Maui is a dream vacation destination – full of beautiful beaches, stunning landscapes, and mouth-watering local food, it’s easy to see why! The town of Kihei, located on Maui’s southwest shore, is one of the best places to stay due to the large number of things to do nearby! With plenty of food and accommodations, plus great activities within a 30-45 minute drive, you won’t be bored on this trip.
Read on to learn about my favorite things to do in (and around) Kihei!
Top Things to Do in Kihei, Maui
There’s not much better than a Hawaiian beach!
Relax at the Beach
Let’s face it, most people go to Hawaii hoping to spend some time relaxing on one of this state’s many gorgeous beaches. And while there are plenty of other things to do in Maui, you definitely should spend at least an afternoon relaxing in the sun.
One of the great things about Hawaii’s beaches is that they are all accessible to the public! That’s right – there are no private beaches (although most hotels and resorts have a section of the beach where they suggest their guests visit). That means there are essentially endless options of beaches for you to choose from!
Makena Beach (also known as Big Beach) south of Kihei is a popular option because of how big it is! Nearby Little Beach is famously known as a nude beach if you’re looking for a more adventurous option.
No matter where you choose to visit, you’re sure to enjoy a warm day of relaxation in the sand and surf.
Yummmmm!
Cool Down with Ululani’s Shave Ice
One of the most popular desserts in Hawaii is shave ice! If you’re unfamiliar with this tasty treat, it’s essentially a snow cone with syrups or juices on top, and is sometimes served with ice cream as well. After a hot day at the beach, you’ll definitely be craving one of these, and there’s no better place to get one than Ululani’s.
There are several ice cream flavors for you to choose from, as well as tons of syrup flavor combinations. I got coconut ice cream topped with shave ice and passion fruit, orange, and guava juices. It was incredible! Packed with flavor and so refreshing. Don’t miss this iconic spot during your visit.
Snorkeling at Molokini! The water was so blue and there were tons of fish!
Snorkel at Molokini Crater
I’ve said this in other posts on the blog, but one of my favorite things to do in a destination is to get out on the water. You get such a new perspective of the place you’re visiting!
As an island destination, there’s no shortage of water adventures in Maui. However, you can’t leave without going snorkeling! There are tons of places to do it around the island, but the best is at Molokini Crater.
About Molokini Crater
Molokini Crater is a half-submerged old volcano that has created a coral reef about three miles offshore from Maui. Over 250 marine species and 38 types of coral make their home here! You can see a crescent moon of land visible above the water, with the rest ranging from about 20 to 50 feet below the surface. This crescent shields much of the inside of the crater from the strong inter island winds and currents, creating a still and peaceful spot for snorkelers! It is also a federally protected seabird sanctuary, so visitors cannot go on the island (or even approach it) or touch the coral reef below.
While there are several companies that will take you snorkeling to the crater, I would recommend Calypso or Alii Nui. Alii Nui is more on the luxurious side, while Calypso is a larger boat with slides. We went on the Calypso tour and loved it. It was $120 a person and included breakfast and lunch and provided snorkel gear.
Seriously, the water was so clear.
Snorkeling at the Crater
Most tours will leave Maalaea Harbor (slightly north of Kihei) early in the morning, as conditions are best for snorkeling at that time. Our tour left at 7:30 am. The boat ride from the harbor to the crater took about 45 minutes, during which time we ate breakfast, were briefed on safety protocols, and kept an eye out for whales! Humpback whales are most common in Hawaii in November through late April, when they come to Hawaii during their winter migration. We went in mid-April and were lucky to see several whales during our tour!
The tour will provide a snorkel mask, fins, and you can even rent an underwater camera. We rented a GoPro, but they had a photographer on staff taking pictures you could purchase. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that they also offer prescription goggles, so I could see underwater even without my glasses!
You’ll have about an hour at the crater to snorkel. The visibility here was incredibly clear, unlike anywhere else I’ve snorkeled. It felt almost like looking through glass down to the bottom. And there were tons of fish swimming around! My favorites were the shimmery blue ones!
One of my favorite snorkeling experiences to date!
Bonus: Looking for Turtles
Next, it’s back on the boat to head to a second location to look for sea turtles! Green sea turtles are native to Hawaii, but also endangered, so it is illegal to touch them, swim up to them, or even swim in front of them and get in their way! Our tour was supposed to take us to Turtle Town, where there are turtles every day, but sadly conditions weren’t right for it, so we went to another inlet on the island. While still a fun snorkel destination, this wasn’t nearly as clear as Molokini and unfortunately we didn’t get to see any turtles. I definitely recommend trying to visit Turtle Town and see a green turtle on your Maui trip!
At the end of the day, you’ll eat lunch as the boat takes the long way back to the harbor to give passengers a chance to see more whales or dolphins. We got lucky and had several dolphins join us for a few minutes! They swam at the front of the boat, jumping out of the water every few paces. It was magical!
Most tours will run about 5 hours. I cannot recommend doing this enough – it was one of my favorite mornings on Maui!
Get Your Caffeine Fix at Akamai Coffee
Akamai Coffee had some of my favorite coffee on the island! It was smooth and delicious, and made right on Maui. We brought some on our snorkeling tour to Molokini, and one of the guides said it was their favorite coffee too!
In addition to coffee, Akamai has breakfast and pastry items as well.
The interior of the shop is really cute as well! Definitely don’t miss this spot.
One of my favorite views in Maui.
Explore Iao Valley State Monument
When I first saw pictures of Iao Valley State Monument, I thought, “ah, this is Hawaii!” The sharp contours of the mountains are covered in lush forest that give off that iconic South Pacific vibe. I’m happy to report that it was even more gorgeous in person than in the photos.
This west Maui gem is an easy afternoon trip from Kihei. There is a small parking lot at the end of the road leading up to the park. When you get to the entrance, there is a parking attendant who will help you purchase both entrance and parking tickets. Entrance is $5 for non-residents and parking is $10. I noticed some visitors parked along the road so they could skip the parking fees. Although this is a small park, I don’t mind paying both for entrance and parking, as the fees go towards helping with the preservation of this beautiful natural wonder.
After you enter, there are a few signs you can read that discuss the history of the park and its cultural significance. Specifically, this is the site of a major battle where the first king of Hawaii, Kamehameha I, defeated the local Maui army, thus unifying the Hawaiian islands for the first time. I love learning about the significance of where I’m visiting in addition to appreciating its natural beauty.
As an obsessed plant mom, these giant monstera leaves were EVERYTHING.
Trails Around the Park
The main trail in the park is a short, paved 0.6 mile trek up to an observation point, where you can get a closer look at the Iao needle that sticks straight up almost 1,200 feet in the air. On the left side of this observation deck, beyond the fence, there is an unofficial dirt trail that you can take to continue hiking up the mountainside. While not marked, it was quite well maintained and clearly well traveled – we saw several other groups hiking in this area as well. We continued for about another half mile up this trail, but once the trail turned away from the cliffside (and away from the views) we turned back. I definitely recommend hiking shoes if you’re going to do this – it’s steep and can get muddy!
As you leave the observation deck, if you stay to the right, you can explore another area of the park near the river. This is a popular area for swimming when the water is calm!
After you loop around the river, there is a botanical garden you can walk through on your way back to the parking lot. The focus of the garden is on plants brought to Hawaii by its original settlers.
While Iao Valley State Monument is a small park, it was one of the most beautiful places we visited on Maui, and is definitely a must visit!
My mouth is watering just looking at this taco picture!
Eat Hawaii’s Best Tacos at Coconut’s Fish Cafe
Coconut’s Fish Cafe proudly serves up one of the best tacos in Hawaii (and the country!), so you definitely can’t miss a meal here. Their fish tacos are made with grilled mahi mahi and ono, then piled high with 7 layers of goodness including coleslaw, mango salsa, tomato salsa, and cheese (my mouth is watering just thinking about them). Each order comes with two tacos, and trust me, you won’t want to share.
There are a few Coconut’s locations around Maui. The one in Kihei is in a strip mall. Don’t be turned off by this – the casual beachy vibes inside are a perfect compliment to the food.
If you’re thirsty, stop by Wow Wow Lemonade Stand a few doors down after lunch. They serve fresh pressed lemonades with amazing flavor combinations. You’ll have a hard time choosing just one!
All smiles after a day in the water!
Take a Surfing Lesson with Maui Surfer Girls
No trip to Hawaii would be complete without a surf lesson. After all, Hawaii is widely considered to be the birthplace of modern day surfing! While I personally did not take a surf lesson, my wife Kelly did, and she has graciously agreed to provide her input for this section:
Surfing has always been a pipe dream of mine (pun intended). My love of Nickelodeon’s early 2000s hit show Rocket Power coupled with a brief introduction to the sport in the Outer Banks of North Carolina as a preteen cemented my obsession and led to my mom once referring to me as a “wannabe beach bum”. Ouch.
For my Hawaiian surfing lesson, I decided to book with Maui Surfer Girls. This surf school is one of Maui’s oldest and their instructors (most of whom are female) have over 40 years of combined surf instruction experience. Maui Surfer Girls offers a variety of lesson types, from private, one-on-one sessions to groups of up to eight. Regardless, they keep their student to instructor ratio at 4:1, ensuring you receive plenty of individual attention and assistance. I chose a two-hour group surf lesson, which costs about $94 per person, and should be sufficient for most beginners.
Land Lesson
The surf school’s lessons are located at Ukumehame Beach Park, a beach in West Maui slightly north of Kihei. Maui Surfer Girls will provide everything you need: booties to protect your feet from the reef you’ll be surfing over, a rash guard to protect your skin from both the sun and the board’s rough texture, and, of course, a surfboard!
The day starts with a land lesson. Maui Surfer Girls not only teaches you how to paddle and stand, they also arm you with important information about surf history, science, and ethics.
She did it!
Getting in the Water and Standing Up
After the land lesson, you will paddle out into the channel and the instructor will lead one surfer at a time into the waves. When it’s your turn, they will make sure you’re lined up correctly, give you a little push into the wave, and guide you through the process of standing up and balancing.
During the two-hour lesson, you’ll have about five opportunities to catch a wave (I even stood up for a couple of them!). Five opportunities may not seem like much, but trust me, your shoulders will appreciate the break from all the hard paddling you’ll be doing. Also keep in mind that these waves are only about two feet high. You won’t be expected to surf any double overheads here. For that, head over to Jaws.
Overall, I found the entire experience to be so empowering (albeit incredibly exhausting – what a workout!). A surf lesson with Maui Surfer Girls should definitely be on your list of must-dos in Maui!
I could drink this beer every day.
Taste Craft Beers at Maui Brewing Company
There’s not much better than a cold beer on a hot day (at least, in my opinion). And since Maui Brewing Company makes some of the best craft brews on the island, you can’t miss a stop here after a long day in the sun!
Their main location in Kihei has a large outdoor patio for visitors to enjoy. Here, you can order beer in flights or full pours, as well as food. While you can’t go wrong, my absolute favorite was the Pineapple Mana. This wheat beer is made with Maui gold pineapples that give it the perfect hint of sweetness. (We even brought a 6-pack home with us in our suitcase…shh!) Their food menu includes tasty pub-style food including burgers, flatbreads, and fish tacos.
You can also go on a brewery tour for $15 a person. This hour-long tour will take you through the brewhouse, cellar, and packaging line, and even ends with a tasting!
Drive Through the Lava Fields
Just south of Kihei, you will find yourself quickly leaving resort territory and entering the untamed lava fields. These jagged rocks are remnants of one of Haleakala’s last eruptions about 200 years ago.
You can drive a few miles into the fields along a narrow road – be careful as it does get a little rough. This section of the fields is closed and can only be viewed from your car. However, at the end of the road, there is a gravel parking lot where you can get out and explore further! There is access to the ocean as well as a hiking trail.
We stumbled upon this road during our trip and were so glad we did! It was unlike any other place we had visited on this unique island.
The coast of Kihei at sunset…simply stunning.
Know Before You Go
It’s no secret that everything on Maui is super expensive – after all, most things have to be flown in! To get an idea of what to expect, most of our meals dining out were at least $15-20 per plate, many cocktails were $15 or more, and most hotels or resorts run upwards of $500 per night (even for a standard room).
To help keep our costs reasonable, we employed a few key strategies that can help you save money too! First, we stayed at mostly Airbnbs, which were around $300 per night. We also went grocery shopping a few times and made most of our meals in our rentals. However, we’re big foodies, so it was important to us to still try local restaurants too! To balance cost with local experience, we went out to eat about one meal per day, usually at an off time to hold us over. This worked really well!
Finally, we also went souvenir shopping at the grocery store. Sounds weird? It’s actually one of my favorite things to do! There is typically a local products section of the store where you can buy local treats like chocolate covered macadamia nuts, hawaiian sea salt, and local fruit candies. My favorites were chocolate and coconut covered macadamia nuts, black hawaiian lava salt, and a few types of beer and wine :)
Getting There
There are quite a few direct flights from the mainland US to Maui’s Kahului Airport (OGG). We were lucky and even found one direct from Chicago (where we live) to Maui! There are even more flights direct to Honolulu where you can connect to Maui via a short, 40-minute flight. This is common especially for travelers who want to visit multiple islands on their trip.
Once in Maui, I recommend renting a car to drive yourself around the island. This allows for ultimate freedom to explore! The roads in Maui are well maintained (even the Road to Hana!), so a sedan should be sufficient. Rental car reservations can fill up fast, so I recommend booking one as soon as you can.
The view from our Airbnb…not too shabby, eh?
Where to Stay
Kihei (and luxurious Wailea directly to the south) is full of resorts and hotels. I was honestly shocked at how expensive even a normal Marriott or Hilton property ran! Instead, I recommend a rental home. We stayed in this condo right across the street from the ocean. It’s just a few minutes from all the Kihei restaurants, but private enough to give you a taste of beach living in Maui. The beaches and parks across the street are filled with locals catching the morning waves – I don’t know about you, but I much prefer this to the tourist packed resort beaches. Make sure you spend some time just walking around and enjoying the shoreline parks with the locals!
Packing Considerations
The climate in Maui is quite diverse, so it can be hard to know what to pack! Layers will be your best bet here so you’re prepared for anything.
For water activities, ensure you have a swimsuit and reef-safe sunscreen. For hiking, I recommend hiking boots and exercise clothes. There are occasional rain showers in the rainforest, so a light rain jacket would be good to have as well. For walking around in Kihei, breathable clothes and shorts will help keep you cool.
So much love for this inclusive state!
LGBTQ+ Considerations
Hawaii is a very LGBTQ+ friendly state, and we felt very welcomed during our visit! In fact, same-sex relationships and non-binary individuals were common in pre-colonial Hawaiian society. After Hawaii became a state, it was the first to legalize same-sex sexual activity, and has a wide variety of legal protections for queer folks.
One thing to keep in mind is that many resorts in Hawaii are still very heteronormative. We stayed in a nice resort in Wailea and were welcomed with a “Dear Mr. and Mrs.” note. While this is relatively harmless, it’s still eye roll-worthy and something you should be prepared for in case it happens to you too.
Read more: Top Safety Tips for Queer Travelers
Overall
With so many amazing things to do in and around Kihei, it really is the perfect spot to visit in Maui!
Do you have other favorite things to do in Kihei? Let me know in the comments below!
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