Whale watching tours on Maui
The clear, calm, shallow waters off the island’s west and south coasts offer perfect conditions for whale watching, with several operators offering boat tours from Kā‘anapali, Mā‘alaea Harbor and Kīhei during the season, which runs from December to May.
Snorkelling at Molokini Crater on Maui
You can also book a tour to go snorkelling at the extinct Molokini Crater – a small, crescent-shaped island and protected marine reserve. You may even get to snorkel with honu (green sea turtles) at other sites on the day.
Maui Ocean Center
You can learn more about the marine creatures that inhabit these waters at Maui Ocean Center, at Mā‘alaea Harbor. Its Living Reef exhibition showcases more than 40 coral species, which you can see growing in the coral nursery on a behind-the-scenes tour. Hear honu surface to take noisy breaths in the Turtle Lagoon, come eye-to-eye with humpback whales in the 3D Sphere experience, and hear how Native Hawaiians sailed across the Pacific in double-hulled canoes using the stars as guides and about their spiritual connection to the ocean and land.
See the sunrise at Haleakalā Crater tour on Maui
It’s worth getting up early for a tour to watch the sunrise over the dormant shield volcano, Haleakalā Crater, in Haleakalā National Park. If you have hired a car, reservations are required for US$1 per vehicle (excluding the national park entrance fee) from 3am to 7am, and can be made online up to 60 days before at recreation.gov. There are also lots of great hikes in the national park, and throughout the island, and some beautiful waterfalls to discover, including Wailea Falls, Twin Falls and Makapipi Falls.
Maui Ku‘ia Estate Chocolate
You can also learn about the chocolate-making process and how it has evolved at Maui Ku‘ia Estate Chocolate. The tour of the company’s solar-powered factory covers everything from selecting cacao beans to tasting the award-winning chocolate.
Live music and dine from food trucks
The fourth Friday night of the month is a great time to visit Kīhei, when you can meet artists in galleries, enjoy live music and dine from food trucks. First Friday events have also returned to Wailuku after a four-year hiatus.
