40 Best Non-Touristy Things to Do on Maui, Hawaiʻi
From the volcanic alpine crater atop Haleakalā to the black and red sand beaches in Hāna, Maui truly has so much to see, including scenic drives, towering waterfalls, and the best diving and whale tours across all the islands!
That being said, Maui is a really big island! Unlike Oʻahu or Kauaʻi, where I’d recommend staying wherever you’d like and driving back to the same place at the end of the day, on Maui, I recommend against this. Booking only one place to stay is a bit unpractical if you plan on exploring places like the famous Hāna Highway.
I say this for a few reasons. The first reason is so that you can go slow and not have to worry about a long, windy drive back in the dark, and, second, and perhaps more importantly, Maui has deer, and a lot of them! Driving at night should not be taken lightly, as the deer population on Maui reaches into the tens of thousands!
Why am I Recommending these Maui Tours?
One of my favorite things about booking through Viator is the reserve-now-and-pay-later option. As long as you’re booking more than three days in advance, you have the option to book ahead and cancel in the future if you change your mind.
Additionally, I’ve included these tours for two reasons. First, venturing out to some of the local spots that I’ve listed below might not be the way you want to go, but more importantly, some experiences simply can’t be done without booking a tour.
That being said, the tour options that I’ve listed below are a great way to have a 'more guaranteed experience,' which can definitely be safer and more kid-friendly than some of my recommendations.
40 Best Things to Do on Maui
The following list is written in no particular order of best or worst, but more importantly, I talk about what NOT to do at the end, such as how to keep your car from getting broken into. Don’t skip over the end!
On a different note, be aware that Haleakalā National Park collects entrance fees, but you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
1. Waiheʻe Ridge Trail
Distance: 4.4 miles / 7.1 km
The Waiheʻe Ridge Trail is one of the most beautiful day hikes on Maui!
That being said, the Waiheʻe Ridge Trail is also one of the most popular trails on Maui, but if you plan it right, Waiheʻe Ridge can be enjoyed with far fewer crowds, which I encourage you to read all the details in my separate post linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Waiheʻe Ridge Trail
2. Haleakalā Bike Tour
The Haleakalā National Park sunrise bicycle tour is easily one of the best things to do on Maui, and I say this for a few reasons.
First, a number of operators on Maui have a relationship with the National Park that allows them to bypass the highly-competitive advanced reservation system in order to drive up Haleakalā for sunrise. This means that by booking a bike tour at sunrise on Haleakalā, you will have the best of both experiences hassle-free!
Second, one of the best things to do within Haleakalā National Park is to simply drive the Haleakalā Highway up to the summit. That being said, there’s truly nothing quite like enjoying an all-downhill bike ride from the cold alpine summit of Haleakalā to upcountry Maui on the windy switchbacks of this stunning scenic drive!
3. Makamakaʻole Falls Trail (13 Crossings)
Distance: 2.0 miles / 3.2 km
Makamakaʻole Falls, also known as '13 Crossings,' is very much a local Maui hike.
By this, I mean that the trail up the Makamakaʻole Stream is not a managed trail, and for this reason, I recommend the Makamakaʻole Falls Trail for experienced hikers only, knowing full and well that Makamakaʻole is only a short 2-mile (3.2 km) trail.
Google Maps Directions: Makamakaʻole Falls Trail (13 Crossings)
4. Colleen’s at the Cannery
Colleen’s at the Cannery is one of the best local breakfast places in upcountry Maui!
In my experience, everything on the menu has always been amazing and more than enough food for one person, but beyond breakfast, Colleen’s is open late, making it a great place to dine in at time of the day!
Yelp: Colleen’s at the Cannery
5. Drive the Road to Hāna (Hāna Highway)
The Hāna Highway, better known as the Road to Hāna, is an iconic 51-mile (82.1 km) windy drive along Maui’s North Shore, beginning in central Maui and ending in the small town of Hāna in East Maui.
That being said, the Road to Hāna is really about making your own adventure, and there are simply too many things to do along the beautiful drive to list here in just a few sentences.
With that in mind, the Hāna Highway is full of secrets—secrets that residents on Maui would hate if I even began to describe them. For this reason, planning your drive along the Road to Hāna should begin and end with Google Maps. Find what looks fun, plan 3-5 adventures along the way, and most importantly, stay the night in Hāna! Repeating this drive twice in one day would surely mean that you miss out on some of the best things to do along the highway, as well as the countless things to do once you’ve made it to Hāna.
Google Maps Directions: Hāna, Hawaiʻi
6. Hāna Inn (Joe’s Place)
Under the Road to Hāna listed above, I mentioned that I strongly recommend staying the night in Hāna to enjoy both the many things to do along the highway and the things to do once you’ve made it to Hāna, like Waiʻānapanapa, Kaihalulu Red Sand Beach, and the Kīpahulu District of Haleakalā National Park.
However, this all goes without saying that Hāna is a very unaffordable place to spend the night, but if you’re interested in a slightly more 'affordable' place to stay, I highly recommend the Hāna Inn, formerly known as Joe’s Place.
7. Hāna Ranch Restaurant
As I continually mention, Hāna is a very small and slow town in East Maui, and that can be broadly seen given the dining options that are available and the hours that these options are open.
With that in mind, the Hāna Ranch Restaurant is arguably the best place to grab dinner in town, and their beautiful outdoor dining area is one of my favorite places to enjoy a nice meal when I’m in town.
Yelp: Hāna Ranch Restaurant
8. Oneʻuli Black Sand Beach (Mākena)
Mākena State Park has a number of beautiful beaches to choose from, but of the three, my personal favorite is the Oneʻuli Black Sand Beach.
Oneʻuli is a beautiful small stretch of black sand that’s almost always less crowded compared to the other main beaches in Mākena State Park, and unlike the other two, Oneʻuli is free to visit for out-of-state residents, as there is a fee to park in the lot for the other two beaches.
Google Maps Directions: Oneʻuli Black Sand Beach
9. Molokai Sea Cliffs Helicopter Tour (Maui)
When you think of Maui helicopter tours, break them up into two categories.
First, there are helicopter tours that focus solely on Maui, including the Haleakalā Crater, the Hāna Rainforest, and the West Maui Mountains, but second, and perhaps this is the category that people don’t consider, there are helicopter tours that leave out of Maui to fly around the Molokai sea cliffs, the tallest sea cliffs in the world! In fact, all helicopter tours that fly along the Molokai sea cliffs leave out of Maui, meaning that it’s truly a Maui-only adventure!
Overall, I can tell you from personal experience exploring the ruggedness and sheer beauty of the Molokai sea cliffs, that a helicopter tour along the remote cliffs, valleys, and waterfalls of the North Shore of Molokai is second to none!
10. Haleakalā Summit (Sunrise & Sunset)
Watching the sunrise from the summit of Haleakalā, also called the 'House of the Sun,' is, without a doubt, one of the best things to do on Maui!
That being said, advanced reservations are required in order to drive into Haleakalā prior to sunrise because parking at the summit is very limited.
Book Here: Haleakalā Summit Sunrise Reservations
However, if you find that getting an advanced reservation is too hard to come by, I highly recommend either booking the Haleakalā Bike Tour mentioned above or visiting the summit for sunset, as advanced reservations are not required.
All being said, most visitors tend to forget that Haleakalā is +10,000 ft. (3,048 m) when planning a trip to Maui, and being that most people tend to visit during the coldest times of the day, many are not prepared for the frigid winter temperatures up at the top, especially if it’s windy!
Therefore, I encourage you to check the summit forecast before visiting, and know that it can snow on Haleakalā, if that says anything about the weather.
Google Maps Directions: Haleakalā Summit
11. Waikamoi Falls (Haipuaʻena)
Waikamoi Falls, sometimes called Haipuaʻena Falls, is a beautiful towering waterfall located right off the Road to Hāna, just past the Waikamoi Ridge Trail, when driving east toward Keʻanae.
From the hairpin turn over the Waikamoi Stream, there is a small trail that works its way up and around the lower Haipuaʻena Falls, which will eventually reach Waikamoi Falls a short distance later.
Warning
The streams along the Hāna Highway are very flashy. Big Bog, a remote bog high in the mountains above the Road to Hāna, is the wettest spot in Hawaiʻi. This means that even though it may not be raining where you are, the streams along the highway can flash flood at any time, and visitors have fallen victim to this while visiting some of these streams along the Hāna Highway in the past. I mention this to emphasize that adventuring up any trail or stream on Maui, especially on the Road to Hāna, comes with this inevitable risk.
Google Maps Directions: Waikamoi Falls
12. Waiʻānapanapa State Park
Waiʻānapanapa State Park, located just outside of Hāna, is one of the best places to explore the coast, relax on the beach, and camp for the night in East Maui!
That being said, the Hawaiʻi Division of State Parks made the decision to implement an advanced reservation system, due to overcrowding in the park. This means that you are now required to make an advanced reservation to visit Waiʻānapanapa, which you can learn more about below.
Google Maps Directions: Waiʻānapanapa State Park
Who Needs a Waiʻānapanapa Parking Reservation?
Hawaiʻi Residents - This is your home, and generally speaking, there should always be a parking spot open for you! Simply show your Hawaiʻi State ID to the folks working as you drive in, and you are free to park and enjoy everything within Waiʻānapanapa State Park, excluding the cabins/ campsites, without an advanced reservation.
Visitors/ Non-Hawaiʻi Residents - All non-residents wishing to enter/ park within Waiʻānapanapa must have an advanced reservation. In summary, advanced parking reservations can be extremely competitive and hard to come by. However, by booking one of the Road to Hāna tours below, you can enjoy the best of Waiʻānapanapa State Park, as well as a number of the best stops on the Road to Hāna, without having to worry about an advanced reservation.
Note that visitors accompanying State of Hawaiʻi residents are not exempt from the entry fees.
Book Here: Waiʻānapanapa Advanced Reservations
13. Road to Hāna Tour
Coming from someone who has driven the Hāna Highway many times, I realize how overwhelming it can be to try and plan, as there is so much to see and do. It can be stressful trying to pack it all in, especially when you factor in the advanced reservation system at Waiʻānapanapa State Park.
That being said, if you are looking for a hassle-free way to explore the Road to Hāna, as well as Waiʻānapanapa without an advanced reservation, I highly recommend booking one of the tours below. The local guides out of central Maui know the best of the famous drive to Hāna, and they take care of the advanced reservation, so that you don’t have to!
14. West Lāhainā Pali Trail
Distance: 4.6 miles / 7.4 km
The West Lāhainā Pali Trail is often an overlooked hike among visitors, but in my opinion, the Lāhainā Pali Trail, beginning from Ukumehame, is one of the best sunset hikes on Maui!
On top of this, I especially love the West Lāhainā Pali Trail in the winter because it can be one of the best places to see the Humpback whales from shore!
Read My Separate Post: West Lāhaina Pali Trail
15. Molokini Crater Snorkeling Tour
Molokini Crater, located directly between Maui and Kahoʻolawe, is the best place to book a snorkeling tour across all of Hawaiʻi! There’s truly nothing that compares to the beautiful, pristine waters surrounding the island, which is only accessible by boat on one of these tours.
All said, if your trip is during the summer, then snorkeling at the Molokini Crater is the best and really the only boat tour that I recommend booking, as the Humpback whale tours are a winter-only activity.
16. Upper Waikani Falls
Upper Waikani Falls is a popular waterfall to stop and enjoy on the Road to Hāna, but it is one of those stops on the Hāna Highway that has become increasingly more difficult to access over the years because of no parking signs and people putting up fences to keep visitors out.
That being said, Upper Waikani Falls is a fun stop, but be careful when walking along the highway from where you’ll have to park, as the walk along the road to get back to the stream is narrow with blind corners.
Google Maps Directions: Upper Waikani Falls
17. Ulupalakua Ranch Store & Grill
The Ulupalakua Ranch Store and Grill is a beautiful stop in upcountry Maui to grab some burgers and a drink while enjoying the cool mountain air in their beautiful outdoor seating area.
On a different note, the Ulupalakua Ranch has such a long history on Maui, and they are actively involved in some amazing conservation efforts on Maui and across the islands. With that in mind, I highly encourage you to explore the property while you’re there, as they have an impressive amount of native Hawaiian plants to enjoy all around the property!
18. Maui Helicopter Tour
If you haven’t, read my longer breakdown about Maui helicopter tours under the Molokai sea cliffs tour up above.
That being said, these Maui helicopter tours focus solely on seeing the best of Haleakalā, the Hāna Rainforest, and the West Maui Mountains.
All being said, I would say that my personal preference is the Molokai sea cliffs, if you’re trying to decide which helicopter tour is right for you. That’s just one person’s opinion, but there is simply nothing quite like a flight along the tallest sea cliffs in the world. However, I don’t want to discount how insanely beautiful the Hāna Rainforest and Haleakalā is from above, so if you were to ask someone else, it’s really a coin toss.
19. Polipoli-Redwood Loop Trail
Distance: 4.9 miles / 7.9 km
The Kula Forest Reserve is widely renowned for being one of the best and most beautiful places to go for a day hike on Maui. With that in mind, the vast network of interconnected trails within the reserve are most commonly linked together to create one longer loop, and none of these loops are as beautiful as the Polipoli-Haleakalā Ridge-Plum-Redwood Loop Trail linked below.
Yes, I said that right. There are Redwoods on Maui!
In any case, the Kula Forest Reserve, often called Polipoli for short, is not often accessed by out-of-state visitors. That being said, I highly encourage you to read all the details in my separate article to learn more about what it takes to hike this, the Waiakoa Loop, or any number of trails within the reserve.
Read My Separate Post: Polipoli-Redwood Loop Trail
20. Kula Bistro
The Kula Bistro in upcountry Maui is my favorite breakfast and brunch spot when I’m either going to or driving down from the Summit District of Haleakalā National Park.
Personally, I’m a big fan of their paninis for lunch, but all of their food is truly amazing, regardless of the time of day you stop in!
Yelp: Kula Bistro
21. ʻŌhai Loop Trail
Distance: 1.2 miles / 1.9 km
The ʻŌhai Loop Trail is a short and easy coastal hike off the windy Kahekili Highway, the drive out to Kāʻanapali along Maui’s North Shore.
For those that are familiar, the ʻŌhai Loop can most similarly be compared to the Kaʻena Point Trail on Oʻahu, but hence the name, the trail is a vital and important habitat for the endemic and endangered coastal species, ʻŌhai. However, beyond this, the ʻŌhai Loop Trail is truly a place to see and learn about what a native Hawaiian coastal ecosystem is supposed to look like.
To learn more about the trail, including information on the many native plants that can be found along the hike, I highly encourage you to check out my separate post, so that you can try to spot some of these same native coastal species as you enjoy the trail!
Read My Separate Post: ʻŌhai Loop Trail
22. ʻĪao Valley State Monument
ʻĪao Valley is widely renowned for being one of the most beautiful places to enjoy the West Maui Mountains, as well as the famous Kūkaʻemoku Viewpoint, more commonly known as the ʻĪao Needle.
However, much like Waiʻānapanapa mentioned above, ʻĪao Valley has changed how it manages visitors, due to overcrowding issues of the past.
Today, advanced reservations are now required to park/ visit ʻĪao Valley State Monument, which you can learn more about below.
Google Maps Directions: ʻĪao Valley State Monument
Who Needs an ʻĪao Valley Parking Reservation?
Hawaiʻi Residents - This is your home, and generally speaking, there should always be a parking spot open for you! Simply show your Hawaiʻi State ID to the folks working as you drive in, and you are free to park and enjoy everything within ʻĪao Valley State Monument without an advanced reservation.
Visitors/ Non-Hawaiʻi Residents - All non-residents wishing to enter/ park within ʻĪao Valley must have an advanced reservation. In summary, advanced parking reservations can be extremely competitive and hard to come by. However, by booking one of the ʻĪao Valley tours below, you can enjoy the best of ʻĪao Valley, without having to worry about an advanced reservation.
Note that visitors accompanying State of Hawaiʻi residents are not exempt from the entry fees.
Book Here: ʻĪao Valley Advanced Reservations
23. ʻĪao Valley Tableland Trail ('Secret' Trail)
Distance: 3.4 miles / 5.5 km
Beyond the ʻĪao Valley State Monument that most visitors plan to see, there is a lesser-known hike, known locally as the ʻĪao Valley Tableland Trail or ʻĪao Valley Secret Trail, that ventures far up the valley past the most popular Kūkaʻemoku Viewpoint.
However, this trail should only be considered by experienced, fit hikers, as this remote Hawaiʻi adventure is more challenging than most others found across Maui.
For this reason, I highly encourage you to learn more about ʻĪao Valley State Monument, as well as the ʻĪao Valley Secret Trail, in my separate article.
Read My Separate Post: ʻĪao Valley Tableland Trail
24. Kaihalulu Red Sand Beach (Hāna)
Distance: 0.5 miles / 0.8 km
Kaihalulu Red Sand Beach in Hāna is Hawaiʻi’s only red sand beach!
However, while the hike to get to the Hāna’s famous Red Sand Beach isn’t a very long trail, it’s a bit more dangerous than most visitors might think, which is why I recommend checking out my separate post before visiting.
Read My Separate Post: Kaihalulu Red Sand Beach
25. Vanta Café
The Vanta Café in Wailuku is my go-to breakfast diner when I’m looking for somewhere good to eat that’s both affordable and centrally located.
This little hole-in-the-wall is known for its great food, great coffee, and best of all, they don’t skimp on portion sizes, making Vanta Café one of my favorite places to go before setting off on any number of adventures across Maui!
Yelp: Vanta Café
26. Hosmer Grove Trail
Distance: 0.5 miles / 0.8 km
The Hosmer Grove Trail is the go-to day hike where locals and visitors from around the world come to witness some of Hawaiʻi’s rare and endemic birds! Endemic, meaning they are found nowhere else on earth, and rare because habitat destruction and invasive species have all but decimated their populations throughout most of the Hawaiian Islands.
However, there are a handful of places that these birds find refuge, like Hosmer Grove in Haleakalā National Park and the Kaulana Manu Nature Trail on the Big Island. These are places where visitors still have a relatively easy opportunity to enjoy these birds, as they once roamed the entire landscape.
To learn more about these birds, what you can do to increase your chances of seeing them, and the trail as a whole, I highly encourage you to read my separate article.
Read My Separate Post: Hosmer Grove Trail
My Print - Hosmer Grove Trail
27. Whale Watching Tour (Winter Only)
Across all islands, Maui has the best whale tours!
These are Humpback whales that have migrated down from Alaska during the winter months to the warmer Hawaiian waters, where mothers will give birth to their calves.
However, it goes without saying that whales in Hawaiʻi are very season-specific, meaning that if your trip is too early or too late in the winter, they may not have arrived yet or may already be on their way back to Alaska.
In any case, the best way to experience the whales on Maui during the winter is on the water, as there’s truly nothing quite like an up-close experience through one of the local operators!
28. Pīpīwai Trail (Waimoku Falls)
Distance: 3.8 miles / 6.1 km
The Pīpīwai Trail in the Kīpahulu District of Haleakalā National Park in east Maui is a relatively easy day hike that ends at the towering 400-ft. (122 m) Waimoku Falls, the tallest waterfall on Maui!
The Pīpīwai Trail is also famously known for the beautiful banyan tree and bamboo forest that can be found along the way, which you can learn all about in my separate article.
Read My Separate Post: Pīpīwai Trail (Waimoku Falls)
29. Private Maui Guide
I provide a lot of Hawaiʻi hiking information throughout my blog, but even then, many of these adventures could be more comfortably done with a local guide.
The reason I like these guided options below is because there’s truly an adventure for everyone, which can be tailored for different levels of experience by booking through one of the local guides listed below.
30. Kūloa Point Trail (ʻOheʻo Gulch)
Distance: 0.7 miles / 1.1 km
Just like the Pīpīwai Trail mentioned above, the Kūloa Point Trail is another beautiful day hike within the Kīpahulu District of Haleakalā National Park, just past Hāna.
That being said, I highly recommend hiking both trails if you have the time, as both make for great and very different adventures to explore the least-visited district within Haleakalā.
Read My Separate Post: Kūloa Point Trail (ʻOheʻo Gulch)
31. Buying Local Hawaiian Coffee
While Hawaiʻi may have a reputation for its famed Kona Coffee, I found my favorite by a long shot to be 100% Maui Coffee from the Maui Coffee Company! Locally, it can be bought at Safeway stores and Target, but to make it easy, you can order it below on Amazon, so that you don’t have to fly home with it.
In my opinion, Maui Coffee is the best, followed by 100% Kauaʻi Coffee. I put these two before anything grown on the Big Island, which in third I choose 100% Kona Gold Roast by Lion Coffee. This is just one person’s opinion, but I’m only saying to not let the famous Kona name convince you that it’s the best.
32. Mākena Beach
Mākena Beach is South Maui’s best beach in terms of the beautiful sand, water, places to spread out from others, and enjoying the sunset!
However, this goes without mentioning that the Little Beach in the photo below is considered an 'unofficial' nude beach. Do with that as you will, but it definitely is not the family-friendly side of Mākena State Park compared to Big Beach.
Google Maps Directions: Mākena Beach
33. Amigo’s (Mexican Restaurant)
Amigo’s in Kahului is my favorite Mexican restaurant on Maui!
This centrally-located local eatery has great food, great drinks, and a big menu that’s sure to make everyone in your party find something that they’ll love!
34. The Maui Butterfly Farm
Hawaiʻi is known for having two butterflies that are endemic to the islands, meaning these butterflies are found nowhere else on earth.
However, due to a host of different problems, most notably ants which are invasive to the islands, Hawaiʻi’s native butterflies are very much at-risk species.
That being said, organizations like The Maui Butterfly Farm in Lāhainā play a vital role in their survival, due in large part to the conservation efforts that The Maui Butterfly Farm supports.
While the native butterflies can’t be found in the lower elevations where the tour is located, booking the tour is a great way to learn more about what you can do to support native insects wherever you might be from, while also supporting the recovery efforts of Hawaiʻi’s two native butterflies!
35. Twin & Caveman Falls
Twin/ Caveman Falls is a privately owned trail located right at the beginning of the Hāna Highway, where visitors have the opportunity to see not one but two beautiful waterfalls only a short distance from the trailhead.
Since Twin Falls is so popular, I recommend getting arriving early, which is especially important if you plan on making this your first stop before beginning a full day of adventures along the Hāna Highway.
Google Maps Directions: Twin & Caveman Falls
36. Maui Coffee Attic
Maui Coffee Attic is the best local coffee shop on Maui!
That being said, they’re conveniently located in central Maui, which is great for stopping in first thing in the morning before setting off on any number of adventures, like the nearby Waiheʻe Ridge Trail, the Road to Hāna, or ʻĪao Valley, located just a few minutes down the road.
Yelp: Maui Coffee Attic
37. Waioka Pond (Venus Pool)
Between Hāna and the Kīpahulu District of Haleakalā National Park, there is a little-known local swimming and cliff-jumping spot called the Waioka Pond.
That being said, be aware that the short trail to get there runs along private property, so I ask that you please be respectful and don't bring any negative attention to this local spot.
Don’t be loud, don’t leave trash, and don’t park illegally. Parking is limited, but you can find more spots a little further up the road if the ones right next to the entrance are taken.
Google Maps Directions: Waioka Pond (Venus Pool)
38. Keʻanae Arboretum Trail
Distance: 1.0 miles / 1.6 km
Along the entire 51-mile (82.1 km) Road to Hāna, there are relatively few established trails, as most of the best things to do are all hidden little secrets that most visitors simply drive right by.
However, the Keʻanae Arboretum Trail may be the easiest public trail along the Hāna Highway, and best of all, hiking the through arboretum is free!
Read My Separate Post: Keʻanae Arboretum Trail
39. Drive the Kahekili Highway
Almost everyone who visits Maui has heard of the Road to Hāna, but there is, in fact, a road that is much more of a challenge to drive!
This is the Kahekili Highway, and the 21.5-mile (34.6 km) road stretches from Wailuku in central Maui to Kapalua-Kāʻanapali in West Maui.
That being said, I recommend making the drive at least once if you plan on staying in West Maui, and if you plan on any adventures like Waiheʻe Ridge or the ʻŌhai Loop Trail.
Google Maps Directions: Kahekili Highway (Kahakuloa)
40. Maui Lūʻau
This is one of those things where there’s no non-touristy way around it.
However, I hope you have taken a number of my recommendations from this list because if so, give yourself a nice night out at one of these Lūʻaus.
Below, I have provided a number of Lūʻau options to choose from, which can be found across Maui’s south shore.
What NOT to Do!
Don’t ever leave bags or anything valuable visible in your car.
Treat Maui like you would any crime-ridden city, and you will be fine. Smash and grabs happen often, especially to cars that are obviously rentals. Some of my favorite trailheads have glass all over the place because people just don’t understand this.
Don’t look like a tourist.
This is a hard one, but hear me out. I’m recommending some local things in this blog that will potentially take you to parts of the island where you don’t want to stand out, and this goes back to my number one under this section. Tourists are good, easy, and vulnerable targets for crime and petty theft.
So how do you not look like a tourist? Try not to make your rental look like a rental. Don’t have your rental full of suitcases, beach toys, and towels that you just got from the ABC store.
Take any rental car stickers/ logos off the side of the car. I’ve seen rentals with stickers over the door seals to show that it has been through enhanced cleaning.
I’m really just trying to come up with things that come to my mind when I can obviously spot a tourist. To me, tourists really stand out to me when they pronounce the names of other islands wrong.
Do NOT approach or harass our native wildlife.
This happens all too often with visitors harassing our endemic and endangered Hawaiian Monk Seals. There are strict penalties for doing this, and visitors have been hunted down and prosecuted because of social media posts in the past.
The Hawaiian Monk Seal, among many other native Hawaiian species, are on the federal list for endangered species. This also goes for sensitive mountain environments like Haleakalā that are home to some of the rarest species in the world. Please use common sense.
Native Hawaiian Plants on Maui
I wanted to include this last section on this post because this is a subject that’s personal to me.
The native plant biodiversity in Hawaiʻi is insane! 90% of the native plants that you will see around the islands are found nowhere else on earth, and I say these things for two reasons.
The first is that I ask that you please do everything you possibly can to minimize your impact on our trails because so many of our native plants are at risk of extinction. The second is that if you have personal interest in the subject or may be curious about something that you found, I wrote a separate post entirely about native Hawaiian plants. I wrote it to help others around Hawaiʻi ID anything that you might be curious about.
For example, this species in the photo below can only be found on the island of Maui and nowhere else on earth.
Read My Separate Post: Native Hawaiian Plant Guide
Visiting Other Islands
If you are heading to another island on your trip, check out some of my personal recommendations here for Oʻahu, Kauaʻi, Molokai, and Hawaiʻi Island (Big Island) in my separate posts.
If you’re trying to decide which island is right for your visit, check out my overview about each island in the post below.
Read My Separate Post: What is the Best Hawaiian Island to Visit?
