If you’re dreaming of a tropical getaway where golden beaches, swaying palm trees, and a mai tai during sunset are on the agenda every day, you’re going to LOVE South Maui.

This sun-drenched part of the island is known for its swimmable beaches and vacation vibes. 

From swanky Wailea with its luxury resorts and amenities to laid back Kihei with its local beach town vibe to Makena with its undeveloped, wild nature…South Maui is my preferred spot to set up camp for a glorious week on Maui. 

Keep reading for my favorite things to do in this little slice of paradise…

Things to Do in South Maui

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Be a Beach Bum

Let’s start with the obvious. South Maui has some of the loveliest beaches on Maui. 

Wailea, Polo, and Mokapu/Ulua are the major beaches in the area (all with nice resorts situated on them). 

Keawakapu is a long (and often quiet) stretch of sand between Wailea and Kihei that’s one of my favorite spots for a long walk. 

Big Beach is one of Maui’s most stunning beaches (it has huge waves!), Secret Beach (just past Big Beach) is a cozy little cove and the most popular spot for weddings on the island, and Maluaka beach is likely the best spot for turtle sightings (it’s very near Turtle Town). 

Kamaole I, II, III are all popular beaches (some with more parking than others), and my favorite thing is to start either at Kam I or Kam III and walk from beach to beach. Each beach is connected with a little path (you don’t need to use the sidewalk up by the road). 

Read this post for an in depth breakdown of Wailea and Kihei’s best beaches including info on public parking and access points. 

Try WowWow Lemonade

WowWow is always a MUST DO for me. They started as a little lemonade stand by the airport and now they’ve got franchises all over the place and a much bigger menu. 

Actually, their acai/smoothie bowls are some of the VERY best in Hawaii and they make each one from scratch. 

But you’ve got to try the lemonade. I always love the blackberry lavender one, but trying new ones is part of the fun. And you can get your drink in a mason jar (with a lid and straw) that makes for a great souvenir. 

Molokini Snorkel Trip

Hands down one of the most popular things to do on Maui is going out on a snorkel tour to Molokini. This partially submerged volcanic crater has some of the best visibility for snorkeling and diving anywhere in Hawaii.

My personal favorite way to go is with Kai Kanani on their Sunrise Snorkel Tour. 

It leaves from Maluaka Beach in Makena (just about 5 minutes from the resorts in Wailea) which is the closest launching spot on Maui to Molokini (this means it’s a super quick ride compared to some of the companies that leave from much farther away). 

In addition to Molokini, Kai Kanani also makes a stop at Turtle Town so you can snorkel with the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles! 

Read my full review of snorkeling Molokini with Kai Kanani here. 

Hula Show at South Maui Gardens

If you’re semi interested in a luau but not 100% sold on the price tag (a lot of resort luaus are pushing $300 PER PERSON now!!), this is a GREAT option. 

This nursery/event space close to the Cove Beach Park is a beautiful outdoor venue that’s home to a food truck park…and a hula show on Wednesday evenings. 

The entertainment lasts from 5-7 PM and features live music plus an hour long show with dances from across the Pacific Islands (including Samoan fire knife dancing). 

The venue is open seating and while they have some mats, benches, and picnic tables, they encourage you to bring your own beach chairs to set up camp on the lawn. 

There are dozens of food trucks on site, but the shining star is Kitoko. The truck is at South Maui Gardens full time, but during the Wednesday night hula show, they have a special menu. 

I LOVED the crispy pork belly with okinawan sweet potato gnocchi. 

Tickets to the show are about $100/person and sometimes they have a 25% discount available online. 

Find more info here. 

La Perouse Bay & Lava Fields

I love a good scenic drive, and the drive down to the end of the road through Makena is one of my favorite parts of Maui. You’ll pass through some of Maui’s most high dollar real estate (rumor has it Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler has a place in Makena) where the road hugs the coast just feet from little coves and beaches before you drive through a lava field (from Maui’s most recent volcanic eruption) and end at La Perouse Bay.  

La Perouse Bay is usually a good spot to see spinner dolphins and you’ll find some ancient Hawaiian archaeological sites including heiaui (a temple/altar). 

It’s also the trailhead for the Hoapili Trail (the most accessible portion of the ancient King’s Highway that circumnavigated the island). 

Snorkeling at Ahii Nature Preserve

On your way to La Perouse Bay, pull over to the side of the road to snorkel in one of the pristine and calm pools at the Ahii Nature Preserve.

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Mai Tais at the Monkeypod

If there’s one thing you’re going to want to do in Wailea, it’s hit happy hour at the Monkeypod. Now I will preface this by saying that there’s now a Monkeypod in Ka’anapali at Whalers Village and that one has ocean views so if you’re staying on the west side then I would probably hit that one instead, but the Monkeypod in Wailea is the original and it’s pretty much my favorite restaurant in Hawaii. 

When I lived on Maui, we would stop at the Monkeypod in Wailea for happy hour all the time after a beach day so it feels a bit like tradition. 

Anyways, they’re famous for their mai tais which have a lilikoi foam on top and they do a really good happy hour. Check the recent hours but there’s usually an early one from 3ish to 5ish and a later one after 8 or 9. Besides pretty good deals on drinks, most of their appetizers and pizzas are half off. 

Watch Sunset

South Maui has a prime location for viewing the nightly sunset whether it’s from a high end restaurant, the infinity pool, a spot along the beach walk, or with your feet in the sand. 

Take Surf Lessons

Kihei is a hot spot for surf lessons on Maui. Most companies work out of Kalama Beach Park on the south side (at the Cove). Try Maui Waveriders or Big Kahuna Adventures and then hit up the Horhito’s truck across the street for the best fish tacos of your life after. 

Wailea Beach Walk

This is one of my favorite parts about staying in Wailea. 

This beachfront walkway between Polo beach (Fairmont Kea Lani) and Mokapu beach (Andaz) is 1.5 miles of beachfront and cliffside beauty. Whether you’re a jogger or just a stroller (or using the path to hop from happy hour to happy hour), you’ll definitely want to explore the trail.

If you’re not staying on the walkway in Wailea, there are public beach parking lots at Polo Beach, Wailea Beach and Ulua/Mokapu Beach where you’ll be able to access it. 

Fine Dining at the Hotel Wailea Restaurant

There is no shortage of high end restaurants in Wailea, but the restaurant at the Hotel Wailea is SPECIAL. If you are a foodie, you appreciate the finer things in life, and you’re okay dropping some $$$ on a special occasion dinner, then you simply must make a reservation here. 

I’ve compared it to Mama’s Fish House, but it’s just different. It’s going to appeal to a more niche audience, but honestly it’s more elevated than Mama’s. It just doesn’t have that beachfront location. It feels more like a hideaway. 

It’s $125/person with a choice of a first course, second course, and dessert and options are plentiful for all three. And this isn’t one of those fancy schmancy expensive places with tiny portions. The food is substantial here.

Find Horhitos Taco Truck

The very first time I ever came to Maui, we stumbled upon this taco truck the first night and to this day, I still think they’re the best fish tacos on Maui. It’s right across the street from “The Cove” at Kalama Beach Park next to the 76 gas station. 

Take your tacos to go and sit on a bench right by the water!

Snorkel at Turtle Town

Turtle Town is one of the best places to swim with turtles on Maui. 

There are some underground caves offshore in this area (plus a lot of algae that they feed on) that attract a large number of turtles so it’s pretty reliable to spot them swimming in the area. 

A lot of the Molokini snorkel boats make a stop offshore in the area for snorkelers, but if you know where to go you can snorkel in the area from the beach too. 

In general, “Turtle Town” is roughly the area of Makena Bay from Makena Landing Park (on the north end) to Maluaka Beach (on the south end). And the two best access points are at Makena Landing and Maluaka Beach. 

The turtles swim around so there’s always a good chance of spotting one wherever you are, but for the best odds you’re going to want to swim out away from shore a bit. 

It’s not necessarily unsafe and a lot of people snorkel in this area on their own, but I would recommend staying a little closer to shore than you see the people snorkeling on the boats maybe unless you have a paddleboard. 

I’m also generally a fan of wearing a flotation belt when you’re snorkeling (especially if you’re not on a tour), and of course making sure there’s somebody on the shore who is tracking where you are. 

If it were me, I would enter the water at Makena Landing and swim a bit south/away from the shore from there. It’s a fairly protected area and there’s often other snorkelers there. Also, you could sit and wait for a snorkel boat to pull up and swim over to check out what they’re looking at. 

Kayak Eco Adventure

If you like adventure, book a kayak eco tour to Turtle Town with Maui Kayaks. They launch from Makena Landing and have at least two snorkeling spots. Besides turtles, they often spot dolphins, rays, octopuses, and whales in season! This is a great alternative if you don’t want to go all the way out to Molokini, and you’d like to visit Turtle Town but aren’t comfortable swimming out from the shore on your own. 

Kilolani Spa at the Grand Wailea

With so many luxury resorts, you KNOW there have to be some cushy spas on Maui, but the Kilolani Spa at the Grand Wailea is pretty special. 

The Grand Wailea has always been known for having a “grand” spa, but it just opened after an EXTENSIVE multi year renovation and it’s probably now the best in Hawaii. 

Even if there’s a spa at your resort, it’s probably worth coming to the one at the Grand Wailea instead. 

Big Beach

Also called Makena State Park, or sometimes Makena Beach, this is one of Maui’s most beautiful beaches. It’s a long stretch of golden/white sand with beautiful blue water. There’s a strong shore break here (as the life guards will often remind you) so be careful when entering and exiting the water. 

At the far north end of Big Beach, there’s a rock formation you can climb up (the views are amazing!) and over to get to Little Beach which has the reputation for being a nude beach/party beach with locals. 

There are two parking lots at Makena State Park (and usually a few food trucks) and no restrooms or showers but there are porta-potties. 

In April 2021, entrance AND parking fees were introduced (although reservations are not required). $10/car to park plus $5/person (under 3 are free) to enter. Fees are paid at the pay station in the parking lot. 

Secret Beach

Also called Pa’ako Beach, Secret Cove, and Makena Cove, this is where 98.9% of the weddings on Maui happen. Just kidding, but it seems like it sometimes. 

This tiny postage stamp of a beach is the first “shoreline access” sign you’ll see after you pass Big Beach headed south. There’s limited street parking in the area. 

It requires climbing down a little path to get to it, so it feels like a “secret” once you find it. Makena Cove is lovely (although very small) but the “secret beach” is actually around the corner to the right. You’ll need water shoes to climb along the lava rocks to get there but once you do, you’ll usually have it all to yourself. And from there you can keep making your way north and you’ll connect to the south end of Big Beach. 

Go to a Luau

While I personally think the best luau on Maui (heck, in Hawaii) is the Old Lahaina Luau (which HAS reopened after the fire), if you’re staying in South Maui it’s a bit of a drive over to that side of the island. 

If you’re looking for a luau to enjoy that’s within walking distance (or a quick drive) of the Wailea resorts, you’ve got options!

The big three resort luaus in Wailea are 1) Grand Luau at the Grand Wailea, 2) Te Au Moana Luau at the Wailea Beach Resort, and 3) Feast at Mokapu at the Andaz. 

They’re all pretty high quality (with price tags to match). 

For a more budget friendly option, I already recommended the Hula Show at the South Maui Gardens. That’s a great event. 

You didn’t hear it from me ; ) but all three resort luaus are in open spaces where you could easily watch part of the show from a distance. There’s a free Polynesian Show at the Shops at Wailea a couple of nights a week plus the Four Seasons Maui has live music and a hula dancer most evenings in the lobby bar. 

Have Breakfast at the Kihei Caffe

If I only have time for one breakfast on Maui, this is probably the spot. It’s just a little dive, but it’s right across the street from the beach and the food is good, hearty portions, and pretty reasonably priced. 

Take cash (there’s an ATM inside) and be prepared to wait in line, but it moves pretty quickly.

Tennis

The Four Seasons is the only resort in Wailea with courts and a tennis program (some of the condo complexes have a court or two) but it’s open to non guests as well. Find their daily clinic schedule and rates for lessons and court time here. 

The Wailea Tennis Club also hosts clinics and lessons and has 11 hardcourts plus a pro shop. 

And it has such a dreamy setting! Find out more info here. 

Akamai Coffee

Arguably Maui’s best coffee spot, Akamai has a few locations now. I like to try a different signature drink or special every day ; ) 

The Wailea location is also a great spot for a full breakfast. 

Go Resort Hopping

Whether you’re staying at a resort in Wailea, or you just want to get the full “Wailea experience,” everything here revolves around the resorts. 

There are five major resorts in Wailea and they’re all connected to the Wailea Beach Walk which means they’re all easily accessible whether you’re coming up from the beach, from the resort you’re staying at, etc. 

From north to south you’ve got the Andaz, Wailea Beach Resort, Grand Wailea, Four Seasons, and the Fairmont Kea Lani. 

The Andaz sits on Mokapu Beach, the Wailea Beach Resort is in between Ulua and Wailea Beach, the Grand Wailea and the Four Seasons are on Wailea Beach, and the Fairmont Kea Lani is on Polo Beach. 

Besides each resort having valet or self parking (which they’ll validate if you’re having a meal, shopping, etc.) each of those beaches also has public parking. And you can pay by the hour to park at the Shops at Wailea (they’ll also validate with a purchase). 

All five resorts are places that are worth checking out. Generally speaking, Grand Wailea is the most jaw dropping and impressive. They’ve got several shops, a large lobby bar, plus a lowkey poolside bar/restaurant (Bistro Molokini). 

I think having a drink at the Lobby Bar at the Four Seasons is a must do Wailea experience. It’s just so…civilized. 

The Andaz is probably the most impressive property on Maui. It’s modern and sleek and drinks or lunch at the Bumbye Beach Bar is a great way to see the place. 

The Wailea Beach Resort is probably the most lowkey resort in Wailea, but they’ve got the best “Instagram setup.” Their giant ALOHA sign is a big crowd pleaser (this is super close to the Shops at Wailea-if you’re parked there you can walk down to the resort) and Kapa is a great place for a more affordable resort lunch/drink/casual sunset dinner. 

The stretch of the Wailea Beach Walk between the Four Seasons and the Fairmont Kea Lani is probably the most dramatically beautiful part of the 1.5 miles so if you like beautiful scenery and cliffside views, you’re not going to want to miss that. 

Whale Watching from Ma’alaea Harbor

Most of the big tour operators on the island offer Molokini snorkel tours and whale watching trips (in season) from Ma’alaea, just north of Kihei. Especially since they’re not able to run out of Lahaina at this time. 

I think PacWhale Eco Adventures is the best. 

Happy Hour at Tikehau Lounge

There are far fewer “tiki bars” in Hawaii than most people would expect, but this craft cocktail lounge in Wailea fills a major void on the island. 

Their drinks here are FAR superior to the often “ho hum” drinks you’ll find poolside at the resorts in and touristy oriented restaurants and at a much better price. 

Go for their happy hour for before dinner drinks, but their food is actually really good too. Their kalua pork sliders are amazing. 

Side Note: If you’re looking for a rental car for your trip, I LOVE 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.

Snorkel at Mokapu Beach

There are so many great spots to snorkel off the beach in South Maui, but my favorite is off Mokapu Beach right in front of the Andaz. The rocks hook around a bit and form somewhat of a protected area and since it’s right in front of the resort there’s usually plenty of people out there snorkeling which is a GOOD THING. 

You don’t need to be that person snorkeling way out by yourself. We call them shark bait ; ) 

Also, the best snorkeling conditions are going to be earlier in the morning. Plan to be finished by 11AM. 

If you’re staying close by in Wailea, walk over on the Wailea Beach Walk with your snorkeling gear. If you’re not, there’s a public parking lot for Ulua and Mokapu Beach just south of the Andaz. 

Fancy Brunch at Ka’ana Kitchen

Nothing says “living resort life” like a lavish breakfast buffet. I’ve tried out most of them, and  Ka’ana Kitchen at the Andaz Maui is my favorite breakfast buffet in Wailea (which makes it the best on Maui). 

It’s about $50/person (the going price), but I think they have the best offerings, best quality, and best service. The restaurant also has a great view and even on a non-weekend/brunch day it’s probably the place that feels the most like a special experience (even for $50/person some resorts just feel like they’re shuttling a herd of guests through the buffet before they leave for their daily adventures). 

One thing I really like here is that omelet and made-to-order egg requests are handled through your server and brought to your table so you don’t have to stand in line and wait for them to make it. 

Visit the Maui Ocean Center

Located just up the road from north Kihei in Ma’alaea, the Maui Ocean Center is a great spot if you have young kids, or you’re looking for a good rainy day activity. It’s a little pricey and if you have a decent aquarium near your hometown, it’s probably not going to blow you away, but the shark tunnel is pretty cool. 

Shop til You Drop

There’s plenty of shopping in Wailea. The most obvious place to hit is the Shops at Wailea. This open air shopping mall has everything from high end luxury brands (Louis Vuitton, Gucci, etc.) to surf shops (Billabong, Roxy, etc.) and a few local shops as well. 

The Lululemon has a Hawaii exclusive line, and I also love Whalers General Store and Island Gourmet Market for souvenirs, prepared food, and light groceries. 

Besides the Shops at Wailea, I really like the Wailea Village where my FAVORITE Bikini Market is located. 

But honestly, I think the best shopping is at the resorts. Every resort has at least one boutique (the Grand Wailea has several) and they have the best stuff. 

Ride in an Outrigger Canoe

Most resorts offer rides in outrigger canoes (sometimes they’re complimentary for hotel guests if you sign up in advance). 

I’ve never done it but it looks fun!

Golf

The Wailea Golf Club has three championship golf courses which is more than enough to keep even the most avid golfer busy on vacation.

Get a Picnic from Spoon & Key Market

Spoon & Key Market in Wailea is the perfect spot for a quick breakfast or lunch or to grab a picnic lunch for the beach. When I’m staying in Wailea, I love stopping at Spoon & Key Market for lunch on my arrival day. 

Their ahi melt is spectacular. 

They also do a special sunset menu on Wednesdays and Thursdays plus an amazing looking pre-fix menu on Fridays and Saturdays that changes weekly. 

Walk from Mokapu Beach to Kihei

I grew up going to beaches in Florida where you could walk for miles, and I do kind of miss that with Hawaii beaches. They tend to be more “cove” like which doesn’t lend itself towards long walks on the beach. 

But the best exception I’ve found is in the north end of Wailea and the south end of Kihei. Mokapu Beach in Wailea (in front of the Andaz) connects to Keawakapu Beach which is pretty long and dreamy and from there you can walk past Kamaole I, II, and III beaches in Kihei through a series of little pathways that connect them.

Dinner at Humuhumunukunukuapua’a

I like to do at least one “fancy” dinner on vacation and Humuhumunukunukuapua’a at the Grand Wailea has such a dreamy atmosphere that it has to be on the short list. 

It was just recently reimagined (top to bottom, including the menu) as part of the resort’s renovation, and they really nailed it. 

Bigger parties may want to request a table back in one of the “huts” overlooking the lagoon, but if you have four or less, I love sitting right on the railing next to the aquarium bar. 

It’s a stunning view no matter where you look!

P.S. One of the reasons I’m able to travel to Hawaii so often is by using credit card points. And right now my go to travel card has a GREAT limited time sign up offer.

If you sign up for this Chase Sapphire Preferred card, you’ll get 100K bonus points to use on travel. 

These are my favorite kind of travel points because they’re so flexible. You could…

Transfer them to Southwest or United to book round trip tickets to Hawaii.

Transfer them to Hyatt to book a stay at the Andaz Maui (such a great luxury resort!)

Transfer them to Marriott for a stay at one of my favorites like the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Royal Hawaiian, or Ritz Carlton Turtle Bay. 

Or book a hotel through the Chase travel portal with a cash value of $1250. 
The 100K bonus point offer is just for a limited time, so if you’re looking for the best travel card, sign up >> here.

P.P.S. Here’s one more really important thing you need to know 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 and a lot of state and national parks have instituted reservation systems at some of the island’s most popular spots to help manage the crowds and 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. 
Get that info >> HERE