Headed to Maui in July. Starting trip in Kauai for wedding. Then to Maui for four days. Kauai trip is all planned and reservations made.
For Maui, the choice is mine… so, where should I stay? what should I see? It will just be my daughter and I for this leg of the trip. Any suggestions/help are greatly appreciated. Very special trip for me, albeit without my husband (widowed 10 months ago). Coming from New York, so it’s a very long, expensive, trip, funded by my beautiful son.
I highly recommend doing the drive to the top of Haleakala. Don’t sign up for any expensive bike downhill tours or sunrise excursions. Just do it on your own - it is a spectacular place like no other. The Silver Sword plants that grow in only 2 places on the planet are quite something, too (I am a plant nerd).
I would recommend staying in the Wailea area. It’s gorgeous. There are great snorkeling spots just offshore and there is a long walk along the shore to enjoy the sunset.
Look for former threads. I did a Maui trip with my son in June. I got most of my ideas from CC folk. We did the bike trip, but I was the only one who rode with guide. My thumb could never handle the braking. My guide was excellent and I had nothing to prove , and when we got to a town, had crepes. For my son, that was a first.
We also ate at Fish House. We drove to,opposite coast and hiked. Son continued the hike for 4 hours. We also took a helicopter ride. We stayed at the Sheraton, because of the black rocks and the jumping, and the many pools. We toured a plantation and bought coffee to give to friends and family. We also went snorkeling twice.
My family is going to Hawaii for the fifth time in February and Maui is our favorite island. Stay in Wailea, Kapalua, and Kaanapali. Definitely spend some time in Lahaina too- it’s very cute. Haleakala at sunset is beautiful. Try and immerse yourself in the local culture and just drive around and explore. Go hiking or zip lining. There are some gorgeous waterfalls.
Going back to Maui for the first time in years. July family vacation. We will be staying in Kaanapali. I like the area. Close to Napili and some good snorkel beaches, Close to Lahaina for dinner etc. And there is a grocery store and small strip mall right across the street which is great for those ‘gotta have it now’ items.
Wailea, Kapalua, Kaanapali are the major tourist areas. Kapalua is beautiful, but a bit isolated. (Sansei sushi is one reason to rent a car to go there.) Kaanapali is more touristy and younger. Wailea is beautiful (although the beach isn’t as nice as Kaanapali) Think BH with an ocean view with pool jewelry.
In Paia there is the ever famous Mama’s Fish house. Go for lunch and revel in the beauty of the world. Paia is a cowboy city. On the main street there is a picnic style fish place (on the corner). Really good. Haleakala…go and bring sweaters. If you don’t get carsick go to Hana. I have never been there…severe carsickness. I have been to Maui 31times. Maui is the healing island. I went after I finished chemo. You will feel peace.
If you are only going for 4 days I would skip the road to Hana as it will literally eat up an entire day of your trip. When you are on the west side of Maui, just getting cross island on the limited road system takes time and personally I thought this entire Road to Hana was overrated. Hairpin turns on a poorly maintained road with one way bridges in which you have to back up, as there are communities there were soda delivery trucks hurtling toward you, school buses, construction vehicles and with many of the supposed outstanding waterfalls there are only maybe a handful of spots. If I recall there was many one place to stop with restroom facilities. There were many No trespassing signs.
We did Haleakala midday and needed winter coats. While I am sure both sunrise and sunset are spectacular driving the road to the summit was pretty harrowing at mid-day and the wind was so intense you could barely walk outside. That aside it is a spectacular site to visit and had a good Visitors Center with information
Unfortunately I understand that Iwo State Park may be closed because of storm damage but that is interesting and not a bad hike up to see this monument.
The weather at the top of the volcano can change drastically in a minute, so yes, it is recommended to bring coats, sunblock, and hats. There is a trail going towards the crater. One warning: hiking at 10,000 ft above the sea level is challenging, especially going uphill, but if you are in good physical shape, I highly recommend it. The views are spectacular.
Completely agree about Road to Hana. Instead, if you are staying in Kaanapali, drive all the way to the Ritz Carlton and do a short hike along the coastline and enjoy the views and the waves.
We’ve stayed at the Sheraton at Black Rock and the old Intercontinental in Wailea. I’d pick the Sheraton for a first visit. Rent a car so you can drive down to Wailea and then on to Makena Beach on East Maui. Drive all the way south to La Perouse Bay (you drive through a recent lava flow to get there). We went horseback riding at LPB along the shore and up to the mouth of the one of the old craters. Go snorkeling at Honolua Bay north of Kapalua. Squeeze in a snorkeling trip to Molokini if possible. As others mentioned, drive up to Haleakala. One time, when we were driving up there, a hang glider descended through the cloud deck near us on his way to the coastline. Really cool.
We usually stay in Kaanapali and I second the recommendation for Sansei Sushi in Kapalua - it is our absolutely favorite restaurant and they have great early bird specials if you get there before 6 (reservations recommended as they are pretty busy). We also did the short hike along the coast that starts out near the Ritz Carlton and really enjoyed it. Snorkeling trip to Lanai was super fun too - we saw lots of dolphins that were swimming right next to our boat.
Just returned from Kauai and Maui in January. Haleakala is charging now and will require advance reservations. (Per my niece who is in the tourist trade there.) They are getting too many visitors who are not respecting the plant life and trash limits.
Check before you go!
LYLMom: Sansei is one of our favorite sushi restaurant ever. Ahi tuna rolls…to die for.
Sunday and Monday are cheapest early dinner hours at Sansei in Honolulu–not sure about Maui.
Completely agree with the Sansei recommendation. We prefer to stay in Kaanapali for easy access to Lahaina and Kapalua.
We are in Maui now, and did Haleakala at sunrise on the first day you needed reservations for sunrise. We hiked 8 miles - 4 in, and 4 out. Up hill is much harder than down - 
We like the southern side - very southern part of Kihie, Walea, makena.
Captain Steves trip to Lanai (sp?) is fun. But whales won’t be around in the summer.
Just walking on the beach is great.
Reading this with interest since we’re heading to Maui and Kauai in late March for BF’s 30th birthday. He’s a serious backpacker, so we’re going to backpack Haleakala Crater (wilderness camping, not cabins). Anyone done this trip?
I’m also looking for fun, interesting things for before & after our hikes. We’re into outdoorsy or quirky things, not so much fancy hotels or resort towns. The main structure for the trip is in place, but looking to fill in the gaps with some fun birthday surprises. BF is vegetarian & likes craft beer, so recs for places to eat & drink also welcome.
I highly recommend the Kalalau Trail in Kauai - a must for any serious hiker. It beats the Haleakala hiking hands down (we’ve done both). You will need a permit to hike and wilderness camp at the beach at the end of the trail, and it can be obtained online.
Wanted to do the Kalalau Trail, but unfortunately permits for that time have long been sold out, so that’s out. There’s another trip on Kauai that I found in the Backpacker’s Guide to Hawaii that I think we’ll do instead, can’t remember the name of the trails that make up that loop right now.
But if you know of any alternatives on Kauai, I welcome those–searching online is kind of a pain because 95% of the links are just about Kalalau.