Maui’s Top 7 Free or Nearly Free Things to Do and See
Posted on Thu, Sep 20, 2007 by Sheila
You don’t have to spend a bundle on expensive tours to have a fantastic time in Maui. In fact, some of the best sites and activities are free. In this post, I’ve compiled my top seven budget minded activities. Most of them are free, but if there is a fee involved, I’ve made note of it.
- Explore Haleakala National Park. Consider making an early morning visit to Haleakala and watch sunrise. Then plan to hike the trails and look for native Hawaiian wildlife. There is a $10 per car entrance fee which is valid for three days.
- Drive the road to Hana (Highway 360). Plan a whole day to take this winding scenic route where you will drive along a lush tropical coastline with stunning cliffs, beaches, and waterfalls. See all my tips for driving the Road to Hana.
- Have a sunset picnic on the beach. Whether you are on your honeymoon or on holiday with your friends, it is almost magical to watch sunset at one of the many gorgeous beaches in Maui. (Of course this beach will need to be on the west side of the island.) You can easily find grocery or sandwich shops to pick up picnic supplies on Maui. Just be sure you don’t bring alcoholic beverages which are prohibited on Hawaii beaches.
- Go snorkeling. You can rent snorkel gear from $9 per week at Snorkel Bobs. Here are some top Maui snorkeling spots that you access from the beaches (except for Molokini).
- Go to the Ioa Valley State Park to admire it’s beauty and learn about its ancient Hawaiian historical significance.
- Take a stroll around historic Lahaina. See the famous banyan tree, historic buildings, and check out the art galleries. You can pick up a free walking map at the 1834 Baldwin Home (per Go Hawaii).
- Watch the waves, windsurfers, and whales. If you don’t spend some time soaking in the scenery at a beach in Maui, well then you’ve not really had a proper Maui vacation. My favorite beach is D.T. Fleming Beach Park in Kapalua, which once won Dr. Beach’s top beach award. From January to April, this beach is also a good point to watch for whales. See this article for free whalewatching information. As for windsurfing, Hookipa is a world famous windsurfing spot.
If you’ll be visiting other Hawaiian Islands, then don’t miss these picks for the best budget activities:
SEARCH FOR GREAT HAWAII VACATION DEALS BELOW:
ENJOYED THIS POST? SUBSCRIBE BY RSS OR EMAIL AND GET FREE DAILY UPDATES!
| 
Email This
| 
Print This
I’ve done all of the above except snorkeling. I don’t really care for the water. Crazy, huh?
[Reply]
Hi Kailani – Well not too crazy, really. I grew up near snow ski resorts and I didn’t ski until I was 21 and even after that I rarely skied.
[Reply]
A very good list. I was trying to think of anything to add but there is not much. Go down to Makena beach and bodysurf would be my #8 (or if you are trying to teach kids to bodysurf go to one of the Kamaole beaches in Kihei).
[Reply]
While on Maui this past June, my brother took us to see Dragon’s Teeth, near the Ritz-Carlton Resort in Kapalua. It is a very dramatic sight, lava upturned by wave and wind action as it was flowing into the ocean. It really resembles the teeth of a giant dragon laying right before you, yet my brother says that it looks like someone performed some amateur dentistry on it as it doesn’t look as snarling as it did before. Just be careful of your step, as the area is not even, or the Dragon may take a bite out of you (my brother took a nasty spill his 1st time there and needed stitches!).
If you continue past the Teeth , you will come upon a maze made of rock, coral and a coarse grass. Several of my traveling companions walked the maze, taking 5-10 minutes to get to the center. I was just wondering if you or anyone reading this would have any knowledge of what this maze is all about. It isn’t even mentioned in my Maui Revealed book. It would be a good addition to my mementos of my trip to Maui.
This isn’t a BIG item to see on Maui, but it is a beautiful dramatic piece of shoreline that is truly PURE HAWAII, and it’s FREE
[Reply]
@ Chris – a belated thank you for adding the Makena Beach body surfing suggestion.
@ Joanne – the Kapalua area of Maui is my favorite. I think partly because we stayed in the Kapalua villas on our very first visit to Maui and partly because it’s just beautiful there. I actually did not know about Dragon’s Teeth. I was probably nearby and was so in awe of everything that I completely missed it. I will definitely check that our next time. As for the maze, I just tried looking it up in my brand new Maui Trailblazer guide and on the Kapalua official website and didn’t find any mention of it.
[Reply]
This is very interesting siteh
[Reply]
Hi Sheila,
Thanks for the really very helpful information about activities in Hawaii. It’s a boon in disguise for first timers like me who is trying not to miss any of the must-see places or must-do activities.
Since I’m planning to go to the Haleakala National Park to see the sunrise, is it possible to combine the Haleakala crater visit also together? I know there are helicopter tours available just to see the crater, but I wanted to check whats the best and economical way to do both.
Thanks,
Akky.
[Reply]
Hi Akky –
I know what you mean about being a first timer to Maui and trying to figure out what to do and see. It can be overwhelming, but from my experience these are the best of the best! http://www.govisithawaii.com/2008/01/18/top-5-things-you-must-see-and-do-on-your-maui-vacation/
When you go to Haleakala for sunrise, you are on top of Haleakala. You’ll see the surreal landscape as the sun comes up. There are trails that you can take to explore Haleakala. You can learn tons more from here http://www.nps.gov/hale/planyourvisit/index.htm and you can request free brouchures here: http://www.nps.gov/hale/planyourvisit/brochures.htm
What a helicopter tour will offer that you won’t get to see from the ground is the bird’s eye perspective. As you are trying to decide what to do, I think this post and the links will help you decide what to explore and if a helicopter tour is worth spending the money: http://www.govisithawaii.com/2008/02/20/maui-video-tour-by-helicopter-a-great-virtual-visit-and-vacation-planning-tool/
And, here’s my final 2 cents – if you are considering a helicopter tour that covers the whole island including the top of Haleakala, that may be worth the time and money even if you are already planning to go to Haleakala for sunrise. If you are going to go to Haleakala for sunrise and the helicopter tour only takes you to the top of Haleakala, that, in my opinion, is not worth the extra money. Just my 2 cents.
Good luck with your decisions.
Also, don’t miss this post: http://www.govisithawaii.com/2007/07/17/see-an-unforgettable-sunrise-at-the-peak-of-a-volcano/
[Reply]