I have visited all four major Hawaiian islands and think Maui is my favorite. Oahu is too busy for me, and the Big Island and Kauai are beautiful but lack great dining. Maui is the perfect combination, as you have all of the amazing outdoor activities, plus great shops and restaurants. The Valley Isle is such an interesting island, full of culture, history, and natural wonders, not to mention amazing beaches and watersports. If I had to pick two islands, I would add my Kauai Itinerary to these Maui must-dos.

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Best Luau in Maui

This goes for any Hawaiian island vacation: you must go to a luau! (Full confession: my first luau was at the Polynesian Resort at Disney World, and I still remember the rum punch 20 years later!) I chose the Old Lahaina Luau, and from talking to Maui regulars, it’s the best luau on Maui, hands down. They really do a phenomenal job telling the story of the Hawaiian islands and the Polynesian culture, in the most entertaining way, with the most elaborate costumes! You’ll also enjoy a delicious buffet of regional foods and an open bar featuring loads of tropical cocktails.

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Maui Volcano Tour with Valley Isle Excursions

Even if you are not a National Park fan like I am, it's worth the trip to the summit of Haleakala National Park. Not only will you drive through a variety of ecosystems, with killer views of the island, but you'll also ascend to over 10,000 feet above sea level! If you're lucky, you might even get to experience Hawaiian snow!

One popular way to visit the crater is on a sunrise bike tour. I always thought I wanted to do the sunrise tour that seems to be on every traveler's bucket list, but when I reached out to Valley Isle Excursions, they recommended their Haleakala Maui Tour, which is the newest tour on their lineup. (They are best known for their Road to Hana tour.) After passing the Haleakala sunrise bike tour on our way up the mountain, I can confidently say I made the right choice. It didn't look fun at all, as the bikes are sharing the narrow, winding road with cars driven by tourists. No thanks!

Haleakala Tour Pickup

Prior to the day of my Haleakala tour, I was given a hotel pickup time of 6:40 am, and on the day of the tour, the driver was waiting outside my hotel. After picking up the other guests on the tour, we stopped at a local country club for a light breakfast buffet, which is included in the price of your volcano tour from Maui. The breakfast is very light: fruit and muffins, so if you need a hearty breakfast, you might eat a bit beforehand, or bring along some snacks. Valley Isle explains, in response to a TripAdvisor review, that the breakfast is intentionally light due to the winding roads that all of their tours take. If you get carsick, keep this in mind as well.

After breakfast, we piled into the van, where our guide, Junior, gave us an overview of the day. We each received a map and were able to follow along with all of the stops we would make during the all-day Maui tour. As a map fanatic, I loved having my own map to follow throughout the day and taking notes on places I'd like to return to. Our first stop was a viewpoint just outside of Kahului, where we had a great view of the entire Haleakala volcano. Junior explained to us different Polynesian customs, one of which is to seek permission from the mountain before approaching. He then brought out a ukulele and offered up a song before heading up to the summit of Haleakala.

Throughout the day, Junior was a wealth of knowledge about the island, Hawaiian history, and Polynesian culture. Guides like this are the reason I prefer tours over self-guiding. I had a rental car and could have easily driven myself to the Haleakala crater, but I would have missed out on so much knowledge and background! Plus, if I'm not driving, I can safely gawk at all of the amazing scenery.

Haleakala National Park

Our Haleakala tour included many stops in Haleakala National Park, including two visitor centers and a few scenic overlook stops. The crater and summit are over 10,000 feet in elevation, so be prepared for wind and cool temperatures! I wore a long-sleeve shirt and brought along a rain jacket for wind protection, and was fine with shorts and sandals for the short periods we were out walking around. When we visited, it was cloudy, and we quickly drove through and above the clouds. The landscape at the summit is so different that it looks like you are on the moon! We were in a rush, though, to beat some of the clouds rolling in, which you can see in the photos.

One of the most interesting things I learned on this Haleakala tour is that the crater is not made from an active volcano eruption but from erosion. Of course, the mountain is a volcano, but there are different natural forces at work here, as opposed to the Big Island's volcanoes, which are still active.

Maui Lavender Farm

After visiting all of the crater viewpoints and the summit, we made our way back down the mountain to our lunch stop at a lavender farm. Lunch was provided by Valley Isle Excursions, and we were free to wander the property while Junior got our BBQ chicken lunch ready. As usual, I was carry-on only for this trip and my luggage was bulging, or I would have spent a ton of money in the gift shop at the lavender farm. Lavender is my favorite, and they have so many great products. I did walk away with some dryer sachets and a lavender scone, though.

'Iao Valley State Monument

The next stop on our Haleakala tour is 'Iao Valley State Monument, after driving through several small towns and through Kahului. At the I'ao Valley, we had the chance for a short hike up to a viewpoint, and it was well worth the 100 steps up! Maybe it was the clouds or rain that day, but the fog hung in the area, giving everything a mystical feel. The scenery is straight out of Jurassic Park and reminded me of pics I've seen of St. Lucia.

Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge

After a bit of hiking in the rain at 'Iao Valley, we set off for our last stop of the day, Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge. Unfortunately, when we arrived the visitor's center had just closed, so we missed out on some of the exhibits. Luckily, the ponds were still open and we started off on a walk around the ponds to see some of Hawaii's bird life. Instead, we saw a very large black boar blocking our path to hike around the ponds! Despite this hiccup, we could still view some of the birds before boarding the bus back to our hotels.

All told, the Haleakala Maui tour is about 11 hours, and the tour price ($155.99 per person, if booked online) includes breakfast and lunch, plus water and soft drinks throughout the day. It's a great option for those who want a volcano tour from Maui but also want to see other island highlights. If I get back to Maui again, I will definitely join Valley Isle Excursions for their popular Road to Hana tour!

Lanai Snorkeling Tour & Wildlife Cruise

For me, an island vacation isn't complete unless I get out on a boat tour, preferably a snorkel trip. When planning a trip to Maui, I reached out to Ultimate Whale Watch to see what kinds of tours they were offering in early December. Technically, whale season doesn't start until 12/15, so on my visit, they were still running dolphin watch/snorkel tours instead of whale watching Lahaina tours. With that, I reserved a spot on the "Full Day Lanai Dolphin Excursion." I booked the tour for my first day in Maui, knowing I'd be awake early in the morning due to the time change. Unfortunately, upon landing (in the rain) I had a voicemail that my scheduled Lanai snorkeling tour had been canceled due to the weather forecast. I was quickly rebooked on another trip for later in the week. Hawaii weather can always be unpredictable, so it's good to leave some slack in your schedule for weather cancellations.

Once you reserve your spot, you'll receive a confirmation email with all of the additional information you need. The departure is at 7:30 am from Lahaina Harbor. There is no free parking at the harbor (that I am aware of) so you'll need to pay for parking or get a lift to the harbor. I paid $23 at the lot behind the fish market, just a few minutes' walk from the pier. Upon check-in, you'll be fitted for snorkel gear, including flippers and a snorkel mask, and given the option of a $10 wetsuit rental. (I brought my own neoprene pants and rash-guard - highly recommended as these are not the warm waters of the Caribbean!) Make sure you use reef-safe sunscreen! They will even give you some as you board the boat!

The Lanai snorkeling tour includes breakfast and lunch, however, breakfast isn't served until the first stop on the water. We had several wildlife sightings en route to our first stop, so breakfast wasn't served until 9:00, at which point I was starving. I'd suggest having a light breakfast beforehand or maybe bringing something along to tide you over until the banana bread is served. I recommend also bringing a water bottle - there is drinking water and paper cups on the boat, but having my own bottle was much more convenient. Lunch was a delicious wrap (3 options - chicken, turkey, and veggie) and Hawaiian chips, plus an assortment of sodas and cookies. Also, there is no bathroom on the raft (there is something for emergencies, but I can't imagine how you'd have any privacy), so keep that in mind as well.

We left Lahaina Harbor in the direction of beautiful, rugged Lanai and right away, our captain Ryan spotted some whale spouts in the distance, so we spent a while trying to see the whales. With no luck, we moved on and quickly ran into some bottlenose dolphins. The real excitement came, though, when we found a huge group of spinner dolphins. Ryan explained that these are the playful dolphins that like to swim up to the boats and play in the wake. He said there were likely hundreds of dolphins in this group, and we saw many of them as they swam along with our boat.

After watching the dolphins for a while, we moved on to our first snorkel stop along the shores of Lanai. We had two guides, so one stayed on the boat while the other was in the water with us to help out if needed. Rather than the usual flotation devices worn on these trips, we were given pool noodles, which I found very helpful as I could just hang my arms on the noodle and float along. (I'm a lazy snorkeler!) The marine life wasn't the best I've seen, but it's always fun to watch the various fish swim around. There were large schools of blackfish and a bunch of smaller yellow ones. My LifeProof case works well for snorkeling, although the iPhone just doesn't take the best underwater pictures.

While we didn't expect to see whales in Maui, we got a nice treat as we were sailing back to Lahaina. After lunch and two snorkel spots, we started to head back towards West Maui. For the ride back, I rode up front on the tubes for a wilder ride - it was very bouncy, but more fun than sitting in the rows in the back with everyone. (My arm and core muscles definitely felt this the next day after my death grip on the bowlines!) We were making good time back when we finally saw a good whale sighting, and we had plenty of time to slow down and watch for a bit. My pictures certainly don't do it justice, but these humpback whales are huge, and watching them swim around was such a treat! When the whales moved on, we did as well. We arrived back in Lahaina around 1:30, which left plenty of time for walking around Old Town Lahaina.

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The Road to Hana

Driving the Road to Hana is probably the most popular tourist activity on Maui, and along with surf lessons, it remains on my Maui bucket list for another trip. While many visitors choose to road trip on their own, there are also many tours available. The road is winding and takes a full day, up to 12 hours depending on how many stops you make. There are waterfalls and beaches, including black and red sand beaches.

Don't miss these 16 stops on the Road to Hana, from Global Munchkins!

Book Road to Hana Tours through Viator

Where to Stay in Maui

There are many different areas to stay in Maui, and each has its draws and drawbacks. If it's your first time to Maui, I recommend the Ka'anapali area, but also it's a great idea to rent a car and explore the other areas so you know where to stay on your next trip to Maui.

Booking.com

• Kapalua - at the northern tip of Maui, Kapalua is an exclusive resort area. Places to stay include the Ritz Carlton and Montage Kapalua.
• Ka'anapali - just south of Kapalua and north of Lahaina is Ka'anapali Beach, a popular resort area. 3 miles of coastline are fronted by seven resorts, including the Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort, where I stayed during my visit to Maui. Check Ka'anapali Hotel prices
• Lahaina - Lahaina is the most-visited spot on Maui, where you'll find tons of restaurants and shops, as well as lower- and mid-range lodging options. Check Lahaina hotel prices
• Kihei - Kihei is on Maui's southwest shore, in the sunniest and driest part of the island. Kihei has a wide range of accommodation options, including many condos and vacation rentals. Check Kihei hotel prices
• Wailea - Further south from Kihei, Wailea is another popular resort area featuring upscale hotels such as the Fairmont, Four Seasons and Grand Wailea. Check Wailea hotel prices

• Paia - close to Kahului on the North Shore of Maui, Paia is a hippie town where celebrities like Willie Nelson live. You won't find big resorts here, but there are guest houses and inns where you can stay. Check Paia hotel prices
• Hana - at the end of the Road to Hana, you will find a few guesthouses and B&B's, if you choose to break up the long drive into 2 days. Check Hana hotel prices
• Kahului - Kahului is where the airport (OGG) is located, so you'll find the usual assortment of chain hotels for business travelers, especially. I wouldn't suggest staying here for your entire vacation, but if you have an early flight, one night might be a good idea to avoid Maui traffic. Check Kahului hotel prices

Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort

Way before I set out on a career break when I was still collecting a paycheck from a Fortune 500 company, I received an offer from the Westin Vacation Club Maui that seemed too good to be true. Five nights in a vacation villa at the Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort, a $75 resort credit, and a 6-day rental car credit – all for $798. I immediately called a travel-savvy friend to double-check that it wasn’t a scam and then reserved my spot. 

The basic package includes a studio suite, which was perfect for me as a solo traveler. Of course, I would have loved an ocean view wraparound balcony, but you pay extra for those. I settled for the island (aka parking lot) view and a Juliette balcony. The room was pretty standard for a Westin property - Heavenly Bed and White Tea toiletries, with the added convenience of a small kitchen and laundry.

You don't have to buy into the Marriott vacation ownership in Maui or even receive this special preview offer to stay at the Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas. You can reserve a villa right on Booking.com. I'm told it's pretty random how they select who receives the offer, but being a Starwood Points member is most likely how I got on their mailing list. I've since received other offers for Westin Vacation Clubs in Orlando and Las Vegas. Shockingly, the offer I received did not even require a vacation ownership presentation. However, for an additional $100 resort credit, I did take a tour and review the program with a sales representative. It's an interesting program, and they do try to dazzle you with hundreds of thousands of Starwood points. Take someone strong-willed with you if you think you might get sucked in. I can see how it happens!

While the beach here is not the best for lounging (narrow and steep) the pools here more than make up for it and I always prefer a pool over the beach anyways. In total, there are six outdoor pools, including two children's pools and one for adults only. Gazebos and umbrellas are available for an additional fee, as well as water sports rentals or beach loungers. Nearby, Spa Helani is a great place to use your resort credit for a relaxing day at the spa. With your spa treatment (I enjoyed a massage) you will also have access to the relaxation areas (indoor and outdoor) for the rest of the day.

Another great amenity at Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort is the complimentary shuttle bus that goes to Whaler's Village, Lahaina, or any of the other Starwood properties in Ka'anapali. Even though I had a rental car, it was so much easier to hop on the shuttle and not worry about parking or gas for the whole week. There are two shuttle routes, and the schedules are posted clearly at the shuttle stop. They run about every 20 minutes. The shuttles are super convenient for going out to dinner, or heading to a Maui luau for the evening!

Westin KOR has 3 on-site restaurants to choose from, where you have the convenience of charging everything to your room. There is also a convenience store in each tower with some grocery and snack items, although if you plan on cooking, you will save a lot of money by grocery shopping before you arrive at the resort! (There are gas grills available for guest use, too!)

• Auntie's Kitchen - I enjoyed several meals at Auntie's Kitchen, including the breakfast buffet served daily. There is one night each week designated as Crab Fest when you'll need a reservation and the full menu is not available. Check the schedule so you're not caught off guard and hangry like I was!
• Pulehu Italian Grill - this is an award-winning fine dining experience in the North resort. Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays, open only for dinner hours.
• Pailolo Bar & Grill - food-truck style sports bar near the north pool

I highly recommend staying at the Westin Ka'anapali on your next Maui trip!

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Maui Restaurants to Visit

Besides the luau and hotel restaurants, there are a lot of great restaurants in Maui. I mostly had dinner at Whaler's Village, based on recommendations from friends who travel often to Hawaii. (I missed out on their favorite, Mama's Fish House, but it's definitely on the list for my next trip to Maui!)

• Monkey Pod Kitchen - strawberry pie to die for! The pizza was great, too!
• I cannot go to Hawaii without visiting Duke's Beach House for Hula pie! (Hula Grill in Kaanapali also serves the famous Hula Pie!)

Check out the best Maui food trucks at Explore Now or Never!

Hawaii is always good for street food, too! Whether it's a shrimp truck or a shave ice cart, street food is always a good way to save money on your Maui vacation.

I was a guest of Valley Isle Excursions for the Haleakala volcano tour. These are solely my personal opinions and I was not financially compensated for this post.