What You Need To Know

Maui Travel Guide

Explore my Maui Travel Guide, your ultimate resource for discovering everything you need to know about this breathtaking island paradise and crafting your perfect Hawaiian getaway.

Maui Unveiled

Your Maui Travel Guide for a Picture-Perfect Getaway

Maui was an amazing start to my Hawaii backpacking trip. The sights, the scenery, everything was just so beautiful. It was a really great start to my trip, and I definitely recommend you check it out! I would say the vibe of this island is more geared toward couples and families, so don’t expect any crazy nightlife! Because of the crowd it caters to, it’s more expensive than the other Hawaiian islands.

Remember to keep in mind that right now might not be the best time to visit. It’s truly sad what’s happened in Maui, and I hope the island comes back better and stronger than before.

Vanessa's Insider Tips

My Travel Tips for Maui

Here are some helpful Maui travel tips to know before you go:

Where to Stay: Lahaina is a popular area to stay in and it is where a lot of the action is. This means it’s always loud and busy. I stayed in Paia. It was much quieter, and I loved it! I’d recommend either of these two areas to stay in.
How to Get Around: You will need a car in order to get around and see the sights. I didn’t rent one, but since I stayed in a hostel I signed up for tours and made friends with people who did rent one.
Maui Solo Female Travel: Just like all of Hawaii, Maui felt very safe as a solo female traveler.

Discover Maui

My Recommended Itinerary for Maui Travel

Maui was great and had so much to do! Here’s what I recommend for Maui:

Explore Lahaina:

Lahaina town is where you’ll find the most people and a lot of action. It’s very touristy and very packed! That said, it’s a cute seaside town that absolutely warrants your attention.

Make sure you check out Ka’anapali Beach, it was one of my favorites! It was crazy packed, but absolutely stunning with the softest sand.

Take a walk down Front Street, which is full of retail shops and restaurants and is the main street in town. From there, walk down to Lahaina Harbor for a beautiful sunset – you’ll see tons of people settling on a bench or on the grass waiting for this beautiful moment! In town you’ll also see the famous 150-year-old giant banyan tree, standing over 60 feet high.

Explore Paia:

Paia is the neighborhood I stayed in. I liked Lahaina, but I’m so glad I stayed in Paia. It’s a hippie town and has much more chill vibes. Come to town and spend some time just walking around and checking out the beaches in this area too.

Waihe’e Ridge Trail:

I can’t even put into words how beautiful this hike was. Everywhere you looked, it’s just green – lush valleys and vegetation everywhere! It’s about 3 miles, and while not technical, it can be steep at times, so it’s no walk in the park.

Northwest Shore Road Trip:

The northwest part of the island has a lot of cool stuff to see. There are a lot of tours available that will drive you around to see the sights. You can of course do it independently too. Some of the main attractions in the north include: Honolua Bay (swimming stream), Nakalele Pount (famous for its blow hole that shoots up 100 feet in the air every few minutes), Makaluapuna Point (offering a short hike to a rocky cliff called Dragon’s Teeth, offering great views), and D.T. Fleming Beach.

The Road to Hana:

Also known as Highway 36, this 64-mile highway is one of the most famous in the country. It’s famous because it’s a scenic drive with various stops and attractions along the way.

There are 2 ways to do this: you can rent a car and do it yourself or do a guided tour. Either way, with over 40 attractions, you won’t be able to do it all in one day. If you go independently, you can go at your own pace and pick your own stops. You can also spend the night in Hana and split your drive into two days, which does allow you to stop everywhere. If going with this option, I would plan out the stops in advance. Just know, it’s not an easy drive in some places due to windy roads and cliffs! What I did was do it in one day as part of a guided tour. This way, I didn’t have to worry about driving. This meant we only stopped at some of the most popular attractions, which I was okay with.

Top sights to check out on The Road to Hana include: Rainbow Eucalyptus Tree, Keane Peninsula, Aunt Sandy’s (they said it was the best banana bread, I thought it was just okay), Wailua Falls, Wainapanapa State Wayside Park (had a black sand beach!) and Huelo Lookout fruit stand. These were just the stops I went, there are a ton more, such as: Twin Falls, Waikamoi Ridge, Garden of Eden Arboretum and Hana Town. There are apps you can download that will tell you all the stops – I recommend downloading them and then deciding which stops are of interest to you, and if it’d make more sense for you to do it alone or with a guided tour.

Haleakala National Park:

This is an absolute must-do. A dormant volcano, this National Park sits 10,023 feet above sea level. You either come here for sunrise or sunset. It sits so high up, you’re literally in the clouds. It feels as though you are in heaven! I went for sunset and would recommend doing that instead of sunrise. The reason being, after the sun sets, the stargazing there is incredible. You can see so much with the naked eye! It is very, very cold up there at night though, so come prepared. We headed out around 5:45 PM and got there on time for sunset.

Luau:

When coming to Hawaii, you have to experience Luau. If you don’t, it’s almost like you didn’t even come! I went to my first Luau when I was in Oahu, so I can’t speak to the ones in Maui. But if Maui is your only stop, then make sure you go to one!

Beaches:

Of course you don’t come to Hawaii and not check out as many beaches as possible! While I didn’t go to all of them, here are the popular beaches to check out in Maui.

Sun, Sea, and Sand

Best Beaches in Maui

Ka’anapali Beach:

This is one of the most popular beaches in West Maui so prepare for crowds, but it’s worth it.

Napili Beach:

Perfect for swimming and snorkeling.

Makena Beach:

One of Maui’s largest beaches.

Makena Beach:

One of Maui’s largest beaches.

Flavors of Maui

My Recommended Food in Maui

Maui impressed me with some good food spots! Here are some places I recommend to eat:

Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice:

Supposedly the best shave ice in Maui – and they were right! Shave ice is a Hawaiian dessert. I thought it would be similar to Italian ice, but not at all! The ice is shaved, rather than crushed, making for a different consistency. I got chocolate ice cream on the bottom, leche and coconut flavor shave ice over it, and then haupia cream (type of coconut pudding) on top. AMAZING! It was so so good. And this is how my obsession with haupia cream started!

Leoda’s Kitchen & Pie Shop:

I am not a pie person at all, but you HAVE to get their chocolate macadamia nut pie. You’re welcome.

Vana Paia:

Located in Paia, this is a good place for Japanese food.

Down the Hatch:

This place constantly had lines going all the way outside! I got the spicy chicken sandwich, and it did not disappoint.

Lappert’s Ice Cream:

A well-known ice cream place where everyone comes for Dole Whip. Dole Whip is a pineapple-flavored, dairy-free, soft serve ice cream. I don’t really like pineapple but figured I had to try it – honestly, it wasn’t my favorite. But adding it to the list because it’s very popular and good to try things for yourself!

Duke’s:

They have locations on all the Hawaiian islands. Their claim to fame is the Original Hula pie – a delectable cookie-crust pie with macadamia nut ice cream, hot fudge, macadamia nuts, and whipped cream. Yes, it’s as good as it sounds!

Mama’s Fish House:

This place is so popular, it books up months in advance. I don’t eat seafood, so I didn’t go, but it’s my duty to tell you guys about if you are turning to me for travel advice!