Maui Must-Sees for the Best 6 Day Itinerary
Planning a Hawaiian vacation? If you selected Maui as your destination, you will not regret it! Magnificent scenery, packed with adventure, romance, and culture; Maui ranked #6 in the World’s Best Places to Travel by U.S. News and World Reports. Explore these Maui must sees to plan a dream Hawaiian vacation itinerary.
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There is so much to see and do on Maui, it can be difficult to fit it all in. After three visits to Maui, there is still so much I want to see and do. I am outlining my top 6 favorite Maui must-sees to help you plan your trip. If you are blessed to be traveling for a longer time, sprinkle in a few beach days!
Planning a vacation to Maui with kids? Check out the the Top 6 things to do in Maui with Kids here!
Day 1: Haleakala National Park
Planning a trip to Haleakala on your first day will help you to manage the jet lag you will likely experience. Maui time is 6 hours ahead of New York, making your arrival time likely an odd hour of the day and will create difficulty sleeping your first night. Rising early in the morning will be hard to avoid, making it the perfect day in your itinerary to travel up the volcano.
The Summit
Haleakala, the House of the Sun is a volcanic summit on Maui. The volcano has been considered dormant as the last eruption was sometime around 1790. It stands at 10,023 feet in elevation and makes up 75% of the island of Maui. Folklore tells it as the home of the grandmother of the demigod Maui. It is the home to several endangered species, including the Silversword or ʻāhinahina. Visitors find a peaceful yet foreign landscape, and if you can find a quiet spot from all the tourists, you will hear only the wind.
It can take about 2 hours to get to the summit from Kaanapali and planning to make the drive up earlier in the morning is well worth it. As the island heats up throughout the day, the cloud cover on the summit swells making it more difficult to see the island below. With forward planning, you can book entry into the park prior to sunrise to be able to watch from the summit. I would recommend visiting in the early morning, to arrive around 10am or 11am. Bring warm clothes, as it is cool and windy at the top.
Endangered Silversword
The Silversword or ‘ahinahina is found only atop the volcanic summit. This endangered species lives between 3 and 90 years and flower only once. They are beautiful and delicate! Climate change threatens their existence and researchers at the University of Hawaii are working with the Park to ensure the presence of these plants for the future.
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Dining Recommendation: Mama’s Fish House
If staying on the Lahaina side of the island, you must take advantage of being on the north shore and make Mama’s Fish House your lunch or dinner plans after your day on Haleakala. A short drive up route 36, Mama’s Fish House is quintessential Maui and a dining opportunity you can not miss!
Dining reservations are necessary, as it is a full house all day You can book your table online here. They book up quickly, so try to book your table before you arrive. Don’t fret if you did not make reservations, there is limited seating at the bar, so you may get lucky! Attire is casual resort wear, but they do not permit visible swimwear or tank tops.
The Menu
The food at Mama’s is amazing! Fresh catches of the day are brought directly by the fisherman and are served within 24 hours of being caught. The menus include the name of the fisherman who caught the meal! Can not get much fresher than that! Favorites on the menu are Mama’s Stuffed Fish and the Uku with ginger and Asian vegetables. Yum!
Create amazing photobooks to revisit your Maui vacation for years to come, check out
On the second day of your perfect Hawaiian vacation, have a lazy morning. Lounge around your resort, spend a little time on the beach and then in the afternoon, head into Lahaina town for lunch and exploring the town. Lahaina town is a charming and historical whaling village transformed into a tourist mecca. Wandering around Lahaina for a day is a day well spent! Once the capital of the Hawaiian kingdom, Lahaina gives travelers a taste of Maui’s history. There are plenty of historical museums throughout the town to learn about the whaling history of the village. Coupled with tons of souvenir shops, eateries and watering holes, you will find plenty to fill your day. Grab a delicious shaved ice to cool off while walking around! The Banyan tree at the center of Lahaina Town is the centerpiece of the town. This gorgeous tree is the largest in the United States and was planted in 1873. It stands at 60 feet tall and has 16 major trunks. The circumference of the tree is a quarter of a mile. There are frequently street performers offering a soundtrack for your visit. All the big luaus in Lahaina are a great Hawaiian experience. There are several to choose from including the Drums of the Pacific at the Hyatt Regency and the Myths of Maui at the Royal Lahaina Resort, both of which offer a spectacular fire dance. The best Lahaina luau overall is the Old Lahaina Luau, for the best tasting food, most authentic experience, and an attractive, Hawaiian venue. Located on Front Street in downtown Lahaina town, getting to and from the venue is easy if staying right in town. If your resort is a distance, plan for an Uber so you can partake in the open bar! The Old Lahaina Luau requires reservations in advance, as it is often sold out. The Road to Hana is a necessary Maui pilgrimage at least once. This is a popular tourist activity is really about the journey and not the destination. The Hana Highway is a more than 60 mile long stretch of road that connects Kaluhui to the town of Hana. This highway is full of more than 600 hairpin turns and many one lane bridges. So although it is a short distance, plan to spend the whole day and get an early start. The road to Hana does require you to do a little research ahead of time. While there are many beautiful vistas along the way, many spectacular sights are hidden off the highway and you will miss them if you do not plan your stops. It is difficult to see all of the stops, so choose a few. Paia Town is the last town on your way to Hana. It is a quaint little town and well worth a stop on your way back through for dinner, you may even spot Willie Nelson…a Paia resident! Honomanu Bay, located near mile marker 14 is a gorgeous black rock beach nestled in the Honomanu Valley. If you do not have a 4×4, be cautious driving down to the bay as it is easy to get stuck (speaking from experience). You can park and hike down the 1/4 of a mile. The beach is not great for swimming, but a beautiful spot to sit and soak up the Maui landscape. Located about .8 of a mile from the mile marker 16 is the Keanae Arboretum. Skip the Garden of Eden, which requires a $15 per person entrance fee and head to this Arboretum instead. About a half a mile hike allows you to stretch your legs and explore plants both native to Hawaii and and other areas. The true draw here is the rainbow eucalyptus trees. Located at mile marker #32, Wai’anapanapa State Park is one of the most beautiful places on the island. The black rocks, contrasted by the bright green foliage and blue waters creates a breath-taking landscape. If you packed a lunch, this is the perfect backdrop for a Hawaiian afternoon. There are some hiking trails, fresh water caves, and a black sand beach. On the north side of Pa’iloa Bay, a kind of blow hole occurs when the waves crash into the rocks, it is impressive. ‘Ohe’o Gulch (Seven Sacred Pools), located at mile marker 42 is a magical location, with dense bamboo forests on the Pipiwai Trail and water falls that create pools of water. These are often open for swimming when the water levels are safe. Well worth the trek to hear the music of bamboo in the wind and a cool dip in one of Mother Natures glorious creations. Overall, the Road to Hana offers magnificent landscapes and vistas, coupled with a wild ride through the back country of Maui. Hands down, you must stop at Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop for the most delicious food! Make a quick stop at Leoda’s for breakfast on your way to the north shore. The seared Ahi Tuna Eggs Benedict is to die for! A glorious combination of farm fresh eggs, seared ahi tuna, avocado and basil…you will not be disappointed with this breakfast. The restaurant will also pack a lunch for you to take on your trek on the Road to Hana. Want to learn more about this delicious dining option? Check out this review. Snorkeling in Maui is a truly unique experience and you will be thankful to have added to your vacation itinerary. Planning it somewhere within the middle of your trip helps to ensure you can reschedule the trip should it be cancelled due to inclement weather (it is almost always sunny!). The snorkeling in Maui is pretty amazing no matter where you attempt to find fish, however taking a snorkeling tour elevates the experience to the next level. It can be a bit overwhelming, given the number of snorkeling cruises available. If staying in Lahaina, selecting one that leaves from Maʻalaea Harbor is recommended. The two best snorkeling destinations are the Molokini Crater with Turtle Arches or the Lanaʻi Snorkel. Molokini Crater is a partially submerged volcanic crater that is home to more than 250 species of fish. Cruises out to the crater typically offer lunch and drinks. The island is a marine sanctuary, so you are guaranteed to see plenty of fish. An hour boat ride to the crater offers plenty of views of the surrounding islands. The second stop on the cruise is the Turtle Arches or Turtle Town. Underwater Lava arches lends shelter to green sea turtles, offering you a great opportunity to see turtles close up. A different option, the Lana’i cruise offers a cruise to the neighboring island of Lana’i. Largely uninhabited, the Lana’i landscape is breathtaking. It is common to see dolphins and possibility to see humpback whales between December and April. Snorkel destinations can include Shark Fin Cove. Named after a rock formation that juts out of the water like a shark’s dorsal fin, there is still a possibility of seeing a shark! Typically small reef or nurse sharks, so all the excitement with small danger factor. Home to parrotfish, octopus, numerous reef fish, and an occasional ray…a day trip to Lana’i will not disappoint! If snorkeling is not your thing, check out the Atlantis Submarine tour! Grab a quick breakfast before you cruise at Aloha Mixed Plate. Perfectly set on the beach in Lahaina, you will enjoy gorgeous views while you much on delicious Eggs Benedict. The coffee is the best! If your cruise leaves at 8am, don’t skip this dining option as dinner is available as well. Less popular than the road to Hana, the West Maui Circle Drive is a must for your Maui travel plans. The scenery is unparalleled and it is easy to spend your day hiking through the landscape. Be prepared for this drive, you will need sunscreen, a hat and good hiking shoes! To see the best this drive has to offer, you will need to hike on rocky terrain. There are many amazing sights to see on this drive and some will have you exploring alien terrain of volcanic flows, tidal pools and blow holes. If you plan your stops wisely, you will ensure you have time to see all the best West Maui has to offer. Amazing stops include Honolua Bay, a great place to snorkel and Ohai Overlook, a gorgeous one mile hike for coastal sights. Nakalele Point is the best stop on the West Circle drive. Located at mile marker 38.5, the point is home to a blowhole, which is the attraction most hike to see. Hiking along the trail beyond the blowhole offers an experience more enjoyable than just the blowhole, although almost no one else goes past the blowhole so you will likely have some solitary time. Impressive lava rock formations create a sculpture park along the shoreline. There is a second blowhole that was more active than the first at the time of day we hiked it. Explore, you will not be disappointed! Located at mile marker 16, the Olivine Pools are natural tidal pools formed by volcanic rock. There is a steep hike down to the pools and swimming here is not for the faint of heart. There are warnings about the dangers of swimming in tidal pools, however even if you do not intend to swim it is well worth the sights to hike down to see them. Plenty of brave souls are swimming and jumping off the rock formations into the pools. The views are breathtaking! Beyond the Olivine Pools, the road becomes more perilous. The road becomes one lane, with many nail-biting moments. Be forewarned, you may wish to turn back here!Day 2: Lahaina Town and Luau
The Banyan Tree
Dining Recommendation: Old Lahaina Luau
Day 3: Road to Hana
Honomanu Bay
Keanae Arboretum
Wai’anapanapa State Park
Seven Sacred Pools and Pipiwai Trail
Dining Recommendation: Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop
Day 4: Snorkeling Excursion
Cruise to Lana’i
Dining Recommendation: Aloha Mixed Plate
Day 5: West Maui Circle Drive
Best Stops on West Maui Circle Drive
Nakalele Point
Olivine Pools
Dining Recommendation: Miso Phat Sushi
If you are a sushi fan, Miso Phat Sushi is a must! There are two locations on Maui, offering a casual yet delicious dining option. The Lahaina location makes a convenient stop after your tour of west Maui. Miso Phat is unique, offering no reservations, family style seating, and BYOB. There is a liquor store next door offering a full range of saki, beer, wine, and liquor. The restaurant will keep your beverages in the cooler for you…be cool and tip the hostess/host a drink! The sushi is delicious and fast. You must try the TNT roll (pictured above) and the TNA roll!
Day 6: Maui Tropical Plantation and Iao Valley
The Maui Tropical Plantation makes for a relaxing day enjoying the agriculture of the island. A working plantation nestled in the Waikapū Valley, the grounds are abundant with Plumeria and Hibiscus flowers, pineapple plants, and coconut trees. A tram tour takes you on a 40 minute tour of a functioning plantation. You can see how pineapple are grown and how to husk a coconut. Learning about the flora of the island makes for a relaxing afternoon. Tours do sell out, so plan ahead and book your tour online.
The gift shoppe has a huge variety of local Maui souvenirs, including food, recipe books, and cosmetics. It makes for a great place to get those last minute souvenirs to remember your trip by. The most unique are the hand made Christmas ornaments!
If you are seeking a little adventure, check out the zip line. There is a kid friendly option through the plantation grounds but for the more adventurous, check out the zip line through the west Maui Mountains, on the Flyin Hawaiian zip line.
A short drive from the Maui Tropical Plantation is the ‘Iao Valley, home to the ‘Iao Needle. This beautiful State Monument is among the rainest in the world, receiving an inch of rain a day. The ‘Iao needle stands at 1200 feet. Many Hawaiian Chiefs are buried here to protect the Mana, the spiritual energy and power that resides in the bones.
The park costs only $5 per carload and although it is small, well worth a hike on the walking trails and the observation area to check out the Needle. It is much cooler here then the rest of the island, so a perfect activity when you want to get out of the heat for a bit.
Dining Recommendation: The Mill House
The Mill House is located on the grounds of the Maui Tropical Plantation, overlooking farmland and the Waikapū Valley. The breathtaking view is a perfect backdrop to your lunch or dinner. Adorned with sugar mill artifacts, the decor seconds as a small museum to the island’s heritage as a sugar exporter.
The Menu
The menu offers farm to table freshness, highlighting foods that are local to the island. Honoring the local farms, people, and culture comes through in the menu and amazing dishes!
Piqued your interest, check out a full review of a meal at The Mill House here.
Of the Hawaiian islands, Maui offers a magical combination of romantic, adventurous, relaxing opportunities to experience Hawaii. The beaches are breath-taking and each area of the island presents something for everyone. Planning ahead and securing key points of your vacation ahead of time will ensure you get the most out of your adventure on the island!
Wander well….Aloha!