Maui attractions

A “secret” beach off the famed Hana Road, red-sanded Kaihalulu is a secluded beauty protected by a lava rock wall and the short but risky hike needed to reach it. When the water is calm, a wall of jagged lava rocks offshore create a naturally protected cove, an inviting spot for (cautious) swimming and snorkeling.

On Maui’s north shore, Hanakao’o Beach Park combines a long sandy beach with a grassy picnic area for an ideal beach-day out. Take advantage of this local favorite for snorkeling—sea turtles are frequently spotted—and for strolls along the shore or shaded boardwalk. It's a quieter alternative to the neighboring Kaanapali Beach.

On Maui’s north central shore, Kahului Harbor serves as both an important commercial port and an international cruise ship harbor. If you visit the island on a cruise, this is likely where you’ll dock, and it serves as the ideal jumping-off point for exploring the rest of Maui on a shore excursion or catching a flight back home at the nearby Kahului Airport.

A highlight on the Road to Hana (Hana Highway), Hoʻokipa Beach Park is the perfect place to pull over for sweeping ocean views, people-watching, and even wildlife encounters. While the white sand beach is most popular among skilled surfers and windsurfers for its big waves and winds, it’s also a haven for dozens of sea turtles around sunset.

The Bailey House Museum (Hale Hōʻikeʻike), devoted to Hawaiian history and art, is housed in a former mission built on the compound of Kahekili, the last ruling chief of Maui. It boasts the largest public collection of Hawaiian artifacts on the island, including rare pieces that predate contact with Europeans. Among the site’s features are a canoe house with a traditional fishing canoe and Duke Kahanamoku’s redwood surfboard, a dining hall hosting rotating exhibits, and gardens with native Hawaiian plants.

Kahului is Maui’s vibrant commercial hub and entry point for most travelers, home to Kahului Airport, Maui’s main shopping centers, and the bustling Kahului Harbor. Although often overlooked by tourists, it offers genuine island life, with farmers markets, local restaurants, and landmarks such as the Maui Nui Botanical Gardens and the Alexander and Baldwin Sugar Museum. As the starting point for adventures like the Road to Hana (Hana Highway) or Haleakala summit tours, Kahului offers practical convenience and authentic Hawaiian charm.

Located along the Wailea-Makena shoreline in South Maui, Little Beach offers a lovely stretch of white sand that’s rarely crowded. Part of Makena State Park, and just north of Big Beach, the largely sheltered and hidden beach is popular with sunbathers, swimmers, snorkelers, and the free-spirited, clothing-optional crowd.

Kalaupapa National Historical Park is the site of two former Hansen's disease (leprosy) settlements on Molokai. Once completely isolated, the park today is dedicated to preserving the history and experiences of settlement residents, as well as offering refuge to the remaining few who are cured but choose to reside there still. Some of the landmarks on view include historic churches, homes, and cemeteries. Visits to this remote part of the island require permits and organized transportation.

The towering pagoda, giant Buddha statue, and well-manicured grounds of Lahaina Jodo Mission near downtown Lahaina reflect a world an ocean away. Get a window into Japanese culture as you wander grounds modeled after a Japanese Buddhist temple and constructed in honor of Japanese immigrants who once worked in nearby sugarcane fields.

The smallest of Maui’s Kamaole Beach Parks, Kamaole Beach Park III attracts travelers looking to enjoy its beautiful beaches. Many come to sunbathe, swim, whale watch, and picnic, but it’s most popular among boogie boarders who enjoy the calmer water. Colorful, tropical fish and marine life fill the water near the beach, so Kamaole Beach Park III is also an ideal snorkeling pick.

Sprawled across the southwestern slopes of Haleakalā volcano on Maui, Ulupalakua is one of the largest ranches in Hawaii, where thousands of cows, sheep, and elk graze. More than 18,000 acres (7,300 hectares) have been preserved as a working cattle ranch and wildlife habitat. The site is also home to the Ranch Grill restaurant, the Ranch Store, and an on-site winery.

Set amid 1,500 acres (600 hectares) of farmland in Waikapu Valley, Maui Tropical Plantation is a working farm and agricultural theme park where more than 40 types of native plants and crops—including bananas, coconuts, sugar cane, coffee, macadamia nuts, and papaya—are grown and harvested. Located on the grounds of a former sugarcane plantation, the park offers a glimpse into Maui’s agricultural past, along with attractions such as ziplining, eateries, and shops.

Wailea is South Maui at its most polished: think luxury resorts, championship golf courses, and calm, turquoise water ideal for swimming and snorkeling. Travelers come here to unwind, explore the ocean, or join tours to nearby spots, including Molokini Crater and Turtle Town. Wailea offers a relaxed yet refined base for exploring the island, with cultural experiences, coastal trails, and sunny weather.

The Waihee Ridge Trail is a popular but challenging 4-mile (6.5-kilometer) hiking loop that runs through the West Maui Mountains, also known as Mauna Kahalawai. It’s hailed as one of Maui’s most scenic treks, and for good reason: The trail ascends 1,500 feet (460 meters) through forests of guava, ohai, and candlenut (kukui) trees—the state tree of Hawaii—to waterfalls and dramatic viewpoints among the clouds.

At first glance, Paia might seem like nothing more than a stop along the famous Road to Hana (Hana Highway), but for keen surfers (and those who like to watch them), it’s a major destination—the central hub of the North Shore and its world-renowned surf breaks. The town is filled with all the amenities that go along with the surfer lifestyle, from health food markets and homely burger joints to yoga studios and art galleries.

On an island surrounded by snorkeling opportunities and vibrant sea life, the Maui Ocean Center offers a deeper look into local marine ecosystems. Surround yourself with colorful fish, stingrays, and sharks in an aquarium tunnel, learn about rare Pacific corals and Native Hawaiian culture, and get up close with creatures you may not spot in the wild.

Located on the northeast coast of Maui, this wayside park is a popular stopping point on the Road to Hana. Spanning 8 acres (3 hectares), the forested area is home to native Hawaiian plants and birds, several hiking trails, and scenic views of the coast and the Ke’anae Peninsula.

Sitting on Maui’s northwest shore, Honolua Bay is a marine‑protected sanctuary prized for its emerald-blue waters, thriving coral reefs, and abundant marine life—including sea turtles, tropical fish, and occasional manta rays. In winter, the bay draws expert surfers to its legendary waves. Whether you're drawn underwater or drawn to incredible vistas, Honolua Bay offers a pristine, unforgettable slice of Hawaiian coastal beauty.

The Haleakalā volcano stretches more than 10,000 feet (3,055 meters) above Maui’s white-sand beaches. Most of its slopes, flora, and fauna are protected within Haleakalā National Park, where you can hike, bike, and camp to catch sunsets and sunrises of a lifetime. The park’s diverse landscapes range from volcanic rock formations to lush waterfalls, the highlight being the plunging Haleakalā Crater visible from the volcano’s summit.

Home to hidden sea caves and the volcanic black-sand Paʻiloa Beach, Waiʻanapanapa State Park is one of the jewels of Maui’s Road to Hana. Located just outside of Hana at the end of the extraordinarily scenic Hana Highway, the park’s lava tubes, coastal hiking trails, and ancient burial sites are a welcome reward for those who make the long and winding drive.

Mākena offers a more untouched side of Maui, and it’s a must for nature lovers seeking space, scenery, and adventure. Just south of Wailea, this dry volcanic stretch of coastline is where travelers can still catch a glimpse of the island’s past. Whether you’re snorkeling with sea turtles, watching the waves crash at Big Beach, or hiking across lava fields in the Ahihi-Kinau Nature Reserve, Mākena feels worlds away from the island’s busier resort zones.

Dubbed the “House of the Sun” by Native Hawaiians, Haleakalā Crater is an ancient, 10,000-foot (3,050-meter) volcano—the highest peak in Maui. Some of the best views in Haleakalā National Park can be found at this massive erosional feature, where you can hike across cinder desert landscapes, admire endemic silversword plants, and see some of the best sunrises and starscapes in Hawaii.

Molokai may be about a third of the size of Maui, but don’t judge it by its humble size. The small island packs a big punch in terms of natural beauty, and what it lacks in ritzy resorts it makes up for in pristine white-sand beaches and untouched sea cliffs. It’s often considered the most Hawaiian of islands, thanks to its predominantly Native Hawaiian population.

Held at the Royal Lahaina Resort in Kaanapali, Maui, the Myths of Maui Luau is a celebration of Polynesian culture with music, dancing and a traditional feast.

For most, traveling to Hana is about the journey, not the destination. A quiet town nestled on Maui’s eastern shore, Hana is of international fame thanks to the Road to Hana (Hana Highway)—hailed as one of the world’s most scenic drives. While the route’s waterfalls and picture-perfect volcanic landscapes are better known than Hana itself, the town makes for a tranquil escape and an excellent base for exploring the region.

Puaʻa Kaʻa State Wayside Park, nestled just off the famed Hana Highway (around mile marker 22.5), offers travelers a refreshing rainforest stop on the Road to Hana. This compact rest area features a paved trail that leads to a scenic waterfall and plunge pool framed by lush tropical foliage. With picnic tables and restrooms, it’s a convenient and relaxing stop for those seeking a break in nature without straying far from their journey.

Tucked inside the lush Kipahulu district of Haleakalā National Park, ʻOheʻo Gulch is a scenic series of tiered waterfalls and freshwater pools fed by mountain streams. Also known as the Seven Sacred Pools, this remote valley is a favorite stop on the Road to Hana for its natural beauty and cultural significance. Surrounded by bamboo forests and rugged cliffs, it offers a chance to stretch your legs and experience Maui’s rugged, unspoiled landscape.

Lush bamboo forests, a massive banyan tree, and a 400-foot (122-meter) waterfall are the highlights along Pipiwai Trail, a scenic hiking route and worthwhile detour off Maui’s Road to Hana (Hana Highway). Set in the remote Kipahulu District of Haleakalā National Park, the moderately challenging trail takes you about 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) round-trip to the base of Waimoku Falls.

Tropical foliage, black-sand beaches, rushing waterfalls, and incredible views are the calling cards of the legendary, winding Road to Hana. Also called the Hana Highway, this spectacular seaside stretch features more than 50 bridges and is regarded as one of the most beautiful roads in the world. Highlights along the route include the seven sacred pools of Oheo Gulch, the Wailua Falls, the Pipiwai Trail to Waimoku Falls, and the rainforests of the Haleakala National Park.

Thanks to its calm, crystal clear waters, bright coral reef, and 250-plus species of tropical fish, Molokini Crater is the most popular spot for snorkeling tours on Maui. Spend a day on a snorkeling excursion to explore the protected marine preserve around this sunken Hawaiian volcano and come face-to-face with some of the island’s most colorful marine life.