Top 7 things to do in Maui
In March of 2016, Nelly and I got married in Hawaii on the island of Oahu. We decided to do a destination wedding for many reasons and we are so happy that we did. So for our 5th year wedding anniversary, we wanted to do something special and decided to return to Hawaii, but visit another island. We chose Maui because of it’s natural beauty and amount of things to do. It ended up being one of our favorite trips.
Top things to do
One of the top things to do in Maui and something you could do on your first day in Maui because of its proximity to the airport is visiting Iao Valley State Monument. This valley is significant as many important battles took place here and the Hawaiians view this area as sacred. Iao Valley has lots of walking paths and parking is easy. The walking paths lead you deeper into the valley until you find the Iao Needle, which is a 1200 foot peak. Overall, we spent about 90 minutes here and had a great time enjoying nature.
Another place you need to visit while on the island of Maui is Haleakala National Park. Haleakala is a dormant volcano that towers over the east side of the island of Maui at over 10,000 feet. It takes about 90 minutes from the airport to get to the top of Haleakala. Many people like to go for the sunrise or sunset. Once you get to the top you can explore the crater and see the whole island. There are many hiking trails and overlooks for you to enjoy once you reach the crater. Please make sure you are dressed in layers because at the top of Haleakala it is very cold. Haleakala National Park really should make it on your itinerary as it an unforgettable experience.
Another place that we enjoyed visiting while on Maui was the King’s Highway. This is a hiking area along the southern coast of Maui that was recommended to us by our friends Leighton and Rosetta. This hiking trail takes you through fields of volcanic rock and beaches. It is a beautiful place to be one with nature and because it is a bit off the beaten path you won’t find as many tourists.
Our absolute top recommendation when visiting Maui is doing the “Road to Hana”. It’s about a two-hour drive from the center of Maui and it has some windy roads, but it is so worth it. We used a Road to Hana Gyspy Guide driving app that helped us know where to stop and gave us incredible knowledge about the area.
On the day we drove the Raod to Hana we got up really early and decided to do the Road to Hana in reverse, which allowed us to get to the most important places on our itinerary first and avoid the big crowds. Our first stop was Wailua Falls. This is a powerful 140 ft. waterfall right off the road. When we arrived not only did we have the area all to ourselves, but there was a beautiful rainbow. This was hands down our favorite waterfall we saw on trip to Maui.
Next on our list was to visit the other part of Haleakala National Park that includes the Pools of Ohe’o and the Pipiwai Trail. We first went to the Pools of Ohe’o which is also called the Seven Sacred Pools. This area is a series of waterfalls and pools that eventually drain into the Pacific Ocean. When we went it was very windy and because it had rained a lot the previous days the current was very strong and swimming in the pools was not possible. Still, it was beautiful and was only a short walk from the parking lot area.
The highlight of our journey on the Road to Hana was definitely the Pipiwai Trail. It’s an amazing two-mile hike through streams, small waterfalls, bamboo forests, and more. It is simply a nature lover’s paradise. At the end of the trail you are rewarded with a view of the impressive Waimoku Falls, which is the tallest waterfall you can easily reach on the island of Maui.
After finishing the Pipiwai Trail we went to Hamoa Beach to rest and relax a bit before eating lunch and visiting the other places on our itinerary. The beach area was really peaceful and clean with not too many people and we honestly wish we could have stayed longer.
One place that you must visit on the Road to Hana is Waiʻānapanapa State Park. This area is famous for its black sand beach and stunning coastal views. It was the first black sand beach we had ever been to, so it was an amazing experience for us. Make sure you make reservations online in advance.
Our last pit stop on the Road to Hana before going back to our hotel was at Coconut Glen’s for some refreshments. Nelly got a coconut and I got some coconut ice cream. The ice cream and coconut were amazing and the owners were really nice. It was definitely a nice little place to stop at the end of a long day.
After completing the road to Hana we were pretty beat and decided to make the next day a beach day. Another one of our recommendations is to make sure you catch at least one or two amazing sunsets on the beach while in Maui. They are truly spectacular! We stayed in the town of Napili and only had to walk about two minutes from our hotel to get to the beach.
Our Experience
Our week-long trip to the Hawaiian island of Maui was truly unforgettable and one of our favorite trips of all time. It was the perfect way to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary. We decided shortly after our trip to Maui that we want to visit another Hawaiian island when we reach our 10th year anniversary. The trip to Maui was not cheap, but we did save some money by planning ahead and finding a hotel/condo that had a kitchen. We went to Costco our first day and bought groceries for the week, so going to Costco and loading up on groceries for your stay is something we recommend. We also recommend renting a Jeep or a car with all-wheel drive. This really came in handy when we were driving on the Road to Hana, which was the highlight of our whole trip and the top thing to do we would recommend to anyone visiting Maui.
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About Author
Jordan and Nelly
Welcome! I'm Jordan Haws(ome). Thank you for stopping by. My wife, Nelly, and I are world travelers, photographers, and travel bloggers. So far we have been to 5 continents and over 40 countries. Our goal is to travel as much as we can and inspire you to do the same.