20 Incredible Things to Do in Maui

Looking for things to do in Maui? We’re here to help!

Maui has a reputation for being one of the most beautiful islands in the world. And with good reason. It’s absolutely gorgeous. We spent a couple of weeks in Maui and have been dying to return ever since. 

As the second largest island in Hawaii there are many things to do in Maui. You can spend your entire Hawaiian vacation on this island and still not see or do everything.

Maui is home to some of the most wonderful beaches in the world. It’s also home to lush jungles, black sand beaches, and incredible landscapes to explore. Whether you’re into hiking, snorkeling, parasailing, whale-watching, relaxing, or sunbathing, you can find all that and more here.

Things to Do in Maui

It can be tough to narrow down what to do on this incredible island, so this guide will help you experience the 20 best things to do in Maui!

Please note – Some of our selections contain affiliate links. These allow us to earn a small percentage every time you make a booking. Using our links enables us to provide all the information found on this site free of charge.

1) Haleakalā National Park

Visiting Haleakalā National Park is one of the best things to do in Maui because there are so many natural areas to explore within the park. This is also the place to see an amazing sunrise or sunset at the Summit Area.

If you want to see the sunrise, you will need to make a reservation in advance. You do not need to make a reservation to enjoy the sunset at the park, and it’s much less crowded during that time. The Summit is also the perfect place for stargazing.

When visiting, Haleakalā National Park, you should hike along the Pīpīwai Trail, through a bamboo forest to Waimoku Falls. This waterfall is four hundred feet tall and well worth the hike!

For a sunrise tour check out this Maui: Haleakala National Park Sunrise Tour.

2) Enjoy a Lūʻau

If you’re looking for the best things to do in Maui, you really should see a Lūʻau! Lūʻaus are an important part of native Hawaiian culture. It’s a celebration with many important rituals.

At a Lūʻau, you can enjoy Hawaiian music, dancing, and food! It’s a great way to get to know Hawaiian culture and learn more about the Hawaiian people.

3) Molokini Volcanic Crater

Don’t forget to include snorkeling on your list of Maui activities to try! For the best snorkeling in Maui, visit the Molokini Volcanic Crater.

This incredible underwater crater forms a cool crescent shape above the ocean and is home to a variety of tropical fish, as well as eels, rays, and sea turtles.

Check out this eco-friendly tour option if you want help organizing your day of snorkeling – Maui: Eco-Friendly Molokini and Turtle Town Tour with Lunch.

4) Turtle Town

Located between Nahunta Point and Black Sand Beach, Turtle Town is one of the most beautiful Maui attractions and an excellent snorkeling spot. With white sand beaches and calm, clear blue water, you will be able to see coral and all kinds of cute and colorful sea life as you swim.

Turtle Town is big so try Maluaka Beach for the best spot to snorkel. As the name suggests, you will see lots of cute sea turtles there!

5) Helicopter Tour

If you’re looking for things to do in Maui for couples, a helicopter tour is both romantic and adventurous! There are many different helicopter tours that you can book.

Most tours will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Kahului Heliport so that you can get on your helicopter. There’s even a “doors off” helicopter tour if you’re feeling extra adventurous.

Since most of the island can’t be accessed by road, a helicopter tour is the only way to fully see all of the stunning landscapes on Maui. It’s an unforgettable experience.

Exploring Honokalani, also known as Black Sand Beach in Waianapanapa State Park is one of the coolest things to do in Maui. The black sand on this beach is made up of volcanic rock that has broken down over time.

The black rocks and sand are a stunning contrast to the lush vegetation along the beach. The strong waves along the beach look amazing but are quite dangerous, so swimming on this beach is not recommended.

There are some ancient lava caves near the beach as well as some blowholes, seabird colonies, and natural stone arches to explore if you hike around the park.

Here is a helicopter tour option we recommend – Maui: Two-Island Scenic Helicopter Flight to Molokai.

7) Waihi Ridge Trail

Many of the things to do in Maui involve hiking through incredible landscapes.

For the best hiking in Maui, check out the Waihi Ridge Trail. This trail is a five-mile round-trip hike through quiet farmland and lush forests that leads to the top of a mountain with an awesome viewpoint.

For the best weather, and to avoid the crowd, head there early.

8) Kapalua Bay

Kapalua Bay is one of the top Maui attractions because of the gorgeous beach and the variety of water activities you can do here. This is a popular snorkeling beach, so be prepared to share it with other visitors.

You will be able to see coral, eels, fish, and sea turtles in the clear blue waters of the bay. You can also try stand-up paddle boarding. If you just want to chill on the beach, you can do that as well, of course.

There are many great restaurants along the beach to eat and have a drink in. Stick around for a magnificent sunset. Kapalua Bay is the perfect spot if you want to spend the entire day at the beach.

9) Secret Beach

Maui is a popular destination, so you’ll often be sharing its bounties with other visitors. If you want to get away from the crowds but still want to enjoy the beach, then check out Secret Beach in Makena Cove.

This little beach is located 0.25 miles south of Big Beach Third Entrance. You can use the address, “6925 Makena Road” in your navigation system to find the beach easily. Be sure not to confuse Makena Cove with the more popular and crowded Makena Beach.

Secret Beach is never crowded and will only have a handful of people during its busiest days. The golden sand and black, volcanic lava rocks make this a picturesque beach to swim and snorkel in.

You can also just relax and enjoy the sunset away from the crowds.

10) Nakalele Blowhole

The Nakalele Blowhole is located at Nakalele Point in the Northern Part of Maui. The blowhole is the more impressive Maui attraction, but it’s also quite dangerous, so please practice caution when visiting this attraction.

The blowhole is caused by strong waves along the beach hitting a hole in the ground that connects to a partially submerged underground cave. The pressure of the water going through the hole is very strong and amazing to watch. Just be sure to keep a safe distance!

11) Surf Lesson at the Cove

Surfing is one of many fun things to do in Maui. If you’ve never surfed before Maui is a pretty great place to try!

The Cove at Kalama Beach Park in Kihei is a great spot for beginner surfers. The waves are gentle and the beach is fantastic. Because this is a popular surfing spot, it’s not the best place for swimming and snorkeling.

12) Submarine Adventure

If you’re looking for fun things to do in Maui that are unique and mind-blowing, going in a submarine should be at the top of your list! There’s nothing cooler than going one hundred feet underwater in a submarine.

There are also a surprising number of different tour companies offering submarine tours in Maui. You will be able to see sea turtles, reef sharks, coral, many species of fish, manta rays, eels, and some tours will even take you to a sunken ship!

13) Whale-Watching in the Maui Nui Basin

Whale-watching is one of the most wonderful things to do in Maui.

The best place for whale-watching is at the Maui Nui Basin which is the water between Maui, Lanai, and Kaho’olaw. It’s a protected whale sanctuary and a popular spot for humpback whales to breed during the winter.

Be sure to bring your binoculars and camera for this awe-inspiring experience!

14) The Maui Arts and Cultural Center

For some fun things to do in Maui that are more relaxing than hiking under the hot sun for five hours, check out The Maui Arts and Cultural Center. This is a great way to learn more about Hawaiian culture.

There are art exhibits, movie screenings, and theater performances going on all the time.

15) Iao Valley State Park

Note: Iao Valley will be closed from August 2022 until January 15, 2023, to complete slope stabilization work and make parking lot improvements.

For easy sightseeing and hiking, Iao Valley State Park offers majestic landscapes and important historic landmarks. Located in the center of Maui, this park is ideal for families with children who are looking for things to do in Maui that are not too strenuous or difficult for their little ones.

You can visit the Iao Needle which is a tall rock covered with vibrant, emerald green vegetation. This famous landmark overlooks the Iao stream. After viewing the Iao Needle, you can hike along the easy Rainforest Walk to enjoy the marvelous, natural scenery.

16) Sacred Sunset Ritual at Pu’u Keka’a

Pu’u Keka’a, also known as Black Rock, is a sacred site for native Hawaiians. They believe that the souls of those who die, leap off the rock and into the spirit world. Every sunset there is a ceremony where someone blows a conch shell and lights tiki torches. The person performing the ceremony will offer a lei to the ocean and dive off a cliff.

It’s a fascinating ritual that will help you learn more about indigenous Hawaiian culture. Black Rock is located next to the Sheraton Maui resort which was unfortunately built on sacred land. Black Rock is also a good snorkeling spot with many species of colorful fish.

17) Go Scuba Diving in the Lanai Cathedrals

Lanai is a small island next to Maui and is perfect for day trips. Scuba diving is one of the more challenging things to do in Maui if you’ve never done it before. But you can take beginner scuba diving lessons and explore some incredible places like the Lanai Cathedrals.

There are two “cathedrals” which are underwater lava tubes and caverns decorated with vibrant coral reefs. Around Lanai are various scuba diving spots that have natural wonders and lovely sea animals like sharks, turtles, and whales.

18) Oneloa Beach

If you just want to relax on a quiet beach, Oneloa Beach is the perfect place for you! This serene beach is located in the northern part of West Maui between Kapalua and Napili.

It’s between some gated communities which makes it easy for tourists to overlook. The waves are soft and the sand is white. It’s a great place to relax or go on a leisurely walk. It’s also a romantic spot for couples.

19) Sunset Cruise in Lahaina

Sunsets in Maui are magical. There are so many ways to enjoy the sunset on this fantastic island, but the best way is by taking a sunset cruise. This is also one of the ideal things to do in Maui for couples. There are many different kinds of cruises you can book such as an adventure cruise, dinner cruise, or cocktail cruise.

You can take a cruise from pretty much any beach in Maui but Lahaina is a great spot for this because you can explore the town before your cruise.

There are so many things to do in Lahaina like shopping at Front Street, visiting the Banyan Tree Park, and seeing loads of sea turtles at Wahikuli Wayside Park.

For a sunset cruise with dinner and drinks check this tour option out – Maui: Scenic Sunset Cruise with 4-Course Dinner and Drinks.

20) Road to Hana

This scenic, sixty-four-mile-long drive along the northeast coast is one of the best things to do in Maui! This is a perfect day trip since there are many beautiful stopping points along the way.

There are over forty stops, so there is a lot to see! Don’t miss the Honomanu Bay Lookout, Waianapanapa State Park, Wailua Falls, Waioka Pond, or Oheo Gulch at Kipahulu.

You can either rent a car or book a tour that will take you along this amazing route to Hana. The town itself is a beautiful little Hawaiian community with resorts, restaurants, and shops to buy locally made souvenirs. It’s a nice place to stay for a few nights to enjoy a small-town Hawaiian vibe and relax.

Top Things to do in Maui Wrap-up

As you can see, you will not run out of things to do in Maui. Whatever you end up doing, be it relaxing or going on an incredible adventure, you will have the time of your life on this fantastically beautiful island. 

As always, happy travels! We hope to see you all on the road!