5 days in Maui

Day by day

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

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

   1. Morning

      Haleakalā summit sunrise

      Bring warm layers, a hat and gloves; if you miss sunrise, sunset and stargazing at the summit are equally striking and need no reservation. (Half a day including the drive, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Keoneheʻeheʻe (Sliding Sands) Trail

      Start in the morning, carry plenty of water and sun protection, and turn back while you still have energy for the climb. (3–5 hours, low cost).

   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

      Leave by 7am, fill the tank in Pāʻia, pull over to let locals pass, and never park in or walk along the narrow road. (Full day, free).

   5. 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: Waiʻānapanapa State Park and Molokini Crater snorkelling

   Waiʻānapanapa State Park, Molokini Crater snorkelling and Humpback whale watching, then Haleakalā sunrise or sunset in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Waiʻānapanapa State Park

      Walk the coastal trail south from the beach for sea arches and fewer people. (1–2 hours, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Molokini Crater snorkelling

      Book the earliest departure, when the sea is calmest; many trips add a second stop at a turtle site. (Half a day, expensive).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Plate lunch

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

   4. Afternoon

      Humpback whale watching

      Look for spouts from McGregor Point lookout on the road between Māʻalaea and the west side; the peak is January to March. (2 hours, mid-priced).

   5. Evening

      Haleakalā sunrise or sunset

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

3. Day 3: Pīpīwai Trail and Waimoku Falls and Honolua Bay

   Pīpīwai Trail and Waimoku Falls, Honolua Bay and Hoʻokipa Beach Park, then Overnight in Hāna in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Pīpīwai Trail and Waimoku Falls

      Allow 2–3 hours, wear shoes that can get muddy, and check flash-flood warnings; streams rise quickly in heavy rain. (2–3 hours, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Honolua Bay

      Enter from the rocky shore carefully, and only snorkel when the water is flat; skip it after heavy rain, when visibility drops. (2–3 hours, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Loco moco

      Local diners and breakfast spots across the island.

   4. Afternoon

      Hoʻokipa Beach Park

      Watch from the lookout or the beach rather than swimming; keep a respectful distance from resting turtles. (1 hour, free).

   5. Evening

      Overnight in Hāna

      Stay in Hāna to have Waiʻānapanapa and the Pīpīwai Trail almost to yourselves early in the morning.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Hāna town and Hāmoa Beach

   About 2.5–3 hours each way by car each way. Getting there: Car on the Hāna Highway.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Hāna town and Hāmoa Beach

      About 2.5–3 hours each way by car (Car on the Hāna Highway); about 85 km.

   2. Day

      Hāna town and Hāmoa Beach

      The quiet village at the end of the Road to Hāna has Hāmoa Beach, a crescent of grey sand under cliffs, a small cultural centre and the Hasegawa General Store. Best for couples and quiet stays.

   3. Evening

      Back in Maui

      Dinner: try Shave ice.

5. Day 5: Wailea Beach Path and Mākena Big Beach (Oneloa)

   Wailea Beach Path, Mākena Big Beach (Oneloa) and Maui Ocean Center, then Sunset sail from Kāʻanapali in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Wailea Beach Path

      Walk it at sunrise before the heat, or at sunset with a drink at one of the resort bars at the end. (1 hour, free).

   2. Late morning

      Mākena Big Beach (Oneloa)

      Body-surf only if you are experienced; on rough days, enjoy it from the sand and swim at the calmer Wailea beaches. (2–3 hours, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Shave ice

      Shave-ice stands in Kīhei, Pāʻia and Kāʻanapali.

   4. Afternoon

      Maui Ocean Center

      Visit on a windy afternoon or a rainy day; it pairs well with a morning boat trip from the same harbour. (2 hours, mid-priced).

   5. Evening

      Sunset sail from Kāʻanapali

      Catamaran cruises leave from the beach for sunset, with whales in winter.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Haleakalā summit sunrise, Waiʻānapanapa State Park and Molokini Crater snorkelling before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 nights, Kāʻanapali keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Kapalua and Nāpili ($$$$) suits couples, quiet stays, luxury and beach. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 31–42 hours of visiting over 5 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.9 hours in December to 13.4 hours in June.

More or fewer days

• One day in Maui
• 2 days in Maui
• 3 days in Maui

Questions travellers ask