Tourist Attractions and Festivals in Maui
According to Hawaii Tourism Authority, Maui received 2.5 million tourists in 2008. The numbers reflect that indeed, Maui is one of the best tourist destinations in the world. Come to Maui and you will experience breathing fresh air, marveling at the majestic landscapes and seascapes, doing adventure-filled activities, relaxing, and rejuvenating your body, mind, and soul. Yes, you can do all these things in the paradise island of Maui.
Tourist attractions
North Maui
Enchanting Floral Gardens is a showcase of different species of tropical plants and flowers. H. A. Baldwin Beach Park is good for families. Aside from the sandy beach, you will find soccer and softball fields, restrooms and shower areas, a lifeguard, and pay phones. The beach also has a lagoon which is great for relaxing and playing with small children. Kanaha Beach Park is great for windsurfing and kite boarding. You will also find volleyball areas, picnic tables, shower areas, restrooms, and lifeguards. Kite Beach is one of the world’s most famous beach for kite surfing.
Kula Botanical Gardens has 2,000 species of flora and fauna found in Hawaii. Haleakala National Park is great for hiking and camping. Try any of the trails going to the crater and summit. Once there, you will have the majestic view of the neighboring places. Ho’okipa Beach Park is famous among surfers and windsurfers because of the waves. You will also find lifeguards, picnic areas, restrooms, and shower areas there. If you don’t surf, you can still enjoy the beach because it is a good spot for swimming and snorkeling during the summer. Waihe’e Beach is small and has few visitors, which makes it a great spot if you are looking for a less crowded beach. It is also good to surf here during winter.
South Maui
Big Beach or Makena Beach or Oneloa Beach is one of the best beaches in Maui. Here, the shores are lined with orange and white sands. The brilliant blue-green waters and majestic landscapes around the beach add to its perfection. The beach is great for swimming, snorkeling, and sunbathing. Chang’s Beach is a small one which has showers and picnic tables but no lifeguards. Surfing can be good especially in the summer.
Charley Young Beach has perfect, soft sands and majestic views. It is great for swimming and surfing. Although without lifeguards, the beach has restrooms and shower areas. Cove Park is ideal for longboard surfing but not for swimming, diving, or snorkeling. There are also no facilities and lifeguards here. What Cove Park lacks in other areas, it surely makes up for being an ideal spot to learn surfing, as surf classes are also offered here.
Kalama Beach Park has a small sandy beach and lots of areas to play basketball, tennis, soccer, and baseball at. The Kama’ole Beach Park actually has three beaches to offer. The one at the north is the largest. The second is small with a bit of waves, and the third has a large grass park. All the beach parks have lifeguards, volleyball areas, restrooms, and shower areas.
Keawakapu Beach is great for taking pictures because of its picturesque rock formations and sunset. This beach is found in front of private residences and is considered as one of the local favorites. Little Beach or Pu’u Ola’i Beach is good for bodysurfing, surfing, swimming, and snorkeling. It is considered a nudist beach so don’t be shocked if you see naked people around you. Makena Landing or Five Caves is famous for its underwater caves and reef sharks. Amidst beautiful views, it is best to snorkel, swim, and scuba dive here.
Mai Poina’Oe La’u Beach Park is great for kite boarding and whale watching but not for swimming. The park has shower areas, picnic tables, and restrooms. Maluaka Beach is excellent for swimming, snorkeling, and diving. It is an ideal beach if you have kids with you. There are restrooms, picnic areas, shower areas, and lifeguards. Mokapu Beach Park is great for snorkeling. And during low tide, the shoreline gets big which is ideal for enjoying and playing by the beach.
Oneuli Beach is famous for its fine red sands and as an excellent spot for fishing, scuba diving, swimming, and snorkeling. Paako Beach or Secret Cove has become a favorite spot to hold weddings which make it crowded. Snorkeling is a great activity in this beach. Polo Beach is world-renowned for its beautiful sands and clean surroundings. This beach is ideal for snorkeling and whale watching. Here, you will find restrooms, picnic tables, grilling stations, and shower areas. Ulua Beach Park is ideal for snorkeling, swimming, and learning to scuba dive.
East Maui
Hamoa Beach is considered one of the best Maui beaches for bodysurfing. The beach is also good for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving. Hana Beach Park is known for outrigger canoe races and surfing. Hana Highway is the famous road going to Hana. Your Maui experience will never be complete without driving through this highway. On the way, you will definitely make many stop-overs because of the different tourist attractions such as the Garden of Eden Arboretum, Waikamoi Falls, Twin Falls Trail, Kaumahina State Wayside Park, Three Bears Falls, Ke’anae Peninsula and Village, and many more.
Hanamanu Beach has an untouched beauty. Perhaps that is due to the fact that getting there requires a four-wheel-drive vehicle. It can be good for surfing. But swimming is a big no-no because the waters have sharks. Most people come here for the beautiful views of the tropical rainforest. Kaihalulu Beach is famous for its red sands and cliffs. Getting there can be difficult because you have to walk down a cliff. But the view is magnificent. Also be aware that this is a nudist beach. Wai’anapanapa State Park is the best black sand beach in Maui. Although not safe for swimming, its majestic views of lava caves and rocks, sea arch, blue waters, and lush foliage attract lots of tourists.
West Maui
Black Rock is great for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving because of its diverse corals, tropical fish, and sea turtles. D.T. Fleming Beach Park is a favorite spot for swimming, body surfing, and surfing. Here, you will find picnic tables, lifeguards, and grilling stations. Kapalua Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Maui because of the beautiful tropical rainforest around it. This beach is ideal for swimming, scuba diving, and snorkeling. Launiupoko Beach Park is ideal for families because of a large pool surrounded by a wall made from lava rocks. This beach is great for picnics and longboard surfing. Maui Ocean Center is one of Hawaii’s top-rated family attractions. Learn more about Hawaii’s marine life by visiting the center, as there are over 2,000 fishes here. Napili Bay is a white sandy beach with bright blue clear waters. Snorkeling is good here. Puamana Beach County Park is popular for longboard surfing, swimming, and snorkeling. Here, you will find picnic tables, restrooms, and grilling stations which make the beach great for picnics. The Waihee Ridge Trail is 5 miles of hiking through the majestic tropical rainforest. Here, you will also find the beautiful Makamaka’ole Falls. The Wahikuli State Park is great for swimming, snorkeling, family picnics, and get-togethers. It has restrooms, picnic tables, and grilling stations.
Festivals
Festivals are grand gatherings to showcase the culture and the arts. Maui also holds festivals to commemorate its culture, food, and arts. Some of the famous festivals in Maui are the following:
The Maui Whale Festival is celebrated in February. This festival draws lots of tourists who love to witness the different events that are focused on whales. Proceeds to the festival are used to support marine educational programs for schoolchildren in Maui.
The Haiku Hoolaulea & Flower Festival is held in March. This cultural event has entertainment, food, games, flower and plant demonstrations and sales, lei contests, and many more. It is a fund-raising activity for Haiku School, Haiku Community Association, and Boys & Girls Club of Maui.
East Maui Taro Festival is an annual festival focused on taro, the food staple of the Hawaiian people. The Maui Onion Festival is an annual festival held in Whaler’s Village. This festival is all about Maui Kula onions, which are famous around the world. During the festival, there are recipe contests, games, an onion pairing dinner, chef demonstrations, entertainment, and food booths.
The Maui Pineapple Festival is held at the Maui Pineapple Company in Kahului. The festival is all about pineapples grown in Maui. Events during the festival include a recipe cook-off, field tours, farm and environmental exhibits, pineapple samplings, entertainment, and food booths.
The Maui Film Festival showcases different films to be viewed outdoors at the grounds of the Wailea Resort Golf Course. The Kapalua Wine and Food Festival is an annual event which features wine and food tasting, culinary seminars, seafood festival, and winemaking.
The Celebration of the Arts Festival showcases the unique Hawaiian culture and arts. Events in the festival include workshops, hula dancing, and cultural performances. The Maui Classical Music Festival is a week-long celebration of classical music. Concerts throughout the island are held. The Ka’Aha Hula’O Halauaola Hula Conference is held in celebration of hula, the traditional Hawaiian dance.