Maui is the second largest island in Hawaii, which mostly consists of sprawling national parks, pools and waterfalls, sandy beaches, breathtaking scenic views and even a dormant volcano, the highest point on the island. It is the perfect island paradise for fans of the great outdoors, with so much to see and do on this tropical island. Accommodations such as all-inclusive resorts and secluded hotels in Maui are available as well. Tired of the overcrowded tourist spots? Looking for some unique and special sites on the island? Get ready to explore this beautiful island outside of the typical tourist sites. Do some extraordinary and thrilling activities in Maui, that will definitely bring some excitement to your trip. Read on to find the best non-touristy things to do in Maui, Hawaii.
1. Sign up and join a beginner surfing lesson (from USD 85.0)
Have you ever dreamt of riding the ocean’s waves on a surfboard? Surfing isn’t just a thing to do for Maui locals, it’s what connects them to their ancestors and is part of their cultural identity.
Fulfil your dream by learning to surf with this two-hour lesson. You’ll learn not just about the sport itself, but also ocean awareness and surfing etiquette. Once you’ve got the fundamentals, you’ll find yourself heading to Hawaii’s many surfing beaches to test and develop your skill.
Group Surf Lesson: Two Hours of Beginners Instruction in Kihei
Duration: 2 hours
2. Explore Makena Bay on a water bike (from USD 124.0)
If you’re expecting a slow day, make it a pleasurable time by signing up for this water bike tour. Take off from Makena Bay to pedal around Maui’s beautiful black sand beaches. Along the way, you’ll be making stops to admire coral reefs and observe the marine wildlife. Your guide will be glad to explain stuff, such as aspects of Hawaii’s history and culture while you enjoy the water bike cruise. Just make sure your gadgets are waterproofed.
Small-Group Maui Water Bike Tour
Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
3. Enjoy a cup of coffee at Maui Grown Coffee Company
MauiGrown Coffee Company Store adjacent to the historic smokestack in Lahaina.
Posted by MauiGrown Coffee on Friday, May 18, 2012
For a change of pace and scenery, try a non-water activity. At Maui Grown Coffee Company, they grow their own coffee beans from their very own coffee farm. They sell their own MauiGrown selections, as well as other local coffee. Open early in the morning, it is a great place to start your day right with a fresh cup of locally grown coffee! Feel free to try any of the coffee samples and ask the knowledgable and enthusiastic staff any questions. Buy a cup of coffee and even a pack of beans as a souvenir.
Maui Grown Coffee Company
Address: 277 Lahainaluna Rd, Lahaina, HI 96761, USA
Website: Maui Grown Coffee Company
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 6.30am - 5pm (closed on Sundays)
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4. Take a trip down to Twin Falls
If you’re up for a waterfall hike in Maui, visit Twin Falls. It is an accessible waterfall and pool, located along the Hana Highway. Despite being fairly accessible, the Twin Falls are rather underrated and hence provide a scenic and tranquil atmosphere to take a dip in the pool. Though technically it’s a free thing to do while in Maui, you’d best prepare well before heading off.
To get to the falls, you need to take a short walk through the streams to find this picture-perfect waterfall paradise. Just another walk away, you can also find the Caveman Falls, another more popular waterfall site. It is recommended that you get a local tour guide to show you the route to the falls.
Twin Falls
Address: 6300 Hana Hwy, Haiku, HI 96708, USA
Website: Twin Falls
5. Take a hike through Lao Valley
Located in Central Maui, Iao Valley State Park is home to one of Maui’s most iconic landmarks, the Iao Needle. The park is a great place to visit because of its hiking trails. Enjoy a view of towering lush green hills above you as you hike across the forest ground. The iconic Iao Needle is a 365m tall (1200 feet) rock monument, which can be accessed by a paved pathway from the parking lot. There is also a ridge-top lookout point to take in the breathtaking sight of the greenery of the valley, and also a great photo taking spot.
Iao Valley State Park
Address: 54 S High St, Wailuku, HI 96793, USA
Website: Iao Valley State Park
Opening hours: 7am - 6pm (daily)
Price: USD 5 per car
6. Watch the sunset from Kaanapali Beach and the sunrise from Haleakala
Kaanapali and Haleakala are located on opposite ends of the island. Kaanapali Beach is located on the western shores of Maui, where you can experience a long stretch of beautiful sandy beaches and glistening bright blue waters. Watching the sunset from America’s best beach will definitely be a great way to end the day. As for the sunrise, catch the start of dawn at the Haleakala Crater, a dormant volcano that towers over the island and gives you beautiful views of the island. The Haleakala Visitor Centre is the best place on Maui to watch the sunrise.
Haleakala National Park
Address: Haleakalā National Park, Makawao, HI 96768
Website: Haleakala National Park
Opening hours: 8am - 4pm (daily)
Price: 12 USD per person / 25 USD per car
7. Go for kite surfing at Ho’okipa Beach Park
Ho’okipa Beach Park is the best and most well-known place on the island to go kite surfing, and possibly even the world. With the strong winds and large waves, it is the perfect place to windsurf. If you’re feeling sporty and adventurous, try out one of the new water sports and activities in Maui. It can be quite dangerous so get some lessons or a professional to take you out to the sea. For those who aren’t so inclined, you can still enjoy the sight of the professional windsurfers catching the waves, as well as the beautiful seascape.
Ho’okipa Beach Park
Address: 179 Hana Hwy, Paia, HI 96779, USA
Website: Ho’okipa Beach Park
Opening hours: 5.30am - 7pm (daily)
8. Cycle through the streets of Lahaina
Lahaina is a historic town on the west side of Maui, and a popular town for many tourists to visit. This historical whaling town is even on the National Register of Historic Places. You can get to experience the old side of Lahaina along Front Street, Hale Paaho (Lahaina Prison), the Pioneer Inn, Maui’s oldest living banyan tree and other sites on the Lahaina Historic Trail. The modern side of the town has many art galleries and an array of shops and restaurants. Rent a bike and get around the town on bike, where you can explore the whole town and check out the best things to do in Maui in the afternoon.
Lahaina
Address: Lahaina, Hawaii
Website: Lahaina Town
9. Enjoy golfing at The Plantation Course at Kapalua
Take a break from the sand and surf of Maui with some fun non-beach things to do, such as golf. The Plantation Course is constantly ranked as the best golf course in Hawaii, and playing at The Plantation Course is sure to be every golfer’s dream.
The course was designed meticulously with the intent of keeping with its location on the slopes of the West Maui Mountains and it gives you amazing sea views from almost every hole on the course. The course is located on the far west end of the island, north of the West Maui Forest Reserve.
The Plantation Course
Address: 2000, 8781, Plantation Club Dr, Lahaina, HI 96761, United States
Website: The Plantation Course
Opening hours: 6am - 6pm (daily)
Price: 229 USD (standard fee)
10. Try a zipline adventure (from USD 214.0)
This activity is definitely not for the faint-hearted, but definitely one of the most exciting and thrilling ways to explore the West Maui area and to enjoy the breathtaking views of the island. Take a drive up the West Maui Mountains to get to the zipline course and get to experience the best views of Maui on this Kaanapali zipline adventure. There are eight different ziplines where you will get to see the views of Molokai, Lanai, and the entire West Maui coastline. You can also get a history lesson from your professional guide, and also learn more about native plants and wildlife you will see on your hikes in between each zipline course.
8 Line Ka'anapali Zipline Adventure on Maui
Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes
11. Enjoy whale watching (from USD 57.0)
Whales are beautiful and majestic creatures, and you can get a rare opportunity to see them for yourselves in Maui! During the months of December to May, it is the whale migration period where the whales swim to the warm tropical waters of Maui to breed. It is also during this time that you can get the rare chance to catch these sea creatures swimming in the wild. This tour takes you on a whale-watching cruise with guaranteed whale sightings, as well as underwater videos and a hydrophone to hear the whale calls.
Favorite Oahu Whale Watch! (2 Hour Tour! Ala Wai Harbor, Oahu)
Duration: 2 hours
12. Explore 'what lies beneath' on a submarine tour (from USD 179.0)
On this unique and amazing tour, you can get a chance to explore Maui from the ocean floor, on a submarine tour! You can look out of port holes to see marine life, such as corals, all sorts of colourful fishes, and even reef sharks. All this in comfort on the Maui Atlantis Submarine, an air-conditioned submarine. During the whale migration season, from December to May, you could even get the rare chance to catch a glimpse of a whale on the journey out to the sub, or even underwater in its full glory.
Maui Atlantis Submarine Adventure
Duration: 2 hours
Enjoy the exploration of the beautiful island of Maui
Besides all of the typical tourist spots, it is the less known and more unique parts and experiences on this island that will make your trip to Maui memorable. Make sure to hit these few amazing spots and activities while on holiday in Maui! There are surf spots in Maui that are worth checking out as well.
Frequently asked questions about non-touristy things to do in Maui
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