4 or 5 night Maui Itinerary Help
 

I recently posted a thread looking for some honeymoon help and all of your suggestions were greatly appreciated. We have settled on both Maui & Kauai and now need to decide what to do on each island. Our time in Kauai will primarily be spent relaxing but we will be more active on Maui.

If we have 8 full nights, should we do 4 nights on each island or do 5 on Maui and 3 on Kauai?
I’ve been looking at Wailea/Laihana for hotels. Itinerary wise, the Road to Hana (or 1 - 2 nights in Hana at Travassa) and Haleakala Crater are priorities.

Here are my Maui ideas so far, but I’m open to any suggestions at all.

Option 1:
Day 1 - Drive to Hana from the airport (we land around 1 PM)
Day 2 - While in Hana check out the Wai'anapanapa ( black sand beach), or pipiwi trail (bamboo forest). Stay in Hana for the 2nd night.
Day 3 – drive towards Wailea/Lahaina– stop at the Garden of Eden on way
Day 3 – check into Wailea/Lahaina area hotel – explore area and relax at hotel
Day 4 - relax at hotel - drive to Haleakala crater for sunset
Day 5 - check out the Lahaina pali trail, nakalele blowhole, or maui tropical plantation. Relax at hotel.

Option 2:

Day 1 - Drive to Wailea/Lahaina area from airport and check into hotel – relax and enjoy the hotel/area for the evening
Day 2 – Leave early and take a leisurely drive to Hana – enjoy the ride and make a couple stops (Wai'anapanapa ( black sand beach), or pipiwi trail (bamboo forest)
Day 2 – Enjoy the ride back to Wailea/Lahaina and relax at the hotel
Day 3 – relax at hotel, enjoy the area and take the drive to Haleakala crater for sunset
Day 4 – check out the Lahaina pali trail, nakalele blowhole, or maui tropical plantation. Relax at hotel.

You are going to get a lot of input here. Not sure if you are flying from the U.S. to Kauai or Maui. Even if you are flying from Kauai, I would not consider driving to Hana fresh off the plane, and certainly not from the U.S. West coast. I would recommend getting oriented to the island on the first day.

And think hard about whether you want to stay in Hana overnight. Folks on this forum will be divided on that question as well.

Make sure you take some time to snorkel at one of the beaches. Part of the fun of Maui is being in the water. One of our big thrills was snorkeling with turtles in south Maui.

If you are flying in from the U.S., we found that because of jet lag, we were wide awake and were able to take in the sunrise at Haleakala.

With such a short time on Maui, I would do Hana as a day trip. I would spend the whole 8 days on one island, though.

I highly recommend the trip to Hana. Hana was so mindblowingly awesome that it inspired me to start my blog !! I kid you not. Its like a true tropical paradise and heaven on earth. Activities I'd do during the 8 days would be

* Stay in Hana for a couple days and tour the area in leisure
* Watch a Luau
* Go snorkeling
* Hang around the numerous spectacular beaches - there's red sand beaches, black sand beaches
* Eat delicious fresh sea food.

And keep to one island. Both Kauai and Maui are awesome. Its like trying to eat 2 lunches at 2 Michelin 3-star restaurants in a single afternoon. You'll miss a lot of the experience you're spending your hard earned money on.

" Its like trying to eat 2 lunches at 2 Michelin 3-star restaurants in a single afternoon."

Love that!!! And understand.

I love it too (even though I don't agree - I much prefer Kauai to Maui, but it's like asking which one of your children you like more!)

I think to access the red sand beach you need to trespass on private property, not a good idea and probably why many local residents dislike the Maui Revealed guidebook.

jamie, there are many reasons the Maui Revealed is reviled. If I'm not mistaken in this case you may be mistaken. It's been a couple of years but there is signage to access Red Sand Beach, Venus Pool and the path to Fagan's Cross stating in legalize that you are about to enter private property and to do so you waive all liability to Hana Ranch if you are injured. So they are covered and you can't sue if you get attacked by a bull or wild boar or crack your head open. They allow you to proceed at your own risk.

Well I would cut Hana entirely and put the time elsewhere, since it's such a short stay. But obviously this is completely personal (people in my family all get car sick, and a drive like that appealed to no one -lol).

I was only on Maui that one time for a family reunion trip. I most enjoyed: walking around in the town of Lahaina for the shops, galleries, restaurants, the Old Lahaina Luau, the show called U'lalena, and going up Haleakala (mid morning).

oh, and the Old Lahaina Luau people also do "Feast of Lele" less "luau" and more dinner-theater styled show also in Lahaina.

Interesting take on that signage, inakauai... The property owner had no choice but to install it, or possibly be exposed to liability lawsuits. But the sign itself doesn't create public access, nor change the fact it's still private property, and certainly doesn't welcome anyone to trespass.

Thanks for the sign update inakauai, think I will still take a pass.