People Watching

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There are not too many places to take in some good people watching on Maui.  It’s nothing like Venice, California where the freek show is on full display on the boardwalk.  There are small pockets of it, so after a short time you will be seeing the same thing over and over again.

Some of the best spot to people watch in Maui normally include a place in the sand or under a banyan tree.

In Lahaina, under the banyan tree, you can sit in the cool comfort of it’s shade and watch the tourists go by.  This gets a bit borning after awhile but in most cases there is always someone who is doing something interesting that captures your gaze for a while.

Of course the prime spot to people watch is down at the beach.  On many of the popular beaches there is always something going on for you to watch in a relaxed daze. With the backdrop of the ocean and the sound of the waves crashing, this is one free pasttime that just can’t be beat.

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Doing Beach Things

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There is nothing less expensive to do in Maui then go to the beach.  All you need is a towel and you are good to go.  There are no entrance fees or certain equipment you should have.  Heck, even on some beaches you don’t even need a swimsuit.  Lazying around in the sun on a beach is about the only thing left in life that is free, at least on Maui.

Depending on where you are on the island, there is not even the need to get into a vehicle to have a great beach.  With so many miles of great beaches, the one right outside the condo or hotel room is perfect for you.

On the beach, there are plenty of things to do besides laying on the a towel, soaking up the glorious sun rays.   There is paddle ball, beach volleyball, a type of bocci ball game, sandcastle building, picnicking, read a good book, meditating, exercise and whale watching if it’s the right time of year.  Also the best place to watch a great sunset is on the beach too.

Of course there is also all the swimming and bodysurfing too which is always fun.

In most cases you can spend your entire holiday on the beach and not spend a dime for any other entertainment or activities whatsoever.

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Road to Hana

If you love to do day hikes then Maui is the place for you.  One of the most popular and mostly free Maui activities is hiking.  You wouldn’t believe the spectacular and This is by far the best thing to do in Maui.  It’s an exciting day filled with all sorts of classic Maui activities and sights.  Checking out the huge waterfalls, the rugged coast, the rainforest, the colorful flowers, the small villages as well as taking a dip at a classic swimming spot enjoyed for many thousands of years by the Hawaiians.  This is a day you will not forget and will want to do more then once.

The route takes you from Kahului through little towns of Maui’s Northern coast.   Many tours stop in towns like Paia but the folks at Valley Isle Excursions believe that you should spend a bit more time there.  They wet your appetite to come back and see that one.   It’s a great spot to catch a pizza at Flatbread.  They use local and organic ingredients in their creations.  The specials are always very tasty.

The Road to Hana tour from there becomes a tropical wilderness as the road winds through hundreds of gullies over tens of bridges and past waterfalls of various sizes.   Since there is so much to see and experience they stop at only the best or most convenient places along the trip.  There are times when you would want to stop to check out a specific place but trust the guides they will take you to the best spots.

Some of the main stops on a Road to Hana Tour by Valley Isle Excursions are:

  • Maui Waterfalls

    • There are hundreds of waterfalls along this part of Maui.  Depending on the amount of rain over the past couple days they will be either gushing, torrent of water or barely a trickle.  There are trade-offs in dealing with the rain on this side of the island.  So if you get a nice clear sunny day, you can see a long way up the coasts but the waterfalls will be smaller.

  • Keanae Peninsula

    • This area is beautiful with it’s rugged coastline.  This is the most exposed point on the north coast of Maui.  It has been subject to a tsunami almost 50 years ago as it’s only a few feet above the ocean.   There are no sandy beaches here as this is a result of a lava flow many, many years ago.  It has been made habitable by Hawaiian’s years ago through the hard work of transporting good soils down here to create taro fields.

  • Waianapanapa Black Sand Beach

    • The black sand beach and blowhole at Waianapanapa state park are just two of the features to see.  There are caves, graves and a wide variety of plants to see.  Take your time and enjoy this beautiful spot where the blackness of the rocks, the green of the plants and the blue of the ocean contrast with such stark colors that you wonder if your are really seeing it.

  • Wailua Falls

    • This beautiful waterfall just past Hana is just off the road.  You can enjoy the view and the mist by standing on the bridge.  You won’t find this scene anywhere else in Hawaii or the world.

  • Hana Town Sightseeing

    • The town of Hana is quite small and there are a few places of note, like the bay and the hotel.  This sleepy little village is home to many celebrities and hawaiians for many years as this is one of the best examples of a relatively untouched Hawaiian lifestyle.

  • Hana Ranchlands

    • The Hana ranch is huge and is spread over many thousands of acres.  The road cuts through this ranch at many stages and is quite a change from the dense rainforest earlier on in the journey.

  • Charles Lindbergh’s Memorial at Pala Pala Hoo mau Church

    • This classic american hero, the man who flew across the atlantic non-stop and alone first is buried here.  Hana was his home and he loved this place more then anywhere else in the world.  By the time you reach here you will understand why he never wanted to leave.

  • Swimming at the Pools of Oheo at Haleakala National Park

    • Few tour companies are allowed to stop in the park.  This is by far one of the best stops in Hana.  The Seven Sacred Pools are here, examples of Hawaiian architecture.  Huge waterfalls, bamboo forests and amazing plant life are found in the park.  Stopping here can rejuvenate you for the rest of the journey back around Haleakala as you make your way from Hana.

  • Surfing Overlook at Hookipa Park

    • This park is a stop just after Paia.  It’s a place where the worlds best windsurfers come to compete and practice.  Their colorful sails dot the ocean doing jumps and flips over the waves.  If you look carefully right below the cliffs you might see many of the turtles bobbing in the water feeding off of the seaweed that dot the coral reef just a few feet below the surface.

  • Tedeschi Winery

    • The winery is the last major stop on the Road to Hana Tour.  After a day of exploring and sightseeing, enjoying a sweet glass of pineapple wine will make you feel very good.  Grab a bottle to enjoy later with your meal.  You might want to get a few.  The grounds are beautiful and have lots of history so be sure to check out their little museum attached to the wine tasting room.

 

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Zip Lining’s Growing Popularity

Zip lining is the next big thing to do all over the world.  Zip lines are going up quickly throughout Hawaii.  Here on Maui we have at least three operational zip lines.  One up Crater road going up to the summit of Haleakala, one down near Makawao and another in West Maui.  It’s an amazing experience whipping over the tops of the trees like a low flying bird.  Going from platform to platform on your way back down the mountain.

The journey is something like this.  You hike up a mountain and then attach yourself to a wire take you back down.  With safety in mind and a comfortable, fast ride.  There is specialized seat harnesses that you sit in and a helmet too incase you bump your head on something.

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Deep Water Fishing

Maui is known for many things but deep water fishing is not one of them.  Maybe I am traveling in the wrong circles but whenever I tune into one of those fishing shows, Maui is never a featured location.  There could be a number of reasons for it but they only apply to cost for a television crew.  For those looking for something fun to do in Maui, then taking a fishing excursion should be one of them.

The waters are clear, clean and deep.  The islands are all shaped as big mountains that extend deep down to the ocean floor.  As you might have heard Maui and the Big Island’s mountains would be must taller then Mt. Everest if you measure from the ocean floor.  You don’t have to go that far out to sea to get into some really deep water.   In between the islands it can get as deep as 6100′.

The depths are more then adequate for what a serious deepwater fisherman is looking for, a battle with a Pacific Blue Marlin.   There are also yellowfin tuna, barracuda, wahoo and many other marlin types.  This is definitely the thing do to in Maui for anyone who loves to fish.

There are plenty of boat charters available to take you out.  In most cases you don’t need to book ahead unless your schedule is really tight.

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Snorkeling & Diving

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Now I am a snorkeler.  I just love it.  It’s one of my favorite things to do in Maui.  I know all the good quiet spots where I can enjoy the underwater life without having to deal with anyone else.  It’s a way to escape into another world.  I am a fish and not in a fish tank.  On Maui, on good days in the morning the water is clean and clear like an aquarium’s tank.

Since we live on the island we have our little spot that we enjoy checking out every few days to see our favorite underwater creatures.

I enjoy visiting the turtles off of Hookipa as they eat the seagrass at the edge of the surf break.

I go look for the eels to the right of Charley Young beach in Kihei.  There is also a few turtles who call in there and an incredible wall with a great variety of colorful coral.

Down at Makena Landing, out around the point, are some beautiful undersea caves with sleeping sharks and turtles.  Long tunnels to swim through and plenty of coral in a variety of colors.  Also there is a trench where the turtles use to head out to sea, almost like a road.

Snorkeling in Hawaii is one of the best things to do.  If you have a mask and snorkel already then its a great way to spend a lot of time exploring a world that we see very little of in our life.  The underwater world in Maui is full of life and wonder.

There are many places to explore underwater up and down the coast of Maui.  Off of just about any coast there is something interesting to see.  So when you are looking for a cheap or even free way to pass your days on Maui then snorkeling would be it.

You can hitchhike to some great spots along the Lahaina or Kihei coasts.  You don’t need to take those tours out to Molokini to get some great snorkeling in.

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Sunrises and Sunsets

If you want any sort of sky watching activity.  If that star gazing, sun or moon rising, the best place is definitely at the summit of Haleakala.  The views from up there with the scenery and the whole mystic power of the place definitely puts you into a trance that you will not forget.

The sunrise comes up from beyond the crater and you are transported into another world.   The view and the experience can not be fully explained and the photos do not do it justice.   It’s an experience that you may grumble a bit about because of the time it takes to get up the mountain and the hour at which you need to get up to do it.  The grumbling and pain of that will be long forgotten while the vision will stay clear in your memories for a lifetime.

The sunset from up on the mountain is pretty speculator too.  You can see from below that the sun sets a bit later up on the mountain then down at the beach in Kihei.  If I am going to enjoy a sunset at the beach, then being in Kihei is the place year around.  Otherwise, my choice is definitely up on the mountain where I can see the transition to night happening far below in the towns of Kahului, Wailuku and Kihei.

Check out this sunrise / sunset tool.

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Surfing The Waves & Wind

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Boogie Boarding, surf boarding and body surfing are some of the least expensive, cheapest things to do in Maui.  If you have the gear then you are good to go and everyone has a body so at least that is taken care of.

You can rent surf boards on a daily or weekly basis for a good price.  Most people don’t travel with surfboards unless they are pros.  Boogie boards are so cheap that you can probably buy a good one and resell it before you end your vacation and still pay less then what you would rent it for.

As for my personal favorite body surfing, you don’t need anything but a good swimsuit that will keep on in the rough tumbling of the waves.   There are some great beaches like Little Makena Beach where you can ride a wave a good ways.  Catching them is easy at that beach too.

When most people think of things to do in Maui the first thing that comes to mind is surfing.  Surfing the waves to be exact.  The beautiful reef breaks and strong uninterrrupted ocean brings some incredible waves.  Some of the biggest in the world if the conditions are right.  There are many surf breaks in Maui, Hawaii. Surfing is just a part of life here.  You know when a good set at the right angle is coming in locally because no work gets done on that side of the island.

There is more to just the standard board and a wave surfing.  You can surf the air too.  Windsurfing and kiteboarding are two things that are a must do in Hawaii, especially Maui.  The trade winds are blowing strong and steady in the afternoons which makes for some increadible conditions.

Looking out over the ocean above Hookipa on Maui’s north shore, the contrasting colors of the windsurfer’s colorful sails and the stark deep blue of the ocean keeps you captured in awe for hours.  The tricks these guys perform over big waves and the air time they get some days is amazing.

On the south side of the island, with the mountains blocking the strong winds would be a good place for a first timer to learn.  The ocean is calm in the morning which will go along way to improving your confidence with the gear.

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Hiking To A Waterfall

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 Hiking is another one of the best things to do in Maui.  It is always part of a top ten wherever we go in the world.  There is so much to see and do that you need to hike to that you should always enjoy the journey to it.  

Some of our favorite hikes on Maui can be quite long but we will go through some of the shorter ones as that is what appeals to most people.  Those looking to go on longer hikes they already know quite a bit about the area and have been planning it for a long time.  A long hike on Maui is one that takes you down from the summit of Haleakala and can take up to 2 days at least.

The short hikes we like to feature include a tramp up Oheo Gulch to the 400 foot waterfalls at the end of the trail.   The rock hopping good time up Iao Valley stream, lots of nude sunbathing happening here on nice days so be mindful of that.   The walks up to see the Hawaiian petroglyphs are always a nice challenge.   A walk through the bamboo forest is kind of boring after a while.   Going up to Polipoli hot springs takes a long time to get to and is often very foggy as it sits in the clouds most afternoons.  Going above Kula to the frisbee golf course is always a nice afternoon.  A trip along the coast following the kings trail through the lava fields is also nice when you have already hit the other places.

 

Hiking up a gulch to a waterfall is one of the most spiritual things you can do.  The sound of falling water gives the listener a bit of the energy that is generated by that falling water.  Some of the water is falling from heights over 400′ so it’s generating a bit of speed and force.  Even a little bit of water can sting from that height.  Be careful when standing under a waterfall because it’s not just water but stones and wood as well, especially if it’s raining further up the gulch.

Some of our most favorite hikes to waterfalls are around Maui’s backside.  This is the Kipahulu area and Oheo Gulch.  Way out there where there is a lot fewer people, you can enjoy a moment at a waterfall in peace and tranquility.   There are many waterfalls along Oheo Gulch to hike to depending on your time.  If you have plenty of time then I suggest going all the way up to the end but before you reach the end, there is a side stream.  Follow the path less travelled to the Queen’s bath which is a bit nicer I think.

Also along the backside of Maui a few miles down the road from Oheo Gulch are a number of unmarked gulches with steady streams.  Go up any of these and you will find some great spots to kick back and relax by a pool in a beautiful setting.

 

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South-side Sailing

With the trade winds blowing at a constant speed you are sure to enjoy a great sail here in Maui.  There are evening cruises, day trips, overnight excursions and charters available for whatever you want to do.  There are plenty of great sailing opportunities.  Explore the other islands in Maui county without ever exposing yourself to the serious waves of the north shore.

In the protected channel between the islands Lanai, Kahoolawe and Molokai you can glide the water in comfort, never feeling a bit seasick.  During the winter the best place to be is on the water because during that time of year the humpback whales are in town to give birth and to mate.  The shows are spectacular as these behemoths leap from the water in an incredible display of tails, fins and splashes.  The newborns are especially active as well.

There are many sailing charter you can contact to take you for a ride, especially out of Maalaea Harbor and Lahaina harbors.

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