Activities that are a MUST on Maui

Road to Hana
Hike to some waterfalls
Volcano- you can reserve a horse excursion, or just hike to the bottom(awesome)
Aquarium
Zipline tour
Take the Ferry to Molokai
for starters

Road to Hana and horseback riding down into the Hale Akala crater...I'd probably skip the Molokai catamaran trips that are a bit over-rated if you don't snorkel. For about the same price you can get a quick flight over to Oahu or Big Island for a day trip.

Correction, I meant the catamaran to Molokini, not Molokai!

Also, to help your budget most people don't realize that Hawaiian Airlines only charges 10,000 frequent flier miles for inter-island travel. We have one of their credit cards that earns miles and I think they give you 20,000 miles right off the bat which would pay for a trip for 2.

Haleakala... definitely! You don't have to go at sunrise, or ride a bike down, just head there mid morning in your rental car. It's amazing.

I also enjoy the town of Lahaina. For fun shops and restaurants. And some shows (Old Lahaina Luau, Feast of Lele, U'lalena at Myth & Magic theater, etc.)

I second the recommendation to do the Feast at Lele (it's like a luau but, IMO, better). I also highly recommend Warren and Annabelle's comedy/magic show ( but only if Warren does not have a substitute that night). Making reservations for these activities weeks in advance is recommended because they are so popular.

Road to Hana and Haleakala (as suze said, you don't have to do the Haleakala bike ride, just drive there).

Get a copy of the book "Maui Revealed" for plenty of great tips and info.

Haleakala...there are some tours where they take you at around 2-3am in the morning and you can watch the sunrise.

Also, the road to Hana.

Rest, relax, repeat.

Hi Wendy,

If you don't snorkel, don't bother with Molokini (also, do not confuse with Molokai, which is another island and take about two bumpy hours by boat to get there).

You simply must drive the Hana highway (free). There are some naysayers because it's long and windy but it's spectacular. Really. My two favorite points on the highway that I hope you will make a point of seeing are (1) Ke‘anae peninsula and (2) Wainapanapa State Park. Stop to get the cheesy tourist CD from the gas station on the highway (it's in all the guidebooks and costs I think about $10) and maybe even get some breakfast in Paia before heading up. I also like to stop at the Hotel Hana Maui for a relaxing lunch (probably about $40 for lunch for two). Plan on a whole day for this trip.

Ooooh, I am so jealous.

I visited the Lavender farm for the first time on my last trip to Maui and loved it (free, unless you take a guided tour, which is inexpensive). It's upcountry so about 10 degrees cooler but beautiful, smells lovely and has a remarkable view of the island.

Iaio Valley (free) and has some gentle hiking if you don't go too far off.

Also....if you're going during the parasail season, LOVE parasailing (and I'm a scaredy cat). I think this cost about $50 per person but it was so peaceful and beautiful. Do the higher one, if you can. You can see Maui and Lanai and get rad photos that look like you're up in the stratosphere.

If you're going to do one special dinner, I'd vote for The Lahaina Grill. It used to be called David Paul's and now it's just Lahaina Grill. It's pricey but the food is outstanding. Right in the heart of Lahaina.

Haleakala (remember the temperature change way up there). I haven't been in a few trips and have done the bike ride down. It was an experience I loved but I think it was pricey and took the whole day. Seriously picked us up at the hotel at something crazy like 4 am. But, we watched the sunrise over the top of the Big Island, rode down (stopping for lunch and to shed layers of clothing) and ended at the beach. We ended up sleeping through dinner that night but I did love, have to say. It's a whopper of a day though, so I haven't done it in any of my subsequent trips.

If you haven't been to a Luau before, you might as well go just to see what it's all about. I hate them, though. They are expensive and the food is usually seriously gross.

Feel free to pick our brains some more. Who doesn't love to write about Hawaii?!

Happy travels.

Thanks for all of the suggestions. After reading Maui Revealed I have good idea about what to do. I will definitely not ride a bike down a mountain! since I get a panic attack on a bike, but the road to Hana and the volcano are on the list at the top, as is the Magic show and some good meals. A bit worried about horseback riding and fanny fatigue, so may hike instead.

For an evening activity, you can't beat Warren and Annabelles in Lahaina! The "blue book" recommended it and we went thinking "just another magic show", but it was fabulous! We were chosen for one of the "hot seats" and even being that close, couldn't figure out how Warren did what he did. I wouldn't recommend the upgraded package with dinner- eat dinner before you go and perhaps have a cocktail or two at the show. I wish we had known about this show when we took our in-laws to Maui a couple of years ago, they would have LOVED it! Be sure to wear a sweater because the theater is frigid. Aloha!