5 Ways to Enjoy the Outdoors on Maui
The Valley Isle has some of the state’s best beaches, hiking trails and outdoor adventures.
Maui has it all, from award-winning restaurants to luxe resorts to some of the best beaches and hiking trails in the state. Here are five ways we love to enjoy the outdoors on the Valley Isle.
1. Pīpīwai Trail, Kīpahulu
Pīpīwai Trail on Maui.
Photo: Travis Morrin
On the rugged eastern side of Maui is the Kīpahulu district of Haleakalā National Park. Most drive the winding 52-mile Hāna Highway to get to this part of Maui, gawking at waterfalls and stopping at roadside stands for homemade banana bread. (We highly recommend that!) But few go past the sleepy town of Hāna to this area of the national park—and to the start of the Pīpīwai Trail. This 4-mile out-and-back trail follows a string of pools and waterfalls and meanders through a Zen-inspiring bamboo forest to the 400-foot Waimoku Falls. It’s not a long hike, but steep terrain and slippery paths can make it a bit challenging.
2. Hosmer Grove Trail, Haleakalā
Hosmer Grove Trail in Haleakalā National Park on Maui.
Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino
This trail, which begins close to the entrance to Haleakalā National Park—and yes, you have to pay the $30-per-vehicle entrance fee—circles through a diverse forest where you can spot Hawaiian honeycreepers endemic to the Islands. The beginning of the 0.6-mile trail loops around nonnative trees, many that were planted in 1910 by ranchers in an attempt to slow hillside erosion and jump-start the timber industry on Maui. You’ll walk past lodgepole pines native to the western U.S., messmate eucalyptus from Australia and sugi pine from Japan. But as you continue to stroll along the trail, you’ll enter a native forest with old-growth koa and ‘ōhi‘a trees, ‘a‘ali‘i, pilo and māmane. Stop at the lookout and catch endemic scarlet ‘i‘iwi (Hawaiian honeycreeper) and white-rumped ‘apapane flitting about. The nature walk should take less than an hour, including stops. On your way down the volcano, stop at Maui Tea Farm for a cup of locally grown tea.
3. Nāpili Bay, Nāpili
Nāpili Bay on Maui.
Photo: Getty Images/unclegene
Nāpili Bay is perfect for those looking for world-class beaches without world-class crowds. Here, there’s plenty of sandy real estate to lay down your towel and soak in picturesque views of the Pacific and the neighboring island of Moloka‘i. In the winter playful humpback whales return to Maui’s warm waters and put on a spectacular show. And when the surf is mellow, the beach is great for snorkeling; honu (Hawaiian green sea turtles) often visit Nāpili Bay’s reefs, just offshore.
4. Maluaka Beach, Wailea
Honu, or Hawaiian green sea turtle, swimming in the waters off Maui.
Photo: Getty Images/Philip Thurston
Located south of Wailea, this peaceful sandy stretch fronts calm waters brimming with marine life, making for excellent snorkeling. Here, vibrant coral reefs and sea arches lie just beneath the surface. But Maluaka Beach is best known for the honu that frequent its waters, earning the nickname Turtle Town. And after a day of exploring the diverse underwater life, be sure to stick around to watch the sun set over the Pacific. Off the beach, calm glassy waters shimmer with vibrant shades of red and orange.
5. Charley Young Beach, Kīhei
Sunset at Charley Young Beach on Maui.
Photo: Getty Images/Mark Tierney
The tucked-away beach on the northern tip of Kīhei’s Kama‘ole Beach Park I—there are three in total—is called Charley Young Beach, named after a man who once lived here. This golden-sand stretch is hidden behind residential homes and condos, making it less crowded than other beaches in the area. The aquamarine waters are generally calm and great for snorkeling. And its location—on Maui’s south shore—makes it a perfect spot for catching sunsets.
This story was originally published in our Winter 2024 issue. Buy a copy here.
