Maui Travel Guide

Aloha, Lovelies!

I am back from living the island life and can’t wait to share all of our Maui adventures with you. This trip was my fourth trip to the Valley Isle but my second as an adult. If you haven’t been, you need to go. It has a little bit of everything for everyone. There’s hiking, snorkeling, petting zoos, aquariums, the best restaurants, breweries, plantations, and just so much more.

Maui holds a special place in my family’s heart. For us, I wouldn’t consider it a relaxing vacation where we just sit on the beach. Months in advance we start to plan our itinerary and our days always feel so full and accomplished. We always head home carrying the sweetest memories and the best adventures with us.

So, if you are planning a trip to Maui soon, I’ve got you covered from where to stay, to where to eat, what to do, where to snorkel/beach and what to bring with you. Let’s get started.

Where to Stay:

The past two trips we have stayed at the Noelani Condominium Resort. We always stay on the bottom floor because you walk right out to the prettiest ocean view and sea turtles swimming in the surf and resting on the beach. If you don’t need the space of a condo on your trip, I would highly recommend staying somewhere along Ka’anapali Beach. The Hyatt is simply gorgeous and is conveniently located by some great snorkel spots and amazing shopping.

If you stay at one of the Ka’anapali Beach resorts you have the convenience of walking right out onto the beach.

Where we stay in Lahaina does not have a beach access, but we didn’t mind that since we never went to the same beach twice. If you are staying at a condo like we did in Lahaina or Napili, note that at every hotel along Ka’anapali beach there is PUBLIC beach parking and a walking trail to the beach, so staying beachfront is a nice addition but not essential. Also, note that you will be paying for this convenience with the hotel costs.

What to Do:

The Road To Hana

A lot of blog posts that I have read about Maui have shared that the Road to Hana is a big NO-NO. If you don’t plan it right, it might be a long, boring day, but if you start early and plan well, Hana might be the best part of your trip. Here are my tips, and my favorite places to stop.

1. Download the Shaka App. It is a great GPS app that will serve as your personal tour guide to Hana. It tells you where to stop, where not to (use your own personal discretion at some stops) and gives you a great history of Maui and the Hana areas. You won’t have cell service for a great deal of your trip to Hana but this app works perfectly regardless, so you definitely will need an app like this.
2. Start early. When I said Maui isn’t necessarily a relaxing vacation, I meant that there will be lots of trips you will want to take that are best when started early. We left our condo at 5:30 AM to get to the start of the Road to Hana at sunrise. It was one of the best decisions we could have made because we were one of the first cars on the road. One of the reasons other travelers discourage The Road to Hana is that if you get behind a line of cars, the trip can be slow and boring. We, fortunately, didn’t have that problem because we started early.
3. Do it on Sunday. We were told that Sundays are the best days to journey to Hana because construction workers are off. It was one of the best suggestions we were given.
4. Listed below are my favorites stops on the Road to Hana:

• Twin Falls– The most amazing bamboo forest leads you to a set of twin waterfalls that you can swim below! There is also one of the cutest fruit stands at the entrance of Twin Falls
• The Rainbow Eucalyptus– These beauties are definitely worth a stop. However, be sure to park legally (there aren’t many parking options close by) or you might be visited by the unofficial barefoot surfer dude who is letting you know you broke the “Hana Code”
• Keanae Peninsula– Breathtaking views, the best banana bread on the island, and a rich history lesson. This is a great stop to learn more about the Valley Isle (Maui).
• Hanawi Falls– take about a mile hike to swim in a freshwater pool below the lower waterfall. Walk across the bridge that was built in 1926! It is one of the 80 Hana Highway bridges!
• Nahiku Marketplace– find fresh fruit, the best BBQ, and a cute trinket to bring back to loved ones. We loved this little marketplace so much we stopped again on our way back for coffee.
• Wai’anapanapa State Park– check out the lava tubes, sea arches, blowhole and dive into the water next to a sea turtle from the black sand beach. This was my husband’s favorite stop of the trip (mine was Hanawi Falls).
• Hana Town– we drove past the beach in Hana but at this point, we were ready to make the long trip back. You will hear that The Road to Hana is more about the journey than actually arriving in Hana. I would agree with that statement. However, you will find some amazing Thai food for dinner before heading back.

Haleakala

We did not make the journey to Haleakala this trip but did on our last trip. I would say it is definitely something you want to do at least once, and at sunrise, which means that if you are staying in West Maui, you will have to leave by 3:00 AM to make it to the top by sunrise. It is worth it, and one of my favorite Maui memories BUT be sure to wear lots of warm layers and even a hat and gloves because it is FREEZING.

After the sunrise, there are amazing trails and a visitor center that you can hike and visit.

Helicopter Tour

One of my very favorite days of our most recent trip was taking a helicopter tour of West Maui, Molokai, Lanai and the cascading waterfalls in between. We finished our trip with a gorgeous cliff/beach-side landing at a private beach. We had the best pilot from Air Maui that shared a wealth of knowledge with us from Maui history, to geographical landmarks, to pointing out sea turtles and manta rays floating on the ocean surface. He even shared his favorite food stops in Maui, which we took advantage of during our trip and definitely DID NOT DISAPPOINT.

Snorkel Catamaran Trip

We have sailed with Trilogy twice now. We have nothing but amazing things to say. The first time we were in Maui, we saw lots of whales on our way to snorkel the Molokini Crater. This time the whales had just left for warmer waters but the Molokini Crater did not disappoint. The fish were amazing. I saw everything from big schools of fish, to a rainbow parrot fish, starfish and octopus. This is definitely one of my favorite places to snorkel in Maui, and you can only get there by boat.

After the Molokini Crater, we headed over to Turtle Bay and got to encounter some beautiful turtles in the water.

After our second stop, they feed you lunch and open up the bar for a fun sail home.

Sunset Sail

This had to be one of our favorite parts of our most recent trip. We took Lilly on her first Sailboat with Sail Maui. They had heavy appetizers for us to snack on and a great open bar. Lilly mustered up enough bravery to sit in the netting at the front of the boat. It was amazing to watch the sunset on the water. We had the nicest crew. It’s always so fun to hear how locals end up in Maui, and we really enjoyed the crew’s company and hearing all of their knowledge of the island and finding out more about how the ended up in Maui.

Luau

Our first trip we avoided luaus because we thought they might be “too touristy” but if you have kids around Lilly’s age. A luau is a must. We chose the Myths of Maui luau. We honestly had the best time from start to finish. Lilly was greeted with an orchid lei and we all received seashell necklaces. Upon entering, Alex and I received a mixed drink and were shown to our seats. The food was great, the drinks were “complementary” and delicious, Lilly loved getting up on stage and dancing, and the performers were incredible. This was such a fun evening and I didn’t feel like it was too touristy at all.

Zipline

Get ready for the ride of your life. You check in at Skyline Eco Adventures storefront and are transported from there via a van that takes you over rough terrain and up to the mountain top that you zipline down from. The tour guides are hilarious and the zipline course is a beautiful view of the island below.

Great Activities for Smaller Children

• Surfing Goat Dairy– Your kids can even help feed and milk the goats at this fun farm. If you have had too much beach time, this is a fun place to visit.
• Maui Ocean Center– One of the coolest aquariums you will visit. Lilly loved meeting the sea turtles!
• Lahaina Animal Farm & Petting Zoo– Lilly went here with her grandparents and still talks about the horses she met!

Best Beaches to Snorkel:

• Airport Beach (Kahekili State Park)– You barely have to leave the surf to see some of the most incredible fish. The parking is convenient and close to the beach, there are great public restrooms, showers, and a pavilion to eat lunch under.
• Black Rock Beach– Park at Whaler’s Village, buy something for $20 at one of the amazing shops and parking is free. Jump off Black Rock if you dare, or just snorkel along the rocks to find eels, sea turtles and schools of fish.
• Old Olowalu– one of the best reefs you will snorkel in Maui. The beach is also really cool with the trees wrapping over the beach and the BEST fruit stand, smoothie truck and pie shop (Leoda’s) located directly behind it.
• Honolua Bay– The hike to the beach is amazing. I could spend days hiking in this beach park. However, please note this isn’t a family friendly beach. It is a rock beach, so no sandcastles will be built, BUT you will be guaranteed some of the best snorkeling of your trip. From sea turtles to sharks, unicorn fish, schools of parrot fish, and even eels, you will see it all along the sides of this reef.

Best Family Beaches:

• Napili Beach– This beach is best known for being the most infamous Maui postcard. You will meet the nicest families along this stretch of beach, the waves can get pretty high, but between the gorgeous view, family-friendly vibes, and decent snorkeling, paddle boarding, and boogie boarding, you won’t be disappointed.
• Baby Beach– Park off of Front Street and Pu’unoa Place. The beach access is not very visible but you will see lots of people coming and going that can point you in the right direction. This beach is amazing for families because the waves are unbelievable small and mild and the water doesn’t get higher than a foot for at least a half a mile out. Lilly claims this is her favorite beach in Maui, and it really is the best place for small kids.
• Airport Beach and Black Rock Beach listed above are also amazing, family-friendly beaches with easy shower and restroom access.

Where to Eat:

• The Fish Market– We did take out orders to take with us to the beach from here way more than I would like to admit. Their Baja fish tacos are THE BOMB. I also got their Ahi Tuna steak and salad quite a few times.
• Down The Hatch– Probably the most unhealthy thing I ate on our trip but NO REGRETS. Try the Surf N’ Turf Burger…and a Mai Tai. You can thank me later.
• Fleetwoods On Front Street– Plan ahead and make a reservation for the rooftop. Order a Mai Tyler and a Pink Flamingo for drinks. Add scallops to everything, because they will be the best you have ever tasted, and enjoy the amazing local music. The vibe, drinks, and food at Fleetwoods made our dinner our absolute favorite of the trip.
• Sansei– If you like sushi, this place is a must. The prices are reasonable, the drinks are amazing, but the rolls are better. Make sure to try their specialty rolls.
• Honu– one of the best Margaritas I’ve had in my life and had some great Mahi for dinner!
• Hali”imaile General Store– you can’t go wrong with anything you order from this special place. The drinks are incredible, the pork is incredible, the fish is incredible. The setting is beautiful and you will definitely be happy you made the trip to this special restaurant.

What to Bring:

• A large backpack. I love my Speedo one from my swimming days. It has the nicest compartments, is waterproof and fits four towels inside (in addition to everything else we brought with us every day). We did a lot of hiking/adventuring in addition to beach days so I was glad to have something more convenient than a beach tote with me.
• A good pair of sandals. I love my Birkenstocks. Maybe this ages me but I love the support of them and felt like they really served me well in Maui. You might also want to go the route of a pair of Tevas if you plan on hiking to the beaches in Honolua Bay or the Seven Pools in Hana.
• A good pair of trail running shoes or low-ankle hiking boots. These will be great for Hana and any other hikes you want to take. I just brought my Brooks trail running shoes with me and they were perfect.
• Reef-safe sunscreen. We brought this brand of sunscreen with us, but be sure to do your research and make sure the chemicals in your sunscreen aren’t hurting Hawaii’s reefs.
• A hat. It can be a baseball hat, or a hat like this one (that I am obsessed with). You will want to stay outside but your face will thank you if you have it covered for at least part of the day.
• Rashguards. I love SwimZips rashguards because you can zip them on and off over your normal swimsuit. Even using 50 SPF my whole family found a way to get slightly burnt our first day. So we decided that if we were going to stay outside all day that we would all bring or wear rashguards. It really helped and thankfully prevented anyone from getting a miserable sunburn.
• Athletic Clothes and LAYERS. Several of our early mornings were pretty chilly. I brought a tech zip-up hoodie for Hana that I wore about half the day and Haleakala I regretted not wearing more layers. So if you plan to do Haleakala, as crazy as it sounds, I would pack a lightweight down jacket, hat, and gloves. Make sure your layers are easy to remove.
• Nicer Clothes. Unlike other beach trips, we went out most nights for dinner. Be sure to pack a few nicer/beachy outfits for those nights.

Packing List For Kids:

• Rashguards. Lilly lived in rashguard sets.
• Sunscreen Sticks. I love this sunscreen stick for Lilly’s face.
• Native Slip-On Shoes. These are my favorite shoes of all time for kids. (I even have a pair in my size) Lilly loves them because they are easy to take on/off and I love them for the grip on the bottom and the fact they can get wet making them perfect for Maui.
• Play Clothes. When we weren’t at the beach we did a lot of other active adventures so be sure to bring lots of play clothes for your kids.
• Nicer Clothes. As I stated above, we went out to eat quite a few times so Lilly wore a pair of sandals and a dress most nights. I only brought two pairs of shoes for Lilly to Maui and that was honestly all we needed.
• Plane Entertainment. I will share a traveling with kids post soon but be sure to bring lots of snacks and entertainment to keep your kids busy on the long plane ride.

Buy in Maui:

• We rent our snorkel gear from All About Fish. It’s honestly too much to pack with us so we just make it easy for ourselves and visit this awesome fishing and snorkel shop the first day we arrive.
• Strollers/Car Seats– Our first year in Maui, we didn’t have room to take the normal stroller and running stroller, so we ended up renting a running stroller from Maui Baby Rentals. This year we made it easy on ourselves and just rented Lilly a car seat from them. They drop it off and pick it up for you, and it ended up being much cheaper than checking the car seat and dragging it with us!
• Beach Toys– we bought a HUGE bucket full of all kinds of beach toys at the ABC store the first day we were there. I think it was like nine dollars for twenty different toys. We just passed it on to another family on our last day.
• FRESH FRUIT– stop at the local Lahaina Farmer’s Market (on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings) or one of the roadside ones. You will find some of the best fruit you will ever eat.
• FRESH FISH– the nights we didn’t feel like going out to eat, we bought fresh fish from The Fish Market and grilled out. Ahhhh I wish we could get fish like that in PA!
• KONA COFFEE– As I am writing this, I am drinking my morning cup of coffee for the day. Maybe it was the view or maybe it was the coffee, but my coffee never tastes better than when I am in Maui.

PHEW! We covered a lot! If you have any more specific questions about Maui, please feel free to comment on this post, e-mail me, or message me on Facebook/Instagram. This trip is a lot to plan, but if you plan it well it will be a trip you cherish forever. Mahalo for taking the time to read!

Aloha for Now,

Kalyn