We were blessed to have ten full days on the island of Maui! Some people might think that would be enough time to “see it all,” but trust me, there are so many things on my list that will have to wait until our next visit.
This list is far from exhaustive, but if you’re planning a trip to Maui soon, here are my thoughts our on Ten Days in Maui. Perhaps it will give you some ideas as you plan your adventures! Aloha!
LODGING
We split our trip in two, enjoying the Western side of the island for the first half, and for the latter half, we made Makawao in Upcountry our home base. West Maui is known for great beaches and water sports, along with sunshine and tons of restaurants and shopping (along with golf and other things we didn’t taken advantage of). Upcountry, North and East Maui have windsurfing, rocky cliffs, farms and the famous Road to Hana.
Kapalua Bay Villas in Lahaina is super spendy but was worth the splurge for us. The gated condo community is quiet and has gorgeous ocean views with access to hiking, snorkeling, swimming, tennis, golf and more, all within easy walking distance. The complex is flanked by the Ritz-Carlton and Montage resorts, and you can take advantage of their restaurants, spa, etc. if you choose (we did not). The rental rates vary based on the size and location of the condo. Book early for better rates. By the time we finalized our dates, the more affordable condos I was interested in were no longer available. My favorite thing about our condo, 23B1, was the fully covered lanai that allowed us to be outside at all times, even in rain and intense sun. You can rent KBV condos through various partners, so shop around for the best rates. Map of the property
We found Makawao to be an excellent starting point for all our adventures outside of West Maui. By staying Upcountry, we saved about an hour each way for every adventure. This is a meaningful time-saver when you want to arrive places before the crowds and heat. We aimed to arrive at most places around 7AM.
ACTIVITIES
Here’s a list of the activities we enjoyed, with my favorites at the top of the list.
W = West Maui U = Upcountry N = North Maui E = East Maui
Acid War Zone Trail to Nakele Blowhole (W) – I was absolutely blown away by the interesting colors and shapes of the lava on this relatively easy trail, with the ocean as a stunning backdrop. Seriously, I could have stayed here for hours even before reaching the Blowhole. By taking this route (rather than the crowded trail from the main parking lot), we had the entire place to ourselves right up until we reached the blowhole. It was such a magical place! However, the trail is not marked so you might have to play around a bit to find the correct path. Go at high tide for better water shoots through the blowhole. The Fun Life Crisis blog offers an excellent report of what you’ll see on the trail.
Piilani Trail at Wai’anapanapa State Park (E) – This hike has everything: a black sand beach, sea cave, violently crashing waves against fascinating lava cliffs, birds, lush greenery and interesting aircraft taking off from the airstrip at the end of the trail. This was basically a tie for first place as our favorite spot to visit. You must have a reservation to enter this park. We booked the first two morning slots to give ourselves plenty of time to hike and enjoy the beach. The hike is fairly rough at times, and if you want to go far on the trail, I’d highly recommend wearing running shoes or hiking boots. I considered wearing my Tevas and am glad I had trail runners instead. Be sure to stay far from the edge and areas of the cliff that are wet, indicating that water has recently hit the rocks. While insanely beautiful, this trail could become dangerous quickly, so please watch your step. Go as far as you want on the trail and then turn around to head back to the beach. The trail isn’t always obvious, so check often to make sure you’re on a safe path. There are amazing views along the entire trail, though admittedly the very end isn’t as interesting. If you do get to the very end, you’ll find a small airstrip on your left and a good picnic spot on your right. Check out this blog post from Fun Life Crisis for details on this hike.
Snorkeling Kapalua Bay (W) – Within walking distance of our condo, Kapalua Bay offered calm waters at all times while we were visiting in April, even when other nearby beaches had rough waves. The sea life is close to shore, so this spot is excellent for beginner snorkelers. Please keep in mind that coral is a living entity so you should never stand on it. And be sure to wear coral-safe sunscreen, or better yet, wear a rashguard and/or other sun protective clothing. Unfortunately our water camera is super old, but you can still get an idea of what we saw based on these photos. This might not be the best snorkeling in Maui, but it's a relaxing spot that isn't too crowded.
Dragon’s Teeth & Labyrinth (W) – Within walking distance of our West Maui condo, this unique rock formation juts out into the water and offers views of Lanai, Oneloa Beach and D.T. Fleming Beach. It’s a beautiful and serene place to simply wander. The labyrinth located here is a wonderful place for meditation and contemplation, particularly if you arrive early in the morning before anyone else arrives.
O’o Farm Tour & Brunch (U) – My husband wanted to check out a coffee farm tour, which is how this caffeine-free girl found herself at a coffee tasting. I was delightfully surprised that the tour showcased much of the farm’s acreage, including lots of veggies and fruit trees. As a gardener, I loved learning about all the produce that was grown at this farm and was surprised to see them growing so many of the same things I have growing in my own PNW garden. The increased elevation (Kula is almost 3,000 feet) enables the farm to grow kale and other cool season crops but prevents them from growing some plants that need intense heat. The actual farm tour was fairly short but very interesting. The real highlight of this activity was the inspired brunch using ingredients from the farm. See my notes in the “Food” section below.
Haleakalā National Park (U) – The last time we came to Haleakalā, the 10,023-foot summit was completely clouded over, so we had absolutely no views. For this visit, we strategically planned to spend several days in the area so we could choose the best weather day on the summit. This national park has two primary access points – the summit and surrounding area (which is accessible via State Road 378) and the low-elevation eastern side (which is accessible via the Hana Hwy/HI-360). We didn’t have time to hike the Pipiwai Trail to Womoku Falls off Hana Hwy but have hiked it before and it’s amazing! I highly recommend it and would consider it one of the best hikes in Maui. Instead, we focused our time for this trip on things we hadn’t done before.
If you want to visit the summit area but don’t have a lot of time, drive up to the main Visitors Center (the second one) and hike the very short 0.2 mile Pā Kaʻoao Trail. The views from this point are spectacular; better than the summit, even. We also hiked the Sliding Sands/Keonehe’ehe’e Trail, going in 2 miles and turning around. Surrounded by rocks of varying shades of rich reds and browns, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to some other planet! The main challenge with this hike is that it’s extremely exposed, so you’re subjected to lots of cold wind and hot sun, and there is absolutely nowhere to use the restroom. Be sure to plan ahead! While I loved the unusual scenery, the hike is simply a new perspective on the same scenery for miles, so go for as long as you like and then turn around. Just be prepared for the steep return. For a change of pace, we also hiked the Halemau’u Trail, again going 2 miles in before turning around. I imagine this trail has gorgeous views, but at the time of our hike, the clouds were settling in the middle of the mountain (base and summit were clear) so we enjoyed lots of cool, misty fog that was beautiful in its own way and far different from our experience elsewhere within the park. We ended our park time with a picnic and stunning views at Kalahaku Overlook. Next time, I really want to come to see the stars and sunrise! A reservation is required if you want to arrive between 3am and 7am, and unfortunately all the time slots were filled by the time we tried to reserve, so make sure you get a reservation in advance if you want to show up before 7am.
Pipiwai Trail to Waimoku Falls: MauiGuidebook.com
Halemau’u Trail: Maui-Hikes.com
Sliding Sands Trail: Maui-Hikes.com
Oneloa Beach & Kapalua Coastal Trail (W) – This trail runs approximately 2 miles and is located directly behind the Kapalua Bay Villas where we stayed. It is the nesting site of the 'ua'u kani wedge-tailed shearwater birds, so tread carefully. We were able to watch a team of volunteers tag the birds while we were there! Oneloa beach is nestled among the beautiful lava rocks along the trail. It’s a secluded place for a morning walk or yoga practice, and would likely be a fun place to boogie board, though we unfortunately ran out of time to try. Next time!
Ho’okipa Beach Park (N) – Unless you’re an experienced surfer/swimmer, you probably won’t spend any time in the water, but this is still a fun beach to visit. A lot of people spend time here watching the windsurfers with their colorful sails. The highlight for me was seeing the giant sea turtles sunbathing on shore. They shuffle at an agonizingly slow pace until they find their preferred spot, then use their flippers to flick sand onto their backs. They really didn’t do much, but it was still fun (and funny) to watch their antics. Information about Hawaii’s Sea Turtles
Waihe’e Ridge Trail (NW) – Getting to this trail was the real adventure, and not one I really want to repeat! We took the shorter route – Kahekili Hwy past Nakalele Blowhole – and holy cow, it was a tough road. Thankfully we left early in the morning so we only passed a couple of vehicles, but a good section of the road is “not maintained” and is one lane, with a mountain on one side and a cliff on the other with lots of hairpin curves. Needless to say, we took the other way back to our condo. If you’re up for an intense drive, it is beautiful if you can spare a second or two to take your eyes off the road. As for the hike itself, unfortunately we were in the clouds most of the time. It was still pretty – I especially liked seeing the trees coming through the mist – but I imagine it’s quite stunning on a clear day. There are sections of this trail that can get quite muddy and slippery, so be prepared with proper shoes and enough time to hike safely without having to rush. On our way home, we stopped at the nearby food truck Ula Ula Café for brunch. Although this hike is low on my list, it was still a lot of fun, and I imagine it would be ranked much higher if we had a view.
Aqua Adventures Snorkel/SNUBA Tour (W) – This tour boat took us to Molokini Crater, a crescent-shaped atoll off the coast of Maui that is a marine preserve and bird sanctuary. While the coral and fish life was more abundant and the water clearer than at Kapalua Bay, the waves were a bit rough on the day we went, which made snorkeling slightly less fun. It was also very crowded! We tried SNUBA, which enables you to travel up to 15 feet below the surface, but I didn’t find it very comfortable so we just stuck to snorkeling. On our return to Maui, we saw several humpback whales, which was the highlight of the tour for me. In hindsight, I would probably choose a whale watching tour over this snorkel tour, or perhaps a sailing excursion. But for people who absolutely love snorkeling, I can see how going to Molokini Crater would be a highlight. If you want to see whales, keep in mind that they’re typically around Hawaii from late December to late April.
D.T. Fleming Beach (W) - This beach is just beyond the Dragon's Teeth & Labyrinth area (which you can see in the photo above). In fact, they share the same parking lot. It was a fairly easy walk from our condo, taking the Kapalua Coastal Trail until it ends and then taking the sidewalk via Lower Honoapiilani Road. To access the beach, take the path from the parking lot and stroll through the Ritz-Carlton property, veering left to reach the beach. This beach was more crowded than Oneloa and is reported as having high winter surf and dangerous rip currents. It's worth a walk for the exercise and for new scenery, especially if you're already visiting Dragon's Teech (which you absolutely should!), but I prefer Oneloa Beach. Hawai'i Beach Safety Report
Baldwin Beach Park (N) – Located in Paia, this beach has a lifeguard and lots of parking. The surf is high so it isn’t great for swimming. We took take-out food here for dinner but found it hard to eat because the wind kept blowing sand in our faces. I’d recommend Ho’okipa Park over this one, as there is a lot more visual interest. But this was a fun place to stick our feet in the water and say goodbye to Maui on our last night.
FOOD
The frugal me always cooks while on vacation to save money, but I absolutely abhor cooking! Since this was supposed to be my super special birthday extravaganza, I totally splurged and ate out every meal except breakfast (I brought my homemade granola cereal). It was extremely expensive but fun to try so many different meals, and it was pure freedom not having to cook or even put together sandwiches. Here's my list with favorites on top.
Monkeypod Kitchen, Ka’anapali (W) – Wow! This was our one splurge dinner, and it was worth every penny! I had the Blind Tiger mocktail with hibiscus, lavender, lemon and soda, and it was amazing. My entrée was Macadamia Nut Crusted Fish with Maui pineapple relish and a delicious lemon beurre blanc sauce. I might have licked the plate clean. Seriously, I’m still dreaming of this meal.
Hula Cookies Ice Cream Sandwich, Napili Market, Lahaina (W) – We found these amazing ice cream cookie sandwiches at the Napili Market close to our condo. We really should have gone back for more, they were so good. I had the Coconut Chocolate and it was phenomenal! After research, I’ve learned that they have an actual shop in Maalaea, so you can go there or get them pre-packaged in the ice cream section of the grocery store. Just be sure to stock up!
Manuela Malasada, Lahaina (W) – These donuts are made fresh, topped with powdered sugar and your choice of filling. They were larger than I expected and very filling, so only get as many as you can eat while they’re hot. We had leftovers and they did okay re-heated in the oven but weren’t nearly as good. My favorite filling was the coconut. Expect a bit of a wait since they’re made-to-order. There are other malasada places around Maui, and while this one was good, I wouldn’t push for this particular kiosk as other donut stands are probably just as good. But if you come across a malasada stand, definitely give one a try. Your waistline will feel it but your belly will be happy. Cash only.
Moku Roots, Lahaina (W) – Even if you don’t eat a plant-based diet, you’ll love the inventive flavors developed from local ingredients offered at this restaurant. And what’s more, they are Zero Waste! If you order to-go, your sandwiches will come beautifully wrapped in ti leaves, and your drinks, salads and other dishes will come in reusable containers that you can return on your next visit. This commitment to the environment alone is a major sell for me, but what kept me going back multiple times was the lavender lemonade. It was so refreshing and deliciously floral I just couldn’t get enough!
O’o Farm Tour and Brunch, Kula (U) – The real highlight of this farm tour was the brunch. Seated outside under canopies in the cool mountain air, we enjoyed a chef-created masterpiece of a meal using ingredients from the farm! The presentation was absolutely stunning and the food was unique and delicious. I did not expect such a lovely meal, and it made the price of the tour much more reasonable. Truly, this was such an enjoyable experience and I’m glad my coffee-loving husband signed us up for it. Special tip from my husband: Be wary how much coffee you drink during the three coffee tastings or you’ll find yourself awake all night!
Thai Mee Up, Makawao (U) – This food truck was a delightful surprise! I got the veggie cashew and it was fantastic. Highly recommend!
Sunrise Café, Lahaina (W) – This hole in the wall is a bit small, so you might need to wait for a table. The staff are very warm and friendly and the food was yummy. I got the Greek Bagel, which seems like an odd thing to get at a Hawaiian café, but it was superb. Very filling and healthy! My husband got the Loco Moco and said it was fantastic. Cash only.
Hana Ranch Restaurant, Hana (E) – After visiting the amazing Wai’anapanapa State Park, we were a bit overheated and hungry so we looked for a relaxing restaurant that had light, healthy fare. This restaurant was a nice surprise. We ate outside under the covered area and enjoyed a lovely breeze and delicious meal. It’s just off the main drag of Hana Hwy and was a much more relaxing spot than the food truck area nearby.
The Fish Market Maui, Lahaina (W) – This was the first place we ate after arriving in Maui. Everything tasted fresh and was a good welcome to the island! There are a few tables on the sidewalk outside the restaurant, but that’s it. Be sure to check the menu for their specials.
Mediterranean Grill, Haiku (N) – Another food truck, the man taking our order made us feel like family. Their vegetarian options were limited but the falafel plate that I got was yummy. We got it to-go and took it to Baldwin Beach Park for dinner.
The Maui Cookie Lady, Makawao (U) – On our last night, we got a Mac Nut cookie from this cute shop in Makawao. It was crazy expensive for one cookie, but it was large enough to split and was delicious when heated and topped with the ice cream we had waiting in our freezer. If I had to choose just one, I’d pick a Hula Cookie ice cream sandwich, but the beauty of vacation is that you don’t have to choose just one dessert!
Ula Ula Café, Wailuku (NW) – On our way home from the Waihe’e Ridge Trail, we stopped at this nearby food truck for brunch. They didn’t actually have breakfast-type foods, but given that we typically started our days around 4am, we were ready for lunch by 9am! We got fish tacos and a fresh coconut with honey and cinnamon. David got a smoothie that our barista said was “made with intention.” The kindness and conversation we enjoyed was the highlight, but the food was good as well. Unfortunately this was one of the most expensive meals of our entire trip, and as much as I enjoyed the experience, I can’t say the food was worth the cost.
Tasaka Guri Guri Shop, Kahului (N) – This treat is a creamy version of shaved ice. It was tasty and good to try but I would much rather have a malasada, Hula Cookie or Maui Lady cookie as a sweet treat. Cash only.
Joey’s Kitchen, Lahaina (W) – This café is located in the Napili Market shopping center near the condo. My husband loved his Kula pork sandwich, but my fish tacos were a bit dry. I would eat there again but it wasn’t my favorite restaurant. I think my expectations were too high given the sound of the menu.
Pizza Fresh, Makawao (U) – My husband is a big fan of pizza, so we had to try a couple of pizza joints in Maui. We had Pizza Fresh delivered to our rental so we could crash with a movie after a hike. The delivery was quick, and the food was pretty good but nothing special.
Kalei’s Lunchbox, Pukalani (U) – This Hawaiian café located in the Foodland shopping center didn’t have much to offer for ambiance, but the food was pretty good. I got the Mahi Ala Kalei and it was tasty but heavy because of all the butter. It’s interesting to try if you want Hawaiian fare, but it’s probably not a place I would go back.
Maui Brewing Company, Lahaina (W) – We picked food up so we could enjoy it on our lanai as we watched the sun set. I got the flatbread with blue cheese, pears and mac nuts. While inventive, it just didn’t do it for me.
Polli’s Mexican Restaurant, Makawao (U) – Unfortunately this was one of our restaurant duds. We got food to-go and it was cold and not very tasty. We didn’t even eat the queso dip because it wasn’t worth the calories and the chips were dripping in oil. The lilikoi cheesecake, however, was incredible. I’d definitely go back for the cheesecake but nothing else. Needless to say, I don't recommend this restaurant.
Slappy Cakes, Lahaina (W) – This restaurant is super popular, especially for families with kids who want to make their own pancakes. The wait was over an hour, but since it was just the two of us and we didn’t want the griddle experience, we were seated at the bar shortly upon arrival. The service was good but the food was blah and expensive. I don't recommend this restaurant.
NEXT TIME
There’s always more to do and see (and eat!) on Maui. Here’s my list of things we’d like to enjoy on our next visit.
Pipiwai Trail – It has been a long time since we hiked this trail and I definitely want to do it again. MauiGuidebook.com report
Outrigger Canoe Surfing with Hawaiian Paddle Sports – Unfortunately the owner who leads this tour was out of town while we were there but it looks like a lot of fun. They also do kayaking, SUP and surf lessons.
Old Lahaina Luau – I tried to get a reservation three weeks in advance but they were already booked. If you want to go to this luau, book super early!
South Maui – We have never explored South Maui, either on the east or west sides of the island. On our next visit, I'd like to explore some southwest beaches – Kamaole, Keawakapu, Wailea and Makena Landing – and Nu’u Refuge in the southeast.
Whale watching tour if we visit late December through late April and/or a sailboat tour. I'll have to research recommended tour companies.
We missed a few restaurants on our list because of timing, but next time I'd like to visit Leoda’s Kitchen & Pie Shop in Lahaina, Freshie’s Maui in Makawao and Baked on Maui in Haiku.
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