17 Maui Hidden Gems for Exploring Off the Beaten Path
2.5 million people visit Maui each year, but the valley island is still full of hidden gems—from ʻĪao Valley nestled amongst the razor-sharp peaks of west Maui to the pristine waters of ‘Āhihi-Kīna‘u Natural Area Reserve near Kihei.
After visiting this stunning island three times (and counting!) I’m sharing my favorite Maui hidden gems for those of you who like to get a little off the beaten path!
As always, every place mentioned in my guides is legal and publicly accessible. I’ll never recommend trespassing. I urge you to tread lightly and respect those who call this island home. 💞
1. ʻĪao Valley
Surrounded by lush razor-like ridges, ʻĪao Valley just might be the most beautiful place on Maui… yet it’s still a bit off the tourist radar!
The valley’s centerpiece, Kuka‘emoku (the ʻĪao Needle), is a 1,200-foot basalt spire that shoots up into the air. There’s also a tranquil stream (which makes a perfect swimming hole!) and a short ethnobotanical trail that leads beside a small kalo (taro) field.
You need to make a reservation to visit ʻĪao Valley State Monument, but it only costs $5 per person and $10 for parking, and its pretty easy to secure a reservations, even of the day of!
2. Kepaniwai Park
Just 10 minutes down the road from ʻĪao Valley State Monument you’ll find another Maui hidden gem, Kepaniwai Park.
This small park along the Wailuku Stream honors the many immigrant communities that call Hawai’i home, with a tranquil Japanese garden, Chinese pagoda, and Portuguese gardens, along with a traditional Hawaiian hale.
The park is free to visit and definitely worth a quick stop if you’re also visiting ʻĪao Valley.
🚁 Fly over Maui and Molokai: Sign up for a doors-off helicopter flight to see the island from a different perspective… and get a glimpse of the rugged landscapes of nearby Molokai! It’s certainly pricey, but absolutely worth it.
3. ‘Āhihi-Kīna‘u Natural Area Reserve
This natural reserve is one of my favorite places to snorkel on Maui, and for good reason! The coral reef here is the only recorded reef within the local Natural Area Reserves that isn’t declining—in other words, its the healthiest reef that has been studied around here!
‘Āhihi-Kīna‘u is just a 20 minute drive south of Kihei, and besides the great snorkeling, it also features some stunning volcanic landscapes and hiking trails.
Given how close it is to Kihei, you want to arrive early-ish (before 10am) to easily find parking and enjoy the clearest snorkeling conditions. Parking costs $5 and there are friendly volunteers that will point out the best areas to snorkel!
4. Molokini Crater
Another exceptional place to snorkel on (well, near…) Maui is Molokini Crater! And although this is a little touristy, I still feel like its a bit of a hidden gem because a lot of folks don’t realize you can snorkel at the stunning crescent-shaped crater off the coast of Maui!
The massive crater is a coral shelf with an array of marine species, and the shape of the crater protects it from the waves, so Molokini usually has excellent visibility even when snorkeling conditions on Maui are poor!
For best snorkel conditions, book the earliest tour (usually 7am). I recommend the highly-rated 2-hour snorkel tour with locally-owned Redline Rafting. It leaves from the Kihei boat launch (a 5-minute walk from where I usually stay on Maui) and the boat ride out to the crater only takes 15 minutes!
5. Maui Upcountry
The island’s upcountry towns are often overlooked, so this is a lovely area to explore Maui off the beaten path!
Makawao, Pukalani, and Kula are the three main towns, and they’re on the way if you’re planning to visit the volcano summit at Haleakalā National Park. A few places to check out in this area include:
- 🥭 Upcountry Farmers Market (Saturdays): A must-visit if you’re visiting on a Saturday! Grab some tropical fruit for snacking and support small local businesses!
- 🥑 Downtown Makawao: A convenient place to stop on the way up. Check out the 100+ year old Komoda Store and Bakery and Rodeo General Store to fuel up on snacks for the day’s adventures!
- 🌺 Kula Botanical Garden: Beautiful little botanical garden with koi ponds and a vast array of tropical plants.
- 🍹 Ocean Vodka: Organic vodka distillery with incredible views of the ocean and island. Their cafe serves a variety of tropical drinks, pizzas, and salads. They have live music daily from 4:30-7pm so it’s worth a stop on your way down the volcano!
6. Hosmer Grove Trail
Halfway up the volcano, check out the easy 0.6-mile Hosmer Grove Trail, one of the best places to spot endemic Hawaiian birds like the bright red ʻIʻiwi, crimson ʻApapane, and endangered Maui ʻAlauahio.
Although I’m not much of a birdwatcher, but this short hike is probably my favorite part of spending at at Haleakalā! The trail is so peaceful—and its really a lesser know spot in Maui.
To increase your chances of spotting the area’s stunning birds (and to respect birdwatchers on the trail), walk slowly and keep your voice down! We walked a little too fast on our first jaunt through the trail, and ended up circling back more slowly to see more.
7. Sunset Cruise with Hula Show
Getting out on the water at sunset is one of my favorite things to do regardless of where I am in the world… and in Maui sunset cruises come with a hula show!
Well, if you join this local family-owned sunset cruise. The 2-hour catamaran cruise departs from Maalaea Harbor, which is located between Kihei and Lahania.
It includes an open bar, buffet, and live hula show. And depending on what time of year you’re visiting, you may get to spot some humpback whales along the way!
8. Waihe’e Ridge Trail
This challenging 4.2-mile roundtrip hike climbs a ridge through the Mauna Kahalawai (West Maui Mountains) with panoramic views of the lush mountains and sparkling ocean below.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to fit this hike into my last Maui trip, but its high on my bucket-list for future Maui vacations. I’ve heard amazing things about it… it very well could be the most beautiful hike on Maui, rivaling the Pīpīwai trail to Waimoku Falls, which my current favorite!
Read more about this trail on AllTrails.
Note: There a several places called “Turtle Town” in Hawaii, this one is the Kihei Turtle Town!
9. Turtle Town
Out of everywhere I’ve been in Hawaii, I’ve seen the most honu (sea turtles) here! But unless you’re joining a snorkeling tour like this, figuring out where turtle town is can be a little tricky… you won’t see any signs pointing here and most travel guides won’t tell you where it is.
Thankfully, Turtle Town is actually quite easy to find and accessible from the shore, so no snorkeling tour is needed! It stretches along the reef just south of Kama‘ole Beach Park III toward the Kīhei Boat Ramp. You don’t have to swim too far, just start in the small cove on the south end of Kama‘ole III, then follow the reef south as conditions allow.
Know that ocean conditions change daily. Most of the year, this area is safe for snorkeling, but visibility can vary day to day. On my most recent trip in May, the water here was murky every single day, sadly, but we still saw several sea turtles, and I’ve seen more here on my past Maui trips!
🐢 Hawai’i Sea Turtle Laws: Stay at least 10 feet away from sea turtles (and other marine life) both in and out of the water! Never surround or chase sea turtles… take in every special moment in their presence and trust that you’ll se more.
10. Eddie Pu Trail
This short trail between Kama‘ole Beach Park III and the boat launch is such a Maui hidden gem! It’s a sea bird nesting preserve, so please stay on the trail as not to disturb any nests.
The trail winds through sea bird nestling shurbland over volcanic cliffs. From here you get a view of Molokini crater, and a front row view overlooking “Turtle Town”!
11. Kama‘ole Beach Park III Cove
Right next to the Eddie Pu Trail is Kama‘ole Beach Park III. This beautiful golden sand beach is my favorite beach on the island… and specifically the small cove at the southern end. As I mentioned earlier, this cove is a hangout spot for sea turtles, so naturally, its a hangout spot for me, too!
Since its a small cove, the waves are gentler than on the other part of the beach. It’s great for snorkeling and for families. And at the southern edge of the cove you’ll find a lava tube!
12. Gus’ Hawaiian Shave Ice
Another Maui hidden gem in Kihei, get a icy sweet treat of a baby blue VW bus at Gus’ Hawaiian Shave Ice!
As the name suggest, Gus’ specializes in Hawaiian style shave ice, but they also have something that I think is even better.. shave fruit! It’s frozen fruit (or in my case, a vegetable actually…) shaved into a frosty delicious powder!
I tried the ube (Japanese purple sweet potato) with some coconut condensed milk and it was delectable! We also had a regular shave ice with their natural fruit syrups. It was one of the best shave ice I’ve ever had throughout Hawaii and thankfully a little healthier becuase the syrup is made from real fruit.
13. Ho’okipa Beach Park
This gorgeous beach and its panoramic overlook are right before the start of the Road to Hana, but are so easy to miss!
It’s a popular surf spot and you get an excellent view of the surfers catching waves from the overlook above. You also get a view of the sea turtles that nest on the beach and feed amongst the reefs below. This is another one of the best places on Maui to see sea turtles!
14. Road to Hana Ziplining
Ziplining through the lush rainforest along Maui’s Road to Hana is another lesser known thing to do in Maui! And if you’ve never ziplined before, this is an excellent place to start—its beginner friendly and the course is absolutely stunning.
The zipline route with Jungle Zipline Maui in Haiku includes eight ziplines, plus a suspension bridge, and two swinging bridges. Zip through the rainforest canopy in one of the most beautiful rainforests in Hawaii.
This zipline is on the Road to Hana, so be sure to make a reservation in advance. I’d recommend the 9:30 or 10am slot to leave you plenty of time to explore the Road to Hana for the rest of the day.
15. Pua’a Ka’a State Wayside
Pua’a Ka’a State Wayside is perhaps the Road to Hana’s most underrated stop! Literally right on the side of the Hana Highway, this little wayside has two small but stunning waterfalls you can swim beneath.
It’s much less crowded than the more popular Twin Falls, and in my opinion, better for swimming! This wayside is also one of the few places along the Road to Hana with free bathrooms, so its a great pitstop!
16. Pīpīwai Trail to Waimoku Falls
Many folks can’t comprehend adding a 2+ hour long hike to their limited time exploring the Road to Hana, but this hike through tranquil bamboo groves and lush native forests to the base of 400-foot Waimoku Falls is worth every minute!
In fact, this trail is my favorite part of the Road to Hana, hence why I created a one day Road to Hana itinerary that budgets plenty of time for this hike.
The trail is located within the Kīpahulu District of Haleakalā National Park where you’ll also find the ʻOheʻo Gulch (Seven Sacred Pools). Read more about the trail on my First Timers Guide to the Pīpīwai Trail & Waimoku Falls.
17. Magical Enchanted Forest & Honolua Bay
About 20 minutes north of Lāhainā along the rugged Honoapi‘ilani Highway, you’ll find one of Maui’s best snorkel spots, Honolua Bay. An mossy, old-growth forest funnels you toward the bay on a 0.6-mile path locals call the “Magical Enchanted Forest.”
Honolua Bay is protected marine sanctuary that’s one of the best places to snorkel on the island—when the conditions are right. Expect a rocky entry, vibrant coral, and some small sea arches. You likely won’t be able to snorkel here if you visit in the winter, but conditions are calmer in the summertime!
Despite being protected by the state, Honolua Bay does not have any facilities. You can also visit on a west Maui snorkeling tour from Ka’anapali Beach.
More Hawaii Travel Guides
- The Perfect 5 Day Maui Itinerary: Jungle, Volcano & Beaches
- How to Spend One Day at Haleakalā, Maui’s Volcano
- The Perfect 1 Day Road to Hana Itinerary (& What to Skip)
- Hawai’i Big Island Travel Guide (For First-Time Visitors)
- 21 Kauai Hidden Gems for Exploring Off the Beaten Path
- 4 Day Oahu Itinerary Full of Sunshine, Aloha, and Adventure
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