For couples · Maui · United States
Romantic things to do in Maui
Ideas for a couples' trip, from small moments to a special day out.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Forest & Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0
Quick answer
Maui is one of Hawaiʻi's top honeymoon islands: luxury resorts in Wailea and Kapalua, sunsets over Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi, and adventures from sunrise on Haleakalā to waterfalls on the Road to Hāna. Couples tend to stay in Kapalua and Nāpili.
Key facts
- Romantic ideas
- 6
- Couple-friendly sights
- 6
- Area for couples
- Kapalua and Nāpili
- Best months
- April–May and September–October
Romantic ideas
1.Haleakalā sunrise or sunset
Watch the light spread across the clouds from the summit, wrapped in blankets.
2.Overnight in Hāna
Stay in Hāna to have Waiʻānapanapa and the Pīpīwai Trail almost to yourselves early in the morning.
3.Sunset sail from Kāʻanapali
Catamaran cruises leave from the beach for sunset, with whales in winter.
4.Wailea Beach Path at dusk
Walk the coastal path at sunset, then dine at a resort restaurant overlooking the sea.
5.Upcountry winery and lavender
Taste wine at ʻUlupalakua and walk the lavender fields in Kula with views over the island.
6.Oceanfront dinner on the north shore
Several restaurants near Pāʻia and Kūʻau serve fresh fish on the water's edge; book ahead.
Sights couples love
Viewpoint · Haleakalā National Park
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.
- Time needed
- Half a day including the drive
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- Nature
- Photo spot
- Couples
Experience · Māʻalaea and South Maui
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.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Kids
- Nature
- Couples
Beach · Kāʻanapali
Kāʻanapali Beach and Black Rock
Snorkel Black Rock in the morning when the water is calmer, then come back for the sunset ceremony.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Couples
- After dark
Waterfront · Wailea
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.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Couples
- Views
- Outdoors
Beach · Wailea
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.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Photo spot
- Couples
- Outdoors
Experience · Upcountry (Makawao and Kula)
Upcountry farms and ʻUlupalakua
Combine it with a Haleakalā sunset rather than sunrise, so you drive the farm roads in daylight.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Views
- Couples
- Off the beaten path
Where couples should stay
$$$$ · Best for couples, quiet stays, luxury and beach
Kapalua and Nāpili
North of Kāʻanapali, Nāpili and Kapalua have small crescent bays such as Nāpili Bay and Kapalua Bay, low-rise condos, a luxury resort area and the coastal trail. Honolua Bay's marine reserve is a short drive. It is greener and breezier than the south side and the furthest area from the airport.
- Good
- Sheltered bays for swimming and turtles; Quiet and scenic; Condos with kitchens
- Watch out
- Furthest from the airport and Haleakalā; Rainier in winter
- Nearby
- Kapalua Bay, Nāpili Bay, Honolua Bay, Kapalua Coastal Trail
Romantic day trips
- Hāna town and Hāmoa Beach (About 2.5–3 hours each way by car) — 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.
- Kahekili Highway and Kahakuloa (About 1.5–2 hours to drive the loop) — The narrow road around West Maui's northern tip passes the Nakalele Blowhole, sea cliffs and the tiny village of Kahakuloa below its headland.
For dinner
Share local specialities such as Poke, Plate lunch and Kalua pig. Carry cash for roadside stands, especially on the Road to Hāna.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Maui romantic?
Maui is one of Hawaiʻi's top honeymoon islands: luxury resorts in Wailea and Kapalua, sunsets over Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi, and adventures from sunrise on Haleakalā to waterfalls on the Road to Hāna.
+What is the most romantic thing to do in Maui?
Haleakalā sunrise or sunset: Watch the light spread across the clouds from the summit, wrapped in blankets.
+Where should couples stay in Maui?
Kapalua and Nāpili: Quieter bays, condos and the island's northwestern resorts.