Top 10 things to do in Maui in 2024
Last updated on February 9th, 2024 at 08:57 pm
Planning a trip to Maui? Discover the top 10 things to do on every side of the island.
If you haven’t gathered by now that I will do anything to avoid cold weather – this post should make it glaringly obvious. Who else decides to leave sunny San Diego to venture five hours west for even warmer weather the week before Thanksgiving? We found ourselves in town primarily due to one of my oldest friends getting married on the west side, but naturally couldn’t resist making a vacation out of it.
Keep in mind that this site contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. However, this does not impact my honest reviews and comparisons. I only make recommendations based on personal experience(s), in order to help you make the best decisions while traveling!
Where to Stay
I’ll never forget the first time I visited Maui back in 2015 and how we spent hours at Kamaole and Makena State Beach falling asleep in the sun, laying in hammocks, and watching the sun go down behind the Pacific Ocean every single night. Deciding where to stay in Maui can depend a lot on the type of travel experience you’re looking for, your budget, and what activities you want to accomplish. On the west side, you’ll find your traditional hotel chains & luxury five star resorts.
Personally, I prefer to stay in South Maui in an Airbnb. I’ve rented from Frank multiple times over the last few years and have had nothing but great things to say about the location, the cleanliness, the nightly price, and the communication with the host. (Frank owns all 8 units in the complex and you can’t go wrong with any of the units).
Ps. You are exactly 105 steps (yes, I counted) away from Charley Young Beach where this will be your nightly view:
Where to Play
One of the major reasons why I love Hawaii is due to the abundance of choice in activity. Each island’s geography is absolutely breathtaking and Maui is no different. The stark contrast between lush green valleys and blue ocean water leave me breathless every single visit. I love to get up early (sometimes before the sun rises if my body clock decides to be nice) and hit the trails before it gets crowded. At around noon, I’ll usually find myself at the bottom of whatever hike I started, looking for a place to eat and recharge before hitting one of the 80+ beaches in Maui for the rest of the day.
Scroll down for some incredible suggestions that will have you reaching for the credit card to book the next flight into Hawaii 🌴
North Side
Waihee Ridge Trail – Located in Wailuku, click here to read the full details of this hike and what to expect.
Iao Valley – located about ~3mi west of Wailuku, Iao Valley State Park is a great stop for photographers, especially landscape lovers. For the more adventurous, there’s a “secret trail” that takes you higher into the mountains for a thrilling and sensational view of the valley. For the start of the trail, head to the very top and hop over the metal railing and continue walking up for ~0.4mi until you reach the top. Important to note: bring bug spray and be respectful. (This is not an official trail).
Premade Delicious Bentos 
Famous Hawaiian Mac Salad 
Outside of the market with plenty of parking
Takamiya Market – refuel on fresh poke bowls, Korean bento boxes, and a variety of noodle dishes at this small grocery store in Wailuku. You can easily find a parking spot outside, the food is delicious, and very inexpensive. This is definitely a local’s spot and worth checking out if you’d like to support the community.
West Side
Ohai Trail 
The Plantation House 
Cafe Cafe Maui
Ohai Trail – short, sweet, but just as beautiful. Only 1.2mi roundtrip, this short coastal walk is perfect for all ages. You can see the Nakalele Blowhole at a distance from this trail which I found to be more exciting than seeing it up close. When you see it up close, you don’t fully grasp the magnitude of how high the water shoots upwards. If you are looking to get closer to Nakalele, check out the Acid Warzone Trail, also in the Lahaina area.
The Plantation House – hungry after exploring? Head 20min south and you’ll find yourself in the town of Kapalua. The Plantation House is a moderately priced restaurant attached to Kapalua Golf – The Plantation Course. The cuisine is New American with Hawaiian flavors and their traditional Benedict and veggie omelette were pretty tasty. The real reason people (who don’t golf) come here is for the views. The restaurant is located on the 2nd floor and has a mix of ocean and mountain view seating. Looking around, there is truly not a bad seat in the house. Make sure to make reservations as we saw multiple people get turned away due to full capacity.
Old Town Lahaina – as we were heading back down to Kihei, we decided to pop into the cute area of Old Lahaina. The main road is about ~5 blocks long and completely flat. You’ll find all sorts of shops including small boutiques, modern art galleries, souvenir shops, delicious restaurants, etc. If you’re an early bird like us, check out Sunrise Cafe for breakfast, located on the corner of Front and Main st. They serve the most decadent, delicious, and fluffy cinnamon roll you’ll ever eat in your entire life. Important to note: they are CASH ONLY (hopefully that will change soon).
Hana
Hana Farms – starving for a bite to eat after the Road to Hana? Make sure to stop at this adorable stand for fresh fruit, homemade macademia nut banana bread, and hana grown chocolate.
Hana Farms 
Best Banana Bread you’ll ever have in your entire life 
fresh lilikoi, oranges, lemons
Venture onto the back side of Haleakala – after exploring the Road to Hana, most people choose to go back the way they came in. Click here to read the full details on why you shouldn’t be like the rest.
South Side
Makena State Beach – also known as “Big Beach”, Makena State Beach Park is a popular place to spend the entire day. With unobstructed views of Molikini and white sandy beaches, this is a great beach for all ages. You’ll commonly find locals bbq’ing with friends and fam until the sun goes down. Free for Hawaii residents and $5/vehicle for visitors, be sure to add this stop to your itinerary if you’re in the Kihei/Wailea area.
Charley Young Beach – lesser known and more secluded, Charley Young is a great place to relax without the busyness of the Kamaole beaches. Photos pictured above are from the nightly sunsets at this beautiful beach. Also if you book Frank’s airbnb, there’s nothing better than being able to walk back to your place in two minutes or less.
Planning a trip soon? Book one of these top-rated activities below.
I highly recommend a sunset cruise around Lahaina. You’ll be rewarded with beautiful hues of blue, pink, and orange during the entire ride.
Heading to Oahu instead? Check out my list of top Oahu hikes and restaurants
Last updated on February 9th, 2024 at 08:57 pm
Planning a trip to Maui? Discover the top 10 things to do on every side of the island.
If you haven’t gathered by now that I will do anything to avoid cold weather – this post should make it glaringly obvious. Who else decides to leave sunny San Diego to venture five hours west for even warmer weather the week before Thanksgiving? We found ourselves in town primarily due to one of my oldest friends getting married on the west side, but naturally couldn’t resist making a vacation out of it.
Keep in mind that this site contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. However, this does not impact my honest reviews and comparisons. I only make recommendations based on personal experience(s), in order to help you make the best decisions while traveling!
Where to Stay
I’ll never forget the first time I visited Maui back in 2015 and how we spent hours at Kamaole and Makena State Beach falling asleep in the sun, laying in hammocks, and watching the sun go down behind the Pacific Ocean every single night. Deciding where to stay in Maui can depend a lot on the type of travel experience you’re looking for, your budget, and what activities you want to accomplish. On the west side, you’ll find your traditional hotel chains & luxury five star resorts.
Personally, I prefer to stay in South Maui in an Airbnb. I’ve rented from Frank multiple times over the last few years and have had nothing but great things to say about the location, the cleanliness, the nightly price, and the communication with the host. (Frank owns all 8 units in the complex and you can’t go wrong with any of the units).
Ps. You are exactly 105 steps (yes, I counted) away from Charley Young Beach where this will be your nightly view:
Where to Play
One of the major reasons why I love Hawaii is due to the abundance of choice in activity. Each island’s geography is absolutely breathtaking and Maui is no different. The stark contrast between lush green valleys and blue ocean water leave me breathless every single visit. I love to get up early (sometimes before the sun rises if my body clock decides to be nice) and hit the trails before it gets crowded. At around noon, I’ll usually find myself at the bottom of whatever hike I started, looking for a place to eat and recharge before hitting one of the 80+ beaches in Maui for the rest of the day.
Scroll down for some incredible suggestions that will have you reaching for the credit card to book the next flight into Hawaii 🌴
North Side
Waihee Ridge Trail – Located in Wailuku, click here to read the full details of this hike and what to expect.
Iao Valley – located about ~3mi west of Wailuku, Iao Valley State Park is a great stop for photographers, especially landscape lovers. For the more adventurous, there’s a “secret trail” that takes you higher into the mountains for a thrilling and sensational view of the valley. For the start of the trail, head to the very top and hop over the metal railing and continue walking up for ~0.4mi until you reach the top. Important to note: bring bug spray and be respectful. (This is not an official trail).
Premade Delicious Bentos Famous Hawaiian Mac Salad Outside of the market with plenty of parking
Takamiya Market – refuel on fresh poke bowls, Korean bento boxes, and a variety of noodle dishes at this small grocery store in Wailuku. You can easily find a parking spot outside, the food is delicious, and very inexpensive. This is definitely a local’s spot and worth checking out if you’d like to support the community.
West Side
Ohai Trail The Plantation House Cafe Cafe Maui
Ohai Trail – short, sweet, but just as beautiful. Only 1.2mi roundtrip, this short coastal walk is perfect for all ages. You can see the Nakalele Blowhole at a distance from this trail which I found to be more exciting than seeing it up close. When you see it up close, you don’t fully grasp the magnitude of how high the water shoots upwards. If you are looking to get closer to Nakalele, check out the Acid Warzone Trail, also in the Lahaina area.
The Plantation House – hungry after exploring? Head 20min south and you’ll find yourself in the town of Kapalua. The Plantation House is a moderately priced restaurant attached to Kapalua Golf – The Plantation Course. The cuisine is New American with Hawaiian flavors and their traditional Benedict and veggie omelette were pretty tasty. The real reason people (who don’t golf) come here is for the views. The restaurant is located on the 2nd floor and has a mix of ocean and mountain view seating. Looking around, there is truly not a bad seat in the house. Make sure to make reservations as we saw multiple people get turned away due to full capacity.
Old Town Lahaina – as we were heading back down to Kihei, we decided to pop into the cute area of Old Lahaina. The main road is about ~5 blocks long and completely flat. You’ll find all sorts of shops including small boutiques, modern art galleries, souvenir shops, delicious restaurants, etc. If you’re an early bird like us, check out Sunrise Cafe for breakfast, located on the corner of Front and Main st. They serve the most decadent, delicious, and fluffy cinnamon roll you’ll ever eat in your entire life. Important to note: they are CASH ONLY (hopefully that will change soon).
Hana
Hana Farms – starving for a bite to eat after the Road to Hana? Make sure to stop at this adorable stand for fresh fruit, homemade macademia nut banana bread, and hana grown chocolate.
Hana Farms Best Banana Bread you’ll ever have in your entire life fresh lilikoi, oranges, lemons
Venture onto the back side of Haleakala – after exploring the Road to Hana, most people choose to go back the way they came in. Click here to read the full details on why you shouldn’t be like the rest.
South Side
Makena State Beach – also known as “Big Beach”, Makena State Beach Park is a popular place to spend the entire day. With unobstructed views of Molikini and white sandy beaches, this is a great beach for all ages. You’ll commonly find locals bbq’ing with friends and fam until the sun goes down. Free for Hawaii residents and $5/vehicle for visitors, be sure to add this stop to your itinerary if you’re in the Kihei/Wailea area.
Charley Young Beach – lesser known and more secluded, Charley Young is a great place to relax without the busyness of the Kamaole beaches. Photos pictured above are from the nightly sunsets at this beautiful beach. Also if you book Frank’s airbnb, there’s nothing better than being able to walk back to your place in two minutes or less.
Planning a trip soon? Book one of these top-rated activities below.
I highly recommend a sunset cruise around Lahaina. You’ll be rewarded with beautiful hues of blue, pink, and orange during the entire ride.
Heading to Oahu instead? Check out my list of top Oahu hikes and restaurants
[…] 100% worth the climb though – Miley Cyrus (or something similar)Eternity Beach: Put in Halona Blowhole in Google Maps to get as close as possible to this destination. This is technically a “secret” beach near the blowhole that requires some hiking to get to. The blowhole itself is pretty much a tourist trap but the real beauty can be found during the drive east on HI-72 and on the beach. The waters are usually rougher so be careful when swimming! If you don’t feel like hiking down to the beach, you can still enjoy the views from the highway which overlook the ocean and include every brightly colored shade of blue imaginable.Lanikai Pillboxes: (Not pictured) This is a famous heavily-trafficked moderate hike in Kailua. The trail is easy to get to and easy to follow the whole way up. I won’t write too much about this hike because it’s very well-known already. My biggest tip is to do it right before sunrise. There’s something magical about waiting and watching the sun come up over the mountain. Have you been to any of these places? Planning a trip soon? Let me know about it in the comments section below!Heading to Maui instead? Check out the list of top 10 amazing things to do in Maui! […]