Maui compresses rainforest waterfalls, a dormant volcano crater and reef-lined beaches into one island small enough to circle in a long day. The Road to Hana and Haleakalā sunrise are the two experiences worth building a whole trip around.
Good to know
- Fill the gas tank before the Road to Hana — services are sparse for stretches, and give way at one-lane bridges.
- Haleakalā sunrise viewing requires a reservation booked in advance, separate from park entry.
- Reef-safe sunscreen (mineral, no oxybenzone) is required by Hawaii law and better for the coral anyway.
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Places the planner can use
Mark places as a must or something to skip. The itinerary is built only from this list; ★ marks the destination’s highlights.
Three miles of white sand backed by resorts, with a cliff-diving ceremony off Puu Kekaa (Black Rock) most evenings.
An evening of kalua pig from an underground imu oven, hula and Polynesian dance — book a well-reviewed one, not the cheapest.
A 64-mile drive with over 600 curves past waterfalls, black-sand beaches and bamboo forest — start at dawn and expect a full day.
Watch dawn break over a 10,000-foot volcanic crater above the clouds — reservations are required and it's cold, bring layers.
Boat trip out to a crescent-shaped volcanic crater with some of the clearest water in Hawaii for snorkeling.
Humpback whales winter in the channel between Maui, Lanai and Molokai — boat tours run daily in season with sightings close to guaranteed.
Short walk to a lookout of the 1,200-foot Iao Needle, a green volcanic spire wrapped in cloud and rainforest.
Laid-back surf town at the start of the Road to Hana, with boutique shops, food trucks and Ho'okipa Beach for watching windsurfers.
Finely shaved ice with house-made tropical syrups, a Hawaii institution and the best cure for a hot beach day.
Fresh ahi tuna cubed and dressed shoyu-style, sold by the pound at grocery store counters — better and cheaper than most restaurants.
An 1873 banyan tree that once shaded the entire town square; the historic waterfront is being rebuilt after the 2023 wildfire, so check current access before visiting.
Small farms at cooler elevation sell strawberries, protea flowers and goat cheese on the slopes of Haleakalā.