Best Sunset View on Maui

Last updated on January 12th, 2025 at 03:35 pm

Sunsets in Maui are always an unbelievable experience. Keep reading to learn more about the best place to watch the sun go down in Maui.

As an amateur photographer that’s constantly looking for an opportunity to practice shooting on manual mode, finding a quiet place to watch the sunset is usually a top priority. In addition to getting the practice in, sunsets can really be a form of meditation.

Can anyone else relate to finding it hard to slow down?

There’s just something so peaceful about watching the enormous blue sky fade gently into delicate hues of pink and orange, and eventually into the night. It’s like being a member of a secret society – knowing that you’re among a small subset of people on this earth, relishing in the last few minutes of the day, before a new one begins.

As a member of this secret society, you’re probably wondering what coordinates to plug in for your next sunset watching adventure.

The answer?

Piilani Highway (Hwy 31) and here’s why:

1. Stunning Views. You are essentially on the face of a cliff with breathtaking ocean views on one side and a volcano on the other. Regardless of which direction you’re driving from, golden hour on the back side is truly magical. Some would insist on driving directly up to Haleakala and while that’s definitely a good suggestion, you’re guaranteed to find yourself above the clouds, which results in all fog and no ocean.

2. Exclusive. Popular sunset spots in Maui are guaranteed to be filled with nightly tourists, while Piilani Highway can truly be considered the road less traveled. This highway gets a bad reputation for being filled with twists and turns, gravel and pavement, and is definitely not for the inexperienced driver. For those reasons alone, many people choose to forego this part of the island altogether. For my patient and adventure seeking souls, this post is for you. The perfect way to fit this into your itinerary is to add it to the end of your Road to Hana adventure. Plan to leave Hana no later than 3pm (in winter) and you’ll find yourself avoiding all the traffic if you take this path.

3. It’s free vs $30/vehicle if you head directly into Haleakala National Park. There’s multiple stops along the way but some noteworthy ones includes Manawainui Gulch, Natural Arch, and Kalepa Sunset View Point.

Helpful Tips:

• Freshly paved road ends at: -156.1614 ; 20.629072
• 4×4 Vehicle highly suggested
• Check road closures before you go
• Drive slow & pay attention
• Watch out for cattle grazing in the middle of the road!
• Bring a jacket

Have you watched the sunset go down on this side of the island? Let me know how your experience was in the comments below.

Looking for other things to do in Maui? Click to discover my list of top 10 things to do on the island of Maui 🐢