Famously known as the Paradise of the Pacific, Hawaii is a popular tourist destination that you must have heard about at least once. Those fancy tropical-themed collared shirts are the most famous identifiers of the place. There are amazing beaches here in Hawaii. What do we mean by it? Well, there are white, red, green, and even black sands on the shores of these beaches. Hawaii is one of those places where the weather stays awesome 365 days of the year. The locals feel blessed living here.
There’s a local saying here that goes, “Lucky, we live in Hawaii”. And if we look at what Hawaii has to offer; this statement is true without a doubt. The local language spoken here is Hawaiian. Now since we are talking about the local language, you might be surprised to know that the Hawaiian dialect only has 12 alphabets. A,E,I,O,U,H,K,L,M,N,P,W. out of these, A, E, I, O, U are the vowels and the rest are the consonants.
Hawaii is the widest state in the USA (from East to West) and is responsible for the production of 1/3 of pineapples in the world. Hawaii is the only state in the USA to grow coffee beans.
There are a total of 136 islands in Hawaii. In this article, we will talk about the second-largest island: Maui.
Maui also known as ‘The Valley Isle, is a world-famous tourist destination for beach lovers. But that’s not all, there are a ton of things that can be done here. Here are the top things that can be done here.
Best Things to Do in Maui
Here are the best things to do in Maui:
1. A visit to Haleakala National Park
This grand national park attracts more than a million tourists annually. It homes one of the world’s largest dormant volcano craters. The entire park occupies a whopping 30,000 acres of land area in Maui. The good thing about the park? It’s open 24 hours to the public. You can roam the area in your car or hire a personal vehicle. If you want something a little fancier, you can book a chopper ride.
2. Hiking up the Pipiwai Trail
Pipiwai Trail is one of the best hiking trails in Maui. There’s a thing to keep in mind though, the trail is not beginner-friendly. On the trail, you will be accompanied by lush green bamboo forests and great scenes of mother nature. It can take up to 5 hours to complete the trail.
3. Turtle Town
Located on Maluaka beach. The perimeter of Turtle town starts at the intersection of Makena Road and Makena Alanui Road. Turtle town is considered a jewel in Maui. The place is best suited for snorkeling activities and turtle seeing. There are bathrooms and snorkeling gear available for your convenience.
4. Go on a treasure hunt
One of the most family-friendly activities in Maui is going on a treasure hunt. There are a variety of treasure hunt activities to choose from. A single excursion can take anywhere between 3 – 4 hours. The activity includes bike riding, swimming, solving riddles, and treasure hunting. It’s a good choice for a family activity.
5. Hop on a cruise for watching whales
Ever fancied watching whales swim live? Well, if you are in Maui, you are in luck. There are cruises that you can get on to watch whales in action. The typical whale spotting season starts in November and ends in May. It’s however advised that you go between January – and March as it’s the peak season.
6. O’O Farm
A product of the owner’s dedication to providing truly organic produce to the local Maui restaurants and bringing the ‘Farm to Table’, O’O farm is a good place to have a great lunch. You can also reserve a tour if you want to explore the farm. There are 2 tours available. One is for breakfast and the other is for lunch.
7. Helicopter Tour
Ever wanted to have a bird’s eye view of a beautiful, lush green island. You can do it in Maui. There are a plethora of helicopter rides that you can choose from. The time duration ranges from 45 minutes to over 1 hour. Zooming past the 4000-foot-tall Molokai cliffs is an experience worth having.
8. Spend some quality time at Iao Valley
Just west of Waikuku in Central Maui, you can find yet another place worth visiting that goes by the name of Iao Valley. The valley is considered sacred by the local Hawaiian people. The place is also home to some of the higher officials’ remains. Iao Valley provides a gist of Hawaiian culture. The main attraction is the Iao needle and Iao stream. Both of them are of great historical significance as well as good for photographic purposes.
9. Have some fun at golf courses
Maui is a paradise for adventure and nature lovers. But did you know that Maui is also a haven for golf lovers? There are a number of very highly-proclaimed golf courses in Maui. These golf courses are designed by legendary designers like Arnold Palmer and Ben Crenshaw. Some of the notable golf courses include the Gold, Emerald, and Old Blue courses at Wailea and Plantation courses at Kapalua.
10. Maui Ocean Center
If you want to explore the marine life of Maui without going to the seas or you are short on time, you can consider visiting the Maui Ocean Center. The place exhibits a 750000 gallon open Ocean exhibit. The center was created to satisfy the quench of curious marine lovers. Everything from stingrays to sharks can be witnessed within the premises of the facility. This small yet charming center is near a shopping mall, so you can head there after visiting the center.
Read More, Best Beaches in the world you must visit
Overall, Maui is a great option if you are looking for beaches, seas, and a load of fun. The best time to visit Maui is from April to May and then from September to November. The rainy season prevails from November to March so try avoiding traveling during these months