Maui, a paradise island known for its magnificent beaches, breathtaking scenery, thrilling surfing and scuba diving experiences, and wonderful climate, is the second-largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago. Maui is only second behind Oahu in terms of visitors per year, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that Maui is one of Hawaii’s most visited Islands.
With so much tourism going on, a proper guide on the best tourist attractions is needed. That’s why we’re bringing you this article which will focus on the top-rated places to visit voted by previously visited tourists.
1. Haleakala National Park
The treasure of Maui, Haleakala National Park covers a huge area spanning from the ocean to the summit of the 10,000 foot tall inactive Haleakala Volcano. Voted as the best place to visit in Maui, Haleakala National Park offers visitors magnificent scenery over the entire island. One of the most impressive parts of your journey will be the drive itself, which will allow you to see some breathtaking sites such as the Seven Sacred Pools and the Makahika and Waimoku Waterfalls. Your journey will finish at the top of the mountain, where you can take a brilliant selfie to commemorate your achievement.
2. Iao Valley State Monument
West of Wailuku lays the famous Iao Valley, which is a historical place where Hawaiians would make a pilgrimage to honor their gods. According to CruisinMaui, you would require a vehicle to reach the valley, and the roads are well maintained since it is a very popular tourist attraction. Furthermore, Hawaiians frequently take excursions to Iao Valley, just be careful to check whether or not the park is open since it’s quite prone to flooding.
In the very middle of the valley lies the Iao Needle. Hawaiians say that the valley is filled with the ghosts of their gods, and you can ask around for some legends surrounding their nature.
3. Maui Ocean Center
The Maui Ocean Center is one of the most impressive places you can visit while in Maui. It houses a collection of fish, coral, turtles, and even stingrays. But one of the most impressive things about the center itself is the glass tunnel which goes through a shark and stingray tank, allowing tourists to see these magnificent creatures first hand. The center also has displays that tell the story of the Humpback whales, which migrate to Hawaii from December to March, and how the first settlers used to live on the island itself.
4. Lahaina & Kaanapali Beach
Regarded by many natives as the finest beach Maui has to offer, Kaanapali beach spans 3 miles across near the western city of Lahaina. Kaanapali beach is nothing short of impressive, and there are quite a few things you can do there. The most impressive one is the daily cliff-driving ceremony that takes place from Black Rock – Puu Kekaa on Hawaiian. You can also find the best accommodations along this beach, as this is Hawaii’s biggest tourism hub. Other activities you can do include gold, shopping, zipline courses, and tons of restaurants that will more than satisfy your need for Hawaiian cuisine.
