I’ve written a LOT about Maui on this blog (read through the archives here) and while I usually try to be objective and stick to the facts, the whole point of a blog is to share opinions ; ) 

While I usually sprinkle them throughout everything I write , I thought it would be fun to gather them ALL together in one place. 

So if you want my personal opinions (based on MANY trips to Maui plus my time spent living there) and the travel advice that I give to my friends over coffee, this is it…

My Maui “Hot Takes”

This post may contain some affiliate links, which means I’ll make a little money on anything you choose to purchase. But of course, I only recommend my absolute favorites to you. Thank you for supporting the brands that make HulaLand possible.

1. Stay in South Maui.

Maui is a big island, but the two main places visitors stay are the south side (Wailea & Kihei) and the west side (Lahaina, Kaanapali & Kapalua). 

People have strong opinions about this one, and I guess I’m no different. I think South Maui is the best place to stay for a long list of reasons. 

I’ve hashed it out extensively here >> Wailea vs Kaanapali

But the short list is: 1) Wailea is one of my favorite places to stay in all of Hawaii. Seriously…when I’m planning a “vacation,” this is where I come. 2) If you’re on a budget, Kihei has a condo for you. And great beaches. 3) Geographically speaking, it’s a MUCH more convenient homebase if you’re planning to explore the whole island.

Now don’t get me wrong, I really do like West Maui (you should DEFINITELY plan to explore that side of the island), and every few trips I take I like to stay in Kapalua or Kaanapali for a change of pace, but when I have friends going to Maui for a once in a lifetime trip, I always steer them towards staying in South Maui.

2. Not all luxury resorts are created equally

I’ve practically made a career out of helping people pick the right hotel in Hawaii ; ) So believe me when I say…not all “luxury” resorts are on the same level. And honestly, you really can’t go based on price. EVERYTHING on Maui is expensive these days. 

And that’s kind of my point…if you’re going to pay $$$ for a stay at a luxury beach resort, you want to make sure you pick the right one. 

Depending on if you’re traveling with kids, it’s an adults only trip, or if you’re trying to cash in hotel reward points, some options are definitely better than others. 

I’ve stayed at all the big luxury resorts in Wailea, and ranked them here >> Wailea Resorts Ranked

3. The Grand Wailea is a kids hotel

On that note…the Grand Wailea is widely recommended as one of the best resorts on Maui (it’s the original “flagship” resort in Wailea and guests have STRONG generational loyalty – it’s the kind of hotel a certain demographic of kids have memories of visiting annually growing up), but unlike what the price suggests, it’s far from the most luxurious resort on Maui. 

If you have kids (let’s say ages 3-15), it is THE place to be. And if you don’t have kids…it’s the place to avoid ; ) 

Whenever I see the Grand Wailea recommended as a top honeymoon resort I’m always pretty baffled. 

Now don’t get me wrong, it’s very “Grand,” but I think people often confuse the size and scale of the resort for it being nice. Honestly, it’s almost a little too big, and while the waterpark is an undeniable draw for kids, the rest of the resort is subpar compared to what’s in the area. 

The property has undergone a major renovation in the last couple of years, but the things they’ve done “right” aren’t things you need to be staying there to enjoy (the spa, restaurants, etc.) and generally I’ve found the rooms, service, and adults only pool to be not so great for the money.

4. You NEED to rent a car. 

Once you’ve been to Maui, this is pretty well agreed upon, but a lot of people in the planning phase still think maybe they can get by with just using Uber/Lyft. 

Well, you can’t. Hawaii is not an all-inclusive destination where you’ll arrive by shuttle and never leave your resort (I mean you could do that…but it’s pretty expensive just to get to Hawaii so most people want to actually see Hawaii. If you want a cheaper resort only vacation, just go to Mexico).

The islands are pretty large so unless you’re just going a few miles, taking Ubers and Lyfts isn’t really feasible (you could be talking $100 one way to go to another part of the island and then not be able to get a ride back). 

So even if you’re staying in a “resort bubble,” you’ll most definitely want a rental car for your stay. 

I always book through Discount Hawaii Car Rentals. They’re seriously the only company I ever use. They’ll give you the very best prices, you don’t have to reserve with a credit card or pay until you show up, you can cancel and re-book anytime if you find a better rate, and they usually have a special that adds additional drivers for no fee. It’s a no brainer. Click here to check rates for your trip.

**I’ve started using Turo quite a bit when I travel other places because I love being able to pick out my specific car and not having to wait in a line to pick it up (I don’t find it to be any cheaper once you add the insurance though), but none of the airports in Hawaii let you pick up and drop off at the airport. 

So if you do go the Turo route, plan on having to take an Uber/Lyft to and from the airport to your car. I think that’s a bit of a hassle especially on the Big Island and Kauai where things are a little slower and sleepier (especially early in the morning when most flights leave). And it adds a little layer of stress to me the morning of departure.

***Want to save major $$$ on your trip to Hawaii? I get asked ALL the time how I’m able to travel so often to Hawaii and stay at really nice resorts. Well, my favorite travel hack is cashing in points to score free airfare and free nights at some of Hawaii’s most high end resorts. Read my full guide on the exact system I use to max out credit card rewards here. Seriously, it’s going to save you soooo much money. 

5. Support the local businesses in Lahaina, but don’t snoop around. 

I feel like this should go without saying, but the destruction of the Lahaina wildfires is not a place to looky lou. It’s been an absolutely devastating event not just for those who lost their homes and loved ones, but for everyone on the island and it’s super insensitive to try to go “sight see” the damage. 

There are more and more businesses that are starting to reopen on the outskirts of Front Street though like the Old Lahaina Luau, Cannery Mall, Aloha Mix Plate, Star Noodle, Honu, Mala Ocean Tavern, etc and they really need your support. 

Something that I’ve seen posted about on social media (and on signs in these establishments)…these businesses and workers need and want your support, but don’t initiate conversations asking them about their experiences in the wildfires. It’s painful for many to talk about and while well meaning, I’m sure it gets exhausting being asked about by every person you encounter each day.

6. Don’t book a GUIDED TOUR to Haleakala for sunrise

I’m normally all in favor of a good guided tour, but this is one that I don’t really recommend. When it all works out, I’m sure it is FABULOUS. But here’s something that some people don’t think about…sunrise is a natural phenomenon. Yes, you’re guaranteed that the sun will rise each morning. But you’re not guaranteed to be able to see it from the summit of Haleakala. 

I’ve been to the summit for sunrise three times: One time it was incredible. Textbook experience. Everything I hoped for. One time it was COMPLETELY rained/clouded out (we couldn’t see 20 feet in front of us). And one time it was shaping up to be perfect and at the last minute clouds came in and blocked the sunrise completely (although we were able to see colors on the other side of the island). 

All three of those times, there were people at the summit on guided tours. Only one of those groups got the experience that they hoped for. All three paid for it. 

If companies know in advance that the sunrise will be a total wash, they’ll cancel tours and refund your money. But a lot of the time the weather blows in once you’re already up there. If you’ve been loaded up in a van and driven to the top of Haleakala and gotten the full tour and breakfast snacks, you can’t really expect them to refund you because the weather didn’t cooperate. 

All this to say…$150/person is a lot to pay for a chance to see sunrise. 

I think it’s very doable to do sunrise (or sunset) at Haleakala on your own (and soooooo much cheaper), but you should definitely read this post first.

7. Maui Ocean Center & Maui Tropical Plantation aren’t necessarily MUST DOs

I don’t have anything against either of these places, but you should do the research to make sure it’s worth the time and money for YOUR group. 

I think Maui Ocean Center is a great diversion if you have little kids, but the price is pretty steep ($50/adult and $40/child) for a solid little aquarium (but likely on par with the aquarium you’ll find near where you live). 

Wildlife is so plentiful on Maui that if you go out snorkeling you’re likely to see turtles and an abundance of tropical fish. I’d put that money towards a snorkeling excursion or take a trip up to the north shore to see the turtles resting on the beach at Ho’okipa or Kua (Tavares) Bay. 

And Maui Tropical Plantation is a nice place for lunch (Cafe O’Lei at the Mill House has a great setting), but I would skip the “plantation tour”, ziplining, etc. 

Now here’s what I will say…BOTH of these places have GREAT gift shops that stock a lot of made on Maui products. So if you’re in the area, it could be worth stopping just for a little shopping.

8. Mama’s Fish House really is worth the money. 

I’m not sure this is really a “hot take” (it’s pretty widely regarded as the most show stopping dining experience on Maui), but there are still people who question the price. 

When I go, we usually spend about $120-150/person. (That’s with about one drink per person so your cost could EASILY balloon if you’re hitting it hard). Yes, that’s a lot of money, but it’s actually pretty reasonable when you compare it with a luau or honestly most other “nice-ish” restaurants on Maui.

9. Do your research on restaurants & drink spots

I know, I know, I know…not everyone wants to do “research” for their vacation, but the cost of dining is pretty high in Hawaii so if you just like to walk around and stumble onto a restaurant or lounge, you could end up spending $$$ on a pretty mediocre meal. 

I’m always a little flummoxed by people who will say that they can’t possibly afford Mama’s Fish House but will end up at a ho hum restaurant in the tourist sphere where they’ll inadvertently spend 70-80% of the price of a dinner at Mama’s. 

If you’re frequenting food trucks, and local plate lunch spots, GREAT.  But if you’re in Wailea, Kaanapali, and Lahaina, it’s easy to spend quite a bit of money on a restaurant that’s not necessarily even a special occasion spot. 

And the same goes for drinks! On my last trip, I ended up at the hotel/pool bar at sunset and had one of the worst/most expensive mai tais I’ve ever had in Hawaii. Come to find out, there was an INCREDIBLE tiki cocktail bar a five minute walk away with half price drinks ; )

10. If you don’t get upcountry, you haven’t seen the real Maui

I feel really passionately about this one ; ) When I lived on Maui, I lived upcountry in Kula and it forever has my heart. 

Most visitors see a brief glimpse of Maui’s upcountry as they’re racing down the mountain after sunrise at Haleakala to get back to the beach but I think it deserves a bit more of your vacation time ; ) 

Stretching to include the cowboy country of Makawao, the farmland of Kula, the eucalyptus forests of Ulupalakua, and the slopes of Haleakala, in a lot of places, if you couldn’t look out and see the ocean, you’d swear you were in the high meadows of Colorado or the Texas hill country.

With its sweeping ocean vistas, rugged green hills, purple jacaranda trees, mom and pop shops and restaurants, and many farm tours, it’s definitely a place that you’re going to want to spend some time visiting. 

I’ve written a full post about the upcountry here >> Things to Do Upcountry Maui 

But my short list is:

Maui Wine

Breakfast at Grandma’s in Keokea

Ali’i Lavender Farm

Maui Pineapple Tour

Shopping in Makawao

11. Most resort luaus are skippable

Luaus are big $$$ these days and with a mediocre (at best) meal, it’s hard to justify the price tag let alone feel like they’re “worth it.”

I have two exceptions: 

First, the Old Lahaina Luau. I think this is hands down the best luau in Hawaii and if you’re in any way contemplating a luau, this is the one it needs to be. I’ve got a full write up here >> Old Lahaina Luau

Second, if you want to see the show and cut out all the other “fluff”, then I LOVE the Wednesday night Hula Show at South Maui Gardens. For about $100/person (sometimes they have discounts online), bring your own chairs or blankets to set up on the lawn and enjoy a solid hula show. 

They have dozens of food trucks on property, but my favorite is Kitoko. They have a special menu for the hula show nights and it’s AMAZING. The crispy pork belly with sweet potato gnocchi is a don’t miss. 

You’ll get the show, a nice atmosphere, and waaaaaaay better food at a fraction of the price of a resort luau.

 

Find more details here.

12. The Road to Hana is incredible, but exhausting

Maybe this is my most controversial take?? 

Here’s my honest truth…the sites you’ll see along the Road to Hana are top tier (black sand beaches, a red sand beach, rainbow eucalyptus trees, endless waterfalls, gorges, and the most incredible views of the jungle along the coast). 

Seriously, it’s hard to describe how magnificent this drive is. AND I won’t lie…I’m always exhausted after. Like miserably so. 

The Road to Hana has some of the most special and magnificent places that exist in Hawaii (in the world!), but it is NOT something that I do on every trip. Honestly, it’s something I usually only do when I’m taking somebody that’s never been before. 

I can’t tell you to skip it (that would be a SHAME!), but I think it’s good to go into the day with the right expectations. It is a mega ADVENTURE day not a pleasant little drive down the coast in between coffee on the beach and a romantic sunset dinner. 

I recommend doing it early on in your trip, and making the day after a low key beach/resort day with no plans to recover. 

That being said…if you don’t like being in the car, if you get at all carsick, if winding roads with little to no shoulder make you nervous, if you have small kids, and if your trip is focused on being a relaxing getaway, then doing the big Road to Hana day trip MAY not be for you. And that’s ok.

13. Listen to locals about “sensitive spots” on the Road to Hana

In recent years, a surge in the numbers of visitors mixed with infrastructure that’s not equipped to handle it has made driving the Road to Hana a sensitive situation with locals. 

Basically, there’s one road from the remote town of Hana that connects to the main part of Maui and while it’s a spectacular drive that’s become a pilgrimage of sorts for visitors, it’s also the road that locals use for going to work, school, running errands, etc. 

So a steady stream of vehicles driving too slow, stopping in the middle of the road to take pictures, parking illegally, etc is a growing nuisance to locals. While they’ve already started to crack down on illegal parking, other interesting developments to help manage tourism in this area are starting to take shape. 

In March 2024, the Hawaii Tourism Authority and Maui Visitors and Convention Bureau announced a partnership with three community based programs to help manage tourism in Hana as part of the East Maui Tourism Management Pilot Program.

Exactly what this will entail in the future remains to be seen (it seems like they’re still largely in the data collection phase right now), but for now, the East Maui Ready (EMR) group has issued an advisory that visitors avoid Waiʻoka (Venus Pools) and Kaihalulu (Red Sand Beach) near Hana. 

These are two popular stops on the Road to Hana that have been controversial among locals for a while now. Partially because they’re beloved local spots (with almost no parking and no maintained access) that have become overrun with tourists and partially because they both see high emergency response rates (dangers from flash flooding and steep and crumbling trail conditions). 

I’ll admit that in the past, hiking to the Red Sand Beach has been one of my favorite things to do along the Road to Hana. It’s spectacular. Here’s the deal…I’m a pretty average hiker. I don’t do extreme hikes, but I’m also not a baby. Every time I’ve hiked this, it’s turned out okay. But I’ve also always spent most of the time thinking about how it could easily go wrong. 

The trail is high off the ground (with plenty of sharp rocks at the bottom), covered in slippery pine needles, and a large part of it along a narrow rocky ledge that’s prone to rock slides when it rains. The ocean is also particularly rough once you get to the beach so needless to say it’s a spot where emergency responders are often called. 

In the past, I’ve taken the approach of “I’m going to tell you exactly what this is like so you’re prepared” and you can decide for yourself if you want to do it or not, but I think it’s time to move on. 

Besides it being fairly dangerous (the trail isn’t remotely “maintained” and the owners of the land don’t try to block people from accessing it but deny all accountability if you do trespass), for ME the deciding factor is that the people who live here are asking you not to. 

And it’s not because they’re trying to hide something from you that they want for themselves. There are serious dangers associated with these places (especially because they’re not maintained or monitored in any way) and when visitors need to be rescued, it diverts resources away from the small, isolated community.

14. Snorkeling boat tours don’t take you places that are WILDLY better than the off the beach spots 

My favorite Maui snorkel tour is pretty $$$ (worth it, but $$$) but the good news is you do NOT have to go out on an organized tour to do some great snorkeling. 

While Molokini is really something to see, I’ve snorkeled all around Maui (on tours off a boat and from the beach), and honestly…popular spots around the island like Black Rock at Ka’anapali, Napali, Kapalua, Olowalu, Honolua Bay, and Ulua Beach are as good or better as places you can only get to via boat in terms off the reef and the fish you’ll see. 

That said, if you have the money, going out on a snorkeling trip is always a fun way to spend the day and there’s a lot to be said for having a crew of people handling everything (from food to safety). 

If you’re staying at a resort, most of them include complimentary snorkeling equipment to snorkel at the beach in front of the hotel (most hotels in Wailea and Kaanapali have decent snorkeling off the beach). 

If you’re really into snorkeling, do a weekly rental from a place like Boss Frog and you can snorkel to your heart’s content. 

And just a bit of personal advice…I’m an excellent swimmer but in recent years I’ve started always wearing a flotation belt when I’m out in water over my head. It’s something to think about.

15. “Resort life” is something to be experienced

Yes, yes, yes everybody wants an “authentic” experience nowadays and to “live like a local” and you 100% need to get out and explore the island and see what makes Hawaii so great, BUT resort life is pretty great. 

Maui has some of the best beach resorts in the WORLD. 

If you’ve got the cash to splash out on a luxury resort for your whole trip, great! But even if you don’t, here are two ways to get a taste of “resort life” for less: 

1- Split your stay and stay at an affordable condo for the first part of your trip (while you’re out doing all of your exploring and adventuring) and then splurge on a fancy beach resort for the last couple of nights and just vacation. 

2- Have you heard of Resortpass? Some hotels and resorts that aren’t at capacity sell daypasses to their pools and amenities for a fee that is WAY less than the price of a room. 

One time when I was staying at a budget hotel, I ended up with a free unplanned day so we booked a cabana at the Fairmont Kea Lani through Resortpass and it was SUCH a great way to spend the day. 

Availability changes seasonally and different resorts have different prices and offerings, but you can check out Maui resorts here. 

It’s a great way to spend a full day living “resort life” on Maui without paying “resort prices.”

16. I’d rather do a nice dinner on land than a sunset dinner cruise

I’ve never gotten the allure of a sunset dinner cruise. You can have a MUCH better meal at a restaurant on land (with sunset views!) for less money usually!

And while I LOVE a day out on a catamaran, I’d much rather go during the day and squeeze in a little snorkeling or trip to Lanai. 

So that’s my advice, if you’ve got the money to spend on a boat excursion, go during the day for snorkeling and have dinner somewhere nice…on land.

17. During whale season, do a snorkeling trip instead of a whale watching trip

Same principal. If you want to see whales, I would book a snorkeling trip instead of a whale watching trip. You’ll get to snorkel AND see whales.

Want to read more posts about Maui? I’ve got plenty!

Things You Can ONLY Do on Maui // 9 Things to SKIP on Maui // 4 Day Maui Itinerary // My Favorite Road to Hana Itinerary // Things to Do Upcountry // Tips for Sunrise at Haleakala National Park // Snorkeling Molokini Crater // Whale Watching

My Favorite Hotels on Maui // Where to Find Condos on Maui // Wailea vs Kaanapali // Every Resort in Wailea Ranked // Four Seasons Maui Review // Andaz Maui Review // Fairmont Kea Lani Review // Wailea Beach Resort Review // Four Seasons vs Andaz Maui // Andaz Maui vs Wailea Beach Resort

Best Restaurants in Wailea // Best Breakfast in Wailea & Kihei // Mama’s Fish House // Best Luaus in Wailea

My Favorite Things to Do in South Maui // Best Beaches in Wailea & Kihei // Road to Hana Tips // Driving the Backside of the Road to Hana // Where to See Turtles on Maui

Maui vs Kauai // Everything You Need to Know BEFORE you go to Maui

Here’s one more really important thing you need to know before your Hawaii trip…

Reservations You Need to Make BEFORE Your Hawaii Trip

You’ve got your airfare, hotel, rental car and your big activities booked, so you should be good to go, right? Wrong!

Travel is BOOMING in Hawaii so a lot of state and national parks used the closure and reopening to institute reservation systems at some of the island’s most popular spots to make things a little more sustainable.

That means that there are now over half a dozen sites (beaches, trailheads, etc.) that require advance reservations. And some sell out well before you arrive on the island so you really need to have some sort of a plan.

I recently saw somebody in a Hawaii travel group post in a panic that they didn’t know they had to make reservations for things in advance…they thought they could just show up and “go with the flow.” I was tempted to say, well, “as long as the flow doesn’t take you somewhere that requires reservations, you can!” ; )

But I don’t want YOU to be that person, so I’ve pulled together a list of all the places you need to reserve entry in advance (plus all the details on booking windows, price, links, etc.) and a handful of popular tourist hotspots that book out really far in advance too.

P.S. Thanks for sticking around and reading this whole post! If you have ANY questions about planning your trip to Hawaii, you can join my free Facebook group here. I’m there answering questions every day and there are 7500+ other friends who have a ton of Hawaii information to share!

Also, if you want to follow along on my travel adventures in real time, you can follow me on Instagram (@caitylincoln). My post captions are full of travel tips and I have a ton of story highlights and videos with great info. And please share my account with your friends that are headed to Hawaii! Your support really helps me keep this blog running!