Maui is the second largest of the Hawaiian Islands and is home to diverse landscapes including tropical rainforests, black sand beaches, dramatic waterfalls, densely forested mountains, and more. For those seeking to be away from the crowds, this island offers a more quiet experience compared to its neighbor Oahu.
In April 2024, Kevin and I visited Maui for the first time. While the island is stunning, what stood out to me was the people who clearly and deeply value their family, community, and island. Our visit to Kepaniwai Park on our last day was particularly memorable. The park was so lively and full—almost every picnic table was occupied by families and friends spending the day together. There were people barbequing in the picnic area, playing outdoor games, and hanging out in the nearby stream. Despite the separate groups at the park, most appeared to be intermingling—it felt like an unplanned, yet natural community get-together, and it was such a joy to experience.
To help plan (or inspire) your trip to Maui, keep reading for our 3-day itinerary and watch my YouTube video! I encourage you to visit mindfully and to support the locally-owned businesses as the island continues to recover and rebuild from the 2023 wildfire.
If you're interested in exploring more of Hawaiʻi, check out my blog post and YouTube video for a Big Island itinerary.
Table of Contents
Skip ahead to specific places on our itinerary!
• Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice in Kīhei • Tamura's Fine Wines & Liquors • Mākena Landing Park and Beach
Our 3-Day Itinerary in Maui
Day 1:
Maui Coffee Roasters: After flying into Kahului Airport and picking up our rental car, we headed over to Maui Coffee Roasters—a coffee shop located by the airport.
Kahiau’s Poke Truck: For lunch, we had poke at Kahiau’s Poke Truck which is one of several food trucks on the island. I had a poke bowl with fresh ahi, imitation crab, and cucumbers. Don't forget to try their sweet potato mac salad!
Jungle Zipline 5-Line Tour: The Jungle Zipline 5-Line Tour is a scenic, guided tour that takes you on five ziplines through a rainforest—our guides made sure we were (and felt) safe throughout the duration of the tour. This was our first time ziplining and it was such a fun experience!
Make a reservation here in advance.
Geste Shrimp Truck: After the zipline tour, Kevin and I shared a garlic shrimp plate with crab mac salad at Geste Shrimp Truck—a food truck known for their Hawaiian-style shrimp plates.
Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice in Kahului: Ululani’s is a popular spot on the island for classic Hawaiian shave ice. We shared a shave ice with vanilla ice cream and fresh mochi—and enjoyed it so much that we had it a second time on our last day at their Kīhei location!
Oki's Seafood Corner: Before settling into our Airbnb for the night, we stopped by Oki's Seafood Corner which is a fish market (and local favorite for poke) inside of the Kahului Foodland supermarket. We shared the shoyu salmon and spicy mayo ahi—both were so good.
Day 2:
Maui Coffee Attic: Our second day began with breakfast and coffee at Maui Coffee Attic, which is a neighborhood café located in a historic building. This was my favorite coffee shop that we visited during our stay—aside from the cozy interior and friendly staff, the outdoor seating offers views of the neighboring mountains.
Road to Hana: Road to Hana is an iconic, 64-mile drive on a very narrow, winding road (not for the faint-hearted) that ribbons through a lush rainforest, alongside a rugged coastline, and past a countless number of waterfalls. This road connects the town of Kahului to Hana with an abundance of sights to see. If you only have one day to explore, here is where we visited along our drive:
• Ho'okipa Beach Park: Ho'okipa Beach Park has some of the best waves on the island, making it a popular spot for surfing and windsurfing.
• Kaumahina State Wayside Park: Kaumahina State Wayside Park offers a bird's-eye view of the northeast Maui coastline.
• Aunty Sandy's Banana Bread: Aunty Sandy's is known for their homemade banana bread. They're a favorite amongst tourists and locals, and for good reason—their banana bread is perfectly moist, fluffy, warm, and sweet.
• Pua’a Ka’a Falls: There are close to 20 waterfalls on the Road to Hana. While many cannot be easily reached, Pua’a Ka’a Falls is accessible to anyone as it offers a well-paved path and viewing platform. The falls include an upper waterfall and a lower waterfall—both are picturesque, especially with all of the surrounding greenery.
• Wai'anapanapa State Park: Wai'anapanapa State Park was one of the highlights from our visit. Located on a volcanic coastline, this park is known for its black sand beaches, sea arches, and rocky cliffs formed by lava—it is stunning... and you'll also find adorable cats roaming the area! You can easily spend an entire day at this park. Make a reservation here in advance.
Da Soriano Grindz: After a half day exploring, we drove back and had a late lunch at Da Soriano Grindz—a food truck specializing in rice plates. Their mochiko chicken and garlic shrimp plate was delicious (and was one of the best Hawaiian-style shrimp I'd ever tried).
Kamaole Beach Park III: The rest of our day was spent at Kamaole Beach Park. This is the perfect place to watch the sunset and see sea turtles—during sunset, we spotted a few sea turtles hanging by rocks in the ocean!
Maui Brewing Company: Maui Brewing Company is a spacious, family-friendly brewery. We ended our day with drinks here—and got to enjoy live music!
Day 3:
Kalei’s Lunchbox: Kalei's Lunchbox is a local restaurant offering generous portions of Hawaiian-style breakfast. Kevin and I shared a loco moco, mahi plate, and macadamia nut pancakes—all of the dishes were great (and filling).
Wailuku Coffee Company: After breakfast, we headed to Wailuku Coffee Company which offers plenty of seating for those who enjoy a sit-down coffee shop.
ʻĪao Valley State Monument: ʻĪao Valley State Monument is a lush, densely forested valley surrounded by towering mountains. This historic site offers accessible walking paths with scenic views along the way, including a lookout to the 1,200-ft. ʻĪao Needle. ʻĪao Valley was one of my favorite places that we visited during our stay—it is incredibly beautiful and feels remote despite being only minutes from the town of Wailuku.
Make a reservation here in advance.
Kepaniwai Park and Heritage Gardens: Nestled in the ʻĪao Valley, Kepaniwai Park and Heritage Gardens is dedicated to preserving Maui's multicultural history with sites tailored to each of its ethnic groups. You can learn about the island's history while walking through the beautifully maintained gardens. The park also offers a grassy area with picnic tables—it's the perfect place to spend time outdoors with loved ones or by yourself.
Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice in Kīhei: Ululani’s location in Kīhei is very popular—while it can get busy, it's worth the wait! They offer a number of mix-and-match flavors and toppings to choose from. Kevin and I shared another shave ice with vanilla ice cream and mochi.
Tamura's Fine Wines & Liquors: Tucked away in Tamura's Fine Wines & Liquors is a hole-in-the-wall spot for poke. Once you enter the store, you'll find an unassuming counter offering a variety of fresh seafood—we shared the shoyu ahi and spicy mayo ahi.
Mākena Landing Park and Beach: Before our flight back home, we spent the rest of the day at Mākena Landing Park and Mākena Beach. Mākena Landing Park has a large, shallow bay that is popular for snorkeling and kayaking, and Mākena Beach is a long stretch of white sand beach with views of the nearby islands.
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