Best Beaches in Maui — Ka’anapali, Wailea, Big Beach & Hidden Gems

Maui has over 30 miles of beaches — from wide resort sands to hidden coves accessible only by trail.

Ka’anapali Beach

Maui’s most popular resort beach — a 3-mile stretch of golden sand fronting the major Ka’anapali resort hotels. Excellent swimming, snorkeling at Black Rock (the lava cliff at the north end where cliff divers jump at sunset), and the Whaler’s Village shopping center. This is where most visitors spend their beach time.

Best Breakfast & Brunch in Maui

Maui’s breakfast scene splits between beachfront resort dining, upcountry farm-fresh café culture, and the local plate lunch counters where sunrise surfers refuel.

Beachfront & Resort

Gazebo Restaurant (Napili) — Tiny oceanfront restaurant where sea turtles swim in the bay below your table. The macadamia nut pancakes and fried rice omelette are famous. The wait can be 45+ minutes on weekends. Worth every minute.

Merriman’s (Kapalua) — Upscale brunch at Kapalua Bay. Farm-to-table eggs, local fish, and views that remind you why you flew to Hawaii.

Best Restaurants in Maui

Maui’s food scene is defined by the ocean, the farms, and the cultural mashup of Hawaiian, Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, and Portuguese cuisines that created something uniquely local. Here’s where to eat.

Local & Hawaiian

Mama’s Fish House (Paia, North Shore) — Regularly cited as one of the best restaurants in Hawaii. Oceanfront setting, fresh-caught fish with the fisherman’s name on the menu, and Polynesian-inspired preparations. Expensive. Worth it. Reservations essential — book weeks ahead.

Day Trips on Maui

Maui is a small island with enormous variety — you can drive from sea level to 10,000 feet in 90 minutes, snorkel in a volcanic crater, and wind through 600 hairpin turns on one of the world’s greatest drives, all in separate day trips.

Haleakalā Sunrise — 1.5 Hours from Resort Areas

Watching the sunrise from 10,023 feet above sea level — above the clouds, with the sun breaking over the crater rim — is one of the most awe-inspiring natural experiences in America.

Free Things to Do in Maui

Maui is expensive — resort prices, activity prices, restaurant prices. But the island’s greatest assets — the beaches, the drives, the sunrises, and the natural beauty — are either free or nearly so.

Free Beaches

All beaches in Hawaii are public by law. You’ll never pay to access the sand.

Ka’anapali Beach — The resort beach on the west side. Walk past the resorts and lay your towel anywhere. Free. The daily cliff-diving ceremony at Black Rock (Pu’u Keka’a) at sunset is a tradition worth watching.

Maui Timeshare Promotions

Maui is consistently voted the best island in the world — and timeshare promotional deals here offer one of the only ways to experience Hawaii resort accommodations without paying $400-800+ per night at retail rates. From the Road to Hana to sunrise at Haleakalā, Maui offers an unforgettable vacation experience for qualified visitors.

Here’s how it works, what it costs, and how to decide if it’s right for your next Maui trip.

Maui with Kids — Family Guide

Maui is one of the best family destinations in the world. The beaches are calm enough for toddlers, the marine life is accessible to snorkelers of any age, and the island’s natural beauty makes every drive an adventure.

Best Family Beaches

Ka’anapali Beach — The resort beach on Maui’s west side. Calm water, lifeguards, and the Black Rock cliff jumping area for older kids (or brave parents). The Whaler’s Village shopping center is right on the beach for snack runs.

Road to Hana — Complete Driving Guide, Stops & Tips

The Road to Hana is a 64-mile highway winding along Maui’s northeastern coast through 620 curves and 59 bridges — one of the most beautiful drives in the world.

The Drive

Highway 360 runs from Kahului to Hana through tropical rainforest, over one-lane bridges, past waterfalls, bamboo forests, and black sand beaches. The drive takes 3-4 hours one way without stops — but stopping is the point. Allow a full day (10-12 hours round trip). Start early (6-7 AM) to beat traffic and have time for stops.

Things to Do in Maui, Hawaii

Maui is the second-largest Hawaiian island and consistently voted one of the best islands in the world. It has a 10,023-foot dormant volcano, a road with 620 curves and 59 bridges, whales breaching offshore in winter, and some of the best snorkeling in the Pacific.

Haleakalā National Park

The summit of Haleakalā reaches 10,023 feet — high enough to be above the clouds. The sunrise from the summit is Maui’s signature experience. You’re watching the sun come up over a volcanic crater while standing above a sea of clouds. Reservations required for sunrise viewing (recreation.gov, $1 per reservation).