Hi
wondering if anyone has any tips for Maui? We are heading there soon and have never been before. What are some must dos? I’ve heard it can be
any tips to keep costs down?
Tia

If you can book accomodations with a kitchen and hit up Costco if you are a member. Much less expensive than eating out every meal. Also we did happy hours a lot too and even then it can still be pricey.

I would suggest renting a vehicle and checking out different beaches. Go to the grocery store and pack a picnic lunch. Great, and inexpensive, way to spend a day.

Get a condo and cook some meals! Or just have breakfasts there

if you have a condo then get loyalty cards for Safeway and Foodland and cook dinners at breakfasts. Spend your money out for lunches or happy hours where the prices are less. You should really try to do the road to Hana and hike Haleakala to watch the sunrise.

I was amazed at the difference in prices with the Safeway card; about 20% cheaper if I remember right.

Jane yes foodland is the same way and the have great sales in their flyer.

Rent a car through Costco if your a member , 300 or so for a week of a minivan, go to costco and buy food and booze , book airbnb and pay in Canadian $$ without some of the fees.

yes! I was surprised they sold alcohol at grocery stores and Wal-Mart. AND a lot cheaper than here!

Tracy welcome to the good old USA

Is it difficult to get from the airport to costco if you rent a car from them??

Robyn very close!

Alison oh good to know!! Thanks. We need a van and my only worry is that they wont have one available

Robyn def book in advance. I reserved and cancelled 3 times for better prices. (travelocity and priceline are best IMO)

Alison ok thanks we will do that!

Visit Fleetwoods on Front street for Happy Hour very enjoyable

Fleetwoods is great! Good food and Mick is sometimes there playing in the basement. He was when we were there!

Agree with above! Costco membership - shop there, rent car through there. Eat breakfast in condo. Pack lunches for outings. Eat at
Freds Mexican Cafe - Kihei on Tuesday.

For hidden tourists spots highly recommend the book Maui Revealed. We have been over 15 times bought this on our last trip saw spots that we always drove by

Follow the Facebook group Maui Bound.

This ^^

Make sure you get roadside plus through ICBC and take it with you, so you don’t need the optional car insurance ($$$$)

this!

Food trucks are another great reasonably priced dining option too

Swap meet at the Maui college on Saturday mornings 7-1, go early and buy all your produce and if you like Samosas, they are the best. Then go to Costco for bread and meat and liquor.

YES! This is the best! Great souvenirs there and you can get blends of tea there as well as some produce but be careful of the avocados ours were not ripe by the time we left the next weekend! lol Oops

yes to swap meet for shopping. Way better prices and trinkets and variety in one place!

Michelle the locally grown avocados dont turn brown when ripen!

Rachel Oh they were as hard as a rock at the end of the week, they didn't ripen at all.

Michelle somebody from Calgary left us an avocado when we were there because they thought it didn't ripen. We thought the same thing because it was green and by the end of the week when we opened it it was black inside!

Taco Tuesdays @ Fred's Mexican Cafe - Kihei. Delicious!!

Go up Haleakala. Amazing. See the silver sword plant. It’s the only place on earth it grows. It lives for 50 years, blooms and then dies.
The road to Hana is amazing. The rainbow eucalyptus trees are incredible. It’s a long windy and slow road. If you’re prone to motion sickness, take Gravol.
Aloha Mixed Plate in Lahina has fantastic drinks and good food. The best Kailua pork I’ve eaten.
The Lavender Farm is delightful to wander around although the gift shop is pricey. There is a strawberry farm nearby so you can buy fresh berries to nibble on. Of course, like all Hawaii, there are many little roadside stands selling everything from fruit and vegetables to jam, lillikoi butter and honey. There is also a zip lining place not too far away. Whale watching is good too at this time of year.
That’s enough for now. Have a wonderful trip!

Use groupon before you leave to get discounts on the tourist things you want to do.

We are going for the 1st time in May. I've downloaded apps called the Gypsy guide and the Shaka guide. You download and they're like tour guides for you. We rented a car from http://www.kiheirentacar.com. Much less expensive than renting from the airport and they will shuttle to and fro.
KIHEIRENTACAR.COM
Maui Rental Cars - Kihei Rent A Car Company

Sixt rentacar was cheap! Gave us a mercedes suv for 10 days for $500!

Alison $500 canadian?

Robin $487 US

There are so many free things to do in Maui- beaches, gorgeous hikes, drives, walking in bamboo forests, swimming in waterfalls, playgrounds (if you have kids) that we barely spent anything on entertainment. Haleakala was only $16/car a couple of years ago so a very affordable outing. And for dinner, we found grabbing a pizza a very cheap and yummy meal. (http://www.shakapizza.com/). For groceries or the basics, Target also is much cheaper than other places if you're not a Costco member.
SHAKAPIZZA.COM
Shaka Sandwich & Pizza | Pizza | Maui, HI

Go to Nakalele Blowhole! Free and incredible

Confirm your rental has boogie boards. It is so so fun and free! If not, we got cheap good boogie boards at Costco. Even if you are not yet a member of Costco, become one. It will pay for itself in Maui. Also fill your gas tank at Costco.

hotwire has a good deal on rental cars and can pick up at airport and drop off no problem! Twin falls hike is easy to get too and a beautiful hike that takes you right to a waterfall to swim under. Ho’okipa lookout is a must! And if you walk down to the beach, there are 30+ turtles coming in at sunset

We saw turtles on beach at hookipa beach, snorkelling at Ulua beach. Small waves and turtles in water at polo beach. Paia town was cool stop for lunch, we loved the pizza place. Eat shave ice ululanis. We did a tour out to Molokini and whale watching (season dependent). We enjoyed Manolos for pizza and pasta and three’s bar and grill. And def the cinnamon roll place sooo good.

www.manaloharentacar.net
Cheapest and easiest place to rent a car in Maui. Never have to see anyone at a counter. Simply fill out the form online and the car will be waiting outside of the airport for you. For 10 days, I rented a mid sized car for $200 total!
MANALOHARENTACAR.NET
Car Rental Maui | Cheapest Car Rentals on Maui | Manaloha

Hulihuli chicken at roadside stands.

$11 for great Huli huli chicken ribs rice and corn that fed 2+ at Church near north end of Kihei strip/Abc store and market- not every day though

Just back yesterday! Great tips here! We liked snorkelling at Ulua the best, boogie boarding at Polo beach, exploring crazy lava fields at south end of kihei road, geocaching all over and if u do hana we liked ohea gulch/7 pools, lava tube tour and the full loop part of trip the best!

Maui has so much to offer, so many beaches to check out
been there 4 times already love it! Stayed in kihei, shopped at food land and longs drug mart. They usually both have amazing deals on Mauna Loa macadamias(best brand of the nuts) as well.
Renting a car is very benifical if you want to explore Maui, just be aware of the “no rental cars past this zone” for off roads. If you want to check out hana, taking a tour there is nice cause the roads are a little scary lol.
If you want to go snorkeling, many beaches are great, but the photo shows some of the best snorkeling sites. Usually I’m there at the beach before or around 7, as the water is the mist clear and visible, it also starts to get busy in the beach and it gets hot. Note you may not want to go snorkeling when it rains, as fresh water attracts sharks. Same as murky waters..
Best beer on maui is maui brewing and they just opened up a new brewery along with food to add, before they only did tours because its so new! Amazing beer and food there, also located in Lahaina. Lahaina is an awesome place to go shopping, good eats, can walk down this dock and pick out a tour if you wanted, so many lined up in a row. If you like wine, I recommend mauiwine, located at Ulupalakua ranch. Amazing pineapple wine!
Haleakalā is amazing on sunrise, though you may want to get there earlier to beat the crowd. Sunsets are great too or even just going up for a view. Very peaceful up there! My family is just bout to head there to Maui soon! So jealous wish I could go too again miss it!!

Sarah Mai

What area of Maui are you staying?

Kari Lahaina

Didn’t like it, way to quiet for us! Having said that we spent a day in Lahaina and enjoyed it. Stayed in kanapalai .

Lisa ok that was weird - I glanced and thought ‘I don’t remember writing that!’

Lisa haha! Too funny!

Totally agree too quiet

http://www.leodas.com/
Leodas kitchen and pie shop in Lahaina
The Beach House for romantic dinner
The Gazebo for a huge breakfast ( worth the wait)
LEODAS.COM
Leoda's Kitchen and Pie Shop | Sandwiches, Salads, Specials and Our Homemade Sweet and Savory Pies

Go to Mama's Fish House!!!

Maui tacos! Also do a Costco run (it’s by the airport), for snacks etc..

We have been coming here for 40 years, buy the book MAUI REVEALED tons of information. We have found things we never even knew about !!

There's 2 great farmers markets in Kehei

https://www.facebook.com/groups/153440611357167/permalink/2273278276040046/

Not sure where you'll be staying, but the TImes Market in Ka'anapali was much less expensive than Safeway! I second the Road to Hana, and downloading the GyPSy app tour guide (there's one for the Haleakala Crater, too); this definitely made the trip more interesting and led us to a number of less visited places that we might have driven right by. I also second Aloha Mixed Plate for reasonable eats right on the beach. If you go during the Old Lahaina Luau showtime next door, you can hear everything and not have to pay $125 pp!

OMG, so much to do. Food is EXPENSIVE. Don’t eat out. If you do, Breakfast at Moose Mcgillicuddy’s is the way to go. Walking, or use Turtle Tracks- a new little gator taxi service. Listen to current beach conditions and rent snorkels for your time. You can stand in chest deep water and have Honus swim around you at Kam II beach. Never chase or touch them though. Sunset there is always a huge throng at the beach watching the sun fall out of the sky, and then you will hear all the conch horns blow....a nice drive out to La Perouse Bay, which is all volcanic rock.

I was there in December and my highlight was snorkelling with giant sea turtles both with a tour and off a small beach in Kihei. And also loved trying delicious fish at various restaurants.

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Sophia Martin-Morice

go to library or amazon get a book called "Maui Revealed" it's your best bet - a good read full of everything you need to know

I got it and it was very helpful!

Discount Hawaii Car Rental seems to have the best prices. Unless your sticking to one area, you will need a car. Check out the Makawao art village. Pollis Mexican is great while you’re there. Safeway food prices seemed highest, but in general costs are higher there. Kihei is amazing. Leodas pies on the side of the highway to Lahaina is to die for.
Have fun!

Fat Daddy’s Smokehouse was one of the best meals we had.

There's isn't anything that's not worth doing. Kihei rent a car is great they pick you up from they airport you need to make reservations for Haleakala but well worth it on the way back down stop at Kula Lodge for breakfast stunning views theres so much to see and do Aloha

Sign up for the membership/shopper card (called the maikai’i card) at foodland. Savings can be big. And it only takes moments with the cashier.

Tanya same applies at Longs Drug store. And little known fact the beef at Longs is excellent Organic grass fed. Best deals on suntan lotion.

Drive up to the top of the mountain. Wonderful views, and a great way to see much of the island. The road to Hana is also very nice. Make sure you stop along the way.

Road to hana
Olivine Pools
Pipiwai Trail & Waimoku
Sunrise at Haleakala Summit (but you have to reserve a spot on their website)- also, arrive a few hours before sunrise- good view for star gazing as well.

There is a Happy Hour App free and available and some excellent drinks and food prices.
Maui Massage School - cheap massages and excellent time to see Makawao.

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Dont fall for the road side fruit stands ... that 14$ pineapple
is from costco for 2.99

Same with tender/fresh coconuts- at the road side stands-between $5-$10, quite steep

Angela true story. We fell for it.

Pam was the best 14$ pineapple i ever ate.

Thanks for the tip.

If you're a Costco member, you should load up on groceries/essentials at the Costco near OGG airport before heading to your hotel/accomodation.
You can also load up on local produce at the Paia Grocery store.
Depending on where you eat and if you stay away from the tourist traps, you can get some super deals.
FYI, we've even had some of the best street tacos in Maui. (Look up on yelp)

Happy hours start early and run late. Guide books will give you HH times. Great savings. Many places have roof top or patio BBQ’s. buy your supplies and save by cooking your own.

We were just there for the 4th time and this time we found our own snorkelling spots rather than booking a tour. And the tour boats were in the very same places as us. So if you like snorkelling these are easy to find spots if you have a rental car - one is just past Wailea (after Makena/Big Beach). And I agree if you have a Costco membership then load up when you arrive. The road to Hana is a fun trip and Haleakala Crater is well worth it too - only need to make reservation if you are going up to catch the sunrise otherwise it is not necessary but there is a $25 park fee.

These are all so AMAZING
thanks everyone! I’m having a great time researching all these great tips!!!!

Snorkeling at Honolua Bay this is one place where the tour boats bring you Park on the road walk in 5min. Half price pupus at Sea House restaurant on Napili Beach body surf and snorkeling there too. People watching in Lahaina, try shave ice! Buy alcohol and food at Costco. The aquarium is beautiful. We spent a day on a catamaran, expensive but a great way to spend the day. The snorkeling at the crater was not as good as some of the free beaches but the boat ride was fun. Snorkel in the morning before the winds come the visibility is better. The afternoons seem to have more sediment disturbed. Do not buy snorkeling equipment before you go Rent it by the week it's not that expensive, if something leaks or the fit is off it can be replaced. Lavender farm is nice to visit, nice drive beautiful views on the side of the mountain. Visit Paia, Flat Bread Pizza is awesome. Visit Farmers Market in Kahului. If you are in Kihei breakfasts at the Kihei Cafe are huge and so good. I always had leftovers for lunch. Also Fleetwood's in Front Street in Lahaina the sunset dinner on the roof is awesome and spectacular. Reservations are a must. A band plays after dinner. Sometimes Mick Fleetwood or Steve Tyler and other musicians stop by to jam when they are at their homes on the island. Aloha.

Starnoodle restaurant is amazing-not super cheap but a lovely night out.

have you considered camping? I've done it there many times

Dave what s great idea.

Dave ive thought about this- did you bring your gear or buy it there ?

I brought the tent, sleeping bag and stove. Bought the rest there. Especially the cooler.

camping at state parks!

go to Costco

Go on the Hop On Hop Off buses...

Go to the Winery! It's awesome and yummy!

OH and we did the bike ride down from Haleakala that was fun! Missed the sunrise when we were there cause rain..
still had a great day even if we had to get up at 2am to get there.

Costco membership is worthy to purchase some food items, alcohol & fuel. We packed a lunch each day, only ate out a handful of times. Food is expensive for sure. One highlight was rollerblading @ the outdoor rink in Kihei, inexpensive & our son loved it!

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If you have bought an entertainment book, even for the Vancouver version, it's app coupons are useful in Hawaii.

Ask pat Patricia

I will pm Wendy.....

Bought a road to Hana tour app for $12. Was fantastic. Tells you info and where to stop and so funny. Skip the tour drive yourself, just go really early to skip traffic.

Road to Hana bus tour, Plantation Tour, Molokini Crater snorkeling tour, Haleakala sunrise tour

McKenna beach

The GyPSY Guide app will change your Roaf to Hana experience. 1000% recommend. And purchase reasonable but reliable snorkeling gear on Amazon before you go - this provides you with so much freedom to explore beaches and spots at your leisure for free. https://gypsyguide.com/tour/road-to-hana-maui/
GYPSYGUIDE.COM
Road to Hana, Maui Driving Tour App | GyPSy Guide

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Do not leave valuables in your car trunk, especially while at the beach. We had a our rental car broken into.

Road to Hana, snorkeling at Molokini, Haleakala NP

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Stock up on groceries (fresh fish
) at Costco on your way from the airport. Pack lunches for the beach and as every condo complex has a bbq it helps to eat in some nights.

* following

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Bring shorts

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Go to the Friday night town parties, a different town each week-the one in Makawao is great. The Saturday swap meet in Kahului. It's .50 to get in and opens at 6 or 7 am.

I’ve been seven times. First trip, don’t bother with Hana. Take the bus if you don’t have a car...Paia is lovely, free hula shows at Wailea Mall, walk Lahaina, and walk the entire Kihei beaches.

Has anyone ever used MauiActivities.com to buy tickets for anything there? It has the Luau I want to go to and can get VIP tickets at $60 total cheaper for my family. Given the overall price, it would be nice to save $60. I just want to know if it is legit.
MAUIACTIVITIES.COM
Maui Activities - Maui Activities and Tours - mauiactivities.com