ALHOA! My Ultimate Maui Hawaii Travel Guide is finally live! This post is long overdue, but it’s worth it I promise! In today’s post, I am sharing EVERYTHING I know about Maui and giving you ALL the good tips! We are talking what to pack, where to stay, where to eat, and what to do IN DETAIL! Maui is such a wonderful and special place!! I want you to have the best trip ever and I want to share all my tips! Hopefully you find the post helpful while planning your next trip to Maui! Mahalo for reading my ULTIMATE MAUI HAWAII TRAVEL GUIDE!
Maui, Hawaii is one of my very favorite places to visit in the whole entire world! I’ve been traveling to Maui ever since I was a little girl! My family used to have a time share where we would go ever other year! I’m so lucky that I married into a family that loves Hawaii just as much as me, and also has a timeshare! Over the years, I have found what I love about Maui and have been wanting to do a post like this for a few years now. This post has been a long time coming, but better late than never I always say! Let’s get to it! Here is my ULTIMATE MAUI HAWAII TRAVEL GUIDE!
ULTIMATE MAUI HAWAII TRAVEL GUIDE: by Alex Daynes
What To Pack
Swimsuits
Cover Ups
Sun Glasses
Flip Flops or Sandels
Tevas or Hiking Shoes
Dress or Nice Shirt
Light Jacket
Hat
Sunscreen
Water Bottle
Camera or Go Pro
Exercise Clothes
A neck pillow for the red eye home!
What To Eat
There are so many amazing places to eat on Maui! I recommend always asking your server what the most popular items on the menu are and order the fish! Most of the fish served in Hawaii is mild white fish like mahimahi, Au, butterfish, and swordfish! I always say the best place to try fish is when you can see the water it comes from. In Maui, the fish is SO FRESH and SO DELICIOUS!
I will say, it’s expensive to eat in Hawaii, so plan for that! We do not eat out every meal and usually do breakfast and some lunches in our condo. I’ve listed all the places I’ve eaten in my lifetime of traveling to Maui, but plan for the price tag on most places. Every place I’ve listed below is 100% worth it in my honest opinion!! I’ve selected my very favorites for this ULTIMATE MAUI HAWAII TRAVEL GUIDE
Aloha Mixed Plate: This is top of my list next time I head to Maui to try! It has raving reviews and a great location on the water.
Cheeseburger In Paradise: Did you really go to Hawaii if you didn’t eat at Cheeseburger in Paradise? It’s a well known burger place! Personally, we like the Lahaina location the best! Right on the water!
Cool Cats Cafe: Fun atmosphere with good food! Great place for kids and families to eat. We love the wide variety on the menu and it’s fun to walk around Lahaina after dinner!
Coconut’s Fish Cafe: The fish tacos here are incredible! One of my very favorite places for tacos!
Choice Health Bar: Bomb healthy shakes and Acai Bowls! Located at Whaler’s Village!
Da Kitchen Cafe: Another local favorite! We tried to stop here on our way to the airport but we didn’t have time to wait. It looked delicious and it smelled delicious too!
Down the Hatch: Such a fun menu! We went for breakfast and loved the cakes and flakes and french toast tower. The dinner menu looked fun too!
Dukes: If you want a classic Hawaiian meal with delicious fresh fish, this is the place for you!
The Gazebo: The Gazebo Restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch and is a very popular stop! Plan to wait in line at any time for anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour! The line moves quickly and the service is quick. The macadamia nut banana pancakes are the bomb! Worth the wait I’d say!
Hula Grill: The Hula Grill is a great place for lunch or dinner! They have two restaurants, a beach grill and a sit down. We’ve been to both and they are both great! We love it because it’s walking distance from our resort.
HuiHui: Brand new to the island of Maui and one of our favorite meals! The view is amazing! We watched the sunset from our table. The food is great too! Try the lobster wontons, half chicken, and caramel banana bread ice cream sandwich! I know!!
Island Cream Company: The very best ice cream in Maui, if not in the world haha but really! It’s so good! It’s a cross between gelato and ice cream and everything is homemade. I love the caramel and the turtle ice cream!
Kimo’s: Kimo’s is located in downtown Lahaina and it’s one of our favorite restaurants for dinner. They have a great selection of seafood (I had mahimahi prepared “kimo style and loved it) but they are also known for their prime rib.
Leilani’s On The Beach: Another staple of Hawaii! Make sure to order the Hula Pie! Located at Whaler’s Village.
Mama’s Fish House: Mama’s Fish House is a well known restaurant in Maui and it’s very delicious. The restaurant is located right on the water with spectacular views and even better seafood. However, it is pricey $$$$. *Be sure to make your reservations 8 weeks in advance by booking on OpenTable or calling the restaurant directly. They book up fast!
MonkeyPod: MonkeyPod is bomb! Plus, they have lots of locations on the island!
Ohana Taco’s: Ohana Taco’s is actually located in the food court at Whaler’s Village but we love it! This last trip, I had the fish tacos 3 times for lunch. *2022 update: it’s no longer in the food court. Possible elsewhere on the island.
Paia Fish Market Lahaina: This was one of our very favorite meals! The portions are HUGE and the food is amazing! Fresh fish, burgers, pasta, salads, and more! Everyone in our group of 12 loved their meal here!
Pi Artisan Pizza: This pizza place has become one of our regular stops! Easy, delicious artisan pizza with a great view of the water & sunsets from their outdoor patio.
The Plantation House: This have some of the best breakfast on the island! Order the cinnamon pineapple appetizer dip! SO GOOD! Lunch and dinner is also served here. The mac-crusted Mahi was my favorite meal!
Roy’s Ka’anapali: Roy’s is a well known restaurant chain in the Hawaiian islands. Their food is delicious, but be sure to order the Chocolate Soufflé before your meal so they have time to cook it fresh! It’s to die for!!
Star Noodle: This is a very popular stop for foodies! It is Thai/Asian fusion food. I’ll be honest, when I went 5 years ago I didn’t love it but I’ve heard many others raving reviews.
Ululani’s Shaved Ice: The best shaved ice in Maui! Lot’s of flavors and delicious soft shaved ice. I recommend the POG with snowcap!
What to Do
Black Rock Beach: This beach is great for cliff jumping, snorkeling, or for laying out in the sand!
Downtown Lahaina: Downtown Lahaina has tons of restaurants and little shops! It’s a fun place to spend the evening. Be sure to stop and look at the giant tree and the ABC store for the Toffee Chocolate Covered Macadamia Nuts & Acài High Chews!
DT Flemings Beach: This is our favorite beach to go boogie boarding at! Great waves, gorgeous blue water, and easy to walk in and out of!
Golfing: There are so many amazing golf courses on the island. If you are a golfer, do some research and book a tee time at one of the incredible courses.
Haleakala: The large volcano of Maui! On a clear day, the views from the top can be amazing! My father in law biked up Haleakala but the more enjoyable thing to do is to actually bike down, or just see it in a car.
Honakua Bay: If it isn’t windy out, this is a great place to stop and snorkel! The parking lot is small and there is a bit of a walk through the forest to get to the ocean, but the snorkel is worth it!
Ho’Okipa Beach: Watch the giant sea turtles & wind surfers!
Luau: Going to a Luau is a great way to experience the culture of Hawaii. They put on a delicious feast with great food, and they also do a show! Hawaiian dancing, Haka, and fire dancers make for a great night! The best one is the Drums of the Pacific at the Hyatt.
Makenna Beach (Big Beach): Over on the Walea side, big beach is a fun beach to head to for some massive waves to boogie board!
Mala Wharf: The best snorkeling ever! We saw so many sea turtles! Around a dozen swimming around. The swim out isn’t too far either. It’s located in Lahaina. You will find the turtles straight out from the ramp!
Molokini: This is a small crater just off the island of Maui. Many tours will take you out here for snorkeling.
Nakalele Blowhole: One of the coolest sites to see in my opinion. The blowhole makes for great pictures and a fun little hike that all ages can do!
Paddle Board at Ka’anapali: Almost every year we head out to the beach to rent paddle boards! We’ve lucked out that each time we’ve rented and paddled here, we’ve seen many sea turtles! This year we actually saw whales from our boards which was incredible.
Paia: Little town with several cute shops! Mama’s Fish House is in Paia!
Road to Hana: This is an all-day trip but has some incredible stops and views! You won’t be able to see it all, so be sure to plan out your visit ahead of time. A few can’t-miss things to see? The Red Sand Beach, the Black Sand Beach (Wai’anapanapa State Park, mile marker #32), and the Seven Sacred Pools (last stop.)
Spike Ball: We actually always pack spike ball because it is so fun to play out on the sand! It’s easy to bring on the plane and it’s a fun game for people of all ages.
Snorkeling: Be sure to go out and snorkel! There are so many incredible fish to see and you may luck out and swim with some sea turtles! You can rent gear when you get there or pack your own.
Scuba Diving: This year we went diving and it was breathtaking. Such a cool experience! I am not scuba certified, but you can go scuba diving up to 40 feet under without certification.
Sunset Dinner Cruise: We went on The Pride of Maui sunset dinner cruise this trip and had a blast! We saw whales, watched the sunset, ate delicious food, and they put on a fun show!
Warren & Annabelle’s Magic Show: If you are looking for some night entertainment, Warren & Annabelle’s was a blast! You have to be 21 or older to attend, but it’s good, clean fun comedy and magic! Be sure and book before you get to the island, because it sells out weeks in advance every single night!
Whale Watching Tours: If you’re in Hawaii the right months out of the year, a whale watching tour is a must. From December to April every year, around 10,000 humpback whales migrate to the warmer waters of Hawaii. In order to see the whales up close, we did a 2-hour catamaran sail with Trilogy Sailing that departed out of Ka’anapali.
Whaler’s Village: Outdoor shopping center with lots of little cute shops. Lot’s of eating options here too!
Where To Stay
There are literally thousands of different resorts, hotels, VRBO, and rental properties in Maui. When I used to go as a kid, we had a timeshare and we would always stay at the same resort, the Hololani which I believe is still there, but I haven’t stayed there in years. Now, I travel with my in laws who are timeshare owners at the Hyatt and it’s a fantastic place to stay. I’d love for you to share in the comments below where you’ve stayed on Maui and your thoughts if you’ve been!
The Hololani: this is a smaller, condo like resort that is great for families. It’s located on the Lahaina side with easy access.
Hyatt Residence Club: When I travel with my in laws, we always stay at the Hyatt on Kaanapali and we LOVE it! It’s a great location on the Lahaina side of the island, about 40 minutes from the airport. It has great pools, open lawn area, a gym, and it’s right on the beach with great snorkeling. I would say any hotel located in Kaanapali along that beach (Marriot, Hyatt Hotel, Sheraton) is great because it’s conveniently located to lots of dining, downtown Lahaina, and shopping at Whalers Village.
Grand Wailea: I’ve never stayed here but my husband has and he said it was incredible. This hotel is very nice and it is located on the Wailea side of the island.
That’s it! That’s my Ultimate Maui Hawaii Travel Guide! Did you find this helpful? Is there anything I missed that you would add to this list? Let me know in the comments below! Maui is such a beautiful and special place!
Happy Travels!
XOXO,
Alex Daynes
