Maui Attractions

While all of Maui's beaches are beautiful, be sure to hit Red Sand Beach and Wai'anapanapa State Park, both in Hana. The trail to Red Sand Beach is a bit rocky (wear sneakers), but it's worth it. The exotic volcanic red sand is striking against the teal water. (Those with kids in tow should note that the beach is sometimes the haunt of local nudists.) Wai'anapanapa State Park boasts great camping facilities and its caves of freshwater pools make it a good spot for swimming and snorkeling. But the reason to come is to see the beach's bleak yet awe-inspiring volcanic black sand.

 

Of course, Maui's attractions go beyond sand and surf. Two can't-miss landlubbing attractions are Haleakala and the road to Hana. Though both are popular and can be crowded at certain times of day, if you know when to go, you can still have an unforgettable experience all to yourself.

 

Most locals recommend visiting the summit of the dormant Haleakala volcano at sunrise. Unless you're going for the 38-mile no-pedaling-required bike ride tour, there's little reason to get up at dark o'clock and drive up a tortuous mountain road just to freeze waiting for the sun to come up. Haleakala is dazzling all day, not just at sunrise. And it's remarkably uncrowded as soon as the bike riders take off. And sunrise is often a bust, many times obscured by clouds. So sleep late, take your time getting up the mountain, have a hearty breakfast or lunch in the charming upcountry towns of Makawao or Pukalani, and arrive at Haleakala as everyone else is leaving. You'll have the hiking trials to yourself, and if you really want to see a natural spectacle, stay for sunset, which is at least as beautiful as sunrise, and maybe even more so without all the other admirers.

 

The other Maui must-do is the road to Hana, the teeny old-Hawaii town on the eastern edge of the island. There's no reason to speed along this route, because getting there is half the fun—a two-lane road snakes through rainforest, fruit stands, hidden waterfalls and one-lane bridges. Start your trip early; you don't want to get lost on the unlit, windy, desolate roads at night. Make stops along the way to get some lip-smacking homemade banana bread at one of the many stands, and to snap photos of waterfalls and other random sights of gorgeousness. Despite the trip's name, Hana isn't the final destination. Hamoa Beach, one of Hawaii's finest, and Oheo Gulch, a stunning necklace of waterfalls sometimes called the Seven Sacred Pools, both lie beyond town.

 

After the road to Hana, the only trip you'll be up for is one to the mall. Whalers Village in Lahaina (so named because Lahaina used to be a whaling port; learn more about it at the onsite Whalers Village Museum) has some upscale shops (Coach, Louis Vuitton) and Hawaiian-flavored ones (check out Totally Hawaiian and pick up some sweet-smelling pikake flower perfume). The outdoor mall also offers daily free entertainment and it's along the beach. But for a bigger selection of stores, head to the Shops at Waliea, which is in—you guessed it—Waliea. There are more high-end boutiques (Bottega Veneta, Tiffany & Co., Fendi) and the requisite surfer stores (Billabong, Quiksilver, Honolua Surf Co.). At this massive mall, you'll be able to get all of your Maui souvenir shopping done.