Maui offers more than sandy beaches and Mai Tais. Getting out and exploring the island and waters is an essential part of the experience. Here are a few of our favorites.
1. Snorkeling Molokini
One of, if not the most popular, activity on Maui is snorkeling at Molokini Crater. The tiny island is the crescent-shaped rim of a half-sunken volcanic cinder cone. The islet sits off the coast by the resorts of Wailea and is a relaxing hour or so cruise from the harbor of Maalaea.
We went with Trilogy Excursions and have to say, these folks have it dialed in. We’ve been on dozens of various tours and excursions and can spot posers from a mile away. In this case, Trilogy was a fine-tuned fun factory.
Everyone on board, from Captain Nick to the crew, was there to make sure we had a good time. First up was Molokini where we swam above tropical reefs and saw all the fish you’d expect.
From there we went to “turtle town,” which lived up to its name, as we had four separate up-close encounters with these special creatures. For a morning adventure for the whole family, this one tops the list.
2. Ziplining
We've done ziplining over jungles, temperate forests, and dry canyons, and it's always fun. On Maui you get a bit of each of those terrains, all with spectacular views. We were hosted by Skyline Adventures and had the great pleasure of being guided by Dylan and Shane, who, if guiding doesn’t work out, can work in comedy clubs. These two kept us moving along quickly and had a litany of gags and bits they dropped on us in between lines (zips?).
All of this came with spectacular ocean views as their Kaanapali lines are located right off the mountain from Lahaina, making for easy access and a pleasant break from the surf.
3. Surfing
Speaking of surf, Maui is blessed with some great surfing. Though not as famous as Waikiki, the waves near Lahaina Harbor were ideal for learning. Going with a local is a must, and we had the perfect instructor in Bully, owner of Bully’s Surf School.
Bully’s emphasis on safety was appreciated by this slightly nervous dad, as he took our kids into the line-up. With him was his son Bear, so the kids had one-on-one instruction while Joyce and I waited for our turn. Within an hour everyone was standing and riding waves. I managed to catch some of the action with the GoPro.
4. Cliff Jumping
For the more adventurous, Maui offers some exciting and easily-accessible cliff diving spots to test your nerve. There are no guides, so this is on your own. Our daughter added cliff diving from the Cliff House to our list of Maui must-do's after seeing YouTube videos of those locations.
Cliff House is located up the coast a few miles near the resorts of Kapalua. Finding it is a bit tricky, but the well-worn trail is pretty obvious. Once there, you’ll have your choice of several spots to dive in. We ran across families, locals, and kids, and all were friendly and supportive. There are some other waterfalls and swimming holes along the road to Hana for cliff diving, as well. Many years ago I jumped off Twin Falls, located a short hike up the hill from the road to Hana. We didn’t have a chance to visit there this trip, but we hope to check it out when we return.
5. Flyboarding
Flyboarding is that wild-looking thing where you strap your feet to a contraption that shoots out the water jet from a jet-ski, launching the operator 20 feet or more into the air. I’ve never done this, but my teenage son loves it. After “getting his butt kicked” for an hour in his first lesson a year ago, he got the hang of it. On this trip he was dancing and trying tricks. If you’ve ever seen it and thought, “that’s for pros or daredevils only," think again. Anyone can pick it up in a few hours. We went with Jet-Ski Maui, and Mason gives it a thumbs up!
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The author and his family received some complimentary activities for the purpose of this review. All opinions are his own.
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