Your vacation time is precious -- you only have so many days and you don't want to waste a single one. That's where I come in. Below are several suggestions for what to do and how to spend your time on Maui. I've included ideas if you have 1 week or 2, are traveling with kids, or want a more active vacation. I've also included the best things to see and do on the islands of Molokai and Lanai.
The number-one thing I would suggest is this: Don't max out your days. This is Hawaii -- allow some time to do nothing but relax. Remember that you most likely will arrive jet-lagged, so it's a good idea to ease into your vacation. In fact, exposure to sunlight can help reset your internal clock, so I include time at the beach on the first day of most of these itineraries.
Finally, think of your first trip to Maui as a "scouting" trip. Maui is too beautiful, too sensual, too enticing to see just once in a lifetime. You'll be back. You don't need to see and do everything on this trip.
One last thing -- you will need a car to get around the islands. But also plan to get out of the car as much as possible. Hawaii is not a place to "view" from your car window. You have to get out to smell the sweet perfume of plumerias, to hear the sound of the wind through a bamboo forest, and to plunge into the gentle waters of the Pacific.
The following itineraries are designed to appeal to a wide range of travelers.
