Top 10 Things to Do in
Kahului and Wailuku

The MACC is where to go for a handful of the biggest events in Maui, including the Maui Film Festival, Made on Maui Festival, Maui Brewers Festival, concerts, dance performances, Maui stage shows, ballet, comedy, theater and more. The venues at the MACC include the Castle Theater, A&B Amphitheater, Yokouchi Pavilion, and the McCoy Studio Theater. Also included on the grounds of the Maui Arts and Cultural Center is the Schaefer Gallery. At this exhibit space for visual arts on Maui, visitors can view artists and traveling art exhibits from the Hawaiian Islands, various Polynesian Islands, North America, and countries from all over the world.

Celebrating over 20 years as a world-class gallery and visual arts center in Hawaii, the MACC is a staple on our beautiful island; it is enjoyed by both locals and visitors alike.

Held every Saturday between the hours of 7am-1pm, the Maui Swap Meet boasts over 200 vendors. In fact, the Maui Swap Meet is known for being the largest and most prominent open market on Maui since 1981!

At a low admission cost (free for children 12 and under), you won’t want to miss this outstanding opportunity to stock up on all of your Maui souvenir needs!

While in Wailuku, be sure to stop into Wailuku Coffee Company for a taste of some locally grown and roasted coffee, and if you find yourself there during breakfast or lunch hours, you absolutely must try one of the delicious acai bowls or lunch menu items at the Farmacy Health Bar. If you’re looking for a Maui stage show, make sure to look into all performances offered at the Historic Iao Theater.

Not only is Market Street a great place for shopping and terrific food, but it is also home to Wailuku First Fridays. Every first Friday of the month, the Maui community congregates in Downtown Wailuku for a lively street party; family-friendly entertainment, Hawaiian cultural performances, outstanding food vendors, live music, a beer garden, and more. Every month the event details evolve into new themes, so you could never get bored at this event!

What once served as the battleground that ultimately changed the course of Hawaiian history, now serves as a beautifully treasured piece of land where visitors can pay homage to Hawaii’s cultural history, enjoy spectacular views, and hike alongside natural streams and lush valley foliage. At the center of Iao Valley lies Iao Needle – a giant natural rock pinnacle that sits above the Iao Stream. This is truly a geological wonder! With easy paved trails and exquisite sights to explore, Iao Valley is a great place for the whole family.

After a morning or early afternoon at Iao Valley, consider visiting the nearby Hawaiian Nature Center or the Kepaniwai Heritage Gardens.

Named the ‘Tropical Express,” visitors can take a guided tour of this tropical wonderland via a bright green, three-care, train-like farm truck. Guests learn about the varieties of plants that grow on the property while sampling fruits and exploring. After learning about the authentic history of the plantation, visitors can take a stroll through the gardens, and visit the gift shop to find locally made treasures and treats to take home.

Whether you’re exploring the magic of the plantation, or just stopping by for a quick coffee, all are sure to leave with a standing impression of the remarkable experience that the Maui Tropical Plantation beholds. Here is where you’ll also find a variety of live music concerts throughout the year, art events, dining experience, and more.

As Flyin’ Hawaiian guides take you on a journey across 2 1/2 miles of breathtaking land, you will most definitely love the valley, coastal and mountain views of Maui. Dare-devil participants will feel the excitement build as the ziplines range from an easy 250 feet to a whopping 3,600-foot thriller! What’s even more unique and memorable about this company is their dedication to conservation. Flyin’ Hawaiian prides itself on leaving minimal impact to the ‘aina (land). In fact, on their tours, guests have the opportunity to give back to the land by planting indigenous flowers and trees along the journey. What a great way to experience the beauty and aloha spirit that Hawaii is so well-recognized for!

Each of the six different exhibit rooms feature information spanning over everything from geography, water, field work, the mill, the plantation and human resources. You can even check out the outdoor exhibit space that features some of the equipment that was used in the past.

If you’re looking to soak up something other than the sun and sea on your Maui vacation, the Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum is a great way to take away some valuable information about a significant piece of history that has helped shape the Island of Maui as you see it today.

On a Maui helicopter tour, all will enjoy flying over the marvelous West Maui Mountains, the towering Mt. Haleakala volcano crater, and seeing a handful of the tallest waterfalls on island. You’ll be able to look over the picturesque coastlines of the Pacific Ocean, watch surfers ride the waves of those deep blue and turquoise waters, and even see the North Pacific Humpback Whales during their annual Winter migration. Glide alongside the towering sea cliffs of Maui’s neighboring islands and learn many interesting facts about the sights you’re taking in.

If this all sounds right up your alley, then be sure to reserve a spot on one of these amazing Maui tours. Upon a Maui air tour, you will surely experience Maui sights like never before! The heliport is conveniently located just a stone’s throw away from the Kahului Airport, and the experience from takeoff to touch down is sure to leave you absolutely breathless. This is a great activity to do for those celebrating a Maui honeymoon…

For more information about Maui helicopter tours, please visit
bluehawaiian.com, airmaui.com or sunshinehelicopters.com.

With steady trade winds throughout most of the year, and beautiful warm sunny beaches, who wouldn’t want to take a gander at the exciting world of Maui windsurfing? There are many options for windsurfing lessons in Maui, and a handful of the best companies to choose from are the Windsurfing School of Maui, HST (Hawaiian Sailboarding Techniques) and Kanaha Kai Maui. Offering lessons for every level, a Maui windsurfing school can help guide you with care and world class instruction. Whether you’re trying it out for the first time or want to improve on some techniques, you’re sure to be blown away!

For more information about windsurfing in Maui, please visit
mauiwindsurfinglessons.com, hstwindsurfing.com or kanahakai.com.

Hawaiian shave ice has come a long way since those days, and Ululani’s has it down to a science. Unlike any snow cone that you have ever tasted, Ululani’s Shave Ice has their craft nailed down to perfection! When the true aloha spirit is met with the finest quality shave ice, flavors and toppings, then you will definitely have a recipe for a deliciously memorable experience.

At Ululani’s Shave Ice, customers can watch as they shave down the ice into the most delicate snowflake-like texture, and then pack it down into the cup. Guests can then choose from the dozens of flavored syrups made from 100% pure sugar cane, premium purees, natural fruit juices and extracts. See how they douse the shave ice in a beautiful array of colorful syrups, then ask for it to be topped off with a little toasted coconut or homemade mochi.

No matter how you choose to build your refreshing tropical treat, you are certain to leave Ululani’s feeling delighted, satisfied, energized and refreshed!