Fun and Free Things to Do in Maui
When you are visiting somewhere with such spectacular outdoor beauty, there is so much to do outdoors as a family. You can truly experience and enjoy the Hawaiian island of Maui without having to a pay a cent (once you actually get there of course)! Here's a list of all the free things to do in Maui. Keep in mind we are a pretty active family, but we have hosted lots of family and friends with a wide range of mobility issues and there are options for everyone!
Whale watching:
Amazingly, the whales don't charge us to observe them! You can watch the Humpback whales from shore during the winter months for a brilliant show. These creatures are as big as a school bus, and pretty easy to spot from a distance. Head to the beach at sunset and enjoy the show. The price of admission is completely free, and it is one of my family's favorite free things to do in Maui! Our absolute favorite place is the Kamaole III beach park at sunset. Bring your chairs and sit on the grassy area with many other locals and tourists alike. The kids run and play, people bring picnics, families play games, sometimes there is an impromptu fire-dancer, and everyone claps for the sunset. It is truly incredible every single time.
If you want a closer encounter with the humpback whales, Check out my post on Whale Watching in Maui; Insider Tips on the Best Tours and When to Go!
Go Hiking!
I could spend all day every day hiking in Maui. The scenery never gets old. Seriously, you can take a picture from the parking lot of the target and be 'wowed' by how beautiful it is. There are a few hiking trails on the island that require admission in the form of a parking fee or entrance to the national parks. However, most of the hiking in Maui has free parking and is one of the best free activities. Hiking is probably the best free activity in the united states! Hiking is a great way to spend time as a family and see some parts of the beautiful Hawaiian Islands that you wouldn't be able to see from the road, beach, or hotel.
For some of the best views on the island, hike the Lahaina-Pali trail up to the windmills. You can park on the Kihei side, or the Lahaina side. Most hikers go up and back on the same trail for ease of transportation, but if you have 2 vehicles you can park on on either side and go up and over the Mountain trail. It's a tough workout, and a big payoff with those views. This is a tough hike with lots of elevation, and not much shade, so this isn’t one I recommend for young kids.
If you want some hiking recommendations, check out my post on the Best Jungle Hikes in Maui and the 15 Best Hikes in Maui near Kaanapali
Go to the Beach:
Maui is home to some of the most amazing beaches on earth. Always check the ocean conditions and listen to the lifeguards.
The ocean views are incredible from Makena Beach (aka Big Beach) but I wouldn't recommend swimming at Big Beach. Too many spinal injuries have happened at this beach due to the very powerful shore break, so don't be a statistic!
Check out the Kamaole beaches or Kaanapali beach! If you want calm waters for your kiddos, check out: The 8 Best Beaches for Kids in Maui: Chosen by Kids for Kids!
Visit the Banyan Tree in Lahaina:
This tree is really worth seeing. At Christmas time it is done up in lights, and it is incredible to see. You can enjoy sitting under the tree, or walking around. You'll get some good pictures here!
The tree is located at 671 Front St, Lahaina. If you are driving along Front Street in Lahaina, you really can’t miss it. UPDATE: This beautiful tree survived the tragic wildfires and is slowly making it’s recovery. Make sure to check on the recovery status to determine what is open for visitors in this area.
Swim at the Community Pool in South Maui:
Kihei Aquatic Centre is located at 303 E Lipoa St, Kihei
If you want to mingle with locals or have the opportunity for your kids to meet other kids, head over the the community pool in Kihei. It is completely free to access! There is a splash pad, a shallow kids pool, a large lap pool, and a deep pool for older kids who want to jump off the diving board. It is completely outdoors and it's a huge facility. You can't use any floatation devices at this pool (i.e. no puddle jumpers or life jackets) but pool toys are permitted.
Go to Whaler's Village:
Located at 2435 Kaanapali Parkway in Lahaina. Whalers Village has free events throughout the week. You can find activities to learn about the Hawaiian Culture like hula dance lessons or lei making, live entertainment by local artists, wildlife education, and more! Check out the Whalers Village website to see the calendar of events.
Jump off Black Rock
If you're a little bit wild and want to try cliff jumping into the pacific, this is a very popular place! Make sure to take necessary safety precautions (like having a floatation device nearby) and always check the ocean conditions.
Take a Scenic Drive:
There are some seriously scenic drives on the island of Maui. Other than the cost of gas, there are no tolls or fees to drive the winding road of the Hana Highway. This famous highway has 620 curves, and is jam packed full of natural beauty. There are many stops you can make along the way that are also completely free, like the natural lava tubes and botanical gardens.
There is also the epic scenery of the drive around the Northwest corner of the island of Maui. The scenic West Maui drive on the highway 340 to the Nakelele Blowhold and the Ohai Trail is beautiful. Be warned, this drive is a bit more white knuckle than the Hana Highway because the road is very narrow with space for only one car on most parts of the road. If you run into a vehicle traveling the opposite direction, one of you has to back up until the road widens enough to pass.
Observe the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles at Ho'okipa Beach Park
Searching for the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles resting on the sand, may very well be on your Maui bucket list. Making the trip to the Ho'okipa Beach Park is as close as you can get to a guaranteed Turtle sighting on Maui. There is a protected section of the beach that is usually full of huge turtles throughout the day. Check out my post on the Best Places to See Turtles on the Beach in Maui for more ideas. This activity is so much fun, and like everything on this list....is completely FREE!
Go to Baldwin Beach on Friday night to Watch the Fire Dancer
You will come across fire dancers at sunset in a few spots on Maui, but Friday nights at Baldwin Beach is a reliable option. We see a fire dancer occasionally at Kamaole 3 at sunset as well. They don't charge anything, and they put on a great show!
See the Site of the Last Lava flow from Haleakala:
If you drive as far as you can go on South Kihei Road (it turns north into Wailea and then heads east again) you will drive past Makena Beach, then head into a residential area, and then continue on until you start to see fields of lava rock. Keep driving all the way to the very end and there is a parking lot and the trailhead for the Hoapili Trail in La Perouse Bay. The scenery here is so different from what you can see in Kihei, it's like you've landed on Mars. You can hike the Hoapili Trail to see the mini blow hole, some wild goats, and maybe some dolphins in the bay! You can walk out to the light house and back, or take the trail that they call the "King's Highway". It's best to come here early in the day because there is no shade, and it can get very hot!
Walk the Boardwalk at Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge:
As you drive west on South Kihei Rd, past Sugar Beach towards Lahaina you will see the Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge. You can only enter the parking lot when you are driving towards Kihei, so it's best to head up to the lights if you are going the wrong direction, pull into the carpool parking lot and then head back the other way.
The boardwalk is a nice place to get outside as a family, and you can see some interesting birds and wildlife. You can participate in documentation of the pond by taking a photo to submit. It's super interesting to see how much it changes over the course of a few months. Since the pond is freshwater, and so close to the ocean is has many important functions for the wildlife who call Maui home. It is completely free to visit and a nice stop to make with the kids.
Some of the best things in life are FREE! I hope these ideas are helpful when planning a visit to Maui.
To be perfectly honest, these free things are some of the best places to visit on Maui anyway! You can keep the whole family busy without breaking the bank. Fun things don't always have to be organized by a tour agency. Maui is a beautiful place, and the perfect spot to explore the outdoors as a family.
The local food is great, and there are lots of food trucks to eat at if that is preferred over restaurants. You won't run into a shortage of things to do and explore on Maui. There are often free events arounds the holidays as well, just keep an eye out for flyers because they do not tend to be well advertised online. These great spots are the best way to experience Maui.
If you want to understand the historic landmarks and get a guided tour experience, without the big price tag...download the Shaka App.
There are so many outdoor activities in Maui that you will not be able to get through them all on your first time to the island.
Enjoy all the Maui activities and I hope this give you an idea of some of the best free things to do in Maui!
As a bonus, here are a few more ideas that are NOT free but super fun, and worth the price of admission!
Haleakala National Park (Admission fee)
Iao Valley State Park ($10 for parking)
Twin Falls ($10 for parking)
Kula lavender farm ($3 admission)
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