Photo: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons
The 9-day plan, rearranged for 5 days: the best-ranked places stay, and each day keeps to one part of town.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
A wide, golden beach with gentle water on a calm day. A good place for the whole group to start, with sand for the children and shade nearby.
Go when Morning, when the water is calm and the sand is cool.
Local tip Swim where the water looks calm and a lifeguard is on duty, check the surf before you go in, and never turn your back on the waves.
A small crescent-shaped island, the rim of an old volcano, that sits in the sea off the south shore. Snorkel trips go out by boat in the morning, when the water is calmest. Choose a trip that suits the youngest swimmers, and ask about life jackets.
Go when Morning, when the sea is calmest.
Local tip Choose a boat trip that suits your youngest swimmer, ask about life jackets and seasickness, and take a sun shirt. A boat day is long, so keep the afternoon free.
Fruit, sandwiches and cold drinks from a grocery store, eaten in the shade at the edge of the beach. Easy for a whole group and gentle on the budget.
Local tip Bring a cooler and a trash bag, and take everything away with you.
A big, wide, golden beach backed by dunes and trees. The waves can be strong at the shore here, so it suits watching and wading more than swimming for young children.
Go when Late afternoon, around sunset.
Local tip The shore break here can be strong and sudden. Wade and watch rather than swim, and never turn your back on the waves.
Poke is cubed raw fish dressed with soy sauce and sesame, usually served over rice. Shops sell it by the pound and many have a mild version.
Local tip Choose a spot where the fish is kept cold, and ask what is freshest.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
A family beach in Kihei with a grassy area, picnic tables and a playground close by. Sand and shade make it easy to stay for the morning.
Go when Morning, with a picnic.
Local tip Look for the flags and the lifeguard tower, and swim near them. The grass behind the beach is the place for lunch.
An aquarium of Hawaiian sea life, with sharks, turtles and a tunnel of fish. It is indoors and shady, which makes it a good choice for the hot hours of the day, and it suits every age.
Go when Early afternoon, when the sun is high and the beach is hot.
Local tip Go through the tunnel of fish slowly, and let the children lead. Check ahead for feeding times and shows that you might not want to miss.
A classic island meal of a scoop of rice, a scoop of macaroni salad and a main such as chicken or fish. Plates are large, so share.
Local tip Order a few plates for the group and pass them around.
Chicken grilled over a fire and brushed with a sweet, tangy sauce. It is sold from roadside stands on many weekends and is easy to share.
Local tip It sells out, so go early, and eat it with your hands at a picnic table.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
A small farming village on a point of black lava rock, with taro fields and waves breaking on the shore. A good place to stretch your legs and look out at the sea.
Go when Morning, on your way out.
Local tip Walk out onto the black lava rock and watch the waves, but stay well back from the edge, because the sea is rough here.
A park on the coast with a black sand beach, sea caves and a shady path along the cliffs. The sea is rough here, so enjoy it from the shore. Check ahead, because the park may need a reservation.
Go when Midday, with plenty of time to walk.
Local tip The black sand is made of small stones that heat in the sun, so bring sandals. Do not swim where the waves are rough, and check ahead for any entry rules.
A simple plate or a sandwich from a stand along the road, eaten at a picnic table. Bring food from home too, since choices are limited.
Local tip Pack extra water and snacks, because there is not much food along the way.
A quiet, spread-out town at the end of the road, where life goes on at its own pace. Stretch your legs, buy something to eat and think about the drive back before the light fades.
Go when Afternoon, then start back with plenty of daylight.
Local tip Fill the tank and buy snacks when you pass through. The drive back can be tiring, so share it among the adults if you can.
The top of the volcano, above the clouds, with a view down into the crater. Sunrise and sunset are the famous times to go. Reservation and permit rules change, so check ahead. It is cold and high, and the thin air can make people dizzy.
Go when Around sunset, with warm layers.
Local tip Bring coats, hats and gloves for everyone, since it is cold and the wind is strong. Take it slowly at the top, because the air is thin. Check ahead for rules and reservations.
A hot meal before you head up to the summit, so no one is hungry in the cold. Soup, rice and noodles are good choices.
Local tip Eat before you go up, because there is no food at the top.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
A deep green valley in the West Maui Mountains, with a tall needle of rock rising out of the trees. Short, paved paths lead to viewpoints, and the clouds roll in by midday, so go early.
Go when Early morning, before the clouds close in.
Local tip The paths are short and paved, so children can manage them. The stream can rise quickly in the rain, so stay out of the water.
A small paniolo, or cowboy, town with wooden storefronts, galleries and bakeries. A fine place for a coffee and a slow wander.
Go when Late morning, with time for a bakery stop.
Local tip Look for the wooden storefronts and the small galleries, and take a coffee or a pastry to a bench.
Upcountry farms sell fruit, flowers and sometimes a hot lunch from a farm stand or a small cafe. Choose what is in season and picnic at a table.
Local tip Ask what was picked that day, and buy a bag of fruit for the road.
A famous beach for windsurfers and surfers, with a lookout above it. Green sea turtles, called honu, often rest on the sand. Keep a good distance and never touch them, and keep children away from the water when the waves are big.
Go when Late afternoon, when the sun slants and the turtles come in.
Local tip Green sea turtles rest on the sand here. Keep a good distance, never touch them and stay out of their way. Waves are often big, so watch from above.
Paia has many small places to eat with fresh fish, salads and burgers. A relaxed end to the day before the drive south.
Local tip Eat a little early, since the road south is long after dark.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
A small, curved bay with calm water in most conditions and soft sand. The rocks on each side are good for looking at fish through a mask.
Go when Morning, when the bay is calm and the light is soft.
Local tip It is a small bay and it fills up, so arrive early. Stay inside the rocks that shelter it.
A long beach on the west coast with calm water in many months and a paved path along the back. Plenty of space to spread out for a group.
Go when Midday, with shade and water close by.
Local tip The paved path along the back of the beach is handy with a stroller, and it is a long beach, so you can find a quiet spot.
A simple grilled fish sandwich with lettuce and tomato. A relaxed lunch near the beach in Kaanapali.
Local tip Choose a place with a view of the water, and book ahead for a big group.
A deep green bay with a sea cliff on one side, a short way along the coast. Look down from the road. The snorkeling is calm in some conditions and rough in others, so check ahead and go in only if it is calm.
Go when Late afternoon, when the bay is still.
Local tip Look from the lookout above. Snorkel only on a calm day, with an adult who swims well, and check ahead, because the surf can make it dangerous.
Pork cooked slowly in an underground oven until it falls apart, served with rice. A traditional dish that suits a big table.
Local tip It is rich and salty, so share it with plenty of rice and vegetables.
It covers 5 days in Maui, planned for late September. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.
It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.
No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.
Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.
Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.
Each day has about 7.0 to 34.5 miles between its stops, and 83.8 miles in all across 5 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
5 days on Hawaii's Big IslandAbout 100 miles awayAn easy add-on
4 days in HonoluluAbout 100 miles awayOther guides with a page about Maui. Each one opens in a new tab.
WikivoyageMaui, the free travel guideCondé Nast TravelerMaui travel guideTime OutThings to do in MauiThe InfatuationRestaurant guide to MauiPhoto: Ekrem Canli, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Richard N Horne, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: https://www.flickr.com/ph…, CC BY-SA 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: 293.xx.xxx.xx, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Make it yours in a minute, then move days around and add what you want.
A trip idea · Updated October 2026
Want your own days planned like this? Plan your own trip on the web or get the Archie app.
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