14 Unmissable Things To Do In Maui (2025)
Are you looking for a list of fun things to do in Maui? If so, this article’s for you.
Maui is the second largest Hawaiian island, and has the most beautiful beaches, sweetest pineapple, and dozens of fun activities for tourists. Whether you love snorkeling, chasing waterfalls, or simply enjoying time out in the sun, Maui has something for everyone.
To help you plan a memorable trip, this article will cover all of the best things to do in Maui this year.
Here are 14 fun things to do in Maui that you won’t want to miss.
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Watch The Sunset From Haleakala Summit
Haleakala is the largest volcano in Maui, and its summit is at an elevation of 10,023 feet, making it the absolute best place to watch the sunrise/sunset on the island.
You can drive all the way to the summit to watch the sunrise or sunset above the clouds, or join a group tour if you’re not comfortable driving.
Entrance to Haleakala National Park is $30/vehicle (valid for 3 days), and it’s around a 45 minute drive from the entrance station to reach the summit. For full details, check out our guide to watching the sunset from Haleakala summit!
Go On Maui Gold’s Pineapple Tour
One of the best things to do in Maui is going on a pineapple tour at the Maui Gold Pineapple Company. They’re the largest producer of pineapple in Maui, and they recently reopened their tours.
On their farm tour, you’ll get to learn about how they once were the biggest pineapple producers in the world, how they grow the sweetest pineapple, and enjoy lots of samples! Plus, you’ll get to leave the tour with a boxed Maui gold pineapple to bring home from vacation.
It was the best pineapple I’ve tried, and they have a cute gift shop where you can purchase pineapples and souvenirs.
Drive The Road To Hana
The Road to Hana is a scenic drive in Maui that stretches over 60 miles along the coast, with picturesque waterfalls, beaches, and lots of interesting stops. You can dedicate an entire day or two to doing the drive, or join a group tour for the most comfortability.
The road winds through the wilderness on a narrow road, and there’s no cell service for the majority of the drive. I spent a day doing the drive, and there were breathtaking views all along the way.
I recommend renting a 4×4 vehicle if you plan on doing the drive, and downloading the offline maps so you don’t miss any of the attractions.
Here are some of the best stops to make on the road to Hana.
- Twin Falls: 2 tiered swimmable waterfall accessible by a hike
- Upper Waikani Falls (Three Bears): 3 tiered swimmable waterfall off the side of the road
- Garden of Eden Arboretum: Botanical gardens featured in Jurassic Park
- Aunty Sandy’s Banana Bread: Famous banana bread stand featured in Gordon Ramsays “Uncharted” tv show!
- Wailua Falls: Gorgeous 100 ft waterfall that can be seen off the side of the road
- Waianapanapa State Park: Black sand beach accessible with a reservation
- Seven Sacred Pools (Oheʻo Gulch): Series of waterfalls, and seven pools tucked in the rainforest, accessible by a hike
- Koki Red Sand Beach: Free to visit red sand beach
Snorkel At Honolua Bay
Located on the northwestern coast of Maui, Honolua Bay is without a doubt the best place to go snorkeling on the island.
It’s a crescent shaped bay, with crystal clear waters filled with tropical fish. You’ll find free street parking all along the road, and it’s just a short hike through the forest to reach the bay.
Hike Waihee Ridge Trail
If you want to enjoy views of the beautiful West Maui mountains, hike Waihee ridge trail. This is a 4.2 mile round trip hike up a mountain, with breathtaking views of the coastline and lush green mountains.
It took me around 2 hours to do the full hike, and at the top of the mountain you’ll be in the clouds! For this hike, make sure to wear comfortable hiking shoes, as you’ll be hiking up a steep incline at times.
Attend The Maui Swap Meet
Maui has a swap meet held every Saturday from 7am–1pm next to the university in Kahului. There’s over 200 vendors, and it’s the perfect place to shop for everything from fresh fruit to handcrafted souvenirs.
Just remember to bring cash, as they charge an entrance fee of 75 cents per person.
Enjoy The Beaches
Maui has over 30 miles of swimmable beaches, with soft golden sand and crystal clear, warm waters. Whether you want to swim, snorkel, or surf/boogie board, there’s a beach for you.
Some of the best beaches in Maui are located along the northwestern coast in Kapalua and Napili, and in Wailea (south Maui). If you love going on long walks on the beach, head to the Kapalua Coastal Trail, or Wailea Beach Path!
Go On A Helicopter Tour
For an unbeatable view of the coastline, go on a helicopter tour over the West Maui mountains. You’ll get to enjoy a bird’s eye view of Maui, the small island Molokai, and everything from secluded waterfalls to whales breaching in the ocean!
See The Nakalele Blowhole
The Nakalele Blowhole is an interesting blowhole tucked along the cliffs in northwestern Maui. The blowhole spouts water as the waves crash into the rock, and can shoot up over 50ft in high tide!
It’s a short but rocky hike down to the blowhole, so you’ll want to wear shoes, and stay at a safe viewing distance from the blowhole. Parking is $15/day for nonresidents.
Tip: For the easiest drive, take HI-30 from Lahaina, rather than driving on HI-340 (aka Death highway) from Kahului.
Visit Iao Valley Monument
Iao Valley Monument is a beautiful state park tucked in the lush valley, less than a 15 minute drive from Kahului. It’s a great place to go for a morning walk, and see the 1,200 foot Iao valley needle.
To visit the state park, you’ll need to make a reservation online. It’s $10/parking + $5/person entrance fee for nonresidents.
Go Snorkeling At Molokini Crater
Molokini Crater is a gorgeous, crescent shaped volcanic crater located 2.5 miles off the coast of south Maui.
If you’re up for an adventure, go on a snorkeling tour to Molokoni crater and Turtle Town. You’ll get to swim with an abundance of green sea turtles, and colorful tropical fish in a more secluded area away from crowds!
Spot Sea Turtles At Ho’okipa Beach Park
Ho’okipa Beach Park is an excellent beach located at the beginning of the road to Hana, and one of the best places to spot sea turtles on the island. On the eastern end of the beach, I saw dozens of huge green sea turtles basking on the shore!
Just remember to stay at a healthy viewing distance of 10 feet, as it’s against the law to disturb sea turtles in Hawaii.
Tour A Cacao Farm
If you love chocolate, tour the Maui Ku’ia Estate cacao farm to see how chocolate’s made from bean to bar!
You’ll get to walk through their farm, see how cacao pods are grown, and sample different flavors of chocolate in a treehouse.
Go On A Day Trip To Pineapple Island (Lanai)
Lanai is a tiny island located eight miles offshore of Maui, that has long stretches of beautiful beaches, great snorkeling opportunities, and a cat sanctuary.
It’s nicknamed pineapple island because it was once home to a Dole pineapple plantation that produced over 70% of the world’s pineapple!
If you want to enjoy beautiful beaches away from crowds, you can go on a day trip to Lanai via ferry. It’s around a 1.5 hour ferry ride round trip, and costs around $50-$70/nonresident adult.
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