Making the Most of One Day in Maui

As a flight attendant, I’ve grown accustomed to seeing the world from a birds-eye vantage point. In fact, the notion of lounging on a beach merely hours before floating through the sky is nothing really out of the ordinary. It is just part of my life.

But until I drove to the top of Haleakala Volcano for aerial views of the Hawaiian island chain, I didn’t know it was possible to view the world from sea level and 10,000 feet—within the span of two hours—without setting foot on an aircraft.

When Dan decided to accompany me on a 24 hour Hawaii layover, we created a one day Maui itinerary that gave us a sampling of the island’s diverse offerings.

With only one day in Maui, Dan and I had to choose between visiting two of the island’s major highlights: the Haleakala Volcano, or the Road to Hana.

We chose to visit Haleakala on the basis that it would take less time to explore and, thus, allow us more time to see some of the island’s other attractions.

It proved to be the right choice.

Our 24 hour Maui itinerary included nature, wildlife, ocean views, and tasty foods.

 

VISITING MAUI IN ONE DAY

Ideally, a trip to Maui deserves at least five days. The beautiful Valley Isle is home to some of the Pacific’s most sublime scenery.

Realistically, however, enjoying an extended Maui vacation might not be an option for everyone (as in the case of flight crew, for example). Island hoppers, day trippers and cruise ship tourists will likely only have 24 hours or less to tour the island.

The good news is that it is still possible to get a taste of Hawaii’s Valley Isle on a limited timeframe.

As with most places, spending just one day in Maui is better than not visiting the island at all.

 

KIHEI

During our 24 hour visit to Maui, we used the coastal town of Kihei as a base for our adventures. Though we didn’t spend much time in the city itself, we found the town to be ideally located for exploration. Kihei lies within easy reach of the Kahului Airport and Haleakala National Park. It is home to some of the best Maui hotels and AirBnbs, and is a fantastic home base for exploring the island’s attractions.

What’s more, the public beaches in Kihei are first-rate and a wonderful place to watch the sunset after a jam-packed day of sightseeing.

 

HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK

We began our trip to Maui with a visit to the Haleakala Volcano.

Haleakala is the crowning feature of Maui and the island’s only national park. Reaching over 10,000 feet, the volcano is a mist-shrouded geologic wonder that affords some of the most unique landscapes in the Pacific.

Caressed by mist and blanketed in swirling colorful earth that seems to shift in the light, the Haleakala National Park is a masterpiece of geology and a top USA bucket list destination.

 

• SUNRISE AT THE HALEAKALA VOLCANO

Haleakala National Park is a popular sunrise-viewing destination. It has become so popular in the wee morning hours, in fact, that tourists must book tickets in advance to enter the park’s gates at sunrise. Tickets can be purchased online, up to 60 days prior to visiting the volcano.

Due to the last minute nature of our 24 hour trip to Maui, we did not have the opportunity to witness sunrise at Haleakala.

Instead, we stocked up on food from a grocery store and enjoyed a leisurely drive to the volcano’s summit after breakfast.

 

• HALEAKALA VIEWPOINTS

The two hour drive to the summit of Haleakala affords spectacular views at every bend. As the road gradually winds up the mountainside, it passes by fertile fields and farmlands. Over the course of two hours, it climbs more than 10,000 feet above sea level—providing spectacular views of upcountry Maui, the ocean, and beyond.

Once within the boundaries of the national park, views of the volcano’s earthy-colored landscapes replace those of the island’s verdant mountainsides.

The Pu’u’ula’ula summit of Haleakala National Park showcases breathtaking views of both the volcano’s interior and the ocean beyond its crater. On clear sunny days, it is even possible to see the soaring peak of Mauna Kea on Hawaii’s Big Island.

Other worthwhile panoramic viewpoints within the park’s boundaries include the Leleiwi Overlook and the Kalahaku Overlook.

 

• HIKING IN HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK

The summit area of Haleakala National Park boasts over 30 miles of hiking trails. These trails range in difficulty from short leisurely strolls to multi-day overnight treks.

Of all the hiking trails inside Haleakala Crater, the most popular trail is Keonehe’ehe’e—also known as Sliding Sands.

The Sliding Sands Trail begins directly from the Haleakala Visitor’s Center and drops 2,800 vertical feet over the course of four miles. At the bottom of the trail, hikers have the opportunity to connect with other trails that crisscross the crater floor.

Many visitors to Haleakala choose to hike the Sliding Sands Trail and continue onto Halemau’u Trail. The entire journey is 12 miles one way. The trail ends along the park’s main road, six miles from the Haleakala Visitor’s Center. From the Halemau’u Trailhead, most people attempt to hitch a ride back to the visitor’s center.

Since Dan and I only had one day in Maui and didn’t feel like worrying about the trail’s tricky logistics, we chose to undertake an abridged version of the hike that consisted of walking about three miles out and back along the Sliding Sands Trail.

The views—somewhat reminiscent to those of the Newberry Crater Volcanic Monument in Central Oregon—were lunar and otherworldly.

 

PAIA TOWN

Following a morning visit to Haleakala, Dan and I stopped in the charming town of Paia for a much-needed scoop of Hawaiian shave ice.

Ulululani’s Shave Ice is renowned for serving up some of the best Hawaiian-style snow cones around. I savored my scoop of refreshing goodness and secretly thought about ordering another for the road.

Then, refreshed and ready for the second part of our sightseeing adventure, I hopped back in the car and headed toward Ho’okipa Beach.

 

HO’OKIPA BEACH TURTLES

Though our one day Maui itinerary was packed with sightseeing, we were still able to enjoy a bit of time near the ocean. The Ho’okipa Beach near the start of the Road to Hana is one of the best surf spots in Maui.

Ho’okipa may not offer luxurious stretches of beach like those found in Lahaina and Kihei, but it offers something even better: large bales of turtles lounging about the sand.

Ho’okipa Beach Park is one of the best places to see turtles in Maui. Each evening, turtles litter the park’s shores and bob about its choppy waters. They are so camouflaged in their surroundings, that they look like boulders and are difficult to spot at first.

At Ho’okipa Beach Park, it is common to find a handful of sunbathing turtles at any given moment. The first time I visited, I remember seeing at least fifteen. On my second visit, I saw seven.

A barrier lies between the main viewing areas and the turtle-strewn beach. Visitors are asked to view the turtles at a distance as to not disturb the animals.

Please respect the turtles and do not break the rules.

 

THE ROAD TO HANA

The infamous Road to Hana is a top Maui attraction and an undeniable highlight of traveling to Hawaii. The road winds along emerald cliffsides, past waterfalls and jaw-dropping vistas.

Realistically, visiting both Haleakala and the Road to Hana in one day is nearly impossible—unless you’re planning on merely touring by car without relishing views or visiting attractions along the way. With speed limits averaging about 25 miles per hour, it takes roughly five hours to travel the 90 miles from Paia to Hana and back.

However, during our day in Maui, Dan and I were able to enjoy the first few miles of the famous ocean road while searching for one of the island’s colorful rainbow eucalyptus groves.

 

• THE RAINBOW EUCALYPTUS GROVE

Maui is home to a handful of rainbow eucalyptus groves. One of the most famous of these groves lies at the beginning of the Road to Hana, near the town of Paia.

The Hana Highway’s rainbow forest is located near mile marker 7, on the left side of the road (if traveling in the direction of Hana). The grove is easy to miss. It doesn’t have a signpost, isn’t marked on maps, and has no attached parking area. To make matters even more confusing, mile marker ‘0’ on the Hana Highway is a few miles away from the start of the highway on Google Maps.

Mile marker ‘0’ on the Road to Hana is located 10.6 miles east of Paia.

Though Dan and I knew to find the grove at mile marker 7, confusing road signs and the attraction’s nondescript setting caused us to pass by twice before stopping.

The trees in the eucalyptus grove look like an impressionist painting. They are stunning and otherworldly. A unique gift of nature.

Despite our troubles locating the grove, I’m so glad that our Maui itinerary included a brief photo opportunity by the rainbow eucalyptus trees.

 

MAUI BREWING COMPANY

Back in Kihei, Dan and I ate a tasty dinner of tacos at Coconuts Fish Cafe and enjoyed a quick nap before our return flight to Seattle.

Had I not been required to work an all-nighter following our unforgettable day in Maui, we would have likely spent the evening enjoying a refreshing ale on the lovely grassy lawn of the Maui Brewing Company in Kihei.

The Maui Brewing Company is Hawaii’s largest craft brewery. The brewhouse is the perfect place to sit back, sip on a refreshing drink, and reflect on the remarkable and wild beauty of Hawaii’s Valley Isle.

 

WHERE TO STAY IN MAUI

Maui is an idyllic holiday destination that caters to honeymooners and families with kids.

Where you choose to stay will depend on your travel style and the purpose of your vacation.

If you’re a young backpacker or budget traveler going solo, you’ll be hard-pressed to find affordable accommodation. The Tiki Beach Hostel in Lahaina and the Howzit Hostel in Wailuku offer dorm rooms in shared accommodation. While still expensive as far as hostels are concerned, they are among the cheapest options on the island.

On the northern coast of Maui, the Paia Inn offers a mid-range option that is great for travelers looking to stay away from massive chain resorts. The boutique hotel boasts clean artsy rooms, ocean views, and a fantastic location in one of Maui’s cutest towns.

If you’re traveling to Maui with kids and are looking for resort amenities, the Hyatt Regency in Lahaina is a popular option (not least because it has tropical penguins in the lobby).

 

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Maui is a romantic island that caters to honeymooners, luxury travelers, family vacationers, and adventure-hungry backpackers. Unlike the far-flung Pacific Island destinations of Pohnpei, Rapa Nui, or Arno Atoll, it is easily accessible and well-connected to North America and Asia.  Its resorts are some of the most opulent in the United States, and its landscapes—rivaling those of Tahiti and Palau—are some of the most magnificent on Earth.

With its volcanic monuments, idyllic beaches, plentiful wildlife, and verdant landscapes, Maui has it all. The island is a perfect mix of luxurious, wild, adventure-filled and relaxing.

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