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Best Things to Do in Maui Blog

I'm a self-proclaimed life-long, part-time Maui native. I know that sentence is full of contradictions, but trust me, it's an accurate description. My parents purchased a home deep in the jungle of North shore Maui before I was born and spent a good chunk of my mom's pregnancy with me immersed there. It was all lined up and happening: Lamaze classes in Makawao, a plan for a natural birth in the jungle, the whole nine.
Other events and complications arose and my parents settled in California, making home a few different places. It didn't take long for my mom and dad to notice that since I was a baby, I have had a deep, spiritual connection with the land. It's truly beyond words. Though I went to school primarily in California, Maui has always been my home.
Here's a list of my favorite places organized by town/sides of the island.
I have so much to share with you!

South Shore 

Golden, sandy beaches, luxury hotels, fine-dining restaurants, warm weather and calm waters

Wailea/Makena

Food/Restaurants

Ka'ana Kitchen (so yummy, so pretty)

Morimoto's (beautiful setting & amazing Asian cuisine)

Humuhumunukunukuapua'a (beautiful ambiance + innovative food)

Beach

Big Beach (fave beach on Maui)

Maluaka Beach (aka Turtle Town for its snorkeling and turtles)

Little Beach (Sunday Beach Parties at 3:30 pm) – (nude beach)

Snorkeling Spots

Turtle Town (Maluaka Beach)

Five Caves/Five Graves (GPS to 5090 Makena Road)

Ulua Beach

Ahihi Kinau Natural Reserve

Paako Cove

Live Music

Mulligan's on the Blue

The Shops at Wailea (Wednesdays 6:30-8 pm)

 

Kihei

Coffee/Tea

Akamai Coffee (great coffee, swinging chairs)

Food/Restaurants

Local Boys Shave Ice

Sansei Sushi

Kihei Caffe (Breakfast) 

Cafe O'Lei

Brekkie Bowls (stand)

Farmer's Market

Saturday: Lipoa Street Farmer’s Market (8am-12pm)

Activities

Maui Inline Hockey Association Roller Skating (Wed & Fri 6-8pm, Sat 6-9pm)

 

West

Fun shops, great food, art galleries, hot weather, time-shares

Lahaina

Coffee/Tea

Cafe Cafe 

Food/Restaurants

Leoda's (my family's absolute favorite sandwich & pie shop on island -- get your 'wich on hapa bread)

Star Noodle (real good Asian noodles)

Honu

Baya Bowls (açai bowl food truck)

Choice Health Bar

Slappy Cakes (Breakfast/Pancakes)

Ululani's Shave Ice (add fresh mochi & sweetened condensed milk)

Aloha Mixed Plate

Farmer's Markets

Monday, Wednesday, Friday – Honokowai’s Farmer’s Market/“Farmers Market Maui” (7am-11am)

Wednesday – Napili Farmer's Market (8am-11am)

Activities

UFO Parasail Maui

Moana Glass (make your own glass art)

Surfing

Hike

Lahaina Pali West Hike (5.75 miles) - dry, arid, windy

Live Music

Fleetwood's

Cool Cat Cafe

Longhi's

 

Ka'anapali/Kapalua

Food/Restaurants

Ono Kau Kau Mixed Plate

Merriman's

Beach

Ka'anapali Beach/Black Rock (rock jumping & snorkeling)

Napili Bay (snorkeling)

Kapalua Bay (snorkeling)

Honolua Bay (snorkeling)

Sights

Dragon's Teeth

Nakalele Blowhole (Heart Rock)

Central

Local food, hidden gems

Kahului/Wailuku 

Food/Restaurants

A Saigon Cafe (Vietnamese food)

Da Kitchen (Hawaiian)

Sam Sato's Noodles (Asian Noodles)

Tasty Crust Pancakes (pancakes, obv.)

Tin Roof (fave Hawaiian food spot on island)

Thai Mee Up Food Truck (Costco)

Mo’ono Food Truck (Costco) - (açai bowls)

Farmer's Market

Tuesday–Saturday: Maui Tropical Plantation Farm Stand (10 am-4 pm)

Events/Activities

Saturday: Maui Swap Meet, University of Hawaii campus (7am-1pm)

Maui Arts & Cultural Center (Concerts/Events)

Zip Lining at Kapalua Zipline

Hike

Waihe'e Ridge Trail (4.75 miles) (fave hike on Maui)

Sites

'Iao Valley (hike, walk, river-bathe, feel the mana of the "feminine side" of Maui)

 

Upcountry

Paniolos (Hawaiian cowboys), misty air, simple living

Makawao/Pukalani

Coffee/Tea

Sip Me (fave coffee shop on Maui--get matcha mac nut mylk latte)

Food/Restaurants

Nuka (fave sushi on Maui)

The Farmacy Health Bar

T Komoda General Store (best donuts ever)

Sights

Sacred Garden of Maliko (peaceful hidden gem for meditation and labrinth)

Maui Nui Botanical Gardens (8am-5pm Thursday-Sun)

Spa

Ho’omana Spa Maui (best cultural experience--authentic Hawaiian spa where I studied Hawaiian Healing)

Farmer's Markets

Upcountry Farmer's Market (7-12 Saturdays)

Makawao Farmer's Market (10-5 Wednesdays)

Kula Country Farm (Tuesday-Sunday 10-4pm)

Hikes

Hosmer Grove & Supply Trail (2-6 mi) - located just barely inside Haleakala National Park. At approximately mile marker 10.5 on Highway 378, just after entering the park, you'll want to turn left to the start of the Hosmer Grove trail.

Makawao Forest Loop (6 miles) (I adore this well-shaded forest hike)

Waihou Spring Trail Loop (2.4 miles) (2463 Olinda Rd, Makawao, HI) (you'll be amazed this is even Hawai'i)

Polipoli Spring State Recreational Area (7 mi)

Haleakala National Park Summit Hike (Sliding Sands 10 mi, Kaupo Gap Trail 9 mi, Halemauu 10 mi)  

 

Kula

Coffee/Tea

Grandma's Maui Coffee

Food/Restaurants

Haili'imaile (pineapple upside-down cake=heaven)

Sights

Ali'i Kula Lavender Farm

 

North Shore

Moist air, lush jungle, hippie-lifestyle

Pa'ia

Coffee/Tea

Pa'ia Bay Coffee Roasters (cutest outdoor setting)

Food/Restaurants

Kuau Store (best shoyu chicken)

Maka by Mana (açai bowls & smoothies in Mana Foods)

Mama's Fish House (best ambiance ever)

Cafe des Amis (crepes)

Thai Spice

Paia Bowls

Farmer's Market

La'a Kea Community Farm (8:30am-5:30pm Mon-Sat)

Beach

Ho'okipa (windsurfing)

Jaws (seasonal surf competitions)

Yoga

Maui Yoga Shala

Live Music

Charley's  

 

Haiku/Huelo

Food/Restaurants

Maui Kombucha (vegan)

Hikes

Bamboo Forest   (1 mile out and back)

Sights

Huelo Lookout (this isn't about the stand. This is about the mana here. Feel + smell the air.)

East

Hawaiian rainforest, winding roads, black sand beaches

Hana

Sights

Wailua Falls

Kaeleku Caverns (dormant lava tube)

Farmer's Market

Ono Organic Farms (Monday & Thursday)

Beach

Wai'anapanapa Beach & Caves

 

Events/Excursions 

Friday Night Town Party (rotates locations every Friday)

Helicopter Ride

Snorkeling Day Trip: Molokini & Coral Gardens

Drive around backroad (past Hana)


2 comments

  • Kama…my husband & I love Maui and we always stay in Kihei at Kihei Surfside. After our morning coffee we’d go do a 2 hour beach walk all the way down to Wailea and back. What a fantastic list you’ve shared. I too love Big Beach and we’ve eaten at several of your restaurant picks…you’ve enticed us now to explore much more of the Island next time. Thank you so much ❤️🙏

    Shannon May
  • Excellent article!
    Best part? You kept a few choice places secret
    ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 🌴🌹👣📸

    Stephen Holding

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