Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian islands and many people’s favorite island. I recommend spending at least three days on Maui. This three-day Maui Itinerary covers the best and basic things to do during your first trip to Maui. To me, Maui is like the Disneyland of the Hawaiian Islands. Everything is perfect, fun, and expensive. If you have more time, plan to explore the other islands such as Oahu, the Big Island, and Kauai during a two-week Hawaii trip or Hawaiian road trip.
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Table of Contents
History of Maui
The island of Maui was originally populated with Polynesians from Tahiti until King Kamehameha I took over the island. In 1778, James Cook became the first European to see Maui but never landed on the island due to not being able to find a place to dock.
Later, more Europeans began to arrive in the area and set up missions as well as started the whaling industry. Various rulers continued until Hawaii was annexed by the United States in 1898. Hawaii finally became the 50th state in 1959.
When to Spend Three Days on Maui
Hawaii is always gorgeous no matter what time of the year you visit. Summers will typically be more hot, humid, and crowded while winters see larger waves and crowds as well. Fall and spring typically are the least crowded and the weather is perfect.
How to Get to Maui
Maui has one main airport, Kahului Airport, located in the middle of the island. You can easily catch flights here from the western United States and Canada as well as the other Hawaiian Islands. Flights typically range around $300 from California in the off-season, but you can sometimes find some deals. We only paid $200 for our flights and utilized our Southwest Companion Pass to get a free ticket.
Transportation on Maui
If you are only planning on staying at your resort and not exploring the island, you do not need a car. However, there are a ton of things to see during three days on Maui, so I recommend getting a car to have more flexibility traveling around the island. I always use Autoslash to book a rental car.
Where to Stay on Maui
TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best Maui hotels here!
Hotels on Maui are VERY expensive even in the off-season, so you need to keep that in mind when booking a trip to Maui. I could not find anything for under $200/night for our trip. Thus, we opted to use points from our Marriott Credit Card for our trip so we would not have to pay for anything.
The AC Hotel by Marriott was the perfect place to stay. It was located in Wailea which is in the center of Maui. It is a newer and upcoming area so it was nice and not crowded. Other options in the area include the Maui Bay Villas by Hilton Grand Vacation
What to do During Three Days on Maui
Maui easily has a ton of things to keep you busy for a week. However, if you only have three days on Maui, I recommend following this Maui itinerary and checking out these places to eat.
Day 1: Molokini Crater and Kaanapali (Western Maui)
Snorkel at Molokini Crater
Start your first of three days on Maui with a snorkel tour to Molokini Crater. There are a ton of options but if you do not mind a bit of a splurge, I highly recommend the Pacific Whale Foundation. They are a non-profit organization that helps protect and research whales. They offer several types of tours as well if snorkeling is not your thing.
We opted to go on the Molokini and Turtle Arches Snorkel Tour. This tour included all equipment (snorkels, floatation devices, etc) breakfast, lunch, and drinks. It also has a ton of staff on board who are very educated about the sea life in the area. They also double as lifeguards when out at the snorkel spots.
The first stop of the tour is at the Molokini Crater. This is considered one of the best snorkel spots in the area. I liked that there were a lot of fish and things to see at this spot. There were a lot of people snorkeling here but it was so spread out, it did not feel crowded at all.
After about an hour, you will move to a second location with a chance to see sea turtles. Although we did not see any, several people in our group did. You will get about another hour to spend snorkeling here.
To end the tour, a really nice barbecue lunch is served on board. The tour also comes with one drink. Overall, I thought this was a really great tour and worth the price. If you want cheaper options that do not include as many things, Viator and Get Your Guide have some other options.
Drive along the Western Coast
The snorkel tour will end in the early afternoon. Afterward, opt to head up the western coast of Maui for some cool stops in the Kaanapali area. Whalers Village has a nice beach at the edge of the mall where you can relax for a little bit. Once done at the beach, head to MonkeyPod Kitchen to grab one of the best Mai Thais you can find on the island. The honey-lilikoi foam is what makes the Mai Thais so awesome.
Also along the way, you can opt to stop in Lahaina which has more shops, restaurants, and beach opportunities. At the McGregor Point Lighthouse, you can catch great views of the islands of Lanai and Kaho’olawe. A drive along the west coast should be part of any three days on Maui.
Kahekili Highway
If you have the time, you could also opt to continue driving from Kaanapali and travel down the Kahekili Highway. Although this is one of the most dangerous roads in Maui, it offers picturesque views and stops as it is an untouched highway.
Dinner at 5 Palms
Tonight, grab dinner at 5 Palms where you can catch one of the best sunsets on the island. The food is delicious and they have awesome cocktails as well. 5 Palms serves traditional American/Hawaiian fare. Make sure to make a reservation in order to ensure a table.
Day 2: Haleakala National Park
On your second of three days on Maui, opt to visit Haleakala National Park. This National Park was originally part of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island but separated from it in 1961.
The park is open all the time, but you will need a reservation to enter from 3am-7am. You can make these reservations online for $1. It also costs $30 to get into the park or you can use your America the Beautiful Pass to get in for free. The admission is good for 3 days.
Sunrise Reservation
Start off the day with watching the sunrise from the Summit of Haleakala. This requires a reservation to enter the park. I recommend getting there by 5am to stake out a good spot for when the sun comes up. As you are waiting, the summit makes for a perfect place to stargaze.
Keonehe‘ehe‘e (Sliding Sands) Trail
After sunrise, opt to hike the Keonehe‘ehe‘e Trail. This trail is 7.8 miles round trip to the crater floor. However, you can opt to just hike part of the trail. I recommend hiking for about 2 miles before turning around and coming back. This offers some awesome and unique views of the crater. Just remember that however long you have to hike down, you will have to hike it coming back up!
Leleiwi Overlook
After stopping at the Visitor’s Center, head to the Leleiwi Overlook. The Leleiwi Overlook is another viewpoint of the crater and surrounding area. It is just a short 5 minute walk to the viewpoint. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Maui’s North Shore from here.
Hosmer Grove
Next, head to Hosmer Grove for another short hike through a non-native forest. This forest was created when people brought a ton of different trees to Maui to try and produce their own lumber. Not a lot of the trees grew well, but you can see the remnants of some of them left. This spot is also great for birdwatching and photography.
Restaurant Marlow
Tonight, grab dinner on the way back from Haleakala National Park at Restaurant Marlow. This place has tons of fun pizzas and salads. They also have some fun cocktails which make for the perfect end of two of three days on Maui.
Mahalo Aleworks
After dinner, head next door to Mahalo Aleworks to grab some after dinner drinks. They have a ton of delicious beer choices. I really enjoyed the Star Fruit Sour.
Day 3
Today, on your last of three days on Maui, take some time to relax at your resort or on the beach. Pretty
Pita Paradise
After spending the morning at the beach, opt to head to Pita Paradise for lunch. This place had some great Mediterranean food. We opted for the chicken kebabs and they were delicious.
Shave Ice from Ululani’s
After lunch on your last of three days on Maui, head to Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice. This place has one of the best shave ices on all of the Hawaiian Islands. The Keiki size was large enough for me. I loved that they had a lot of suggested combinations. I personally do not like it with ice cream, but make sure to get a snowcap on it!
Esters Fair Project
Spend the afternoon relaxing at one of the best bars on Maui: Esters Fair Project. This tropical retreat has some of the best cocktails and is the perfect place to chill after a day on the beach. I really liked “A Drink Called Wanda.”
Da Kitchen
For the last dinner of your three days on Maui, grab dinner at Da Kitchen. This restaurant serves traditional Hawaiian fare. Everything we tried was super delicious, but I recommend the loco moco or the teri chicken.
More Than Three Days in Maui?
If you have more than three days in Maui, you can opt to add these activities to your itinerary.
Road to Hana
Another option to do during your three days in Maui is the Road to Hana. The Road to Hana is the 52-mile windy road along the east side of the island that has a ton of gorgeous stops along the way. We opted not to travel the road to Hana due to my fear of narrow mountainous roads (but I did it when I was two). Some of the best stops include Twin Falls, Maui Garden of Eden, Pua’a Ka’a Falls, Hana Farms, and Wai’anapanapa State Park. You can also opt to do this on day 3 instead of the above itinerary.
Iao Valley State Monument
Cost: $5
Hours: 7am-6pm
Iao Valley State Monument is a great place for a short hike. A paved 0.6-mile path goes around the area offering natural features and views along the way. A lot of people come here to enjoy a short walk in nature.
Leilani Farm Sanctuary
Cost: $50
Hours: Varies
Leilani Farm Sanctuary is home to many farm animal rescues. Visitors can opt to go on a guided farm tour and interact with the animals. You can also choose to sponsor an animal.
Maui Brewing Company
Cost: $
Hours: 11:30am-10pm
Maui Brewing Company is another fun brewery to visit when spending three days on Maui. They also have some fun beers like a coconut porter or a pineapple wheat. You can opt to grab some food here or just sit for a while with some beers.
Maui Honey Bee Sanctuary
Cost: Free
Hours: 9am-6pm
Maui’s Honey Bee Sanctuary offers honey tasting, a self-guided tour of the gardens, and a shop with a ton of honey products. It also has great views, especially of the Big Island on a clear day. There are also some fun workshops you can sign up for, so check the website to see what is available when you are there.
Maui Wine
Cost: $6 and up
Hours: Tues-Sun: 11am-5pm
MauiWine opened in 1974 and produced wine from the local grapes, pineapples, and raspberries. You can opt to grab a glass of wine, do a flight, or try out one of the wine cocktails.
Ocean Vodka Organic Farm and Distillery
Cost: $15
Hours: 12pm-5pm
At Ocean Vodka, visitors can opt to take a guided tasting experience and tour. Reservations are recommended. They also have a cafe with some bites to eat and a variety of signature cocktails if a tour is not available. In total, the property sits on 80-acres of land offering views of the area.
Zippy’s
Cost: $
Hours: Varies
Zippy’s is my number one stop as soon as I land in Hawaii. Zippy’s serves a ton of traditional Hawaiian dishes but in fast food style. I love that it is affordable and delicious. Their loco mocos and macaroni salad are my favorites.
Total Costs for Three Days on Maui
Airfare: $200/person (but second person free with our companion pass)
Hotel: 3 nights at 160,000 points total, most hotels are $200+/night
Rental Car: $155 total
Total Cost: $355 total or $178/person
Shaka Guide
Shaka Guide is a GPS self-guided audio tour that you can download to your phone. Currently, they have one for each of the Hawaiian islands. They provide great background information about the area. The best part is you do not need the internet to use them. Click below for the Shaka Guide for each island.
Other Hawaiian Islands
If you have more time, make sure to head to the other Hawaiian Islands. The Big Island is well worth a visit. It has a ton of free things to do and some great snorkel spots. If you have a lot of time to spend, spend some time in Hilo. Oahu also has a ton of cheap things to do to keep you busy. Hawaii also has a ton of road trips around the islands.
5 thoughts on “A Fun Three Days on Maui: The Disneyland of the Hawaiian Islands”
Ahhh, someday I will get to Hawaii. Until I do, I can live vicariously through those who have been able to explore and enjoy the islands.
Yes! Def recommend if you find a good deal.
We went to Kauai in January, but we debated choosing Maui instead. I think if my husband had seen all the craft beer options it would have been Maui for sure.
It just means you need to make another trip!
I was just talking to my husband about how we need to go to Maui! We went to Oahu last year and loved it, and I know Maui would be the same. I’d really love to go to Maui Wine to try that pineapple wine and snorkel at Molokani Crater!