6 Days in Maui: A first timer’s guide to Hawaii

Maui is a very different island in many ways. For one, it is bigger than Oahu and the landscape changes as you drive, every couple of hours. The waters are a deeper blue, the waves seem bigger and the sunrises and sunsets are even more magnificent! To truly explore the island, I will recommend staying in different parts, shifting base every 2 days or so.

Note: Maui experienced wildfires in 2023 which primarily affected the historic town of Lahaina. While the town is closed, the areas around are open. The best way to support Maui is by choosing local businesses to shop, dine and book experiences.

Recommended area for staying: Ka’anapali (touristy and lively), Kihei (local town feel with Airbnb options), Wailea (touristy and lively) and Hana.

Note: Most hotels in Ka’anapali (and across Hawaii) will have charges such as: resort fees and parking fees. You can avoid these by renting a car only on the days you will be using it throughout, or opting to stay at an Airbnb. 

Day 1: Chill day at Ka’anapali

• Land in Kahului, Maui – pick up your rental car and check into a hotel (I recommend staying in Ka’anapali at first) & get lunch. Enjoy the day at Ka’anapali beach, watch the sunset over mai-tais and get dinner in the area. 

[We stayed at The Westin Maui. Another hotel I will recommend is the Outrigger Ka’anapali Beach Resort, I have heard good reviews and they do not have resort fees.]

Day 2: Exploring West Maui

• Wake up early, get coffee + acai bowls and take a walk on the beach. 
• Drive to Kapalua Bay Beach – it is great for snorkeling by yourself – the bay is shallow and calm and there is a lot of marine life. Get fresh fruit at the nearby K’alele Fruit Shack. PS: Super cute photo-op spot! 
• Drive on up to the Nakalele Blowhole. This blowhole has strong waves and the drive is a little challenging – so look up the route ahead and exercise caution when visiting.
• Drive on to the Iao Valley State Park and spend a few hours exploring.
• You can drive on back to Kahului for a quick stop and then back to Ka’anapali. For sunset, I recommend Ka’anapali beach.

Day 3: Road to Hana – Part 1 – Kahului to Hana

Road to Hana is a 64.4 mile highway connecting Kahului to the town of Hana in East Maui. It is one of the most scenic drives with narrow winding roads and many single lane bridges with numerous scenic stops. You will encounter waterfalls, lush bamboo forests and even the Pacific Ocean on one side of you during many parts of the drive. For those that experience motion sickness, I will recommend Dramamine (less drowsy) an hour before driving.

Note: Many people complete the drive to Hana and back in a day, but this can get tiring. You will also encounter traffic on the road during peak tourist season. For these reasons, I recommend staying in Hana one night and taking two days to complete the drive.

Guide: I recommend downloading the Shaka App and buying the $20 Road to Hana tour. It is a self-guided audio tour that plays Hawaiian music and tells you about the history of Hana and Hawaii. It will also guide you where to stop along the drive to explore different scenic spots, based on the time that you have. This makes the entire drive an extremely immersive experience.
PRO TIPS: 

1. Try to drive with the windows down to breathe in the insanely fresh air from the rainforest and experience the sounds of the waterfalls and birds.
2. Carry some cash – you will encounter many food stands along the way and some of them don’t accept credit cards as the internet service is limited.
3. Download offline maps on Google – as the network is very spotty.
4. If possible, rent a convertible for this drive – it is absolutely worth the experience.
5. This is a challenging drive so let the most experienced driver take charge. 
6. Food: carry some food with you from Ka’anapli/Kahului/Paia and experience some local fare along the drive.

Aim to leave early to give you enough time to explore stops along the route and reach Hana before sunset. If you miss any stops on the way, don’t fret as you will be driving back along the same route and can cover those the next day.

Road to Hana stops we loved (can be covered on Day 1 or 2 of the drive):

• Ho’okipa Lookout
• Ke’anae Peninsula
• Aunty Sandy’s Banana Bread (you will only get this if you hit this stop early)
• Keanae Valley Overlook
• Honomanu Bay
• Wailua Valley State Wayside (has restrooms)
• Pua’a Ka’a State Wayside Park (has restrooms)
• Halfway to Hana Stand (get the banana bread!)
• Coconut Glens (get the coconut and lilikoi aka passionfruit ice cream & fresh coconut water!)

Reach Hana and check into the Hana Maui Resort (this is where we stayed). Food options here are limited, the food trucks close by 7 pm. Top recs for dinner: Thai Food by Pranee (food truck), farm to table pizza at Hana Farms (great vibe and food), and The Ranch restaurant (off-property restaurant for the resort – they will be able to drive you to it in the resort golf cart).

Day 4: Road to Hana – Part 2 – Hana to Kahului

• Have breakfast at the resort/get acai bowls and coffee from Hana Bowls (food truck close to the resort) and drive to Wai’anapanapa State Park. This is a must-visit spot (reservations required in advance – 3 hour slot). It is home to the Black Sand Beach, a sea arch, a lava tube and a blow hole! 
• Next, drive down to Koki Beach (this is radically different – a RED sand beach) and if you want to make it a beach day, a little further down to Hamoa beach. Food truck near Koki beach (if you like chicken): Huli Huli Chicken and rice – this is a Hawaiian specialty.
• If you would like to hike – I highly recommend the Pipiwai trail (if you have the time). It is a 4 mile hike (out and back) – and you will witness the most spectacular falls! If you want to do this trail, I would recommend booking Wai’anapanapa State Park on Day 1 in the last slot (3-6 pm).
• Get lunch at Hana Farms (farm-to-table pizza, many veg options) and stop for ice-cream and coconut water again at Coconut Glens if you can!
• Photo-Op Spot: Nahiku Stands – this is a convenience store which has a sign that reads ‘I survived the Hana highway’ !
• On the way back, you can try to hit Twin Falls (before 4 pm), or drive straight down to Ho’okipa Beach and enjoy the sunset there, before driving to your hotel/airbnb. Sleep early!

For the last leg of this trip, I recommend staying in Kihei/Wailea. Wailea is like Waikiki/Ka’anapali – touristy with many resorts lined one after the other. Kihei has a local feel and has many Airbnb options, with direct ocean views.

Day 5: Snorkeling and Beach Day

While there are many beaches you could snorkel at, I would recommend going on a boat and experiencing the snorkeling in the middle of the ocean for the most gorgeous marine life. Two options: Molokini Crater and Lana’i. We snorkeled at Molokini Crater. 

PRO TIPS:

1. Try to book a morning snorkeling tour as the water is way calmer and warms up as the hours go by.
2. For anyone prone to motion sickness, I recommend taking Dramamine (less drowsy) right after getting onto the boat.
3. I recommend this tour – it has a huge boat (which won’t rock as much in the water, has lots of people and music playing which makes the experience fun) with multiple restrooms and food (the food was average – but ensures you are well fed throughout the 5 hour experience). 
4. You can snorkel even if you don’t know how to swim. There are ample floatation devices provided and there are a lot of people + lifeguards near you at all times.

• Drive to your snorkeling spot early in the morning and enjoy the experience! Most tours provide sunscreen, be generous with it as the sun tans you in seconds!
• After snorkeling, drive to Kihei and get lunch at a local food truck, and also Hawaiian shaved ice!
• Explore beaches in South Maui – Keawakapu Beach, Maluaka Beach, Wailea Beach and Makena Beach! Enjoy the sunset at Wailea Beach.
• Get an early dinner at restaurants in Kihei or Wailea and sleep early. 

Day 6: Haleakala National Park

Haleakala (Home of the Sun) National Park is a dormant volcanic crater, the summit of which has an elevation of 10,023 ft. It has the most spectacular sunrise/sunset views. We experienced sunrise here (which requires a reservation in the 3-7 AM slot).  Reservation slots go live 2 days in advance and are gone super quick. Note that ONLY the sunrise slot requires a reservation, and anyone can freely enter the park after 7 AM. 

PRO TIPS FOR SUNRISE AT HALEAKALA:

1. If you score a sunrise reservation, staying in Kihei/Wailea is advantageous as the driving time is 1.5 hours – estimate another half an hour once you enter the National Park as you will be driving in the dark. The roads are winding and once again, I will recommend Dramamine for anyone prone to motion sickness.
2. The high elevation means that it will always be cold. Bundle up and carry a few extra layers in the car – jackets, hats, gloves etc.
3. Pack snacks and instant tea/coffee along with hot water in a flask as there is no food available inside the park, and nothing will be open this late in the night. We left our Airbnnb in Kihei at 3:30 AM for a 6:30 AM sunrise. 

If you’re going for sunrise, drive up to the summit and park. There is a short hike up to the very top – if there are around 10-15 minutes to sunrise, do the hike. If not, you can watch the sunrise from the area next to the visitor center. 

• After sunrise, you can drive down or do a hike. There is also an option to bike down the mountain (if you have the energy) – this needs to be booked in advance. 
• After exiting the park, I recommend having brunch at the Kula Lodge Restaurant. Ask for outdoor seating – great views and hearty brunch options.
• You can drive back to Kihei/Wailea and enjoy this last day as you please! 

Alternatively, if you are going for sunset (no reservation required):

• Wake up at leisure and enjoy the day. Drive to the park in the afternoon, hike a little and drive up to the top for sunset. 
• You can also stay for stargazing – if so, carry some sandwiches for dinner with you to the park. 
• If not, you can drive back down after sunset and get dinner (at Kula Lodge Restaurant, or Kihei/Wailea).