Things to do in Haiku

The luxury Wailea resort community occupies 1,500 acres (607 hectares) of land. The area is surrounded by lush tropical vegetation. Wailea Beach is a wide stretch of sand, perfect for an afternoon of sunbathing or building sandcastles. It’s surrounded by four smaller beaches and has a broad range of shops. Rent a kayak or snorkeling gear, or book a guided scuba dive to see the green turtles up-close. This popular, family-friendly beach has many facilities.

At Haleakalā National Park, you can step inside volcanic craters, walk through rain forest and swim in freshwater pools.

Kamaole Beach Park is actually three parks in one, with sandy stretches extending 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers), broken up by rocky barriers jutting into the Pacific Ocean. The beaches are identified as Kamaole I, II and III or just Kam I, II and III by locals. Spend time at all three and return to your favorite again and again during your Maui vacation.

Molokini is a partially-submerged volcanic crater, creating a picturesque crescent-shaped atoll off the Maui coast. It’s thought ethnic Hawaiians used to paddle to Molokini to fish and harvest the eggs of seabirds. Today, the established Molokini Island Preserve is all about protecting nature, and visitors are invited to enjoy its crystal-clear waters. Tour operators can only moor off the coast of Molokini, because visitors are not allowed to set foot on the island itself.

Keawakapu Beach is more serene than its quite touristy neighbors on the southwestern shore of Maui. This beach stretches for about 1,200 yards (1,110 meters), and you should have no problem finding a good spot for sunbathing on the soft, white sand. If you’re looking to escape the crowds or for a spot to let the kids roam free and build sandcastles, Keawakapu Beach is for you. Scuba divers come here to see the fish species attracted to the artificial reef made from old cars.