My Favorites
1. Hana
Waikani Falls
The road to Hana is an absolutely spectacular drive along the north shore. A must do for sure. It’s kind of like driving the Pacific Coast Highway in California, but more tropical. There are beautiful views, bamboo forests, waterfalls, and swimming holes. Bring your snorkel gear for some secret pull off spots. The easiest way is to rent a car and drive yourself. It’s about a 3 hour drive from Lahaina one way, plus whatever stops you make a long the way. So plan for that. I did two day trips, but I would recommend staying over in Hana. You can theoretically drive in a loop around the island past Hana and back inland, but there is a section on the east coast that’s not paved, single lane, and only accessible by four wheel drive vehicles. I went part of the way and turned back, it’s a bit hairy and the one lane road along the cliffs is nerve racking.
See & Do
- Pai’ia. Neat little town not far from the main part of Maui and can visit on the way to Hana. Walk around Makawao Ave and Baldwin Ave. Great place to stop for lunch. Try the fish burgers at the fish market restaurant on the corner. Take a trip to Ho’okipa Beach.
- Waikani Falls. Multiple waterfalls and pools. Upper and lower falls.
- Wailua Falls. Hike to the 173-foot waterfall that feeds into the river. Apparently featured on the opening credits of the TV show Fantasy Island.
- Ohe’o Gulch (Seven Sacred Pools). Really cool set of pools that lead up to the ocean. Crowded, but nice spot to walk around, swim, or just chill.
- Waimoku Falls. Hike through a bamboo forest to a huge waterfall. Hike to from Ohe’o.
- Wai’anapanapa State Park. Black sands beach and caves. There is a cave up top you can walk to that is not far. There is also a small little cave down below where you can walk through to the beach, just keep your eye on the tide. The water is cold and rough, so no swimming. You can hike around quite a long way if you keep going past the beaches up into the lush greenery.
- Banana Bread. Homemade and fantastic. You will see a stand along the road.
Tips
- Car Rental. There is a local place Kihei Rental Car that has older model cars which means they are much cheaper. Good condition, great service. They even pick you up.
- Camping. Wai’anapanapa State Park has a campground where you can pitch your own tent or rent one of theirs. Only a few minutes from the beach.
2. Haleakala National Park
Haleakala National Park
A dormant volcano with rare birds and plants, hiking, and beautiful views from the summit. It’s an amazing drive up to the summit where you will actually reach into and above the clouds reaching 10,000 feet in elevation at the summit. You can hike into and even across the crater.
See & Do
- Summit. Top of the volcano.
- Hiking. Go into or across the crater.
- Birds. There are some funny looking birds that may be wandering around that make for nice photos.
- Eucalyptus Grove. Nearby the national park.
Tips
- Pronunciation. Ha-lee-ah-kah-la.
- Ticket. If you have a U.S. National Parks Annual Pass, bring it. You can use it here since it’s a U.S. National Park.
- Hiking. If you hike across the crater, it’s pretty far, so use two cars so you don’t have to walk all the way back to get your car. Stay hydrated and bring snacks.
- Eco Conservation. Don’t step off the designated paths because there are macroscopic bacteria that grow along it which prevent the dirt from blowing all over the place. It takes hundreds of years, if not more, for this to form and it is what’s responsible for the landscape and keeping things in order.
- Weather. At the summit, it can get pretty cold and windy so bring a jacket or sweatshirt. I started off in a tank top and eventually had to put on a jacket.
3. Makena & Wailea
Molikini Crater
4. Kapalua & Napili
Beautiful Ocean View
5. Black Rock & Kaanapali
Sea Turtle
Other Considerations
Lahaina
Mountain Rainbow
Nice place to stay and is where most of the nightlife is on the island. There is a beach in Lahaina and the location is a good base camp close to the northwest beaches. It’s also a bit more developed with grocery stores and small shopping centers. I stayed at an AirBnB with many pets that lived on the property which was pretty entertaining. Tortoises, cockatoos, pheasants, chickens, cats, dogs, and fish.
Nakalele Point (aka Blowhole)
Nakalele Point
A little bit out of the way up in the north, this interesting spot is down by the ocean and when the water crashes against the rocks, it explodes up in the air like the blowhole of a whale. It’s pretty neat and you also get to climb down and back up on rocks which I always find fun. Beautiful views also.
Waihee Ridge Trail
The Trail
This was definitely off the beaten path and I don’t even remember how I found it. I think I read about it somewhere as a nice trail up through the hills eventually leading to swinging bridges. After the fact, I realized the trail is technically closed, but you can still walk in and there are others (not many) on the trail. It’s really not clear and seems just like it’s not well maintained as opposed to closed. The hike is uphill, a bit muddy in spots, with great views of the island and the ocean. The hike is about 2+ miles one way. Unfortunately I didn’t make it because I ran out of time and the weather was starting to turn. The end of the trail supposedly has suspension bridges, a small waterfall, and pool for swimming. I did see people coming back wearing swimsuits.
Cost Breakdown
- Flights: $0 (redeemed credit card points)
- Lodging: $927 (hotel, AirBnB)
- Transportation: $335 (taxi, rental car)
- Activities: $0
- Food: $540 (estimated $60/day)
Total: $1,802
General Tips
- Mosquitoes. Bring bug spray for normal protection. While not common, there was a small outbreak of Dengue on the The Big Island while I was on Maui, so ask around, listen to the radio, or check the web to make sure all is well.