2 days in Maui

Day by day

1. Day 1: Haleakalā summit sunrise and Keoneheʻeheʻe (Sliding Sands) Trail

   Haleakalā summit sunrise, Keoneheʻeheʻe (Sliding Sands) Trail, Road to Hāna and Waiʻānapanapa State Park, then Kāʻanapali Beach and Black Rock in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Haleakalā summit sunrise

      The drive up from Kīhei or Kula takes about 1.5–2 hours in the dark. Temperatures at the top are often near freezing before dawn.

   2. Late morning

      Keoneheʻeheʻe (Sliding Sands) Trail

      A few kilometres in and back makes a strenuous half-day; the climb out at high altitude takes about twice as long as the descent.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Poke

      Supermarket poke counters and fish markets in Kahului and Kīhei; buy by the pound for a beach lunch.

   4. Afternoon

      Road to Hāna

      Stops include the Keʻanae Peninsula's lava coast, roadside banana-bread stands, the Garden of Eden arboretum and waterfalls such as Wailua Falls.

   5. Late afternoon

      Waiʻānapanapa State Park

      Swimming is often unsafe because of strong currents.

   6. Evening

      Kāʻanapali Beach and Black Rock

      Snorkel Black Rock in the morning when the water is calmer, then come back for the sunset ceremony.

2. Day 2: Molokini Crater snorkelling and Humpback whale watching

   Molokini Crater snorkelling, Humpback whale watching, Pīpīwai Trail and Waimoku Falls and Honolua Bay, then Haleakalā sunrise or sunset in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Molokini Crater snorkelling

      Clear water and coral inside the crescent attract reef fish, and snorkel boats leave Māʻalaea Harbor and Kīhei early each morning.

   2. Late morning

      Humpback whale watching

      Cruises leave Māʻalaea and Kāʻanapali, and whales are often visible from shore.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Plate lunch

      Drive-ins and lunch counters in Kahului, Wailuku and Kīhei.

   4. Afternoon

      Pīpīwai Trail and Waimoku Falls

      The same park pass covers the summit.

   5. Late afternoon

      Honolua Bay

      In calm summer conditions it has some of West Maui's best snorkelling over coral and boulders; in winter, big swells make it a renowned surf break best watched from the cliffs.

   6. Evening

      Haleakalā sunrise or sunset

      Watch the light spread across the clouds from the summit, wrapped in blankets.

Before you go

• Haleakalā summit sunrise: Sunrise visits require an advance vehicle reservation from the National Park Service on top of the park entrance fee; book as soon as your dates are set.
• Waiʻānapanapa State Park: Non-resident visitors need an advance entry and parking reservation for a specific time slot.
• Molokini Crater snorkelling: Reserve a day or more ahead in winter and on holidays; trips may be cancelled for wind.

If it rains

• Swap in Maui Ocean Center (Māʻalaea): Visit on a windy afternoon or a rainy day; it pairs well with a morning boat trip from the same harbour.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 25–35 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.9 hours in December to 13.4 hours in June.

Getting between stops: Car. A hire car is essential for exploring.

More or fewer days

• One day in Maui
• 3 days in Maui
• 5 days in Maui

Questions travellers ask