Tiffany & Thomas
Things To Do
Best Beaches: Kamaole Beach Park 1 and 2 (Kam 1 and Kam 2)
We may be a bit biased in our recommendation of the best beaches and to be fair, we haven't been to a beach on maui that we didn't like, these are just our two favorites. They are located on either side of the Royal Mauian where we will be staying. Our favorite is Kam 2 because it offers a bit more shade from the midday sun. This beach, as well as Kam 1, are family friendly and close to most of the South Kihei condos. If you are looking for us, you'll probably find us hanging out on Kam 2 π₯°
Restaurants
We will just go ahead a make a list of some of our favorite restaurants all under one category instead of multiple! Monkeypod (they have the best mai tai on the island), Pita Paradise (sounds like a sandwich shop but its not, it's greek food), Cafe O'Lei, 3's Bar and Grill (great happy hour), Moose McGillicuddy's (Wednesday burger night or any night really), Cuatro (small and more upscale although it is BYOB :) and definitely need reservations), Kihei Cafe (best breakfast), Paia Fish Market (best fish tacos), Fabiani's (Italian Food), Maui Brewing, Flat Bread Company (best pizza), Kula Bistro (great food and BYOB :) ), Fleetwood's on Front Street, Coconut's Fish Cafe, Nalu (best poke bowls), Beach Bum's (best BBQ), Ami Ami....This is by far not an all inclusive list of great places to eat on the island just a suggestion of some of our favorites! We hope you will be able to try out a few we know you won't be disappointed! π
Snorkeling in Kihei
Our favorite place to snorkel is right in front of The Royal Mauian Condo complex which is in between Kamaole Beach Park 1 and Kamaole Beach Park 2. There is easy sandy beach access to the reef. Kamaole Beach Park 2 has less wave action so it is a bit easier to enter the water from that beach. Snorkeling is best done in the morning when the water is nice and smooth and visibility is at it's best. In the afternoon trade winds can pick up, creating a bit chop on the water. There are a ton of green sea turtles and fish to be seen! We have never been snorkeling in the spot without seeing at least one turtle! There are other snorkeling spots around the island that are likely great as well, we just find this one super convenient and there is always plenty to see! There are snorkel rental shops right by the beach so you can get any equipment you may need.
Kayaking
Ocean kayaking on Maui is really fun! We recommend going out in the morning and bringing lots of water and sunscreen. We have seen dolphins, turtles, flying fish and whales! We like to go kayak fishing sometimes for small fish, no fishing license is necessary. It can be a lot of fun and you never know what you are going to catch. Tiffany caught an octopus one time! There are kayaks for rent right by the beach and Tiff's parents also have a two-person kayak that we are happy to bring to the beach for our friends and family to use if that is of interest.
Boogie/Body Boarding
There are small waves right in Kihei that are great for boogie/bodyboarding. Many of the condos have boogie boards in the rooms but they can also be rented just across the street from the beach. The waves in Kihei are small but they are great for families and kids/people just learning to boogie board.
Hana Highway
This is a beautiful drive to the other side of the island in the lush rain forest. Though the distance is short, only 64 miles, the road has a lot of twist and turns with one lane bridges where you'll yield to oncoming traffic so allow 3 hours each way. It may not be the best trip for those who are easily car sick or for kiddos who get bored on long car rides. Once you are in Hana there are a few neat things to see and do. We recommend Waianapanapa State park, there is a nice walking trail that takes you to a black sand beach. There is another nearby beach with red sand that is called Koki beach. The Pipiwai trail which takes you through an amazing bamboo forest, this is a must see. The seven sacred pools, there is a small trail system which follows a creek with multiple waterfalls and you guessed it, 7 pools π You can drive through Hana instead of doubling back but we (and your rental car company) recommend you come back the way you came as the through road is even more narrow.
La Perouse Bay
If you are looking for a beautiful drive through the lava fields this one is for you and it is not a long drive! This will take you south of Kihei and through Wailea. Once you reach the end of the road there are hiking trails that go through some lava and take you to a few coarse sand beaches. If you plan to hike we recommend tennis shoes to avoid cutting your feet on the sharp rocks! Some people surf and snorkel in this area, though the ocean can be a bit more rough is this area and is more notorious for more shark activity so be cautious. We enjoy this spot primarily for the beautiful drive, scenery once you arrive and the hiking more than for a beach day.
Haleakala Crater
We highly recommend taking a drive up to the Haleakala Crater! Any time of the day is beautiful but people particularly enjoy sunrise and sunset. You do need advanced passes if you plan to go for sunrise. No matter the time of day there is an entry fee since it is a National Park. Make sure to bring warm clothes because it is usually very chilly at top of the mountain, it is about 10,000 feet in elevation. There is a rare plant that grows only in Hawaii at high elevations that you will be able to see there as well called a Silversword. There are also popular bike trips where you ride down all or part of the road from Haleakala, we have never done it but if you are interested it might be something fun to check out! Whether you bike or drive we definitely recommend a trip up to Haleakala on a clear day!
Iao Valley State Monument
On a clear day this is a beautiful but is best to get an early start as it tends to get a cloud cover in the area in the afternoon. There is a small fee, we think it was $5 last time we visited. It has short hiking trails that are family friendly and primarily take you to view points to see the land formation known as Iao or "the needle." Iao Valley holds a lot of ancient Hawaiian history that we will not be reviewing here, but we will let you find out for yourselves! βΊοΈ
Paia, Maui
This is a super fun and laid back hippie/surfer town! Our favorite things about Paia are the cute shops and tasty restaurants! One of our favorite restaurants here is the Flatbread Company and our favorite pizza there is the Mopsy. It has Kalua pork and pineapple (we know, some people don't believe in pineapple on pizza, but trust us, this one is so good). Our other favorite is Paia Fish Market, their fish tacos are phenomenal! If you don't make it to Paia and you are still craving a Paia Fish Market taco, you are in luck as they also have a location right in Kihei! There are also lots of beaches in Paia but we don't really frequent them much due to having great beaches right in Kihei!
Nakalele Point
We recommend taking a drive from Kihei and through Lahaina and Kanapali to Nakele Point. This is a beautiful drive and not a winding road when approached from this direction. Nakele point is a short hike down to a blowhole/natural geyser created by rock formations and the ocean. It is a hike through lava so we recommend closed toed shoes. We have seen kids down there before but it there are a couple of kind of tricky spots for smaller kids. The road does continue past Nakele Point and comes out eventually in Wailuku but it is very narrow, some one lane areas and has lots of twists and turns. There are a few areas where we have had to back up to allow hog hunters to pass us as it is a rural road used mostly by locals. We have taken this road before a few times and to our knowledge is it not a road forbidden by rental car companies but be cautious if you decide to take it.
Hoβokipa
Ho'okipa is a beach is just past Paia on the Hana Highway and it is really fun to visit. There are huge waves, 10 feet or more, and is where the really good surfers, wind surfers and kite boarders like to go. It is a great place to watch the semi-pro athletes. There is a view point with a parking lot as well as a lower parking lot with beach access where you can watch from the shore. It is amazing how much talent these kite boarders, wind surfers and surfers have! This is a pretty windy area and is more for observation than swimming.
Makawao
Makawao is a cute town located in an area that is termed "upcountry." It has a country vibe with cute (some kind of pricey) and restaurants. It is also home to the Komodo Bakery which has been there since 1916 and has delicious doughnuts! They sell out fast so if you head up there in the afternoon there is a good chance they will be gone! Since this town is a little higher elevation we (Tiff π) recommend bringing a light jacket. It is a beautiful drive and has views down to the valley and ocean below.
Lahaina
Lahaina is a great town but is a bit more tourist oriented. One of the areas we like to visit is Front Street in Lahaina. It has a lot of shopping for both souvenirs and clothing. They do have some shops with cute and affordable beach attire if you are in the market for a new sundress, board shorts or flip flops! There are a ton of great restaurants there as well. One place we highly recommend for happy hour, appetizers and dessert is Kimo's. They have a great view right on the water where you can often watch parasail boats and sometimes turtles swim right up to the shore! They have a dessert called Hula Pie that is awesome. It is actually more like an ice cream cake with fudge and whipped cream! Trust us, if you order Hula Pie, you won't be disappointed! There is a beach called baby beach in Lahaina also that is great for small kids because it is shallow! There is a lot to see in Lahaina but those are some of the highlights!
Twin Falls Maui Waterfall
This is a fun and beautiful hike for adults and older kids. It is a hike that meanders through the rain forest and takes you to a waterfall that you can swim in if you like. There can be a river cross that you may have to wade across so definitely bring water friendly hiking shoes/shoes you don't mind getting muddy. We have been there when the water is waist deep so sometimes it is not as friendly for small kids. We recommend an early start for this one also as it can be a bit busier because it is well known. It is in the rain forest so we also recommend bug spray! There have been occasional flash floods in the area it is rare but we feel it is worth mentioning to just be aware if it is raining or if there has been a lot of rain on that side of the island.
Maui Ocean Center
This is a great place to take kids to learn about ocean life on maui and see sea creatures up close! We have not been before but our nieces will tell you it is a pretty fun place to go!
Surfing
There is a surfing beach for beginners right in Kihei! They also have surf lessons in Kihei with nice gentle waves if you want to give it a try. There are also surf board rentals if you already know what you are doing or have specific preferences on boards etc. They also have SUP Boards if you are interested in that as well. You can also rent boards and take them to other beaches if you have somewhere else in mind that you would rather go surfing, but Kihei is a nice place to start if you are a beginner. If you have surfed before and you are interested in trying out some different spots, talk to Tiff and she is happy to point you in the right direction!
Helicopter Ride
If you are interested in seeing Maui or neighboring islands from an aerial view we do recommend a helicopter trip. If you are prone to motion sickness though, this one may not be for you!