5 Great Things to do on Maui, Hawaii
Nestled amongst teal blue waters lays the beautiful island of Maui, Hawaii. If you are the type of traveler who enjoys spending more time doing fun things and having a carefree vacation, Maui is the place for you. This second largest island of Hawaii has amazing food, farmers markets, nature, shopping and if the ocean is your thing, Maui beachfront rentals are some of the best in the world.
Maui is the second largest island of the Hawaiian islands and the 17th largest island in the United States. It has a diverse landscape, geology and topography making it difficult for guests to lose interest in its beauty. Once you actually get to the island, everything becomes easy and locals have a friendly and welcoming charm for visitors.
If you are looking for your next awesome vacation destination, here are five great things you can do on Maui:
Spend the Day at the Beach
For those visitors that might be making a long flight to get to Maui, spending your first day or two on the beach is a great way to unwind and get over any jet lag you may have. Maui has some of the best beaches in the world and for almost a zero cost day you can hang out on them all you want. Add in a snorkel and you will open up a beautiful underwater world to explore. Competition drives snorkel rentals down to as low as $1.50 a day in some places. If you’d rather have your own set so you can go as many times as you want and for how long you want, for about $20 you can buy your own snorkel set. If you do this, just make sure you get a dry snorkel so that if you dip down to get a better look at something water won’t come in your snorkel. A few favorite spots for snorkeling are Black Rock in Kaahapali Beach, Ulua Beach, Honolulu Bay, Ho’ikipa Beach Park and Kama’ole Beach Parks. Always remember that even though those colors look so beautiful, never touch or stand on them. Not only does it take hundreds of years for coral to grow back but you can serious cuts from coral that become infected very easily.
Rent Awesome Accommodation
If you are looking for a place to live it up a bit Maui is the place to do it. Maui has some amazing rental options right on the beach that are so nice you just might never feel the need to leave your place (and that’s ok!) Travelers are now realizing the benefits of renting an entire unit or private villa instead of the traditional hotel booking option. This way you still can enjoy all the creature comforts of home yet still have some additional posh luxuries to remind you that you are indeed on vacation. If you are traveling with a group of friends or as a family, the cost of splitting a place can be surprisingly reasonable. Plus the best part, you can select to be right by the beach and watch those dreamy sunrises and sunsets from the comforts of your own pad.
Go to the Swap Meet
Famous around the island, the Maui Swap Meet is an event not to be missed. With an entry price of $0.50 cents inclusive of unlimited reentry and free parking this is one of the best deals on the island. Over 200 venders come to sell their fresh produce, fruits, homemade soaps, shaved ice, arts, crafts and just about everything else in between. Bargaining is still accepted here however to increase your chances, try to go to the venders farther away from the entrance. Bringing your own bags, carrying a big water bottle and having small cash bills on hand will help you fit in like the locals. A farmers market is happening every day somewhere on the island so if you can’t make to the actual Swap Meet, there should still be something happening nearby to you.
Look for Whales
Maui is highly regarded worldwide as a prime humpback whale watching location. The peak times for whale watching is generally from about January to mid-March. Every year humpback whales migrate down from Alaska to the Au’au Channel in West Maui to breed and nurse their young. Visitors can often see whales from shore at Papawai Scenic Lookout between Ma’alaea and Lahaina. During high season this parking lot can fill up quickly. So remember you are all there on vacation to have a nice time and be a courteous visitor and do not block the road. Plenty of options are also available if you would prefer to go out on a boat tour as well.
Find a Happy Hour
Around the island Happy Hour is a happening thing on Maui. A lot of restaurants and bars have great happy hour deals and you as the visitor can save some serious money. A lot places also offer some sort of special or put a selection of their appetizers at 50% off. With $5 house wines, $3 wells and $3 drafts, Three Bars Grill in Kihli is a great value place to try in town. Monkeypod Kitchen in Wailea has one of the larger selections of microbrews on the island with 36 to choose from. If you do go there, definitely try the garlic truffle fries for only $5 and pair it with Maui Brewing Company Big Swell India Pale Ale.
As you work towards planning your next vacation, let the relaxing sounds of waves crashing against the beach and the strumming of guitar strings fill your head, Maui is waiting for you.