We recently visited Maui and feel like we planned the best 4 day Maui Itinerary full of adventure and relaxation! We were amazed by the diversity of adventure activities that we were able to do in our 4 day Maui itinerary and now we want to share it with you!
Responsible Recreation in Maui
Please be a responsible visitor by following these rules:
- Respect signage
- Wear reef-safe sunscreen
- Clean your hiking boots before and after hiking
- Respect wildlife from a distance
- Don’t carve into bamboo
- Wear hiking shoes or sandals with good traction
- Bring waterproof gear for hikes
- Always check beach safety conditions before swimming or snorkeling
- Research current trail conditions, stay on trail and as always, leave no trace!
Where to stay for your 4 day Maui itinerary
It’s possible to stay in one place for your entire 4 day Maui itinerary, but we would recommend staying in multiple places to avoid early wake ups and minimize driving.
We split our time evenly between hostel-type accommodation and a resort since accommodation on Maui is expensive and we knew we’d barely be in the room for some of the days!
Peace of Maui was the perfect place to stay our first night before our full day driving the Road to Hana. For your second night, we would recommend staying a night in Hana at Hana Inn to have more time for all of the scenic stops and hikes!
For our last two nights, we splurged on the beautiful Andaz Maui resort and loved it. Our sleek and modern room had an amazing view of the ocean. The property has five pools and an amazing beach that is great for snorkeling.
How to get to Maui
You’ll fly into Kahului (OGG) airport. The airport is centrally located to anywhere you are staying on the island. There are many rental car options, such as Avis, a short tram ride away or a short shuttle ride away for Turo.
Day 1: The Road to Hana
Driving etiquette on the Road to hana
Throughout the entire drive, we used Gypsy Guide to tell us about the area which definitely added to our experience! Gypsy Guide will also tell you which areas are accessible with parking as there are many places on the Road to Hana that are private property or dangerous. Be sure to respect all signage and don’t enter private property or park illegally while driving. In order to respect driving etiquette for the Road to Hana, you need to pull over for locals and yield to cars on one lane bridges. Whichever car gets to the bridge first has the right of way.
Breakfast and cofee at Booch and Coco
We started our first day in Maui waking up before sunrise at Peace of Maui and headed to get coffee at Booch and Coco before getting an early start on the Road to Hana. Booch and Coco ended up having our favorite coffee of the entire trip! They also offer delicious smoothies, breakfast bowls, and acai bowls.
Twin Falls
Our first stop on the Road to Hana was Twin Falls. Twin Falls is a must stop in our opinion! You can hike to 3 beautiful waterfalls and swim in each one too. The hikes range from a 10 minute walk to 2 miles. The 2 mile hike requires a water crossing so it’s best to wear waterproof shoes. We wore Teva hiking sandals that worked great for this hike.
It costs $10 per vehicle to park at Twin Falls and we would recommend going early to avoid crowds. We had it to ourselves around 7:30 AM. There’s also a fruit stand that sells banana bread, snacks, and fruit. You won’t regret getting the coconut water, it was the best coconut water we’ve ever had!
For a detailed guide, check out our full Road to Hana post, but here are our favorite stops:
- Twin Falls ($10 per vehicle)
- Garden of Eden Arboretum ($20 per person)
- Rainbow Eucalyptus Grove at Ke’anae Arboterum
- Lunch at Hana Farms or Poke Bobs
- Wailua Falls
- Wai’anapanapa State Park (timed reservations required; open 1 month in advance)
- Dinner at Hana Ranch
Day 2: Pipiwai Trail and a Luau
Sunrise at Hamoa Beach
Day 2 in Maui started with sunrise at Hamoa Beach, which we had to ourselves! The water lit up red and it ended up being our most beautiful sunrise of the trip. Be sure to wear reef safe sunscreen if you go swimming here and anywhere in Hawaii in general.
Pipiwai Trail
Next, we headed to the Kīpahulu District of Haleakalā National Park for a bucket list hike: the Pipiwai Trail! This trail is 4 miles with minimal elevation and should take 2-3 hours.
This is a must do in our opinion and we loved hiking in the morning with minimal people. The trail started becoming very crowded as we were hiking back. Along the trail, you’ll encounter a beautiful bamboo forest and end up at the beautiful roaring Waimoku Falls.
Be sure to wear hiking boots with good traction and waterproof gear. We got poured on and the trail is quite muddy. It’s also extremely important to watch for signs of flash flood and listen to park ranger tips.
On the way back to the Andaz Maui, we drove the “back” way (Hwy. 31) which is a bit more difficult than the Hana highway. Be sure to check your rental car agreement to determine if you can do this.
Check into the Andaz Maui
After roughing it a little bit for a couple of days, we arrived at the beautiful Andaz Maui. The Andaz Maui is located in the resort area of Wailea. This area is one of the sunniest in Maui and was a great home base for the next part of our trip.
We loved the modern style of the Andaz. We were greeted with leis before arriving at our beautiful room overlooking the resort and the ocean. Our first stop was the most delicious Mai Tais at the poolside bar before starting to get ready for our first luau!
The Feast at Mokapu Luau
We had the opportunity to attend The Feast at Mokapu Luau and had the best experience! The luau which was created by their Hawaiian culture training specialist, Kalikolehua Storer, who directed the luau based her own experiences and stories passed down from her family. The luau included an open bar and delicious traditional Hawaiian food. We had so much fun at this incredible performance.
Day 3 – Haleakala National Park
Sunrise at the Summit
On day 3 in Maui we woke up at 3 AM definitely still feeling the effects of the open bar, but we were so excited to check off another bucket list adventure in Maui!
After securing reservations 2 months in advance, you can enter Haleakalā National Park for sunrise. You’re almost guaranteed to see a magical cloud inversion.
Sliding Sands Trail
We would highly recommend doing the Sliding Sands trail after sunrise. This 11 mile trail takes you through epic volcanic landscapes. You can do as much or as little of the trail as you want. We did about 2 miles and loved it.
Eat local treats
After our adventurous morning, we treated ourselves to masaladas at Sugar Beach Bake Shop and the sweetest papaya from Farmers Maket Maui. Both are located right next to each other and are must stops!
Relax at the Andaz
We spent the rest of the day relaxing at the Andaz’s pool and snorkeling at Ulua Beach before enjoying the best sushi dinner at Morimoto Maui, located right on the Andaz property.
Day 4 – Waihee Ridge and Kahekili Highway
It’s time to say goodbye to the beach and hello to the mountains! We recommend that you spend your final day on the Kahekili highway. At the start of the highway you will find the Waihee Ridge Trail. It’s a heavily trafficked trail and is essential that you arrive early so you can secure a parking spot at the upper lot. Otherwise it adds a mile or two of boring uphill hiking.
After the ridge hike, continue on the Kahekili highway toward the Nakalele Blowhole. The remainder of this road can be difficult for the faint of heart, so take it slow like you did on the Road to Hana!
There is an awesome stopping point at Karen Lei’s Gallery where you’ll find beautiful views of the valley and a cute shop to find some souvenirs for yourself or family.
We hope you love our jam packed 4 day adventure itinerary in Maui!
