Important Note: This article was written before the tragic and devastating Maui fires of August 2023. I have chosen to keep the original blog intact to preserve the way we traveled and enjoyed Maui, even if some of these experiences may no longer be possible. Before planning your trip, it is crucial to do your own research on visiting areas affected by recent natural disasters. Many of the activities mentioned may have been impacted, please contact them prior to your visit for the most recent update.
Tragically, visiting Lahaina town is no longer possible due to the destruction from the fires (see: The Historic Town of Lahaina and It’s Legacy, Is in Ashes from the New York Times).
In the spirit of helping the community rebuild, consider donating to organizations such as: Maui United Way, Maui Strong Fund, Safe Havens, Maui Humane Society
Please keep Maui and it’s residents in your thoughts and prayers as they navigate this difficult time.
Here’s the short answer- Yes!
It’s been over a year, yet I still catch myself reminiscing over my amazing honeymoon in Hawaii. Traveling there had been on my bucket list for years, and it was absolutely the trip of a lifetime! My husband and I visited for two weeks, opting to split our time between the island of Kauai and Maui.
If you’re planning on taking a trip to this island, I’d recommend taking it easy on your first day as you’ll probably need to remove from a lot of travel. It took us 24 hours and 3 planes to get from Boston to Hawaii! And yet, I would do it again in a heartbeat to see those beautiful islands again.
We spent 7 days on the island of Maui and filled up our days with lots of activities and sightseeing. In the end, we felt pretty content and like we saw everything we wanted to. We didn’t feel like we missed anything and had a wonderful time. So, here’s how you can spend 7 days in Maui like us!
Mentioned in this post:
Places to stay
Activities
- Molokini Snorkel- Calypso Tours
- Mini Golf- Maui Golf and Sports Park
- Surfing Goat Dairy Farm
- Maui Ocean Aquarium
- Surf Lessons- Maui Wave Riders
- Sunset Dinner Cruise- PacWhale Adventures
- Banyan Tree Park in Lahaina
- Road to Hana- Guide and Sightseeing
- Luau Feast on the Beach- Maui Nui Luau at the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa
Reservations
Must-Have Items
- Maui Guide Book- Maui Revealed by Andrew Doughty
Day 1: Arriving in Maui
- We took a short flight from Kauai to Maui and arrived in the early afternoon.
- After getting our rental car, we drove a little way to our hotel. We stayed at the Royal Kahana Maui by Outrigger. They upgraded our room for free and we had the most incredible ocean view! It was on the island’s West side, providing some of the most stunning sunsets. It was also close to the downtown of Lahaina.
- Grab dinner and enjoy an amazing sunset view!
Day 2: Snorkel at Molokini Crater
- Book an early trip to snorkel the incredible Molokini crater! This boat trip was one of the best memories we made in Hawaii. The water was so incredibly clear and the diversity of sea life was incredible!
- Go mini-golfing! You’ll be pretty tired and will want to just chill. Maui Golf and Sports Park have a pretty putt-putt course to wind down. Of course, you can always go back to your hotel and nap!
- At night, explore downtown Lahaina. This is where I recommend having the book Maui Revealed by Andrew Doughty handy (Seriously— don’t go to Hawaii without one of his books). He’ll tell you all the best places and restaurants to visit downtown, including secret parking tips and more. Make sure you opt for the most up-to-date version.
- Enjoy the square and explore Banyan Tree Park, where the US’s largest banyan tree grows today!
Day 3: Mount Haleakala
- Start your day early and begin the trip to Mount Haleakala. Some people recommend starting super early to catch a “life-changing” sunrise view from the top. ( Reservations are needed for early access. ) If you like to sleep in (like me!), you can go at any other time of day and the experience will still be incredible!
- Note: The top of Mt. Haleakala is COLD. Even in the summer, even at midday. If you are doing a sunrise watch, it is recommended that you bring a winter jacket! (yes, that cold, even in Hawaii!)
- Honestly, the drive up is incredible itself- you feel like you are literally driving through clouds and once you reach the top, you are suddenly above them. There are places to stop along the way up so you can soak in the extraordinary views and snap some pictures. Take your time!
- On your way up or down, make sure you stop at Surfing Goat Dairy Farm for a little tour or cheese tasting! The cheese was delicious and the baby goats were adorable!
- At night, you could go to a Luau performance on the beach. I did not do that this time around, but they usually get great reviews. The dancers are very talented and the food is delicious!
Day 4: Road to Hana
- This iconic road trip is filled with wonder and adventure. It is an all-day affair; you will want to get started very early to beat traffic. The Road to Hana is about a 65-mile stretch of thin road on Maui’s coastline. There are so many cool places to stop along the way, including a beautiful garden with waterfalls, black sand beaches, hidden caves, and SO much more. I could do an entire blog on just the road to Hana, but I will make a few suggestions:
- The roads can be quite dangerous with over 600 curves and 54 mostly one-way bridges. If I were to do it again, I would probably book a tour guide so that everyone in the car can enjoy the journey and not worry about damaging their rental car! However, you will get less autonomy with this, so pick what works for you.
- If you do decide to drive, I would recommend finding an app that tracks your location with an audio tour! We did one that pointed out cool stops, difficult curves, interesting bites to eat, and Hawaii history. It was very interesting and helped us decide what activities we were going to do!
- I recommend starting early so you can enjoy Waiʻānapanapa State Park at the end! Remember, whatever you drive, you need to go back- many cars don’t “allow” you to drive past this point because the roads are not paved. It is also more challenging to drive at night so keep that in mind.
- If you want to visit the black sand beach- a reservation is required.
- Here’s a great guide on some of the sites you can plan to see on your trip.
- Note: If you are staying in Lahaina or West Maui side, plan an extra hour to drive to the start of Hana highway from your hotel.
- This will be an all-day adventure. You will be exhausted!
Day 5: Maui Ocean Aquarium
- Wake up late and enjoy some breakfast.
- Then head to Maui Ocean Center, and spend a day at this GORGEOUS aquarium. Their collection is one of the most unique you will ever see. 25% of Hawaii’s ocean life is found nowhere else in the world! Enjoy their breathtaking exhibits, which are designed to look like Hawaii’s natural reefs. See green sea turtles up close and stand under their 35-ft long shark tunnel. Learn about Hawaiian history and its delicate relationship with the sea. Overall, we spent a very long time here! They also have a fabulous gift shop- I got my favorite mug from here!
- Once you are done here, you can spend more time in Lahaina. There are tons of shops to explore, a museum, neat restaurants, and eclectic art shops.
- Enjoy lunch or dinner here and swim at the hotel pool or the beach!
Day 6: Surf Lessons and Dinner Cruise
- It’s not a trip to Hawaii without getting on a surfboard! We booked a group surfing lesson with Maui Wave Riders. Only one other person joined our lesson, so we ended up with a semi-private lesson! It was a little difficult, but it was the BEST feeling when I stood up on the board!
- We enjoyed lunch downtown and went through the shops in Lahaina again. If shopping isn’t your thing, the beach we surfed at was beautiful and calm. There are also plenty of hiking trails and more hidden gems to discover during the day.
- For our last night in Maui, we booked a romantic Sunset Dinner Cruise with PacWhale Eco-Adventures. We enjoyed a wonderful 4-course meal with the most beautiful backdrop. It was such a wonderful way to spend our last evening on our honeymoon!
Day 7: Leaving Maui
- Depending on when your flight leaves, you may or may not have some time to kill on the island. We had breakfast at a local place and drove to Paia, which wasn’t too far from the airport. It is a small town so don’t expect to spend a ton of time here.
- Head to the airport, return your rental car, and fuel up for your long plane ride home!
I hope this helps you plan your next trip to Maui! You could spend forever there and not run out of things to do. What else would you add to this list?
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