ALOHA!
Now, while these are free Maui activities, they do require some not free way to get there.
For example, if you are on Maui without a car, then in most cases it will not be free to get to the free Maui activity… unless you are staying directly nearby!
But, you can get to some free things in the cheapest way possible… aka the MAUI BUS!
If bus is your method of transport, you will also want to pay attention to how long it will take to get to any free Maui activity by bus. For some people the extra time on the bus may be worth it as a Maui day trip, but maybe you won’t think it is!
Otherwise, if you are renting a car on Maui, then these Maui activities will actually be free for you since your form of transportation is already paid for! You won’t have to pay extra for the activity, and in most cases parking is free too.
Many of the best Maui hikes and best Maui beaches are free!
Bus directions (map) are also linked below. Be sure that the “departure time” is showing as a reasonable actual departure time to get a better idea. For example, if the departure time is showing 11pm Hawaii time, it won’t show you the most reasonable bus route available for when you go.
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1. Kaanapali Beach Walk
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.
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, called the Kaanapali Beach Walk.
Or go for a long walk on the beach and DO get sand in your toes!
There is also a good Maui snorkeling spot at Kaanapali Beach called Black Rock.
You can get to Kaanapali by bus. (bus map)
2. Kapalua Coastal Trail
Cost: FREE
Kapalua is a smaller resort area in West Maui, and this is one of the beaches in the area.
The Kapalua Coastal Trail is another walk along the coastal trail that you can do.
This is more like a beach hopping type of walk, because you can walk from beach to beach to beach, separate beaches. You won’t always be walking along a beach, and instead will also come across some rocky shoreline with amazing ocean views.
One of the beaches along the Kapalua Coastal Trail is Kapalua Bay.
You can also make a detour to Makaluapuna Point to see a rocky shoreline and “dragons teeth.”
You can take a bus to the Kapalua Coastal Trail. (bus map)
There is also free parking near the Kapalua Coastal Trail.
See more about this free Maui activity:
3. 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.
You need a car to get to Honolua Bay. You cannot get to Honolua Bay by bus.
There is free parking near Honolua Bay.
4. Nakalele Blowhole
Cost: FREE
You can see ocean water shoot up into the air here.
And, maybe you can see a rainbow forming too!
You need a car to get to Nakalele Blowhole. You cannot get to Nakalele Blowhole by bus.
There is free parking at Nakalele Blowhole.
See more about this free Maui activity:
5. Ohai Loop Trail
Cost: FREE
This is a pretty easy coastal walk in West Maui that will give you ocean views.
You need a car to get to the Ohai Trail. You cannot get to the Ohai Trail by bus.
There is free parking at the Ohai Trail.
See more about this free Maui activity:
6. 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.
You need a car to get to Olivine Pools. You cannot get to the Olivine Pools by bus.
There is free parking at Olivine Pools.
See more about this free Maui activity:
7. 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.
You can get to Lahaina by bus. (bus map)
See more about this free Maui activity:
8. Lahaina banyan tree
Cost: FREE
This is also in Lahaina but gets an individual mention!
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!
You can get to the Lahaina banyan tree by bus. (bus map)
See more about this free Maui activity:
9. Waihee Ridge Trail
Cost: FREE
The Waihee Ridge Trail is among the best hikes in the West Maui mountains.
You need a car to get to Waihee Ridge Trail. You cannot get to Waihee Ridge Trail by bus.
There is free parking at Waihee Ridge Trail.
See more about this free Maui activity:
10. 13 Crossings
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!
You need a car to get to 13 crossings. You cannot get to 13 crossings by bus.
There is free parking near the 13 crossings trail.
See more about this free Maui activity:
11. Wailea coastal walk
Cost: FREE
Another casual walk with ocean views on Maui!
This is in South Maui.
And this is another beach hopping type of walk, because you can walk from beach to beach to beach, separate beaches.
Once again, you won’t always be walking along a beach, and instead will also come across some rocky shoreline with amazing ocean views.
During whale season, you might see whales!
There is also a snorkeling spot at one of the beaches, Ulua Beach.
You can get to Wailea by bus. (bus map)
12. Maluaka Beach (Turtle Town)
Cost: FREE
This is a good snorkeling spot in South Maui with a chance to swim with turtles!
You will want a car to go to Maluaka Beach. The nearest bus stop is 3 miles away. (bus map)
See more about this free Maui activity:
13. Ahihi Kinau natural reserve
Cost: FREE
This is another top snorkeling spot in South Maui.
You need a car to get to Ahihi Kinau. You cannot get to Ahihi Kinau by bus.
There is free parking at the Ahihi Kinau snorkeling spots.
See more about this free Maui activity:
14. La Perouse Bay
Cost: FREE
You’ll drive basically as far south in South Maui as you can!
As you get further to the end, you will be driving directly along the coast.
And then you will be driving past lava fields.
And then you will end up in La Perouse Bay for more scenic views!
At the end of the road is where you will find the South Maui lava fields.
You can make it a hike from La Perouse Bay!
The Hoapili Trail is a hike across lava fields with more scenic coastal views.
You need a car to get to La Perouse Bay. You cannot get to La Perouse Bay by bus.
There is free parking at La Perouse Bay.
See more about this free Maui activity:
15. Hookipa lookout
Cost: FREE
This is a scenic lookout point in Paia with vast views of the ocean.
This can be a good surfer watching spot, where you can see surfers at Hookipa Beach, and a spot to watch waves in general.
You can get to Hookipa Lookout by bus… if you don’t mind walking an extra 20 minutes along a busy road. (bus map)
There is free parking at Hookipa Lookout.
See more about this free Maui activity:
16. 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!
You can get to Hookipa Beach by bus… if you don’t mind walking an extra 20 minutes along a busy road. (bus map)
There is free parking at Hookipa Beach.
See more about these free Maui activities:
17. Road to Hana
Cost: FREE
The Hana Highway 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 lots of things to do in Hana, but there are many more free Road to Hana stops you can make along the way, including waterfalls, beaches, hikes, and for food.
There is no fee to drive the Hana Highway, so the Road to Hana is a free scenic drive!
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.
Of course, gas is not free, and gas is expensive in Hana, so be sure to gas up before you really start your drive to Hana!
See more about this free Maui activity:
More need-to-know about your cheap day trips in Maui without a car!
Figuring out which bus to take on Maui is easy! Just consult google maps!
Enter your destination, then select the public transit option.
You can see little bus icons on the map that indicate bus stops.
To further ease your mind about riding the bus, see the visual: How to take the Maui bus!
The Maui bus fare is cash only, exact change.
NOT free things to do in Maui that are SO worth it
First the quick list of a couple of not free but things to do in Maui that are worth mentioning because they are also the best things to do in Maui!
1. Haleakala National Park
Haleakala National Park is one of the icons of Maui.
It is where you go to see the iconic Maui volcano crater.
Actually, Haleakala National Park is FREE if you have the annual national park pass or Hawaii national park pass!
But if you do not have either one of these national park passes, then Haleakala National Park is not free. It’s $25 for your whole group if you enter by car. (And unless you do a tour, you do need a car to go to Haleakala National Park.)
So the more people you have in your group, the cheaper it becomes per person!
AND… that $25 can get you entry to the OTHER side of Haleakala National Park too, if you enter within 3 days. The other side (aka the Kiphulu district) is where you go to see an iconic Maui bamboo forest.
Once you have paid the entry fee, then all the activities inside Haleakala National Park are free. There is nothing you need to pay extra for… during the day.
You need to make a Haleakala National Park reservation before you go IF you want to watch the Haleakala sunrise. This is $1 per ticket, but Haleakala sunrise tickets sell out quickly.
Otherwise, you don’t need a reservation for Haleakala National Park.
2. Waianapanapa State Park
Waianapanapa State Park is another icon of Maui. It costs $5 per person.
It is where you go to see the iconic Maui black sand beach.
You need to make a Waianapanapa State Park reservation before you go.
Parking is not free, and you also need to buy parking tickets before you go. Parking is $10.
And there’s a bit about some free things to do in Maui!
Explore Maui by region:
- Things to do in West Maui
- Things to do in South Maui
- Things to do in Haleakala National Park
- Things to do in Hana
HAPPY DOING LOTS OF FREE THINGS ON MAUI!
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