Maui was our destination the last time that we traveled to Hawaii. Karen and I had already been to Oahu and the Big Island, so Maui was the next logical destination. I am sure glad that we got to go because Maui had beautiful beaches, excellent snorkel spots, and plenty of other beautiful things to see and do. I would say that Maui is the ideal destination for somebody that wants little bit of that hustle and bustle of Oahu mixed in with the slower more wide open spaces of the Big Island. Maui, like the other Hawaiian Islands, is just pure paradise. Maui has a lot of great things to see and do, but here is my list of the top ten things to in Maui.

Top Ten things to do in Maui

10. Iao Valley State Park

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Iao Valley State Park is a beautiful area of Maui that is just 3 miles from downtown Wailuku. This state park is home to the Iao Needle which is a vegetation-covered volcanic rock. Besides its beauty the park is rich in history, culture, and spiritual values for the Hawaiian people. It was also the site where King Kamehameha conquered the Maui army extending his control over the Hawaiian Islands.

9. Napili Beach

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Napili Beach is located right outside the Napili Kai Beach Club, and it is a gorgeous crescent shape beach with soft sand and crystal blue water. During the summer months provides wonderful opportunities to snorkel with Honu (sea turtles) and good body surfing waves during the winter.

8. Wai’anapanapa State Park

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Wai’anapanapa State Park is a wonderful stop on the Hana Highway. The rugged cliffs, black sand, and lava tube are what make this state park a must see when in Maui. Wai’anapanapa is the place to go to get away from it all because of its remote location but it should not be passed up because one would find it hard to find a place that has more natural beauty.

7. Ahihi Bay

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Ahihi Bay is a wonderful snorkel spot that is a part of a marine preserve located in the southern part of Maui. It may not look like much from the outside but once in the water it turns into a magical place. There is not much of a beach except for a very small area of pulverized lava rock. To get to the bay there is a short trail through a lava rock field so water shoes are a necessity unless you want your feet to pay the price.

6. Haleakala Sunrise/Sunset

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It is worth the long drive to see the view from the summit of Haleakala Crater. It might even be worth getting up way to early in the morning to see the sunrise, but better yet sleep in and catch sunset from this lofty peak. The only downside to being 10,000 feet above sea level is the fact that it will feel very cold up there when you are used to sitting around the beach all day. Braving the cold and the long drive up a very good but winding road is worth it to see the sunrise or sunset to have an unforgettable experience.

5. Pipiwai Trail Hike

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This is the best hiking trail on the entire island maybe in all the islands that make up Hawaii. It is a four mile round trip hike that has over 800 feet in elevation gain, but walking through the bamboo forest to reach a 400 foot waterfall is sure worth all that extra effort. It is an amazing trail that makes the whole road to Hana and down to Haleakala National Park worth the drive.

4. Hana Highway

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It is one of the most scenic drives in the whole of the United States as long as you are not the one driving. Tons of turns, blind spots, and single lane bridges await the adventurer that decides to tackle this road, but it is worth all that effort to see the whole island of Maui. The only downside is that it will take up a whole day so you will have to decide if it is worth it. Karen and I took the road to Hana and it made all the difference in our trip to Maui.

3. Honolua Bay

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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to swim in an Aquarium? Well, I would wager it would be a lot like swimming in Honolua Bay. I just wish Karen and I would have spent more time here than we did. Honolua Bay was just perfect once I was in the water getting in was a little difficult because it is not a sandy beach at all, but that is ok for us because we did not go to Maui just to sit around. However when the waves are up then it is prime surfing location.

2. Haleakala National Park

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Haleakala National Park is a fascinating place with out of this world views. Home to the incredible Pipiwai Trail that leads to a 400 foot waterfall, the beautiful Haleakala Crater and its breathtaking views from the summit, and Ohe’o Gulch which has several waterfalls Haleakala National Park has something for everybody to enjoy. It is a beautiful place and once there it is easy to see why it is designated as a national park.

1. Ka’anapali Beach

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Ka’anapali Beach is probably the most famous beach in Maui and it is easy to see why. This area has just about everything a beach-goers would want a long beautiful clean beach with soft sand, good snorkeling around the area called Black Rock, an easy walk to shopping, and lots of resort/hotel choices to choose from when going. Like I said Ka’anapali has it all.

Hope you enjoyed our list of the top ten things to do on Maui. Is there anything that you think we left off or if you disagree with our top 10 sound off by leaving a comment. Happy Travels!