Maui Vacation Guide
Tips and insight for your Maui vacation.
Things To Do in Maui
The Maui Nuts (Randy and Mary) live, work, and play on Maui, and we’re here to help you find the best local events, activities, beaches, and all the hot spots for you to visit while vacationing on Maui. Our highly curated Maui travel guide will give you all the information you need when planning things to do during your dream vacation. You will not be disappointed during your visit to our island paradise.
Attractions
Hawaiian Luau
Attending a luau is considered a “must do” especially for first time visitors to Hawaii. Our absolute favorite is the Old Lahaina Luau in Lahaina. This is the Luau that we have taken all our family members to. Hula dancers and callers do an excellent job of telling the ancient story of Hawaii’s history. The food is family style and choices include Kalua pork, from the hot stone underground Imu oven, taro leaf wrapped butterfish laulau, island style chicken, grilled beef steak and pounded poi. 800-248-5822
Shopping
Whalers Village Shopping Mall
A mini mall with numerous shops that you can walk to by heading S. along the beach boardwalk. A healthy walk and a great way to discover Ka’anapali. Look for the Totally Hawaiian Store (near Tommy Bahama’s) where you will find gifts to take home for friends and family that are made on Maui. A partial list of boutiques to high-end fashion stores include Martin & MacArthur where you will find exquisite Koa wood picture frames and furniture, Lululemon, Maui resort wear, Na Hoku Jewelry, Honolua Cookie Company, Louis Vuitton, Rolex, Oakley Sunglasses and our two Favorite Whalers Village Lahaina restaurants, Leilani’s on the Beach and Merriman’s newest restaurant, The Monkey Pod Kitchen Ka’anapali.
Beaches
Ka’anapali Beach Boardwalk
The Ka’anapali beach boardwalk extends for 2 ½ miles from Honua Kai Resort & Spa on the N. end to the Hyatt Regency Resort at the S. end. The boardwalk provides beach access points for sunbathing and some of Hawaii’s best snorkeling reefs. If you prefer to drive, Kahekili Beach Park a.k.a Airport Beach has ample parking, bathrooms, grills and shower towers available. Black Rock is ranked in the top ten snorkeling spots in the world. It is located on Ka’anapali beach next to the Sheraton Hotel. Best place to park in the Whalers Village garage. Take your parking stub with you as the stores will validate provided you make a purchase. Green Sea turtles, an endangered species are frequently sighted here and are safe to snorkel with but keep your distance as touching is Kapu (forbidden). Green sea turtles can exceed 350 lbs. in size!
Napili Bay and Kapalua Bay
These semi-circular beaches that are great for sunbathing, boogie boarding and snorkeling offering sandy shoreline for easy entry.
Ironwood
This unspoiled beach along the Kapalua Trail just N of the Ritz is overlooked by many tourists. People think it is all private; however, ALL BEACHES ON MAUI ARE PUBLIC. There is a public parking lot outside the guardhouse. Head toward the ocean and walk down the path and stairs to a sweeping uncrowded beach. Snorkeling here is not the best but surfers are seen here regularly.
D.T. Fleming Beach Park Kapalua
Another favorite of ours for all day beach activities. There is a lifeguard on duty which we really like plus picnic tables and restrooms.
Slaughter House Beach and Honolua Bay
Head north four miles past D.T. Fleming Beach and look for one of the scarce parking spots along the road. Along the left side, Slaughter House is a boogie boarder’s beach paradise. Honolua Bay by contrast is a snorkeler’s dream destination but the shoreline is rocky and not recommended unless you have water shoes and fins that will slip over them. Honolua Bay is THE surfing spot on the west side, experts ONLY!
Baby Beach
There are a few “tide pool style” where an outlaying reef dissipates the rough wave action offering protected beach and shallow water for children to safely swim and snorkel. On Maui several areas fall into the category of a baby beach. Honokowai Park across from The Farmer’s Market on the lower road has a baby beach. Another very popular baby beach is in Lahaina near Front ST to the left of Mala boat ramp. From Front ST, turn onto Kai Pali ST, parking is along Kai Pali ST and follow the blue and white beach access signs for a fun filled day.
Golf
West Maui, for the ultra-serious low handicap golfer, Kapalua Plantation Championship golf course Maui is the clear choice. This is home of the PGA Tour’s first tournament of the year. For a similar but less costly round of golf the Kapalua Bay Course is wonderful, call 808-669-8044 for tee times. Ka’anapali has two resort courses that are more open and forgiving while offering stunning ocean view holes. The Ka’anapali Kai and Royal will delight golfers with middle and higher handicaps. 866-454-4653 South Maui book your tee times at the Wailea Emerald, Blue and Gold golf courses are perfectly manicured golf courses that offer spectacular views and challenging golf course layouts, 888-328-6284. In Central Maui, King Kamehameha is our favorite Maui golf course but try to play when the trade winds are on the mild side. Next door is Kahili Golf Course which is the budget cousin to King Kamehameha course. 808-249-0033 Maui Country Club is Maui’s oldest golf course and is open to the public on Mondays excluding holidays. Relatively flat and easy, the 9 hole course is played from multiple tee boxes to make for an enjoyable 18 hole round. 808-877-7893 In upcountry you will find Pukalani Country Club (open to the public) a nice layout at 1,100 feet elevation for awesome bi-coastal views. Pukalani Country Club has a unique feature on the par-3 third hole. The hole gives golfers the options of hitting to one of two very different greens, one which requires a tee shot over a tree-filled gully and another that requires a shot beyond a cliff to a palm tree-lined green. 808-572-1314
Kayaking
You can rent kayaks or get a group tour which we suggest. The tours will get you into places where marine life is revealed and explained. Maui Kayak Adventures offers group and private eco kayak tours from DT Fleming Beach to check out Hawaii’s wildlife at the Marine Sanctuary at Honolua Bay. This tour is offered through Ambassadors of the Environment at the Ritz Carlton in Kapalua. Free photos on all tours. Group or Private tours available.
Tennis
Contact the following tennis clubs for lessons, matches and court times. Kapalua Tennis Gardens 808-665-9112 Royal Lahaina Tennis Ranch 808-667-5200
Bike Rental
Maui’s Best Bicycle Shop for over 25 years, West Maui Cycles in Lahaina Maui is a full service Maui bike shop with road bike rentals, Hybrid Street bike and cruiser bike rentals. They offer custom bike fittings by appointment as well as many shipping/service packages allowing you to bike Hawaii. Located in Lahaina at 1087 Limahana Place off of Honoapi’ilani Hwy (#30) just behind the Taco Bell/Pizza Hut on the mountain side of the road. Open 9-5 pm Mon – Sat 10-4 pm Sun 808-661-9005 info@westmauicycles.com
Nakalele Blow Hole
This natural water feature can be a towering column of pressurized water when the surf is raging or little more than a backyard fountain when the ocean is flat. The trail to get down to the viewing area is steep with loose gravel and especially slippery after some rain and absolutely not suitable for flip flops, plan your trip to Nakalele blow hole accordingly. Head north beyond Kapalua about a half mile past mile marker 38 and you will see a sign for the blow hole and several parked cars. We suggest you take a soft cloth lens cleaner with you as salt spray often dampens camera lenses and eye glasses and you won’t want to miss a stunning picture opportunity. WARNING! Daring visitors have DIED getting too close to the blow hole.
Fresh Fish
If you are looking for the absolute BEST fresh fish available on Maui, look no further than the Fish Market in Honokowai. Their wide selection of locally caught, ultra fresh fish is a short walk from Honua Kai Resort. Head N. along the lower Honoapi’ilani Road. If you don’t want to cook it yourself, their kitchen will prepare it. Our favorite is Monchong followed closely by Opah (moonfish). We are big fans of all of the snapper species like Opakapaka (pink snapper) and Uku (grey snapper).
Up Country
Maui has thirteen different microclimates and at the 3,000 foot elevation, you will experience cooler temperatures and lush garden vegetation. The best farmer’s market on Maui is held every Saturday in Pukalani from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Kula Botanical Gardens is a highly recommended self-guided tour through painted rainbow eucalyptus trees, multiple varieties of tropical Hawaiian protea including banksia, pincushion, pink mink and of course the dinner plate size King. Ali’I Lavender Farms offers a guided tour of their 13.5 acre gardens. For those with difficulty walking, they have a golf cart available. There are over 45 varieties of lavender with unique fragrances and uses from teas to soaps, all of which are available at their gift shop and snack bar. Our favorite gift shop is owned and operated by local artist Sherri Reeve. Be sure to stop at her studio in Makawao where she is usually on hand to personally sign a gift to yourself or for friends and family back home. Breakfast at La Provence is heavenly as are their pastries. If you are thirsty, you simply must stop at Polli’s Mexican restaurant for one of their frozen Lilikoi (passionfruit) or mango margaritas to go with the heaping mound of delicious kalua pork nachos. Lastly, we can’t have you leave upcountry without our highest recommendation for Kula Bistro, a contender for our FAVORITE restaurant anywhere on Maui. Kula Bistro is BYOB and WINE and has NO corkage fee. If you forget to bring your favorite libation, there is a party store across the street.