One day 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

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

   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. Allow 3–5 hours.

   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. Allow Full day.

   5. Late afternoon

      Waiʻānapanapa State Park

      Walk the coastal trail south from the beach for sea arches and fewer people. Allow 1–2 hours.

   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.

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.

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 16–23 hours of visiting over one day, 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

• 2 days in Maui
• 3 days in Maui
• 5 days in Maui

Questions travellers ask