Fun Things to Do in Maui
There are so many fun things to do in Maui! Here are some of the more popular things to do. Make sure to click the underlined links for more information or to book an activity or tour.
ATV Off-Road Adventures: Get off the beaten path and go wild with an exhilarating off-road adventure. If you are traveling to Lahaina and the West Side, UTV Adventures has super fun side-by-side 4 seaters so the whole family can go together. Bike Rentals: For beach cruisers, check out Auntie Snorkel. Maui Sunriders has a brand new fleet of beach cruisers, townies, road bikes, mountain bikes, and e-bikes with a super friendly and knowledgeable staff. Both are located right in Kihei. Krank Cycles specializes in mountain biking with two locations in Kahului and Makawao. Butterfly Farm: A great activity for the little ones when visiting Oluwalu on the way to Lahaina and the West Side. Make sure to book reservations ahead of time. Electric Foilboarding: Super, super fun!!! If you surf or SUP, you’ve got to try this. Book reservations ahead of time. Fun Farms Tours: There are a lot of fun farm tours for adults and kids. Some of the best Upcountry farms include:
Check websites for tour times and reservations. Fishing: Check out Choke Fishing Supplies in Kihei for local knowledge and gear. Gardens: The three most popular gardens in Maui are:
Glass Blowing: Makai Glass is a really cool gallery and studio where you can watch their amazing artist at work for free. Golf Courses: For golf lovers, no trip to Maui would be complete without a day on the links. The Gold or Emerald courses at the Wailea Golf Club are world-class, with AMAZING views. The world-famous Plantation Course at Kapalua is home to the Sentry Championship. The Maui Nui Golf Course has great deals and is a favorite with locals. Gyms: Looking to stick to your workout routine? There are plenty of gyms around, and all offer visitor passes.
Hawaiian Fish Pond: Historic Kalepolepo Fishpond and Beach Park in North Kihei is perfect for families with small children. A quiet beach and ideal for watching giant honu (green sea turtles) bask in the sun on the rocks of the fishpond. Best to visit early in the morning before the wind picks up. While there, be sure to visit the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale Sanctuary Visitor Center. Hiking: Check out All Trails for a list of Maui’s top hiking trails. Don’t want to venture out alone? You can take a Guided Small Group Waterfall & Rainforest Hiking Adventure that takes you through the Rainforest in East Maui. Horseback Riding: A Horseback Riding Tour through the West Maui Mountains is a unique way to see the more rugged side of the island. Island Art Party: Located in the Azeka Shopping Center in Kihei, “Art and Sip” classes have become a favorite for locals and visitors alike. You can make reservations here. Kayaking: If you’re interested in kayaking, we recommend booking one of the tours—for safety reasons and for getting to the best spots. The Makena Turtle Town Tour is the most popular. But if you are a little more adventurous, we recommend going on a Kayak and Snorkel Tour or a Kayak and Whale Watching Tour (Dec- April). Please be aware that weather and surf can impact the tours. We recommend booking early in your trip just in case the tour is rescheduled. Kihei 4th Friday Town Party: Every fourth Friday of the month, the whole town of Kihei has a town party. With live music, great locally-made products, and food, it’s fun for the entire family! Located at Azeka Shopping Center from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Parking is available across the street from the festival on the Azeka Makai side. Kiteboarding: An awesome sport, but it can be challenging to learn. Maui is one of the best places in the world for kiteboarding lessons from a professional instructor. Maui Gold Pineapple Tour: Tour the famous Maui Gold Plantation. Plus, all guests receive a boxed, airport-ready pineapple! Make reservations here. Maui Ocean Center: This is a must if you have kids. The center is very educational and informative—not only about marine life, but also about the history of Maui. The Humpbacks of Hawaii 3-D Sphere is an absolute must-see! Make sure to book reservations ahead of time. Maui Tropical Plantation: A great place to go with kids! There are lots of little shops and a Country Market. You can take a guided tram tour or just walk the grounds. Be sure to walk to the pond and feed the Koi fish and ducks (you can buy duck food at the Country Market). Relax and take in the scenery. The view of the West Maui Mountains from here is beautiful. You can also bring some snacks or food and have a picnic. Or eat lunch or dinner at the Cafe’ Olei at the Mill House—one of our favorite restaurants on the island. They also have a zipline for the kids! Outrigger Canoe Paddling: The Kihei Canoe Club is a local canoe club that lets the public join on certain days of the week. It is not a tour guide company—be prepared to do some paddling. For a more casual and scenic tour along the beautiful Wailea Coast, try a Private Hawaiian Sailing Canoe tour. Paragliding: Tandem Paragliding at 4500 ft with the most amazing views! Fun to even just watch. Parasailing: Parasail in paradise with West Maui Parasail in Lahaina. Closed during whale season. Picnics: Check out our best beaches page for all the incredible places to picnic. If you want the ultimate next-level picnic for a very special occasion, check out Maui Luxe Picnics. Professional Photos: Make those memories last forever! Get a stunning sunset family or romantic couple photo shoot at an affordable price with a friendly local professional photographer. Powered Hang Glider: Feel like you are flying with a powered hang gliding flight! Located at the Hana Airport, fly over Hana with Hang Gliding Maui in a 2-person (you and the pilot) motorized hang glider. Rappel Waterfalls: Go off the beaten path in this small-group rappelling excursion. Learn how to descend down the numerous waterfalls and cliffs along the Road to Hana. Start off small and then scale up to a slightly-more difficult 30-foot waterfall! This excursion sells out. You’ll need to book early! Scooter Rentals: Get a scooter delivered to you or pick one up at the Scooter Shack in Kihei. Some things to keep in mind if you rent a scooter:
Scuba: All the scuba divers we know use Pro Diver Maui for their dive trips. The other top-rated outfits are Mike Severns Diving and Maui Dreams Dive Co. Snorkeling: South Maui has an abundance of world-class snorkeling. We recommend taking a snorkel tour to the Molokini Crater, but there are also plenty of great snorkeling spots all over the island. A really cool Kayaking and Snorkeling Tour will take you to some stunning snorkel spots that are hard to reach on your own. If you are up for a little more adventure, Sea Scooters make you feel like you are in an underwater scene from a James Bond movie. Please be aware that snorkeling is best in the morning before the wind and surf kick up. Sunset Cruise: There’s nothing like watching a beautiful Maui sunset on a dinner cruise. However, because of the potential for high winds and rough conditions, we do not recommend any of the tours out of Maalaea Harbor. If you will be visiting Maui’s west side, there’s no better way to end your day than a Sunset Cruise. Spas: The spa at the Four Seasons in Wailea is the ultimate luxury spa experience offering oceanfront cabana massages. If you are looking for a variety of spa treatment options with more affordable pricing, check out Maui’s Best Massage in Kihei. Submarine: Explore the ocean floor and see sharks, fish, and even a shipwreck in a real submarine. Be aware that weather and surf affect visibility. And since this is in a submarine, it isn’t for those who don’t do well in tight quarters or are claustrophobic. Another option is the Reefdancer Semi-sub Boat Tour which never entirely goes underwater, so you can take a “breather” on deck if you need to. SUP: If you are new to stand up paddle boarding or only have done it in flat water, such as a lake or a marina, we recommend you take a lesson or sign up for a tour. With a private SUP lesson and tour in beautiful Makena Bay, you’ll receive a personalized experience and see the spectacular coastline in a unique way. If you are experienced at SUP and want to go out on your own, you can rent from Auntie Snorkel’s, Boss Frog’s, or if you know how to SUP Surf, Maui Waveriders. Remember, the winds usually pick up in the late morning, so you want to get out in the water as early as possible. Insider tip: Always paddle north (to your right if you are facing the ocean) first, so if the winds kick up, you will not be going against it on the way back. Surfing: If you are an experienced surfer and will be hitting some of Maui’s better breaks, rent from Hi-Tech in Kahului. They will tell you the best spots for surfing depending on the time of year. In Kihei, the Cove is the best beginner spot in all of Maui and has reasonably consistent small surf year round. If you are not an avid surfer, we strongly recommend you take lessons. Maui Waveriders offers group lessons and is located right across the street from the Cove. If you want a more personalized experience while helping give back to the local community, check out Surf Clinics of Maui (808) 250-2828. Surf Instructor Josh Batis is an awesome guy who helps the children of Kihei. Your support goes towards helping him to continue to provide healing through surfing. Water Bikes: Take a fun and easy Water Bike Tour in Makena as an alternative to SUP or kayaking. Waverunners: Check out Jet Ski Maui in Lahaina. They also have Flyboards! Closed during whale season. Windsurfing & Wingsurfing: Take lessons or rent a board from Action Sports Maui. Whale Sanctuary Visitor’s Center: The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale Sanctuary Visitor Center is the perfect spot to spot and learn about Humpback whales. Located next to the historic Kalepelo Fishpond and Beach Park. Visit the whale sanctuary and stop by the beach park for a picnic for a perfect outing. Zipline: Zipline through the jungles of Maui! The 8-Line Jungle Zipline Tour is a fun excursion when heading to the North Shore or Upcountry. If you’re looking for even more adventure, try the Half Day Small Group Ziplining Adventure in Kapalua. It includes an ATV rainforest ride and a trek over Hawaii’s longest suspension bridge. For families with smaller kids, the Zipline Tour at the Maui Tropical Plantation is fun but not too scary. The plantation has beautiful grounds and a great restaurant, only about 20 minutes from Kihei. |