Top 5 Things To Do In Maui

Our contributer Kelsi went to Hawaii for her honeymoon – this is the first of a few posts about her adventure.  We are just slightly jealous!

After an amazing 9 day vacation to Hawaii, I’ve put together my list of top things to do when visiting Maui.  We spent 5 days on Maui, and could easily have spent another 5.  There is so much to do, it’s impossible to capture it all. But I still tried 😉

1- Get Your Luau On

A luau is like an immersion course in Hawaiian history, taking you back through decades of music, dance, culture and food.  This was the first thing we knew we had to do when planning our trip, but the options can be really overwhelming.  Most of the larger resorts offer them on-site, and there are a few that operate as separate business.  The price ranges from $80 USD – $150USD per person, so it’s best to do your research if you are on a budget.  We chose the Old Lahaina Luau based on recommendations from friends as well as our diligent research through Trip Advisor.  Total running time was about 2 hours. It had an open bar, open areas to walk around and sight see, and a ridiculously delicious buffet. The ambiance was great, and the production value was top notch. The only thing to note is that you can sit “traditional” style, or modern style. Traditional style means on your bum/knees on Astroturf, which can be tough for 2 hours! Overall, We were not disappointed. Book early, as they tend to fill up quick during high season. This was a great option for families.

2- Learn to Surf

This was an absolute must-do for me.  There are surfing lessons and pop-up stands everywhere along the Maui coast, so this can be another slightly overwhelming thing to research. A friend referred us to the Maui Surfer Girls with the words, “Just book them now, and stop looking.”  So we did.  We are sooooo happy we did.  Our lesson was with the owner, Dustin, and she surprised us by bringing along a professional photographer to capture our session. After a 20-minute land lesson on technique, safety and oceanography, we headed to the water to put our new skills to the test. We both stood up on our first wave!! What a total rush.  Our lesson lasted about 2 hours and we celebrated afterwards with a bottle of prosecco and guava juice.  A semi private lesson with MSG costs around $125 USD per person, and group lessons are $85 per person.  They even run surf camps for girls and women during the summer! 

3- Swim, Snorkel and Snuba with the Sea Turtles

The easiest way to get up close and personal with Hawaiian wildlife is to jump in the ocean. We LOVE the water so we decided to take full advantage of a boat trip to the Molokini Crater, which is an island marine sanctuary, and one of the best places in the Hawaii to snorkel! We chose the Pride of Maui half day trip to the Molokini Crater and Turtle Town. It included a small continental breakfast, BBQ lunch and an open bar (after the sea frolicking is done, of course).  We opted for the add on of Snuba – which is a combination of snorkeling and scuba diving, but way less intense than scuba, and no training or certification is needed.  We swam with the sea turtles and even saw some whales during our lunch.  This tour costs $96 USD per adult or $62 USD per child if you book online.  The Snuba was an additional $50 USD for about 20 minutes of underwater time. The tour runs from 8am-1pm, and is an awesome way to spend the day on the ocean!

4- Drive Road to Hana

There is little else that exposes you to the natural beauty of Maui like the Road to Hana. This 100km stretch is filled with narrow roads that weave in and out of the mountains, hairpin turns that seem to endlessly zigzag, and a plethora of hidden adventures and pit stops.  You can drive the road yourself, or take one of many tours; both have their own advantages.  We chose to drive it so we could save some money and make our own schedule, and it took about 6 hours return.  It’s important to note that this adventure is about the journey, not the destination (Hana Town). Everything about this trip was breathtaking, and we loved navigating ourselves through this precious Hawaiian domain.

5- Eat Local

We did not have a bad meal on Maui. Not one.  We chose local favorites over chains, opting for fresh fish or produce where possible.  We ate our weight in Poke (pronounced poh-kay, raw fish sliced into cubes seasoned with fresh herbs and spices and served with white rice) and pineapple.  Our favorite restaurants on Maui were the Kihei Café (breakfast burritos and French toast the size of your head!), Paia Fish Café (go for the catch of the day, grilled) and Kimo’s (fresh fish chowder and parmesan crusted Maui Maui – the best dinner we had all trip).  I fell in love with a local brew from Kona Brewing Company – Wailua Wheat.  It’s a wheat beer with a hint of passion fruit. And the bottle is super pretty.

Do any of these things catch your eye?  Did I miss one of your favorite Maui past-times? Share with me in the comments!