Best Things to Do in Maui: The Experiences We Think Are Actually Worth It
Updated: 1 day ago
Maui is one of those destinations where it is very easy to blow your vacation budget before you ever put your toes in the sand. Helicopter tours. Snorkeling trips. Lūʻaus. Whale watching. Road to Hāna tours. Surf lessons. You could fill every single day with a paid excursion.
We wouldn't.
Some of our favorite Maui memories have cost absolutely nothing. Others were expensive experiences we intentionally saved for because we knew they would be the things we'd still be talking about years later.
That's how we recommend planning Maui.
Save where you can. Splurge on the experiences that really matter to you. And leave enough empty space in the itinerary to remember you're in Hawaiʻi, not competing in an island scavenger hunt.
After several trips to Maui, these are the experiences we would put at the top of our list.
1. Sail and Snorkel Molokini with Trilogy
If you ask us to choose one classic Maui day on the water, Trilogy is at the top of our list.
We've personally used Trilogy and recommend them. Their Molokini excursion takes you aboard a spacious 54-foot sailing catamaran for a morning on the water. The first snorkeling stop is the iconic Molokini Crater, followed by a second stop that is typically Turtle Town, depending on conditions. And yes, snorkeling Molokini is beautiful. But don't make the mistake of thinking the boat is simply transportation to the snorkeling.
Being out on the water is part of the experience.
Looking back toward Maui, seeing Haleakalā rising above the island, and sailing across that ridiculously blue water is part of what makes a Maui boat day so special. This is also a great option if you're not an expert snorkeler. The crew helps make the experience comfortable for beginners, and you certainly don't have to be the person free-diving 30 feet below everyone else to enjoy it.
Current pricing:
Adult 18+: $219Youth 13 to 17: $204Child 3 to 12: $153Infant 0 to 2: Free
THE SALT LIFE FAMILY TIP: Choose a morning trip whenever possible. Ocean conditions are often calmer earlier in the day.
BOOKING LINK: https://sailtrilogy.com/
2. See Maui from Above on a Hāna Rainforest Helicopter Tour
This was our big Maui splurge, and we would do it again.
We flew with Maverick Helicopters to the Hana Rainforest, and there are parts of Maui you simply cannot appreciate the same way from a car.
From above, you suddenly understand just how wild and untouched parts of this island really are.
Waterfalls disappear into valleys. The rainforest stretches across the landscape. Cliffs drop into the Pacific. Places that look impressive in photographs become almost impossible to describe when you're hovering above them.
Was it cheap?
No.
Was it one of the experiences we still talk about?
Absolutely.
And this is where our travel philosophy comes into play.
We don't believe you need luxury everything to have an incredible vacation. We'd rather save money on breakfast, make lunch in the condo or spend an afternoon at a free beach so we can say yes to one experience we'll remember for the rest of our lives.
That's exactly how we approached the helicopter tour.
Want to book something similar?
We found a 50-minute Hana Rainforest Helicopter Tour with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters through GetYourGuide.
The tour departs from Kahului and flies over East Maui's rainforest, waterfalls, coastline, Hāna and Upcountry. Your pilot also provides narration throughout the flight, so you're learning about what you're seeing instead of simply flying over it.
Just to be completely transparent, our personal experience was with Maverick, not Blue Hawaiian. We're including this option because it gives our readers another highly rated and easily bookable way to experience Maui from the air.
3. Drive the Road to Hāna or Let Someone Else Do the Driving
The Road to Hana is not really about Hana.
It's about everything you see getting there.
Rainforest. Waterfalls. Black lava coastline. Rainbow eucalyptus. Taro fields. Banana bread. Tiny roadside stands. And about 47 moments when you'll want to pull over and take another picture.
Some of our favorite stops include Keʻanae Peninsula, Keʻanae Arboretum and Waiʻānapanapa State Park.
The biggest mistake?
Trying to stop at everything.
You do not need to check off 20 Road to Hāna stops. Pick the places that matter most to you, slow down and actually enjoy them.
Don't want to drive it yourself?
We completely understand.
The road is narrow and winding, parking can be tricky, and the driver misses a lot because, well, someone needs to watch the road.
The Deluxe Road to Hāna Adventure Tour lets someone else handle that part.
Potential stops include:
Ho‘okipa BeachKe‘anae PeninsulaPua‘a Ka‘a WaysideWai‘ānapanapa State ParkWailua Valley State Wayside ParkHalfway to Hāna or Aunty Sandy'sA flower farm
Depending on the day, possible additional stops can include Coconut Glen's, Hāna Farms Market, Ke‘anae Arboretum, a chocolate farm, Huli Huli Chicken and lava tubes.
And that's the real appeal to us.
Everyone in your family gets to look out the window.
THE SALT LIFE FAMILY TIP: If you're driving the Road to Hana yourself, download offline maps before you leave. Cell service can be unreliable, and this is not the day to discover your map disappeared.
4. Go Whale Watching with Hawaii Ocean Rafting
If you're visiting Maui during whale season, this moves WAY up our list.
We personally recommend Hawaii Ocean Rafting, especially if you would rather be on a smaller boat than one of the huge whale-watching vessels.
Their Eco-Raft Dolphin or Whale Search & Sightsee Tour is a relaxed two-hour coastal trip aboard a smaller, semi-private raft. You'll cruise the coastline toward Lānaʻi while a marine naturalist searches for dolphins year-round and humpback whales during the seasonal window.
What we love about the smaller raft is how close you feel to the water.
When a whale surfaces nearby, you're not looking down from three decks above it.
You're right there at ocean level. There's also a hydrophone used during whale searches, which gives you the possibility of hearing humpback whales underwater. That is one of those moments that makes you forget about your phone, your itinerary and whatever you thought you needed to do next.
The raft has bench seating, mostly shaded space, snacks and nonalcoholic drinks, so it still feels comfortable even though you're getting a smaller-group experience.
THE SALT LIFE FAMILY TIP: If seeing whales is a major priority, book a dedicated whale-watching trip rather than hoping you'll happen to see them during another boat excursion.
5. Experience a Maui Luau
If this is your first trip to Hawaiʻi, we think experiencing a good lūʻau at least once is absolutely worth it.
And our Maui pick is the Maui Nui Lūʻau at Black Rock at the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa.
We loved this one.
Part of that is the location. You're right on Kaanapali Beach at Black Rock with the Pacific in front of you and the sun going down as the evening begins.
But a good luau should be about more than food.
This is an opportunity to spend an evening hearing stories, watching hula and Polynesian dance, learning more about the culture and history of the islands and experiencing something you simply aren't going to recreate when you get home.
The evening includes Hawaiian and Polynesian storytelling and performances, an imu ceremony, buffet and fire-knife dancing.
This wasn't just dinner and a show for us. It felt like a distinctly Hawaiʻi evening.
One lesson we learned the hard way
Don't save your luau for the last night.
On our first trip to Maui, we scheduled our luau toward the end of the vacation and it was canceled because of weather. We didn't have another night available to reschedule.
Now we recommend putting weather-dependent experiences like a luau toward the beginning of your trip whenever possible.
Learn from us.
6. Watch Sunset from Haleakalā
Not everything on this list requires a tour.
Haleakalā is one of those places that makes you feel very, very small.
At more than 10,000 feet above sea level, the landscape near the summit barely feels like the same island where you were sitting underneath a palm tree a few hours earlier. Sunrise gets most of the attention, but we actually love the flexibility of sunset. Spend part of the day exploring Upcountry Maui, head toward the summit in the afternoon and give yourself plenty of time to walk around the overlooks before sunset. Then stay a little longer. Sometimes the best colors happen after everyone thinks sunset is over.
THE SALT LIFE FAMILY TIP: Do not underestimate how cold it can be at the summit.
Bring long pants, closed-toe shoes, a sweatshirt or fleece and a jacket.
The fact that it was 82 degrees at the beach earlier means absolutely nothing when you're standing above the clouds.
Want someone else to handle the drive?
A guided Haleakalā sunrise or sunset tour is a great option if you don't want to navigate the dark, winding summit road yourself.
GETYOURGUIDE AFFILIATE LINK: Add Haleakalā sunrise or sunset tour here.
7. Take a Beginner Surf Lesson
You're in Maui.
This might finally be the trip where you stop watching everyone else surf and try it yourself.
A beginner lesson is a fun addition for couples, families and anyone who has always wanted to surf but has absolutely no idea what they're doing. Which is pretty much the point of taking a lesson. A good instructor can choose an appropriate location based on current ocean conditions, teach you the basics on land and help you get your first few waves.
And even if you're terrible?
You're still learning to surf in Maui.
That's not exactly a bad vacation story.
GETYOURGUIDE: Book Here
8. Snorkel with Sea Turtles Without Booking a Tour
Here's where we save some money.
You don't have to pay for every snorkeling experience on Maui.
Makena Landing can be a great morning snorkeling spot when conditions are calm, with reef areas where you may see Hawaiian green sea turtles and other marine life.
Black Rock at Kaanapali Beach is another popular snorkeling area when conditions are appropriate.
Bring your own gear, check the water conditions and enjoy it.
But please remember that seeing a turtle does not mean you need a selfie six inches from its face.
Give sea turtles and all marine life plenty of room. Never touch, chase or feed them, and never stand on coral.
9. Spend a Day Beach Hopping South Maui
One of our favorite Maui activities costs exactly $0.
Pick a couple of beaches and go nowhere else.
We love the idea of combining Keawakapu Beach, Wailea Beach and the Mākena area, but you absolutely do not need to visit all three in one day.
In fact, don't.
Pick one or two.
Spread out your towel. Get in the water. Take a walk. Read a book. Eat the snacks you brought with you. Stay longer than you originally planned.
Sometimes we spend thousands of dollars getting somewhere beautiful and then forget to actually sit somewhere beautiful.
Don't do that in Maui.
10. Explore Paia & Watch the Surfers at Ho‘okipa
Give yourself a morning to wander around Paia. Grab breakfast or an açaí bowl, walk through the shops and galleries and enjoy the laid-back North Shore atmosphere.
Then continue a few minutes down the road to Ho‘okipa Beach Park. The overlook is one of our favorite places to watch experienced surfers and windsurfers take on Maui's famous North Shore waves. Depending on conditions, the waves themselves can be quite a show.
You may also see Hawaiian green sea turtles resting along the shoreline.
Enjoy them from a respectful distance and give them plenty of space.
This is another perfect example of a Maui morning that can feel memorable without costing much at all.
11. Explore Upcountry Maui
Don't spend your entire Maui vacation along the shoreline.
One of the things we love about this island is how quickly the landscape changes when you head Upcountry. Suddenly you're surrounded by rolling hills, farms and cooler mountain air instead of beaches and palm trees. Spend some time around Makawao, Maui's historic paniolo, or Hawaiian cowboy, town. Walk around downtown, browse the shops and galleries and grab lunch before continuing farther Upcountry. You can also consider a stop at Aliʻi Kula Lavender when it is open.
It's a completely different side of Maui and one that a lot of first-time visitors miss.
12. Visit ʻĪao Valley State Monument
If you have additional time, add ʻĪao Valley to your Maui plans.
The lush valley gives you another completely different look at the island and is especially nice if you want beautiful scenery without dedicating another entire day to a major excursion.
The iconic ʻĪao Needle rises above the valley, and the area carries significant cultural and historical importance in Hawaiʻi. Reservations are required for many nonresident visitors, so check the current requirements before your trip.
13. Visit Maui Ocean Center
This might not be the first activity we tell two adults to book on a sunny Maui day.
But for families or a rainy day? Absolutely. Maui Ocean Center is a great opportunity to learn more about Hawaiʻi's marine life through exhibits featuring reef environments, sharks, rays, sea turtles and other species found in Hawaiian waters.
It's also nice to have one activity in your back pocket that doesn't depend on perfect beach weather.
14. Start the Vacation with an Airport Lei Greeting
This isn't really an excursion.
And that's exactly why we like it.
For around $39, you can arrange for someone to meet you when you arrive at Kahului Airport with a fresh orchid lei and a warm aloha.
Necessary?
No.
Memorable?
Absolutely.
Imagine surprising your kids with this on their first trip to Hawaiʻi.
Or your spouse on an anniversary trip.
Or your parents when you've brought the entire family to Maui.
Sometimes a relatively small splurge sets the tone for the entire vacation.
A Few More Maui Experiences That Don't Need an Activity Ticket
Don't overlook the things that don't come with a confirmation email.
Stop at Nakalele Blowhole and enjoy Maui's rugged northwest coastline.
Walk the short ʻOhai Loop Trail for sweeping coastal views.
Explore Keʻanae Peninsula along the Road to Hāna.
Spend time at Whalers Village and check their schedule for complimentary Hawaiian cultural demonstrations and entertainment.
Watch the evening cliff diving ceremony at Black Rock.
And watch as many Maui sunsets as your trip allows.
You do not need seven expensive excursions to have an incredible seven days in Maui.
So, What Would We Actually Book?
If this were our first Maui trip and we were trying to keep the budget somewhat reasonable, we'd spend our money on three or four big experiences.
Trilogy Molokini sailing & snorkeling
A Hana Rainforest helicopter tour if the budget allows
A Road to Hana day, either driving ourselves or booking a guided tour
Maui Nui Luau at the Sheraton
And if we're traveling during whale season?
Hawaii Ocean Rafting gets added to the list.
Then we'd fill the rest of the vacation with Haleakala, beaches, free snorkeling, Paia, Ho‘okipa, Upcountry, ʻĪao Valley and a whole lot of doing absolutely nothing beside the ocean.
Because Maui is expensive enough without convincing yourself that every beautiful memory needs a ticket attached to it.
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