ALOHA!
Okay, so you won’t be able to do ALL of these things on the list below during your short time on Maui.
But when it’s your first trip to Hawaii, the things to do on Maui that are on this list can be perfect for a first-time visitor to Hawaii.
It’s the MAUI BUCKET LIST!
And this includes the BEST Maui adventures… and then some! It is enough to fill your days for 3 weeks in Maui!
There will be a little bit of hiking…
A little bit of snorkeling…
A few scenic drives…
Some waterfalls…
Some rainforest adventures…
Lots of beaches…
TONS of ocean views…
And MORE are listed below to give you ideas for things to do in Maui!
There are affiliate links on this page. I may earn a commission from this.
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Side note!
Here's some info on Hawaii trip prep!
- Best shoes for hiking in Hawaii
- The perfect type of shirt for swimming in Hawaii
- Do you need water shoes for Hawaii?
- THE top things to pack for Hawaii
Also see:
- The top 5 Maui adventures you definitely need to think about doing: Maui tour OR on your own?
- Driving to the top of the Haleakala summit
- Road to Hana food stops
- Best Road to Hana hikes
- Things to do in Hana
- Things to do in the West Maui mountains
Still undecided on which Hawaiian island to visit?! Also see:
- Which island to choose for your first trip to Hawaii
- Things to do on the Big Island
- Things to do on Oahu
- Things to do on Lanai
Now…
50+ things to do in Maui for a first trip to Hawaii
If you are simply overwhelmed by the amount of activities to choose from, also have a look at this Maui itinerary that breaks things down by region with just a few of the top picks – closer to top 10 things to do on Maui!
Otherwise…
See below for the big Maui bucket list!
In addition to TONS of FREE things to do in Maui, it also includes some of the best Maui tours for more epic Maui experiences!
The things on this list are more or less organized by area:
- West Maui
- Kind of central Maui
- East Maui
- South Maui
What to do on Maui!
1. Kaanapali Beach
Cost: FREE
Kaanapali is one of the main resort areas of Maui, and there’s a long stretch of beach here with many beachfront hotels and resorts. This is located in West Maui.
2. Black Rock
Cost: FREE
This is the best snorkeling area that you’ll find on Kaanapali Beach. As you’re facing the ocean, it’ll be off to the far right.
3. Kaanapali coastal walk
Cost: FREE
You can walk a long stretch of Kaanapali Beach without getting sand in your toes too. There are a number of bars and restaurants that line this coastal walk, also called the Kaanapali Beach Walk.
Kaanapali tours
And being a popular Maui resort area, there are a number of amazing tours that you can take directly from Kaanapali Beach and in front of the Kaanapali Coastal Walk. Get out on the water to sail the ocean off the shores of Kaanapali! These are tours that start in Kaanapali:
- 2 hour sunset sail with open bar and appetizers (starts near the Westin in Kaanapali)
- Snorkeling and sailing adventure with buffet lunch (starts near the Westin)
- Snorkel and sail trip to swim with turtles (starts near Leilani’s and Hula Grill, also 2 restaurants you may want to eat at!)
Look for the tour reviews!
Plus, when it’s your first trip to Hawaii, a Hawaiian luau is also something to experience. A luau includes Hawaiian food and entertainment. Now, luaus do tend to be very touristy experiences. But with Hawaii having a culture that’s very different from the rest of the United States (that includes Polynesian influence), it can be a fun experience while also learning a bit about Hawaiian culture, and food!
- Myths of Maui luau with all-inclusive buffet (near Royal Lahaina Resort. If you are staying in Kaanapali, then you can walk along the Kaanapali Beach Walk to get to this luau!)
4. Kapalua Bay Beach
Cost: FREE
Kapalua is a smaller resort area in West Maui, and this is one of the beaches in the area.
5. Dragon’s Teeth Trail
Cost: FREE
This is a spot where you can see a unique rock formation, and it’s a nice scenic viewpoint too, the Makaluapuna Point.
See more about this Maui activity: Dragon’s Teeth Trail
6. Kapalua Coastal Trail
Cost: FREE
This is a coastal trail for another walk you can take with ocean views.
See more about this Maui activity: Kapalua Coastal Trail
7. Honolua Bay
Cost: FREE
This is a marine life conservation district on Maui, and it’s one of the best snorkeling spots in West Maui.
8. Nakalele Blowhole
Cost: FREE
You can see ocean water shoot up into the air here. And, maybe you can see a rainbow forming too!
See more about this Maui activity: Nakalele blowhole
9. The previously heart-shaped rock
Cost: FREE
The heart-shaped rock was a famous icon of Maui. You can see the power of nature and what’s left of it after it was destroyed likely by ocean waves crashing against it.
See more about this Maui activity: Heart-broken rock
10. Ohai Loop Trail
Cost: FREE
This is a pretty easy coastal walk in West Maui that will give you ocean views.
See more about this Maui activity: Ohai Loop Trail
11. Olivine Pools
Cost: FREE
This can be a good spot to see Maui’s rugged coastline. (This general area is, actually!) People have died at these tide pools, so it can be best to go here to look, not swim.
See more about this Maui activity: Olivine Pools
12. Kahakuloa Bay Beach overlook
Cost: FREE
This would be a visit to a part of Kahekili Highway that fewer tourists go to. Well, there’s a reason for that. This starts to become what’s been considered a more dangerous and scary part of Kahekili Highway and requires driving on a one-lane road to get to.
To avoid driving on the one-lane road, you could try unofficially parking at a spot just before it turns into a one-lane highway.
See more about this Maui activity: Kahakuloa Bay overlook
13. Lahaina town
Cost: FREE
Lahaina is a historic village and a cute little town that’s right along the coast. You can take a self-guided walking tour to explore the town.
See more about this Maui activity: Lahaina without a car
14. Lahaina banyan tree
Cost: FREE
At first glance, this might look like a bunch of trees in the park. But this is one MASSIVE tree that’s all connected that takes the entire area you see!
See more about this Maui activity: Lahaina banyan tree
15. Lahaina harbor
Cost: $40+ for boat tours
Tons of boat tours go out from this harbor.
16. Day trip to Lanai
Cost: $60 for a round trip ferry
A ferry to the neighbor island of Lanai is one of the boats you can take from the Lahaina Harbor! Many people make it a day trip to Lanai from Maui. You can make it an overnight trip from Maui too, with some beach camping in Hawaii!
17. Whale watching
Cost: FREE (from shore) to $40+ (for a tour)
Whale watching boat tours are another thing that you can get from Lahaina. Whale season in Maui (and in Hawaii) is generally speaking the winter months. Maui is often considered to be the best Hawaiian island to spot whales. There are many spots on Maui where you can give yourself a good chance of seeing whales, like the western shores of West Maui and South Maui.
A dedicated whale watching tour can give you help in spotting those whales. Bring binoculars if you’re going to Maui in winter!
18. Old Lahaina luau
Cost: $150
A luau is a Hawaiian feast and entertainment. Although these sorts of luaus are very touristy experiences, this can be a good way to get a taste of Hawaiian culture when you’re visiting Hawaii. This is an evening activity.
Read the reviews of this Maui activity.
19. Molokini Crater
Cost: $150
Going to Molokini Crater requires a boat tour. There are many snorkeling spots on Maui where you can snorkel from shore on your own without a tour, but Molokini Crater is considered to be a top snorkeling spot when you’re staying on Maui. This is another marine life conservation district within Maui.
20. Waihee Ridge Trail
Cost: FREE
This is among the best hikes in the West Maui mountains.
See more about this Maui activity: Waihee Ridge Trail
21. 13 Crossings Trail
Cost: FREE
This is one of the rare waterfall hikes in West Maui that you can access on your own. Although it does require a little bit of effort as you will be quite literally crossing a stream many times!
See more about this Maui activity: 13 crossings
22. Iao Valley State Park
Cost: $5+
This state park has a famous Maui icon, the Iao Needle.
See more about this Maui activity: Iao Needle Trail
23. Mill House
Cost: $$$ See menu
This is a popular restaurant on Maui in a mountain setting.
Read the reviews of this place to eat in Maui.
24. Haleakala volcano summit
Cost: $30 for 3-day national park pass
Haleakala National Park is where you’ll find Maui’s dormant volcano and the highest point on Maui.
This is 1 of 2 national parks in Hawaii.
The super popular thing to do is to go for sunrise at Haleakala, and this does require a permit. Otherwise, going to Haleakala National Park any time past 7am does not require a permit. Going to the summit means that you’ll be at 10,000+ ft! (aka what’s considered high altitude.) You can drive all the way to the Haleakala summit.
See more about this Maui activity: Haleakala summit during the day
25. Pa Kaoao Trail
Cost: National park entry fee
This short trail is a part of the Haleakala National Park and will take you to slightly higher for a famous Haleakala view.
See more about this Maui activity.
26. Sliding Sands Trail
Cost: National park entry fee
If you are looking to hike in the summit area of the national park, then this is THE trail to do. This starts at the top and then goes down into the crater. Even if you don’t want to do the full 11 mile hike (of which one option is hitchhiking to the start of the trail), you can do something like hike 30 minutes into the crater on this trail and turn around.
See more about this Maui activity.
27. Kula Highway – Piilani Highway
Cost: FREE
This is an area of Maui less tourists go to.
This would be the direction you’d take if you want to drive the Road to Hana in the opposite direction and in a circle. (aka the back road to Hana aka the back side of Haleakala.)
The back road to Hana is considered to be a more dangerous and scary road at times.
But you can also drive just part of it on the Kula Highway and part of the Piilani Highway. Basically this can be before the “scary” or “dangerous” part of the road begins, and it can give you nice scenic views of coastal Maui.
Driving along the Piilani Highway: See more about this Maui activity.
28. Hana Highway (Road to Hana)
Cost: FREE
This is THE famous highway to drive on Maui, also known as the Road to Hana.
The “destination” is the town of Hana, so you’re taking the road TO Hana, although there are a few things to do past Hana town too. There are MANY stops you can make on the Hana Highway, including waterfalls and beaches, some of which are listed below.
Most people do this as an out-and-back, but there are people who do it as a loop too, and that would be taking the back road to Hana that includes one-lane highways with steep drop-offs.
Road to Hana: See more about this Maui activity.
Hana tours
There are many Maui waterfalls that you can access on your own. So it’s possible to see waterfalls on Maui without a tour!
But, if you’d like to have a bit of a deeper Hawaii experience, there are some Maui tours that will give you an epic Maui waterfalls experience you are sure to remember:
- Guided East Maui waterfall hike through a rainforest: Learn about Hawaiian plants and culture as you hike through the rainforest, and have a chance to safely go jumping and swimming at waterfalls
- Hana rainforest helicopter and ranch tour: See the lush East Maui landscape and Maui waterfalls from above, and then go for a guided tour on a Hana ranch
- Molokai and Maui helicopter tour: See some of the world’s tallest sea cliffs and Maui’s tallest waterfalls from above
29. Paia town
Cost: FREE
This is a cute little town, often described as a hippie town, and also often described as the unofficial start of the Road to Hana.
30. Hookipa lookout
Cost: FREE
This is a scenic lookout point that overlooks Hookipa Beach. This can be a good surfer watching spot.
31. Hookipa Beach
Cost: FREE
Hookipa Beach is known for surfing and turtles. It can often be a pretty reliable beach to see turtles on Maui. You also have a chance to see Hawaiian monk seals on Maui by visiting this beach too!
See more about these Maui activities: Hookipa Beach turtles and Hookipa Beach seals
32. Mama’s Fish House
Cost: $$$ See menu
This is a very popular restaurant on Maui that’s right along the coast.
Read the reviews of this place to eat in Maui.
33. Twin Falls (Caveman Falls)
Cost: FREE
This is among the first waterfall hikes you can do on the Road to Hana. You’ll look for entry to Twin Falls.
See more about this Maui activity: Twin Falls
34. Keanae Peninsula
Cost: FREE
This is a scenic lookout point. This is also a spot you can go for banana bread on Maui. (Next on the list.)
See more about this Maui activity: Keanae Peninsula
35. Aunty Sandy’s banana bread
Cost: $7 for loaf of bread
Banana bread is a thing on Maui, and this is the famous spot to get banana bread on the Road to Hana.
See more about this Maui food activity: Aunty Sandy’s banana bread
36. Waianapanapa black sand beach
Cost: $15+
This is THE famous black sand beach on Maui.
This is located at Waianapanapa State Park. The official name for the black sand beach is the Honokalani Beach which is at Pailoa Bay.
IMPORTANT!!! Starting in March 2021, you need to make a time slot reservation in order to visit Waianapanapa State Park if you’re not a Hawaii resident. And this costs money. It’s $15+ for a 2.5 to 3 hour time slot, and you can make back-to-back reservations for more than 1 time slot. This means that you need a permit of sorts in order to see Maui’s famous black sand beach. See Hawaii State Parks for updates.
See more about this Maui activity: Waianapanapa State Park
37. Black sand beach lava tube
Cost: State park entry fee
This is right at the famous black sand beach on Maui, but it’s easy to miss. Be sure to look out for this lava tube that opens up to the ocean!
See more about this Maui activity.
38. Waianapanapa Coastal Trail (Piilani Trail)
Cost: State park entry fee
This is also at the state park. There’s the Waianapanapa Coastal Trail that goes for a few miles in both directions of the black sand beach. Grand ocean views with a chance to see sea arches, blowholes, and more rock formations that were formed by lava!
See more about this Maui activity: Waianapanapa Coastal Trail
39. Waianapanapa State Park campground
Cost: $30 for tent camping, $100 for cabin
This is another spot where you can make an overnight (or more) on the Road to Hana.
40. Kaihalulu red sand beach
Cost: FREE
This is THE famous red sand beach of Maui. The trail to get to the red sand beach is sometimes described as a dangerous hike.
See more about this Maui activity.
41. Hana lava tube
Cost: $13
If you are interested in Maui’s volcanic landscape, then this is worth a visit for the educational value! You walk through an underground cave formed by lava and there are informational signs along the way.
Hana lava tube: See more about this Maui activity.
42. Braddah Hutts BBQ grill food truck
Cost: $11-15 for fish tacos
Fish tacos are a thing on Maui, and this is a casual spot on the Road to Hana where you can have some fish tacos.
Braddah Hutts BBQ: See more about this Maui food activity.
43. Hana Farms restaurant
Cost: $15-20 for a lunch meal
This is an outdoor restaurant with farm-sourced food.
Hana Farms: See more about this Maui food activity.
44. Hamoa Beach
Cost: FREE
This is probably the best beach to hang out at on the Road to Hana.
45. Wailua Falls
Cost: FREE
Easy spot to stop along the Hana Highway for waterfall swimming.
See more about this Maui activity.
46. Pipiwai Trail
Cost: $30 for 3-day national park pass
This trail is location of THE famous bamboo forest of Maui. This is a part of the Haleakala National Park, but it’s not connected to the summit side.
At the end of this trail are some grand waterfalls.
See more about this Maui activity.
Also know about the Hawaii national park pass if you want to visit both sides of Haleakala National Park but want more time than the 3 days the regular pass will give you.
47. Oheo Pools
Cost: National park entry fee
These are popular waterfalls that you can see right near the ocean. You can see the stream that feeds the waterfalls open up to the ocean.
Oheo Pools: See more about this Maui activity.
48. Kipahulu campground
Cost: National park entry fee
One more spot on Hana Highway that you can stay overnight! There’s no added cost to stay here, aside from the national park entry fee.
See more about this Maui activity.
49. Wailea Beach
Cost: FREE
Wailea is another one of the main resort areas of Maui. This is located in South Maui.
50. Wailea coastal walk
Cost: FREE
A casual walk with ocean views!
51. Ulua Beach
Cost: FREE
This is a good snorkeling spot in South Maui.
52. Maluaka Beach (Turtle Town)
Cost: FREE
This is a good snorkeling spot in South Maui with a chance to swim with turtles!
See more about this Maui activity.
53. Oneuli Beach
This has been called the alternative black sand beach to visit if you don’t want to drive the Road to Hana, although this black sand is only kind of black.
See more about this Maui activity.
54. Makena Cove
Cost: FREE
This is a small beach that’s a bit more hidden.
See more about this Maui activity.
55. Makena Beach (Big Beach)
Cost: $5 for parking
This is a large expansive beach that’s a part of Makena State Park. Nearby is a trail to the more hidden Little Beach.
56. Ahihi Kinau natural reserve
Cost: FREE
This is another top snorkeling spot in South Maui.
See more about this Maui activity.
57. La Perouse Bay
Cost: FREE
Scenic views!
58. Hoapili Trail
Cost: FREE
A hiking trail across lava fields with more scenic coastal views.
See more about this Maui activity.
59. Jawz fish tacos
Cost: $10 for fish tacos
Once again, fish tacos are a thing on Maui, so if you see a fish tacos food truck in South Maui, stop for some tacos!
Read the reviews for this place to eat in Maui.
And those are some ideas of how to spend your time in Maui!
Here are some more specific Maui lists:
- Best Maui hikes
- Best Maui snorkeling spots
- Best Maui waterfalls
- Best things to do on the Road to Hana
- Best Maui campgrounds
- Black sand beaches on Maui
Maui itinerary ideas:
Also see more Hawaiian islands:
- Things to do on Lanai
- Best Lanai hikes
- Things to do on the Big Island
- Best Big Island hikes (ocean views!)
- How to spend 7 days on the Big Island
- Things to do on Oahu
- Best Oahu hikes (ocean views!)
- How to spend 3 days on Oahu
And if you’re getting ready to go to Hawaii, also see:
- Snorkeling essentials to pack for Hawaii
- Hiking essentials to pack for Hawaii
- Everyday essentials to pack for Hawaii
HAPPY FIRST TRIP TO MAUI!
Top things to pack for your Hawaii vacation!
The ultimate beach towel for travel?!
Turkish towels are considered to be more absorbent and lightweight than your average beach towel. Be sure to check out turkish towels like these!Possibly among the best Maui maps for tourists!
The Franko maps of Hawaii have a high level of detail for activities and it's beachproof aka waterproof. There's an "adventure" guide map and a "snorkel/dive" guide map. Plus a wall map for home to get you excited for your upcoming trip!The cheapo way to waterproof your phone
You can take underwater pictures with a simple waterproof phone case like this. Touch screen may not work well underwater - try the volume button to snap the pic instead!Get your suitcase more organized!
Packing cubes can make it so you're spending less time on your vacation looking for things! They are basically a form of drawers in your suitcase. Take a look at these packing cubes.Wear less sunscreen by wearing a UPF swim shirt!
Wearing a swim shirt means less skin that's exposed to the sun which means less sunscreen you need to apply! See about wearing swim shirts with UV protection like these when you're snorkeling.PLUS...
Be sure to take a look at the reviews of these amazing tours on Maui:
- Molokini Crater and Turtle Town snorkeling or snuba tour
- Haleakala sunrise tour with breakfast
- Road to Hana driving tour with lunch
- Dream Hawaii helicopter flight #1: Fly over 2 Hawaiian islands to see Maui and Molokai waterfalls, rainforest, and sea cliffs
- Dream Hawaii helicopter flight #2: Hana waterfalls and rainforest from above plus Hana fruit plantation walk on the ground
- Sailing the ocean with a sail + snorkel trip