This was a great choice, imo. I went with my daughter. Before Hurricane Lowell. :) Those views, tho! We would watch tv and listen to the waves. I had breakfast on the patio every morning and sat and watched the sunset on most evenings.

This is my first time to Hawaii. I have been to all other states. I saved Hawaii for last because I think it will be the most beautiful. I am fortunate enough to have enough credit card points to cover flights, car and condo- so I have some splurge funds on things to do. I will only be in Maui for 4.5 days- no other island. Is a helicopter tour worthwhile? Something else I should do? Thanks

We’re visiting Maui in 4 weeks, I want to do whale watching but have seen it’s better the end of the month? How accurate is that? Do you recommend Haleakala National park sunrise or sunset? What other recommendations do you have that are also okay for children that’s not road to Hana ( it’s already on our list)

question, i see that a lot of people go to costco from the airport after arriving. we’re from Oakland so we absolutely under no circumstances leave anything in our car not for five minutes. (IYKYK) is it safe to have luggage in the car and go shop? or should we drop our stuff off and then head to costco?

We arrived at 6:50 and parked. Got in line at 7. The photo with the people in line were already there. We got sat at 8. A bird flew on the table, went up to my daughter’s plate quick and bit at it. Lol. Will we go back? Unlikely. It was worth the experience just once.

We will be staying in Kiehi Oct 27th- Nov 3rd. The lovely weather app says rain in the forecast for the duration of our trip. Which is totally fine. I know how fast showers pass on the island. I am hopeful for sun too!

What are some fun family friendly activities you suggest?

Any sports bars and grills? Tampa Bay Rays have made it and my 12 year old son will not allow us to miss a game 😅

I am very sorry if this is a weird question or post.

Firstly my trip was magical. And I cannot wait to come back. I saw a rainbow as our flight was leaving and it felt like a “thanks for staying see you back soon again” (I cannot remember the phrase one of our guides taught me that meant that).

While I was there they had local vendors set up in front of where we were staying. Every day they were there I went out and talked and supported their businesses. No, seriously I probably had 15 Lawa Flow’s from ‘Maui Fruit Ninja’… Would come back for that drink alone!

There was one vendor called ‘Happiness in Waves’ who sold beautiful bangles. She didn’t have my size in one I wanted but that she could ship it to me back in my home state if I came back a different day. I did and I could not find their booth. The business doesn’t have a Square Space or anyway to contact them. I was wondering if any of the Kama’āina knew of this vendor because I would love to support their business instead of a random person/ trying to find some similar one online.

If this happens to be an inperson only vendor I understand. (If this post isn’t appropriate, I am so sorry and feel free to remove it.)

Mahalo nui!!

Husband and I have never snorkeled before but are excited to go for the first time in Maui next week!
We're staying at the Andaz in Wailea which I think offers snorkeling gear for us to go on our own, but I keep reading about how amazing Trilogy is so maybe it would be better to go on one of their excursions? I'm confused which one to pick in terms of location given where we're staying ... I see everyone speak highly of the Kaanapali one, but is there a closer one to Wailea? Or is it worth it to just join the Kaanapali one and make a day trip out of it?
And if we do attempt to go on our own some days during our trip, where are some good spots for first timers?
Appreciate any and all insight! 🙏

Sin duda una de las mejores experiencias de mi vida!! Amé Maui y cada uno de sus rincones 🥰💕

The twilight sky in Hana was captivating and magical

visiting first week of November!

would love a list of the best vegan joints or places that serve vegan options for any time of day :)

thank you!

Hello all, my fiancé and I are coming for our honeymoon the week of November 16-20. Landing late afternoon on the 16th.

Searching online and on this thread there is an abundance of things to do and obviously not enough time.

We are staying in Wailea. Since it’s our honeymoon we do want to relax a lot but also do somethings that are must do’s that aren’t overly taxiing

If we wanted to do one thing on each day of Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (nothing too big or too too long), what are some recommendations? We want the trip to me memorable and fun but also definitely relaxing!

All input is appreciated:)

Thank you!

The road to Hana can end by this poolside if you plan it right. Very peaceful and serene.

Hi! Might be a weird post. We leave tomorrow morning and have a good amount of extra food that I hate to throw away. We have cereal, frozen chicken (grilled and breaded), some frozen fries, condiments and sodas. Everything’s been opened unfortunately so I won’t be able to donate to any sort of food pantry. Wondering if anyone would like to take it before we toss it. We’re staying at Mahana in Ka’anapali and will be around most of the day to arrange for pick up if anyone is interested.

We are staying at The Resort at Kapalua Bay. We fly in on Tuesday and have nothing planned. What are your must dos in this area? Activities, restaurants?

Hi! We live on Oahu and are getting married in Maui in the fall of 2027. We would like to do a private charter sunset catamaran for ~50 guests as one of our pre-wedding activities. Our budget is $6500. The first quote we got was a little over $8000 for 2-hours plus drinks.

Is our budget reasonable? Any specific companies you would recommend reaching out to? We would prefer to sail out near Wailea or Kihei, but we wouldn’t mind sailing out of Lahaina if pricing is more favorable. Mahalo!

First time in Hawaii and we had a fantastic time. We are already planning another trip. Trip dates October 10th-17th.

We booked a condo at Polynesian Shores. Perfect location, just north of Lahaina and just south of Kapalua. Turtles on our beach every night. Great pool area. 10/10 would stay again!

We rented a Jeep with Maui Mini Go, Dave and Alvin were fantastic people to work with.

10/10 - Arrival day, picked up our car, went to MauiWine. Beautiful drive, don't let the bad reviews fool you. They seem to have expanded their varietals and the views were amazing on the way up.

10/11 - Coffee from Bad Ass coffee, swapped out the jeep (this was a tough arrangement but we did it), lunch at Thai Mee Up food truck. Spent the afternoon snorkeling (brought our own gear) at S-turns just down the street from the condo, and finished our day at Old Lahaina Luau. Great staff, food and a fun evening. I loved the small vendors that were there who created their items. Purchased 2 bracelets and enjoyed our evening.

10/12 - Coffee from Island Vibes Cafe, Maui Ocean Center, did a behind the scenes tour with them. Trilogy sunset sail was amazing. Crew is funny and entertaining, my drink was never empty. The appetizers they served were the equivalent of a meal.

10/13 - Coffee at Island Vintage Coffee, used resort pass to book a cabana at the Westin. Spent the day in the adults only pool area and day drinking. The food was delicious too. (We wanted a resort day but not the constant people around us, booking a day pass was perfect!) Ali is a wonderful human who consistently checked on us even as we were in the pool.

10/14 - Coffee from Island Vibes Cafe, Kapalua bay for snorkeling/beach day, took a nap, grabbed poke from Foodland, then headed up to Haleakala for sunset. It rained but it was such a pretty drive and the rainbows were stunning up close.

10/15 - Triology snorkeling tour to Lana'i. This was fun, I don't think I would do it again. Just a personal preference of being able to schedule/do what I want without a group attached to me. Went back to the condo to shower, nap and headed out to dinner at Leilanis. Did a little shopping at Whalers and had a ton of fun interacting with shop owners/workers while there.

10/16 - spent the day visiting local shops at Whalers (did not purchase a single item from a big box retail store). Went back to the condo for snacks and the pool then went to dinner at Sea House Restaurant in Kapalua. We braved the rain and sat outside (my husband and I have a lot of fun memories in the rain, we were glad to add this to that list). The staff was amazing. Food was amazing.

10/17 - flying home. Shout out to Hawaiian airlines crew for their service, attention to details and for how welcoming they always are.

We originally had an itinerary packed and by the time we got there we realized if we rushed it we would be sad. We did what we wanted and enjoyed the island.

Thank you Maui for being so good to us on our vacation, we hope to be back soon 🌺

WHO: Mom and adventurous almost 7 year old. Confident swimmers. Value experiences and will splurge there over luxury accommodation.

WHEN: early May

*I’ve put the companies I’m considering booking with in (). Please share if you recommend them or have other suggestions. Some options are limited due to my son’s age.

Day 1: Saturday
arrive in afternoon. Pick up rental car. Groceries. Check into Kahului condo. Pool/beach.

Day 2: Sunday
Drive to Twin Falls early morning, Jungle zipline, pineapple tour. Drive to Ka’anapali. Check into condo. Pool/beach

Day 3: Monday
Parasailing (UFO) in the morning, wander Whalers Village, Maui Kuia Cacao Tour, Black Rock Beach/Cliff Dive ceremony

Day 4: Tuesday
Snorkel Turtle Reef (Trilogy) in the morning, FREE afternoon

Day 5: Wednesday
Check out of condo. Surfing lessons Lahaina (Surfer Girls) in the morning, Maui Ocean Center. Check into Kīhei/Wailea condo.

Day 6: Thursday
Snorkel Molokini/Turtle Town (Maui Reef Adventures) in the morning. Te Au Moana Luau in the evening.

Day 7: Friday
FREE day

Day 8: Saturday
Check out of condo and fly to Kona

Last time we were in Maui we went ziplining, however my littlest and I did not participate because he wasn’t old enough. The four that did zipline two years ago cost about $500. I looked up all six of us zip lining at the same location this year and it’s $1k. So, rather than say “no we aren’t doing that” or disclose the location I’d rather ask if you have a rec for a safe, fun, reasonably priced zipline on the island. If we wind up learning that your rec is where I went and just priced again, I may pull the trigger for the same place but thought I’d check in and see if I am missing any other great opportunities! Thank you!

Looking for some advice. My parents (late 50’s early 60’s), my husband and i early 30’s and my sister and her boyfriend (late 20’s & early 30’s) are looking to go on a trip to Maui.

I’ve been tasked to get a rough plan and am having a hard time figuring out where to zone in on to look. We want to stay at a resort with beach access where we can sit and have a drink, walk to do some shopping and grab a coffee but also would like to do the road to Hana, snorkeling and a luau.

I was leaning towards staying in west Maui on Ka’anapli beach but wanted to check here and see if others feel it would be a good fit for what we’re looking for on a trip.

Should I consider a tour for snorkeling or could I just go off some beaches? My partner doesn’t know how to swim so I’m hesitant to go solo on a trip and don’t want to waste the money for paying if I could just do this activity solo. Is it an absolute must do for a first timer?

Hello, arriving soon and wanted to find a good spot for massage in/near Ka'anapali. Thanks!

Just realized I had a ton of help from Reddit on our itinerary and other things, so here's our trip from a couple months back -- it was awesome. Passing it along in case it helps folks -- especially those w small kids.

We mixed plenty of easy beach and resort time with a little adventure, some incredible scenery, and great food. It was enough to keep everyone excited without exhausting ourselves.

We spent most of our time in Kaʻanapali, with two nights in Hāna so we could enjoy the Road to Hāna without rushing. Here's what we did, along with some recommendations.

Wednesday, May 20 — Travel Day

Flew from Minneapolis to Maui via Seattle, arriving around 10 p.m.

Picked up a Turo rental car.

Stayed overnight at Maui Seaside Hotel near the airport.

Since we were getting in so late, we figured we'd stay near the airport, wake up early, and get a full first day in Kaʻanapali rather than paying for an expensive resort night we'd barely use.

Thursday, May 21 — Kaʻanapali and Resort Day

Headed to The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas in the morning.

Enjoyed the pool and, thankfully, were able to check into our room early.

Spent the rest of the day exploring the resort and beach.

The Westin Nanea was absolutely spectacular. We travel a lot, and I've never stayed at a better resort. We booked through a heavily discounted Marriott Vacation Clubs promotional offer, which required attending a vacation-ownership presentation. If you're willing to sit through the sales pitch, these offers are definitely worth exploring. We got a 6-day, 5-night stay for around $2250.

Friday, May 22 — Snorkeling and Luau

Morning pool time and breakfast.

Stopped at a scenic overlook near Kapalua.

Visited Kapalua Bay for snorkeling and beach time. Our kids were over-tired so didnt stay long.

The relatively sheltered bay, easy entry, colorful fish, and possibility of sea turtles make it a great spot for families with younger kids. Parking fills up quickly.

Flexible lunch and afternoon back at the resort.

Evening: Attended the Wailele Luau at the Westin Maui.

The luau was definitely pricey, especially for a family of five, but we thought it was worth it. It's several hours of dinner and entertainment, so it really feels like a full evening's activity rather than just a meal. The girls loved it, although a couple even managed to fall asleep toward the end :)

Saturday, May 23 — Relaxing in Kaʻanapali

Easy morning enjoying the resort.

Noon vacation-ownership presentation, part of the accommodations. This ... is not for us. It was not very high-pressure.

More beach and relaxation time.

Dinner at Duke's Beach House.

Duke's was particularly enjoyable. Eating outdoors right by the beach was a wonderful experience, and a great setting for a family dinner.

We also loved the outdoor live music around Nanea during our stay. Those relaxed evenings were a big part of what made the resort so special...

Sunday, May 24 — Tropical Plantation and Exploring

10 a.m. tour of Maui Tropical Plantation.

Drove to Waiheʻe Ridge Trail.

We only did a portion of the trail with the kids, but even the drive out and getting to explore part of it was cool. Beautiful scenery, but some Hana-like roads 😅

Relaxed afternoon.

Parents' date night at Māla Ocean Tavern in Lahaina.

Monday, May 25 — Surfing, Sea Turtles, and Pāʻia

8 a.m. surf lesson with Got'Um Surfing.

Drove toward the North Shore and Pāʻia.

Stopped at Hoʻokipa Beach Lookout to see sea turtles resting on the beach.

Explored Pāʻia, a laid-back town with walkable shops and boutiques.

Returned to our resort for the evening.

The surfing lesson was one of the highlights of the entire trip. Several people recommended Got'Um Surfing, and we're glad we listened. Highly recommend them.

Hoʻokipa was also a fantastic stop for seeing sea turtles.

Tuesday, May 26 — Road to Hāna, Day One

We decided to spend two nights in Hāna rather than doing the entire drive in one day. This gave us much more time to explore and was a great decision with three young kids.

7 a.m. — Leave Kaʻanapali

Packed swimsuits, towels, snacks, drinks, and plenty of supplies for the kids.

8:30 a.m. — Twin Falls

Easy trails and waterfalls.

Swimming opportunities when conditions allow.

Fresh fruit stand was great, esp the sugarcane juice.

Good place for a bathroom break.

10:30 a.m. — Keʻanae Peninsula

Beautiful coastal scenery.

Banana bread at Aunty Sandy's.

Had approximately 30 minutes to explore, which was more than enough.

Lunch — The Bamboo Hale at Hāna Farms

We stopped for pizza at Hāna Farms' Bamboo Hale, an open-air restaurant surrounded by tropical greenery. The pizza was awesome, and the atmosphere made it an especially memorable lunch stop.

3 p.m. — Waiʻānapanapa State Park

Reserved our entry ahead of time.

Explored the famous black sand beach, lava formations, and incredible coastal scenery.

The caves were particularly cool to explore --

Spent approximately 90 minutes there.

Late afternoon: Checked into our Airbnb in Hāna and relaxed.

Wednesday, May 27 — Pīpīwai Trail, Hāna Beaches, and Food Trucks

Early morning: Headed to the Kīpahulu District of Haleakalā National Park.

Our main adventure was the Pīpīwai Trail to Waimoku Falls.

Approximately 4 miles round-trip.

Gorgeous bamboo forests, bridges, waterfalls, and rainforest scenery.

Also explored the area overlooking the Pools of ʻOheʻo ... however it was mostly closed due to rain.

This hike was an enormous highlight of our trip. Somehow, we managed to complete it with a 10-, 7-, and 4-year-old. It wasn't exactly effortless, but it was an extraordinary experience and one of the most memorable things we did in Maui.

Afternoon:

Relaxed at Hamoa Beach, a beautiful, dramatic beach near Hāna.

Enjoyed a slower-paced afternoon after the hike.

Food trucks in Hāna:

The food truck area in Hāna was another definite highlight. It's a fun, casual place to grab something to eat, with several different food options. The Thai food was particularly great. Definitely worth a stop while you're in town.

Thursday, May 28 — Return to Kaʻanapali

Drove back from Hāna.

Checked into The Westin Maui Resort & Spa.

Spent our final full day in Kaʻanapali.

After our experience at Nanea, this resort was a disappointment. It was considerably more expensive, and I simply wasn't a fan. The service was not good (our kids got yelled at for touching an adults-only pool? Very odd) and the pool needed cleaning 🤢Having stayed at both, I'd enthusiastically recommend Nanea over the Westin Maui Resort & Spa.

Friday, May 29 — Heading Home

Packed up and returned our rental car.

Afternoon flight from Maui to Seattle.

Overnight near the Seattle airport before completing our journey home.

Hopefully this helps other families putting together a Maui trip, particularly those traveling with younger children. Happy to answer questions about our experience!

I also threw together a little video of our trip if anyone wants to see some of the places we visited:

Our Maui Family Vacation — YouTube

How do you prefer to book your Maui trip? Travel agent, Costco Travel, yourself (through booking sites as a package or everything individually? Also when is the cheapest time to go?
I already know I want to stay at The Fairmont .