3 great days in Maui, Hawaii

Wind your way up Haleakalā volcano under a starry sky, then witness the dawn of a new day from your nearly 10,000-foot perch above the clouds. Advance reservations and an early start are required, but experiencing it is worth the effort (and it’s compatible with your jet lag if you’re visiting from anywhere east of Hawaii). Note that the volcano is one of the most popular stops on Maui’s beloved Road to Hāna, so if you opt to visit the route’s many other attractions like waterfalls, black-sand beaches and more, set aside a full day and book a tour with local experts Hāna and Beyond. 

Sate your rumbling stomach with pastries from Kula Country Farms, and while you’re here, grab some fresh produce and eggs for tomorrow’s breakfast at your Vrbo.

Make for Makawao, where you can play paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) on a horseback excursion, taste the famous creampuffs at the T. Komoda Store and Bakery, observe woodworkers and other artisans at the local shops, or create your own souvenir in a hands-on class at the Hui Noʻeau Visual Arts Center.  

Spend your afternoon at Hoʻokipa Beach or Baldwin Beach Park in Paia (if you’re visiting in winter, watching the big wave surfers at Peʻahi, also known as Jaws, is a treat).

For a late lunch or early dinner, fresh catches and a guava cocktail made with Kula strawberries are on the menu at Mama’s Fish House—a family-owned, open-air restaurant on the palm-tree-framed Kuau Cove that books up months in advance. 

Prepare breakfast at your Vrbo with the local ingredients you bought yesterday from Kula Country Farms. Then meet the team behind Maui Cultural Lands in Lahaina and head to Honokowai Valley, where you’ll help prevent future fires and preserve the island’s ecosystem by planting native flora or removing invasive species. 

Refuel with a blackened fish sandwich and a coconut cold brew at the waterfront Mala Ocean Tavern before venturing to Ukumehame Beach Park to catch some waves with the island’s only female-owned-and-run surf school, Maui Surfer Girls.

Reward your efforts with a cacao farm tour and chocolate tasting at Maui Kuʻia Estate, where 100% of the net profits support Maui charities and non-profit organizations.

Throw on a lei and get ready for a memorable evening of tiki torches, music, hula, storytelling and plenty of poi, kālua pig and other Hawaiian fare at the oceanfront Old Lāhainā Lūʻau, widely considered the most authentic lūʻau on the island.

Set sail on an ecotour with the Pacific Whale Foundation. You’ll snorkel amid some of the 250 fish species and 38 unique coral species at the Molokini crater, then have a chance to spot turtles and underwater lava formations at Turtle Arches. Breakfast and a barbecue lunch are included—and you can request a beach cleanup kit for your afternoon activity. 

Pick a beach near your Vrbo for a leisurely afternoon. Plus, if you’ve got the energy, you can do your part to keep Maui’s coastline clean by collecting and documenting any trash you find with your kit from the Pacific Whale Foundation.  

Hit the Maui Sunday Market in Kahului for some handcrafted souvenirs and ono grindz (tasty food). Or, if art and fine dining are more your speed, make your way to the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea for their local art showcase, sunset ceremony and hula performance, all of which are open to non-guests.

Treat yourself to a celebratory Kona lobster dinner at the resort’s DUO Steak & Seafood restaurant. Then head into Wailea to round off your weekend with some Maui-made beers at Koholā Brewery’s new taproom.