Stories · United States
7 days in Maui
Not a list: a thread to follow, at your own pace.
On an island you count in tides rather than hours. 7 days in Maui is time enough to go around it and leave a bit of yourself.
Day 1 · Fresh air
To start, I make my way to Haleakalā National Park. Go late in the afternoon: the heat drops, the light softens and the photos take themselves. Unmissable, and for good reason. Travellers give it 4.9 out of 5 (12,264 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. To get organised: here is the route by public transport; skip-the-line book your tickets, otherwise go through Tiqets.
Late morning, head to Pua'a Ka'a Falls. Take the time to walk all the way around it; the best views are rarely at the entrance. 4.8 out of 5 across 609 reviews: few places are this unanimous. Practical: the public-transport route, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your visit or compare on Tiqets.
At lunchtime, stay around Haiku: a noisy room, a dish of the day, and you’ve understood everything.
After lunch, meet me at Pua'a Ka'a State Wayside. This is the breath of the trip. Even one hour changes the day. Travellers give it 4.7 out of 5 (640 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. To get organised: how to get there; skip-the-line get your tickets in advance, otherwise also check Tiqets.
Keep the evening free. Maui is a city that tells itself better at night.
Day 2 · Fresh air
Early in the morning, it’s Waiʻānapanapa State Park. Bring water, shoes that hold, and no watch. Everyone goes; everyone is right. Travellers give it 4.7 out of 5 (5,010 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. Practical: how to get there, and if you’d rather skip the queue, get your tickets in advance or compare on Tiqets.
Then, I make my way to Makapipi Falls. You’ve seen it a hundred times in pictures; in person it is bigger, closer, more alive. To get organised: here is the route by public transport; skip-the-line book your tickets, otherwise compare on Tiqets.
For lunch, Hana is full of options: trust the rooms full of locals rather than the menus translated into six languages.
Later, I make my way to Koki Beach Park. Bring water, shoes that hold, and no watch. 4.7 out of 5 across 1,159 reviews: few places are this unanimous. Practical: the public-transport route, and if you’d rather skip the queue, get your tickets in advance or compare on Tiqets.
In the evening, let go: a terrace, a walk, and Maui does the rest.
Day 3 · Fresh air
In the morning, head to Waihee Ridge Trail. This is the breath of the trip. Even one hour changes the day. Everyone goes; everyone is right. Travellers give it 4.8 out of 5 (1,800 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. Getting there: how to get there. To get a feel for it: what visitors say.
Around noon, head to Maui Pineapple Tour. It’s the kind of place that makes you go quiet for a moment, even when you thought you knew it all. Unmissable, and for good reason. 4.9 out of 5 across 4,200 reviews: few places are this unanimous. To get organised: here is the route by public transport; skip-the-line book your tickets, otherwise also check Tiqets.
Lunch without a plan: the first noisy room you pass is often the right one.
In the afternoon, it’s Ho'okipa Beach View Lookout. Go late in the afternoon: the heat drops, the light softens and the photos take themselves. Unmissable, and for good reason. 4.9 out of 5 across 2,000 reviews: few places are this unanimous. Practical: how to get there · what visitors say.
Keep the evening free. Maui is a city that tells itself better at night.
Day 4 · The icons
Early in the morning, head to Nakalele Blowhole. You’ve seen it a hundred times in pictures; in person it is bigger, closer, more alive. Unmissable, and for good reason. Travellers give it 4.7 out of 5 (5,707 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. To get organised: here is the route by public transport; skip-the-line get your tickets in advance, otherwise also check Tiqets.
Around noon, I make my way to Makaluapuna Point. You’ve seen it a hundred times in pictures; in person it is bigger, closer, more alive. Unmissable, and for good reason. Travellers give it 4.7 out of 5 (611 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. To get organised: how to get there; skip-the-line book your tickets, otherwise also check Tiqets.
For lunch, Lahaina is full of options: trust the rooms full of locals rather than the menus translated into six languages.
Later, meet me at D.T. Fleming Beach Park. This is the breath of the trip. Even one hour changes the day. Travellers give it 4.7 out of 5 (2,675 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. Practical: how to get there, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your tickets or also check Tiqets.
Keep the evening free. Maui is a city that tells itself better at night.
Day 5 · Fresh air
Early in the morning, I make my way to Kapalua Coastal Trail. This is the breath of the trip. Even one hour changes the day. Everyone goes; everyone is right. Travellers give it 4.8 out of 5 (1,100 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. Getting there: the public-transport route. To get a feel for it: what visitors say.
Then, meet me at Little Beach. Go late in the afternoon: the heat drops, the light softens and the photos take themselves. Everyone goes; everyone is right. 4.8 out of 5 across 630 reviews: few places are this unanimous. Getting there: the public-transport route. To get a feel for it: what visitors say.
For lunch, trust the rooms full of locals rather than the menus translated into six languages.
After lunch, it’s Makena Beach. Go late in the afternoon: the heat drops, the light softens and the photos take themselves. Unmissable, and for good reason. Travellers give it 4.7 out of 5 (2,100 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. Getting there: the public-transport route. To get a feel for it: what visitors say.
Keep the evening free. Maui is a city that tells itself better at night.
Day 6 · With the family
In the morning, meet me at Maui Ocean Center, The Aquarium of Hawaii. The kids will still be talking about it weeks later. So will the adults, though they admit it less. Unmissable, and for good reason. 4.5 out of 5 across 11,148 reviews: few places are this unanimous. Practical: how to get there, and if you’d rather skip the queue, get your tickets in advance or go through Tiqets.
Late morning, it’s Maui Zipline Company. You’ve seen it a hundred times in pictures; in person it is bigger, closer, more alive. 4.8 out of 5 across 790 reviews: few places are this unanimous. To get organised: how to get there; skip-the-line get your tickets in advance, otherwise also check Tiqets.
For lunch, Wailuku is full of options: trust the rooms full of locals rather than the menus translated into six languages.
After lunch, meet me at Mai Poina Beach Park. This is the breath of the trip. Even one hour changes the day. Travellers give it 4.6 out of 5 (547 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. To get organised: how to get there; skip-the-line get your tickets in advance, otherwise go through Tiqets.
Keep the evening free. Maui is a city that tells itself better at night.
Day 7 · The icons
Early in the morning, head to Surfing Goat Dairy Farm Shop & Café. Take the time to walk all the way around it; the best views are rarely at the entrance. Everyone goes; everyone is right. Travellers give it 4.5 out of 5 (1,600 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. To get organised: the public-transport route; skip-the-line get your tickets in advance, otherwise also check Tiqets.
Late morning, head to Hana Highway. It’s the kind of place that makes you go quiet for a moment, even when you thought you knew it all. Unmissable, and for good reason. To get organised: how to get there; skip-the-line book your visit, otherwise go through Tiqets.
For lunch, Kula is full of options: trust the rooms full of locals rather than the menus translated into six languages.
In the afternoon, I make my way to Kula Botanical Garden. Bring water, shoes that hold, and no watch. Practical: here is the route by public transport, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your tickets or also check Tiqets.
Keep the evening free. Maui is a city that tells itself better at night.
If you’re still hungry
Other places I wish I could have fitted in: Keanae Lookout, ʻIao Needle Lookout Trail and Ethnobotanical Loop, ʻĪao Valley State Monument, Maluaka Beach, Wailua Falls and Baldwin Beach Park. Slip them in wherever a day feels light.
My advice
Walk. Then take public transport: that is where you see the city live.
Book the busiest places the day before: queues have ruined more than one morning.
Keep a little local cash: the best addresses are often the least equipped.
Safe travels. And get lost at least once; that is where Maui begins.
A Triovol story · written by someone who would go back tomorrow
Opening hours, prices and closures change: a quick look at the venue’s website before you go avoids bad surprises.
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Been there? A tip, an address, a mistake to avoid: the next travellers will read you.