastal Trail past the Montage Hotel and follow the trail to the coast. There should be people there already jumping. - Palauea Beach
Palauea Beach or the “through the trees” beach just south of Polo Beach is the best secluded and not well known beach. Bodyboarding is great here, and it’s nice to just lay out on. -
Snorkel with sea turtles Snorkel with sea turtles
Make sure to snorkel with sea turtles at Honokeana Cove Condos… if you can get there. When you are looking at the condo complex there’s a path on the right that you can follow. Where the sign says “beware cliff” (or something to that extent), you can scale down and enter the cove there. We were not able to get there because of our young kids but our friends have made it down and snorkeled with a lot of sea turtles. If you don’t make it down there, go to Napili Bay and snorkel on the south end of the beach. There you’ll see lots of turtles feeding near the rocks. - Lahaina Banyan Tree Park
When you visit Lahaina, make sure to visit the Lahaina Banyan Tree Park on Main Street. It’s a pretty cool tree, or is it trees? If you’re into coffee, stop at Bad Ass Coffee and pick up a bag of Coconut Rum Kona Coffee (it’s Maisie’s favorite!). - Paia
Paia is a cute town with a hippy vibe that reminds me of Boulder, CO. Nearby Baldwin Beach has been known to attract some nude sunbathers and a tent community so it might just be worth skipping. Mama’s Fish House is here and it’s an uber romantic spot at sunset. Reservations are needed way in advance. To save some money, just go for dessert! - La Perouse Bay
Hike the lava fields at La Perouse Bay. It’s pretty much as far south as you can drive on the main roads past Wailea and Makena. Follow the cars all the way down into the dirt parking lot. -
Feast at Lele luau Feast at Lele
The Feast at Lele is an amazing luau with great food and drinks, and the location can’t be beat! Don’t leave Maui without doing this. - Kihei Canoe Club
The visitor’s paddle at the Kihei Canoe Club on Tuesday and Thursday morning is a lot of fun. There is a suggested $30 donation and it’s on Sugar Beach in North Kihei just south of Maalaea Surf Resort. - Maui Ocean Center
The Maui Ocean Center in Maalaea is an aquarium and oceanography center with some amazing exhibits. - Boat Tours
A trip to Maui wouldn’t be complete without a boat tour. You can get on a whale watching or snorkeling trip at the harbor in Maalaea. -
Maui Tropical Plantation tour Maui Tropical Plantation
Visit the Maui Tropical Plantation where you can learn how sugarcane and pineapples grow on this tropical working farm. Take the tram ride tour and have lunch at the Mill House Restaurant overlooking the beautiful Iao Valley. - Makawao
Visit Makawao town on the way back from Haleakala. It’s a tiny upcountry town with cute little shops. They also have polo matches in the summer. - Iao Valley
Visit the Iao Valley and the heritage gardens. We have been able to hike past the gates into the park and to sneak a peek at the Iao needle, but according to local news, authorities have completely shut down that access.
Don’t
- Don’t paddle board in the afternoon
The best time to paddle board is first thing in the morning before the wind picks up. If you’re paddle boarding and the wind starts blowing you further away from land, lay down on the board with the paddle underneath you and use your hands to paddle back to shore. Your body acts as a sail when you’re standing up. There have been a few people that have needed rescuing on the ocean in front of our condos. - Don’t snorkel alone
Don’t snorkel alone or in grey water (low visibility). Mornings again are the best time to snorkel, or try snorkeling in a protected bay. - Don’t try to see Jaws
It’s really tough to get to by car. We’ve tried. And the big 80 foot waves only occur a few days every year. Instead enjoy Jaws from a distance with this video.
Food & Restaurants
- Maui Foodist Bucket List
Get the Maui Foodist Bucket List book on Amazon. While not necessarily the best places to eat, there is still recommendations for good food and an interesting way to see the island! - Costco
Costco is 5 minutes from the airport, so stop there and stock up on food and drink, if you plan on cooking your own meals. - Costco Food Trucks
The food trucks, across the street from Costco gas station, are a real gem and only open for lunch. You’ll see a chain link fence and a car parking lot. The Thai Mee Up truck and Like Poke are my favorite! -
Coconut’s mango fish tacos Wow Wow Lemonade
Visit Wow Wow Lemonade in the morning for acai bowls. It’s right next to Coconuts in the Azeka Shopping Center. - Coconut’s Fish Cafe
Coconut’s Fish Cafe in the Azeka Shopping Center is great for mango fish tacos and volcano fries! Note: One order of fish tacos includes two very large tacos. - Cafe O’lei
Cafe O’lei has good, reasonably priced seafood. - Monkeypod Kitchen
Visit Monkeypod Kitchen for happy hour. Mai Tai’s here are great. They also serve farm-to-table Hawaiian food. - Nalu’s South Shore Grill
Nalu’s South Shore Grill in the Azeka Shopping Center is Luke’s favorite restaurant. It’s an open-air counter-serve bar and eatery with live music in the evenings. - Paia Flatbread Company
Visit the Paia Flatbread Company on the way back from the Road to Hana. Follow it up with some Paia Gelato. - Home Maid Cafe
Home Maid Cafe in the Azeka Shopping Center has the best cream filled malasadas (donuts). This is a hole-in-the-wall joint, but we love it. - Maui Pie Shop
The Maui Pie Shop is oh so good. Enough said. - Surfing Goat Dairy
The Surfing Goat Dairy in Kula is a great stop for a snack and goats milk ice cream. - Makawao Steak House
When in Makawao at supper time eat at the Makawao Steak House and ask which items features their local meats. -
Ululani’s Shave Ice is so good Ululani’s Shave Ice
Ululani’s Shave Ice…..like everyday…..this is the best shave ice on Maui. Make sure to get a scoop of coconut ice cream at the bottom of your shave ice. - Star Noodle
Go to Star Noodle in Lahaina when you have a hankering for ramen noodles. - Cafe Del Vino
Cafe Del Vino in Maalaea has homemade pasta, French onion soup and delicious desserts in a nice outdoor setting. Beach Bums BBQ & Grill and Seascape Restaurant are also good options in this small harbor town. - Da Kitchen
Da Kitchen, in Kahului (not Kihei) is a local go-to for Hawaiian plate lunches. - Krispy Kreme
Visit the Krispy Kreme donut shop in Kahului, if you would like a sugar rush! - Monsoon India
Great location right on the water in north Kihei, and the food is good too.
Visit this Google Places web page to see all of these restaurants and many more on a map. If you’re out and about on the island and looking for a good place to eat, bring up the map and see what’s close by and recommended by me!