Known as the second largest island in Hawaii, Maui offers a diverse range of nature that includes 30 miles of stunning beaches with white, red and black sand. It is iconic for its most famous and largest dormant volcano in the world and before Honolulu, Maui boasted Hawaii’s capital Lahaina, which is located in West Maui.
During March 2021, fellow travel blogger Alex of East Coast Contessa and myself did a wonderful 10-day trip to Hawaii and spent the first part of our trip on the island of Oahu and the second half of our journey on the island of Maui. Discover the 10 best things to do on Oahu!
Overall, Hawaii has been a bucket list trip for me since I was a young kid. My parents honeymooned in Hawaii and explained how beautiful the beaches were along with all of the other magical nature!
Some fun facts about the Hawaiian Islands are that there are a total of 137 islands, but only eight of them are recognized and seven are inhabited. The eight islands based off of popularity are Oahu, Maui, the island of Hawaii (also known as the Big Island), Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Niihau and Kahoolawe. The capital of Hawaii is Honolulu, which is located on the island of Oahu. It became the 50th state on August 21, 1959.
During our time on Maui, Alex and I spent the first half of our journey in West Maui and the second half of our adventure in Hana. In this article, discover the top 5 things to do in West Maui! All of these activities are perfect whether you are on a girls’ trip, honeymoon, solo adventure or more!
**Please note that this blog post uses affiliate links meaning that if you make a purchase via my affiliate link, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only promote and talk about products and services that I have used and like. During my time in West Maui, Napili Kai Beach Resort hosted me for a few nights. Maui Wine also hosted us for a tasting during our time in Maui.
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Traveling to West Maui:
Getting to Hawaii was fairly easy. I flew from Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey to Honolulu International Airport on the island of Oahu with a short layover in Los Angeles International Airport in California.
After spending four nights on Oahu, Alex and I took a short flight (that was less than 45 minutes) from Honolulu International Airport (Daniel K. Inouye International Airport) to Maui’s Kahului Airport. (Coming home, I flew from Kahului Airport to Newark with the same layover at LAX.) I found super affordable flights through Skyscanner! The best way to get from the airport to your accommodation is via Go Airport Shuttle!
During a trip to Hawaii, I highly encourage everyone to rent a car on whatever island you choose to visit so that you can explore and not miss out on anything. In Maui, there is a public bus transit system that includes 13 different routes, including one that goes to and from the airport. Please note that there are no bus routes to Hana. Maui also has Uber and Lyft services!
Staying at Napili Kai Beach Resort in West Coast Maui:
Since Alex and I spent the first three nights in West Maui, we stayed at the beautiful Napili Kai Beach Resort in Lahaina.
Overall, Napili Kai Beach Resort is the perfect accommodation for everyone such as those on a family vacation, honeymoon/couples’ getaway, girls’ trip and more! The resort has its own beach on Napili Bay where you can relax and sunbathe on the beach as well as stand up paddle board, swim, surf and boogie board in the ocean.
Napili Kai Beach Resort also has four pools (a main pool with three smaller pools) and two hot tubs located around the property. The hotel also has oceanfront dining at their Sea House Restaurant that features amazing Hawaiian cuisine!
In addition, Napili Kai Beach Resort also has no resort fees; there is free parking; a variety of romance packages for honeymooners as well as family reunion packages; a weekly Mai Tai party and so much more! It is the perfect West Maui beach resort for the ultimate Hawaiian vacation.
Accommodations at Napili Kai Beach Resort in Lahaina:
During our few nights at Napili Kai Beach Resort, Alex and I stayed in the Oceanfront Studio room where we were able to watch the breathtaking Pacific waves pass by. We were also able to admire the sunset from our room’s balcony and we even saw a whale from a distance!
Our Oceanfront Studio was a large room that included a fully equipped kitchenette, en-suite bathroom, two twin beds with a twin sofa sleeper and a private balcony with beautiful views of both the ocean and resort. It was absolutely comfortable and I loved how when you first wake up, you can press a button and the shades will rise so that you can take in all of the beauty West Maui is iconic for.
In addition to our Oceanfront Studio room, Napili Kai also has an Oceanfront Suite that includes everything our room had but with two separate sleeping areas; a Beachfront Studio and 1-Bedroom Suite that overlooks the resort’s golden sand beach; an Ocean View Studio, Ocean View Family Studio, Ocean View 1-Bedroom Suite, Ocean View Hotel Room, Ocean View 2- and 3- Room Suites and an Ocean View 2-Bedroom Suite that has beautiful Pacific views and lastly, there is a Garden View Family Studio and Hotel Room option that overlooks the resort’s lush tropical gardens.
No matter what type of accommodation you choose during your stay at Napili Kai Beach Resort, you will definitely enjoy the 360-views, comfortable and clean rooms as well as the amazing service!
There is also a cliff side walking path at Napili Kai Beach Resort. It is the perfect trail to get a workout in, enjoy the stunning ocean views and even spot amazing sea life!
Napili Kai Beach Resort Amenities:
As a guest at Napili Kai Beach Resort, there is great WIFI; a Kid’s Eat Free Program for children 10 and under; complimentary beach towels, coolers and golf putters; morning coffee with Hawaiian cultural presentations; two shuffleboard courts; an 18-hole putting green with a weekly putting party; a fitness room and four outdoor barbecue areas.
The resort also hosts a children’s camp during the summer and over holidays; a Napili Kai Foundation Keiki Hula Show every Tuesday evening that teaches kids specific dances, language, history, arts and crafts of Polynesia and a Hawaiian Music Slack Key Show every Wednesday evening at Sea House Restaurant. Napili Kai also hosts weekly cooking and cultural classes!
The concierge at Napili Kai Beach Resort is amazing! If you have a specific activity that you want to do (such as whale watching) or want to attend an authentic Hawaiian luau, the Napili Kai’s Concierge Desk is available seven days a week. You can visit the concierge in person, which is located in the hotel’s lobby, send an email or call them to plan your excursion on Maui!
There is also nothing like a well-needed spa service during a beach vacation. Located at Napili Kai Beach Resort, the Makai Massage & Bodywork offers wonderful massage services, body treatments and facials. What is cool about getting a massage service at Makai Massage & Bodywork is that they offer Moonlight Massage Under the Stars!
Napili Kai Beach Resort also has wonderful wedding packages for those looking to tie the knot in beautiful Maui!
Where to Eat on North West Maui:
One of the top things to do in West Maui is to enjoy the food scene! West Maui, Hawaii is known to have incredible seafood restaurants along the beach that will not disappoint. Below are the best places to eat in West Maui:
Sea House Restaurant:
Located at Napili Kai Beach Resort is the open-air dining and delicious sea-to-table Sea House Restaurant. During both Alex and I’s time at Napili Kai, we enjoyed breakfast with a view as well as a lovely dinner at this great restaurant.
Sea House Restaurant’s breakfast menu includes an all-American breakfast, which is what we enjoyed, eggs Benedict dishes, frittatas, Korean fried rice, omelets, pancakes, French toast, cinnamon rolls and more. Everything was delicious!
For dinner one evening, we savored a delicious seafood meal on Sea House Restaurant’s patio. I enjoyed the resort’s iconic mai tai with crispy crab crusted monchong that included Pacific crabmeat, Molokai sweet potato, shrimp and roasted corn all in a lobster cognac sauce. Alex had the poke nachos with the sweet Kula onion soup. Everything was delicious!
Merriman’s Kapalua:
If you are looking for a great farm-to-table restaurant to eat at in West Maui, look no further than Merriman’s. Situated right next to Napili Kai Beach Resort, this breathtaking oceanfront restaurant is located at Kapalua Resort. 90% of everything served at Merriman’s are locally grown or caught, using sustainable methods.
Merriman’s is an award-winning restaurant that gives those dining there a chance to enjoy a 4-course prix-fixe dinner or choose a meal from the amazing bar menu.
During our evening at Merriman’s, both Alex and I sat out on the lawn that had stringed lights. (During the day, you can admire breathtaking views of the ocean!)
We ended up choosing our meal off of the bar menu and everything was delicious. I had the mahi-mahi fish sandwich and Alex had the burger with garlic truffle fries. (I had some of the fries and they were incredible!) The drinks were also amazing!
Cruzin’ Café:
During our last morning on West Maui, before our snorkeling excursion, Alex and I grabbed breakfast at Cruzin’ Café, which is also located in Lahaina in the Honokowai area, around a 10-minute drive from Napili Kai Resort.
This quaint breakfast spot and coffee shop offers locally roasted Hawaiian coffee, Italian sodas, breakfast sandwiches, hoagies, shaka dogs (which are hot dogs in a Hawaiian sweet roll) and Hawaiian shaved ice.
For breakfast, both Alex and I had the Nutty Hawaiian to drink, which is vanilla and macadamia nut coffee. I savored the house made breakfast sandwich for my meal on Hawaiian sweet bread with egg and bacon and Alex had the everything bagel with cream cheese. I highly recommend this awesome spot for breakfast!
Hula Grill, Whalers Village:
If you read my article on Oahu, you saw that we unfortunately didn’t have the opportunity to visit Duke’s in Waikiki for Hula pie. Well, we were able to try the famous Hula pie during one of our evenings at Hula Grill in Whalers Village in Lahaina, which is around a 10-minute drive from Napili Kai Beach Resort.
Both Duke’s and Hula Grill feature Hawaiian cuisine and are owned by the same parent company, so the menus at both restaurants are very similar.
During our evening at Hula Grill Kaanapali, both Alex and I shared the Kabocha pumpkin hummus with naan bread and seasonal vegetables. I then had the lobster, shrimp and scallop potstickers appetizer and Alex had the coconut calamari appetizer. We both got appetizers for our main meal because we were forewarned on how big the Hula pie was and that was something we didn’t want to miss out on! (We also enjoyed the fruity hard seltzers on the side from Maui Brewing Co.)
When it comes to getting the actual Hula pie for dessert, I recommend sharing it with others. (In fact, it is made to be shared.) The pie slice is HUGE and it includes a chocolate cookie crust (similar to an Oreo cookie), macadamia nut ice cream, hot fudge, toasted macadamia nuts and whipped cream. It is to die for to say the least!
What is great about Hula Grill is that it is also located across from the beach, so you can enjoy a nice sunset as you savor your dinner! (Hula Grill also has a quick service breakfast and serves lunch every day.)
Coconut Caboose:
Situated within a 5 to 10-minute drive from Napili Kai Beach Resort is Coconut Caboose. This awesome food truck is parked in a lot located off Honoapiilani Highway that overlooks Honokahua Bay. If you are looking for amazing Hawaiian shaved ice in West Maui, then you definitely have to come here!
Alex and I found Coconut Caboose after exploring Dragon’s Teeth at Makaluapuna Point. Everything that Coconut Caboose offers is vegan and organic and all of their shaved ice is made out of frozen coconut water from coconuts hand picked earlier in the morning!
The shaved ice I had included strawberry and pomegranate all-natural syrup drizzled on top and at the bottom was coconut chocolate gelato (made from coconut). It was incredible! Alex’s shaved ice included lavender, watermelon and pineapple syrup with coconut-lemon gelato at the bottom.
In addition to shaved ice, Coconut Caboose also has raw coconut gelato, fresh coconuts, popsicles, juices and more!
Things to do in West Maui during a Maui Trip:
Explore Dragon’s Teeth – One of the Best Unique Experiences in Maui:
For those looking to explore the cool nature around Napili Kai, there is an awesome spot located steps away from the resort called Dragon’s Teeth, which is also known as Makaluapuna Point.
Dragon’s Teeth features cool rock formations and is a great place to watch giant Pacific waves crash along the cliffs. The unique rock formations at Dragon’s Teeth were formed when the lava from the West Maui volcano went into the ocean. Heavy winds and waves forced it back and it cooled into epic black teeth looking rocks. Visiting Dragon’s Teeth is one of the best things to do in North West Maui.
Also located at Dragon’s Teeth is Kapalua Labyrinth. Even though locals don’t know the exact purpose of why this specific labyrinth is at this spot, it is most likely one made for a prayer. These types of labyrinths have been around for approximately 3,500 years!
Unfortunately, due to heavy rainstorms on Maui during the time we were there, the labyrinth at Dragon’s Teeth was filled with water, but usually you can walk through it.
Watch the Surfers at Black Rock Beach and Shop through Whalers Village:
One of the most fun beaches in West Maui is Black Rock Beach, located at the north end of Ka’anapali Beach. It is around a 10-minute drive from Napili Kai Beach Resort.
For those visiting Black Rock Beach, I recommend parking in the garage right next to Whaler’s Village. (I also recommend eating at one of Whalers Village‘s restaurants such as Hula Grill, which I talk about above, since they will give you a parking voucher for a few hours! Otherwise, you will need to pay for parking for the full time that you are in the area.) If you don’t want to worry about parking at all, then I recommend taking an Uber or Lyft.
Black Rock Beach is great for sunbathers, surfers, boogie boarders and snorkelers. The reason why it is called Black Rock Beach is because there is a giant black rock cliff that was formed from one of the last lava flows on West Maui.
Native Hawaiians named this specific black rock Pu’u Keka’a and it is believed that this cliff is where their spirits jump off to join their ancestors. Folklore has it that it is bad luck to take an Hawaiian lava rock off this beach.
Nowadays, Black Rock Beach is a popular spot for young adults and teenagers to enjoy. When Alex and I visited this beach, there were a lot of friend groups hanging out and watching their peers surf and boogie board the giant waves! Other great things to do at this beach are to go swimming, snorkeling and diving. Swimmers should be cautious of strong currents and extreme high tides.
During a lovely beach day at Black Rock Beach, it is a must to walk around Whalers Village that feature various stores like Lululemon, Lilly Pulitzer, PacSun, Sephora and more. There are also fine dining restaurants, casual eateries and ice cream shops in Whalers Village. It is one of the best things to do in Kaanapali.
Enjoy a Day Trip to Wailea in Maui:
If you’re wondering what is there to do in Maui for a more secluded beach experience, I recommend visiting the Wailea area of the island. I highly recommend making a day trip out of your time in Wailea because there are so many gorgeous beaches there!
While we were staying at Napili Kai, we wanted to visit one of the turtle beaches in Wailea, so we made our way to Maluaka Beach, which is also known as Turtle Town in Wailea-Makena. It took us a little over an hour to drive from Napili Kai Beach Resort to Maluaka Beach.
The beach itself is free to go to and there is a parking lot with public restrooms. Even though Maluaka Beach is known for its sea turtles, we unfortunately didn’t see any during our day trip there. (Maluaka is known for its Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles!) The beach itself was absolutely amazing though! The sand was soft and warm, the water was a clear aqua blue and there were stunning views all around.
Both Alex and I enjoyed relaxing on the beach and swimming in the ocean. This specific beach is also great for snorkelers since there is a great marine life in this area. If you continue walking south down the beach, the rock area is where the coral reef starts!
In addition to the beach, Wailea also has great restaurants, shops, golf courses and hiking trails! It makes for the perfect stop during a West Maui road trip.
Pineapple Wine Taste at Maui Wine:
Another great day excursion from West Maui is visiting Maui Wine, which is located in Kula. It isn’t too far from Wailea and it’s near the start/end of Road to Hana. For those wondering what are the best Maui, Hawaii activities that don’t involve being at the beach or in the water, then I suggest wine tasting!
Maui Wine has been opened since 1947 and they produce wines made from estate grown grapes, pineapples and raspberries. During Alex and I’s time at Maui Wine, we both got to do a tasting of our choice, enjoy one full glass of wine or champagne and savor a small plate.
Since I never tried it before and I LOVE pineapple, I enjoyed the pineapple wine tasting and then had a glass of the pineapple champagne. Everything was delicious and smelled amazing! I also savored the spicy pineapple popcorn and truffle potato chips as my snack and it was yummy.
It was cool visiting a winery during our time in Hawaii. There were gorgeous views of both the Pacific Ocean and the mountains and the property itself was stunning! In order for you to visit Maui Wine, you will need to make a reservation in advance to do a tasting and enjoy the winery’s renowned wines and champagnes.
Maui Wine’s vines at Ulupalakua Vineyards thrive on fertile volcanic soil, crisp mountain air and a long growing season. The vines also cultivate six grape varietals! Definitely visit this wonderful winery when you make your way to the island of Maui. It is around an hour and a half drive from Napili Kai Beach Resort.
Go Snorkeling or Diving at Molokini Crater – Best Maui, Hawaii Activities:
One of the most memorable day excursions from West Maui was snorkeling at Molokini Crater with GetYourGuide. During this three-hour snorkeling excursion with Maui Snorkeling, we took a boat from Maalaea Harbor to Molokini Crater.
In total, it takes around an hour by boat to get to and from Molokini Crater, but during the sail, you can enjoy the breathtaking views and even see a few whales in the water! Once we got to the crescent-shaped crater, we had a little over an hour to enjoy snorkeling. In addition, Maui Snorkeling also set up an inflatable water slide that you could take from the top deck of the boat into the ocean.
Overall, it was such a fun afternoon snorkeling at Molokini Crater. We saw quite a few fish and going down the slide was such a blast! In fact, Molokini Crater offers the best West Maui snorkeling adventures.
The common fish that you can see snorkeling or Scuba diving at Molokini Crater are the Humuhumunukunuku fish, which is a Reef Triggerfish; Picasso Triggerfish; Threadfin Butterfly; White Spotted Puffer; Yellow Tang; Yellow Trumpet Fish and Achilles Tang. You can also see nurse sharks and Hawaiian jellyfish at Molokini Crater. (Please note that you must be PADI certified to go Scuba diving.)
Molokini Crater is what’s remaining from a volcanic eruption that happened around 230,000 years ago. It is now a crescent-shaped atoll. The crater is currently home for marine and bird life! It is an uninhabited island from humans and it is a protected site.
During this fun snorkeling excursion, Maui Snorkeling provided us with fresh Hawaiian juices, soft drinks and water along with sandwiches and chocolate chip cookies. If you want to enjoy alcoholic beverages during your snorkeling trip to Molokini Crater, it is BYOB.
Located across from the boat dock at Maalaea Harbor are a plethora of shops and eateries to enjoy. The Maui Ocean Center, which includes The Aquarium of Hawaii is also situated in this area!
Loved Maui? Then you’ll love these destinations:
I hope you all enjoyed discovering the top 5 things to do in West Maui during a trip to the island of Maui, Hawaii and reading about my stay at Napili Kai Beach Resort. If you have any questions, please email me at info@browneyedflowerchild.com.
Basic Facts of the United States:
Currency: United States Dollar, Capital: Washington D.C., HI State Capital: Honolulu, Time Zone: Hawaiian-Aleutian Standard Time
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Known as the second largest island in Hawaii, Maui offers a diverse range of nature that includes 30 miles of stunning beaches with white, red and black sand. It is iconic for its most famous and largest dormant volcano in the world and before Honolulu, Maui boasted Hawaii’s capital Lahaina, which is located in West Maui.
During March 2021, fellow travel blogger Alex of East Coast Contessa and myself did a wonderful 10-day trip to Hawaii and spent the first part of our trip on the island of Oahu and the second half of our journey on the island of Maui. Discover the 10 best things to do on Oahu!
Overall, Hawaii has been a bucket list trip for me since I was a young kid. My parents honeymooned in Hawaii and explained how beautiful the beaches were along with all of the other magical nature!
Some fun facts about the Hawaiian Islands are that there are a total of 137 islands, but only eight of them are recognized and seven are inhabited. The eight islands based off of popularity are Oahu, Maui, the island of Hawaii (also known as the Big Island), Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Niihau and Kahoolawe. The capital of Hawaii is Honolulu, which is located on the island of Oahu. It became the 50th state on August 21, 1959.
During our time on Maui, Alex and I spent the first half of our journey in West Maui and the second half of our adventure in Hana. In this article, discover the top 5 things to do in West Maui! All of these activities are perfect whether you are on a girls’ trip, honeymoon, solo adventure or more!
**Please note that this blog post uses affiliate links meaning that if you make a purchase via my affiliate link, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only promote and talk about products and services that I have used and like. During my time in West Maui, Napili Kai Beach Resort hosted me for a few nights. Maui Wine also hosted us for a tasting during our time in Maui.
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Traveling to West Maui:
Getting to Hawaii was fairly easy. I flew from Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey to Honolulu International Airport on the island of Oahu with a short layover in Los Angeles International Airport in California.
After spending four nights on Oahu, Alex and I took a short flight (that was less than 45 minutes) from Honolulu International Airport (Daniel K. Inouye International Airport) to Maui’s Kahului Airport. (Coming home, I flew from Kahului Airport to Newark with the same layover at LAX.) I found super affordable flights through Skyscanner! The best way to get from the airport to your accommodation is via Go Airport Shuttle!
During a trip to Hawaii, I highly encourage everyone to rent a car on whatever island you choose to visit so that you can explore and not miss out on anything. In Maui, there is a public bus transit system that includes 13 different routes, including one that goes to and from the airport. Please note that there are no bus routes to Hana. Maui also has Uber and Lyft services!
Staying at Napili Kai Beach Resort in West Coast Maui:
Since Alex and I spent the first three nights in West Maui, we stayed at the beautiful Napili Kai Beach Resort in Lahaina.
Overall, Napili Kai Beach Resort is the perfect accommodation for everyone such as those on a family vacation, honeymoon/couples’ getaway, girls’ trip and more! The resort has its own beach on Napili Bay where you can relax and sunbathe on the beach as well as stand up paddle board, swim, surf and boogie board in the ocean.
Napili Kai Beach Resort also has four pools (a main pool with three smaller pools) and two hot tubs located around the property. The hotel also has oceanfront dining at their Sea House Restaurant that features amazing Hawaiian cuisine!
In addition, Napili Kai Beach Resort also has no resort fees; there is free parking; a variety of romance packages for honeymooners as well as family reunion packages; a weekly Mai Tai party and so much more! It is the perfect West Maui beach resort for the ultimate Hawaiian vacation.
Accommodations at Napili Kai Beach Resort in Lahaina:
During our few nights at Napili Kai Beach Resort, Alex and I stayed in the Oceanfront Studio room where we were able to watch the breathtaking Pacific waves pass by. We were also able to admire the sunset from our room’s balcony and we even saw a whale from a distance!
Our Oceanfront Studio was a large room that included a fully equipped kitchenette, en-suite bathroom, two twin beds with a twin sofa sleeper and a private balcony with beautiful views of both the ocean and resort. It was absolutely comfortable and I loved how when you first wake up, you can press a button and the shades will rise so that you can take in all of the beauty West Maui is iconic for.
In addition to our Oceanfront Studio room, Napili Kai also has an Oceanfront Suite that includes everything our room had but with two separate sleeping areas; a Beachfront Studio and 1-Bedroom Suite that overlooks the resort’s golden sand beach; an Ocean View Studio, Ocean View Family Studio, Ocean View 1-Bedroom Suite, Ocean View Hotel Room, Ocean View 2- and 3- Room Suites and an Ocean View 2-Bedroom Suite that has beautiful Pacific views and lastly, there is a Garden View Family Studio and Hotel Room option that overlooks the resort’s lush tropical gardens.
No matter what type of accommodation you choose during your stay at Napili Kai Beach Resort, you will definitely enjoy the 360-views, comfortable and clean rooms as well as the amazing service!
There is also a cliff side walking path at Napili Kai Beach Resort. It is the perfect trail to get a workout in, enjoy the stunning ocean views and even spot amazing sea life!
Napili Kai Beach Resort Amenities:
As a guest at Napili Kai Beach Resort, there is great WIFI; a Kid’s Eat Free Program for children 10 and under; complimentary beach towels, coolers and golf putters; morning coffee with Hawaiian cultural presentations; two shuffleboard courts; an 18-hole putting green with a weekly putting party; a fitness room and four outdoor barbecue areas.
The resort also hosts a children’s camp during the summer and over holidays; a Napili Kai Foundation Keiki Hula Show every Tuesday evening that teaches kids specific dances, language, history, arts and crafts of Polynesia and a Hawaiian Music Slack Key Show every Wednesday evening at Sea House Restaurant. Napili Kai also hosts weekly cooking and cultural classes!
The concierge at Napili Kai Beach Resort is amazing! If you have a specific activity that you want to do (such as whale watching) or want to attend an authentic Hawaiian luau, the Napili Kai’s Concierge Desk is available seven days a week. You can visit the concierge in person, which is located in the hotel’s lobby, send an email or call them to plan your excursion on Maui!
There is also nothing like a well-needed spa service during a beach vacation. Located at Napili Kai Beach Resort, the Makai Massage & Bodywork offers wonderful massage services, body treatments and facials. What is cool about getting a massage service at Makai Massage & Bodywork is that they offer Moonlight Massage Under the Stars!
Napili Kai Beach Resort also has wonderful wedding packages for those looking to tie the knot in beautiful Maui!
Where to Eat on North West Maui:
One of the top things to do in West Maui is to enjoy the food scene! West Maui, Hawaii is known to have incredible seafood restaurants along the beach that will not disappoint. Below are the best places to eat in West Maui:
Sea House Restaurant:
Located at Napili Kai Beach Resort is the open-air dining and delicious sea-to-table Sea House Restaurant. During both Alex and I’s time at Napili Kai, we enjoyed breakfast with a view as well as a lovely dinner at this great restaurant.
Sea House Restaurant’s breakfast menu includes an all-American breakfast, which is what we enjoyed, eggs Benedict dishes, frittatas, Korean fried rice, omelets, pancakes, French toast, cinnamon rolls and more. Everything was delicious!
For dinner one evening, we savored a delicious seafood meal on Sea House Restaurant’s patio. I enjoyed the resort’s iconic mai tai with crispy crab crusted monchong that included Pacific crabmeat, Molokai sweet potato, shrimp and roasted corn all in a lobster cognac sauce. Alex had the poke nachos with the sweet Kula onion soup. Everything was delicious!
Merriman’s Kapalua:
If you are looking for a great farm-to-table restaurant to eat at in West Maui, look no further than Merriman’s. Situated right next to Napili Kai Beach Resort, this breathtaking oceanfront restaurant is located at Kapalua Resort. 90% of everything served at Merriman’s are locally grown or caught, using sustainable methods.
Merriman’s is an award-winning restaurant that gives those dining there a chance to enjoy a 4-course prix-fixe dinner or choose a meal from the amazing bar menu.
During our evening at Merriman’s, both Alex and I sat out on the lawn that had stringed lights. (During the day, you can admire breathtaking views of the ocean!)
We ended up choosing our meal off of the bar menu and everything was delicious. I had the mahi-mahi fish sandwich and Alex had the burger with garlic truffle fries. (I had some of the fries and they were incredible!) The drinks were also amazing!
Cruzin’ Café:
During our last morning on West Maui, before our snorkeling excursion, Alex and I grabbed breakfast at Cruzin’ Café, which is also located in Lahaina in the Honokowai area, around a 10-minute drive from Napili Kai Resort.
This quaint breakfast spot and coffee shop offers locally roasted Hawaiian coffee, Italian sodas, breakfast sandwiches, hoagies, shaka dogs (which are hot dogs in a Hawaiian sweet roll) and Hawaiian shaved ice.
For breakfast, both Alex and I had the Nutty Hawaiian to drink, which is vanilla and macadamia nut coffee. I savored the house made breakfast sandwich for my meal on Hawaiian sweet bread with egg and bacon and Alex had the everything bagel with cream cheese. I highly recommend this awesome spot for breakfast!
Hula Grill, Whalers Village:
If you read my article on Oahu, you saw that we unfortunately didn’t have the opportunity to visit Duke’s in Waikiki for Hula pie. Well, we were able to try the famous Hula pie during one of our evenings at Hula Grill in Whalers Village in Lahaina, which is around a 10-minute drive from Napili Kai Beach Resort.
Both Duke’s and Hula Grill feature Hawaiian cuisine and are owned by the same parent company, so the menus at both restaurants are very similar.
During our evening at Hula Grill Kaanapali, both Alex and I shared the Kabocha pumpkin hummus with naan bread and seasonal vegetables. I then had the lobster, shrimp and scallop potstickers appetizer and Alex had the coconut calamari appetizer. We both got appetizers for our main meal because we were forewarned on how big the Hula pie was and that was something we didn’t want to miss out on! (We also enjoyed the fruity hard seltzers on the side from Maui Brewing Co.)
When it comes to getting the actual Hula pie for dessert, I recommend sharing it with others. (In fact, it is made to be shared.) The pie slice is HUGE and it includes a chocolate cookie crust (similar to an Oreo cookie), macadamia nut ice cream, hot fudge, toasted macadamia nuts and whipped cream. It is to die for to say the least!
What is great about Hula Grill is that it is also located across from the beach, so you can enjoy a nice sunset as you savor your dinner! (Hula Grill also has a quick service breakfast and serves lunch every day.)
Coconut Caboose:
Situated within a 5 to 10-minute drive from Napili Kai Beach Resort is Coconut Caboose. This awesome food truck is parked in a lot located off Honoapiilani Highway that overlooks Honokahua Bay. If you are looking for amazing Hawaiian shaved ice in West Maui, then you definitely have to come here!
Alex and I found Coconut Caboose after exploring Dragon’s Teeth at Makaluapuna Point. Everything that Coconut Caboose offers is vegan and organic and all of their shaved ice is made out of frozen coconut water from coconuts hand picked earlier in the morning!
The shaved ice I had included strawberry and pomegranate all-natural syrup drizzled on top and at the bottom was coconut chocolate gelato (made from coconut). It was incredible! Alex’s shaved ice included lavender, watermelon and pineapple syrup with coconut-lemon gelato at the bottom.
In addition to shaved ice, Coconut Caboose also has raw coconut gelato, fresh coconuts, popsicles, juices and more!
Things to do in West Maui during a Maui Trip:
Explore Dragon’s Teeth – One of the Best Unique Experiences in Maui:
For those looking to explore the cool nature around Napili Kai, there is an awesome spot located steps away from the resort called Dragon’s Teeth, which is also known as Makaluapuna Point.
Dragon’s Teeth features cool rock formations and is a great place to watch giant Pacific waves crash along the cliffs. The unique rock formations at Dragon’s Teeth were formed when the lava from the West Maui volcano went into the ocean. Heavy winds and waves forced it back and it cooled into epic black teeth looking rocks. Visiting Dragon’s Teeth is one of the best things to do in North West Maui.
Also located at Dragon’s Teeth is Kapalua Labyrinth. Even though locals don’t know the exact purpose of why this specific labyrinth is at this spot, it is most likely one made for a prayer. These types of labyrinths have been around for approximately 3,500 years!
Unfortunately, due to heavy rainstorms on Maui during the time we were there, the labyrinth at Dragon’s Teeth was filled with water, but usually you can walk through it.
Watch the Surfers at Black Rock Beach and Shop through Whalers Village:
One of the most fun beaches in West Maui is Black Rock Beach, located at the north end of Ka’anapali Beach. It is around a 10-minute drive from Napili Kai Beach Resort.
For those visiting Black Rock Beach, I recommend parking in the garage right next to Whaler’s Village. (I also recommend eating at one of Whalers Village‘s restaurants such as Hula Grill, which I talk about above, since they will give you a parking voucher for a few hours! Otherwise, you will need to pay for parking for the full time that you are in the area.) If you don’t want to worry about parking at all, then I recommend taking an Uber or Lyft.
Black Rock Beach is great for sunbathers, surfers, boogie boarders and snorkelers. The reason why it is called Black Rock Beach is because there is a giant black rock cliff that was formed from one of the last lava flows on West Maui.
Native Hawaiians named this specific black rock Pu’u Keka’a and it is believed that this cliff is where their spirits jump off to join their ancestors. Folklore has it that it is bad luck to take an Hawaiian lava rock off this beach.
Nowadays, Black Rock Beach is a popular spot for young adults and teenagers to enjoy. When Alex and I visited this beach, there were a lot of friend groups hanging out and watching their peers surf and boogie board the giant waves! Other great things to do at this beach are to go swimming, snorkeling and diving. Swimmers should be cautious of strong currents and extreme high tides.
During a lovely beach day at Black Rock Beach, it is a must to walk around Whalers Village that feature various stores like Lululemon, Lilly Pulitzer, PacSun, Sephora and more. There are also fine dining restaurants, casual eateries and ice cream shops in Whalers Village. It is one of the best things to do in Kaanapali.
Enjoy a Day Trip to Wailea in Maui:
If you’re wondering what is there to do in Maui for a more secluded beach experience, I recommend visiting the Wailea area of the island. I highly recommend making a day trip out of your time in Wailea because there are so many gorgeous beaches there!
While we were staying at Napili Kai, we wanted to visit one of the turtle beaches in Wailea, so we made our way to Maluaka Beach, which is also known as Turtle Town in Wailea-Makena. It took us a little over an hour to drive from Napili Kai Beach Resort to Maluaka Beach.
The beach itself is free to go to and there is a parking lot with public restrooms. Even though Maluaka Beach is known for its sea turtles, we unfortunately didn’t see any during our day trip there. (Maluaka is known for its Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles!) The beach itself was absolutely amazing though! The sand was soft and warm, the water was a clear aqua blue and there were stunning views all around.
Both Alex and I enjoyed relaxing on the beach and swimming in the ocean. This specific beach is also great for snorkelers since there is a great marine life in this area. If you continue walking south down the beach, the rock area is where the coral reef starts!
In addition to the beach, Wailea also has great restaurants, shops, golf courses and hiking trails! It makes for the perfect stop during a West Maui road trip.
Pineapple Wine Taste at Maui Wine:
Another great day excursion from West Maui is visiting Maui Wine, which is located in Kula. It isn’t too far from Wailea and it’s near the start/end of Road to Hana. For those wondering what are the best Maui, Hawaii activities that don’t involve being at the beach or in the water, then I suggest wine tasting!
Maui Wine has been opened since 1947 and they produce wines made from estate grown grapes, pineapples and raspberries. During Alex and I’s time at Maui Wine, we both got to do a tasting of our choice, enjoy one full glass of wine or champagne and savor a small plate.
Since I never tried it before and I LOVE pineapple, I enjoyed the pineapple wine tasting and then had a glass of the pineapple champagne. Everything was delicious and smelled amazing! I also savored the spicy pineapple popcorn and truffle potato chips as my snack and it was yummy.
It was cool visiting a winery during our time in Hawaii. There were gorgeous views of both the Pacific Ocean and the mountains and the property itself was stunning! In order for you to visit Maui Wine, you will need to make a reservation in advance to do a tasting and enjoy the winery’s renowned wines and champagnes.
Maui Wine’s vines at Ulupalakua Vineyards thrive on fertile volcanic soil, crisp mountain air and a long growing season. The vines also cultivate six grape varietals! Definitely visit this wonderful winery when you make your way to the island of Maui. It is around an hour and a half drive from Napili Kai Beach Resort.
Go Snorkeling or Diving at Molokini Crater – Best Maui, Hawaii Activities:
One of the most memorable day excursions from West Maui was snorkeling at Molokini Crater with GetYourGuide. During this three-hour snorkeling excursion with Maui Snorkeling, we took a boat from Maalaea Harbor to Molokini Crater.
In total, it takes around an hour by boat to get to and from Molokini Crater, but during the sail, you can enjoy the breathtaking views and even see a few whales in the water! Once we got to the crescent-shaped crater, we had a little over an hour to enjoy snorkeling. In addition, Maui Snorkeling also set up an inflatable water slide that you could take from the top deck of the boat into the ocean.
Overall, it was such a fun afternoon snorkeling at Molokini Crater. We saw quite a few fish and going down the slide was such a blast! In fact, Molokini Crater offers the best West Maui snorkeling adventures.
The common fish that you can see snorkeling or Scuba diving at Molokini Crater are the Humuhumunukunuku fish, which is a Reef Triggerfish; Picasso Triggerfish; Threadfin Butterfly; White Spotted Puffer; Yellow Tang; Yellow Trumpet Fish and Achilles Tang. You can also see nurse sharks and Hawaiian jellyfish at Molokini Crater. (Please note that you must be PADI certified to go Scuba diving.)
Molokini Crater is what’s remaining from a volcanic eruption that happened around 230,000 years ago. It is now a crescent-shaped atoll. The crater is currently home for marine and bird life! It is an uninhabited island from humans and it is a protected site.
During this fun snorkeling excursion, Maui Snorkeling provided us with fresh Hawaiian juices, soft drinks and water along with sandwiches and chocolate chip cookies. If you want to enjoy alcoholic beverages during your snorkeling trip to Molokini Crater, it is BYOB.
Located across from the boat dock at Maalaea Harbor are a plethora of shops and eateries to enjoy. The Maui Ocean Center, which includes The Aquarium of Hawaii is also situated in this area!
Loved Maui? Then you’ll love these destinations:
I hope you all enjoyed discovering the top 5 things to do in West Maui during a trip to the island of Maui, Hawaii and reading about my stay at Napili Kai Beach Resort. If you have any questions, please email me at info@browneyedflowerchild.com.
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22 Comments
What a great informative guide on top 5 things to do in Maui. It was so nice to see all your breathtaking photos ~ it took me back to my beautiful honeymoon back in 1989 ~ Love all the beautiful beaches and mountains ~ and of course, the wonderful Hawaiian food! Love all the stunning photos of you with the beautiful floral head pieces made by Alex’s mom ~ They were all so vibrant and colorful! They complemented your beautiful bathing suit and outfits! Hope to visit Maui again soon ~ especially after seeing these amazing, breathtaking photos!
Such an awesome blog ~
Love you,
Mom xoxoGreat guide. The food looks so good. Having dinner at the beach with a sunset, sounds great.
Your trip looked amazing Taylor! I would love to try the pineapple champagne!
We enjoyed having you experience Napili Kai Beach Resort and are thrilled you loved your stay! This is a wonderful and informative post about traveling to Maui. Mahalo!
I love Maui! This is such a great detailed post, makes me want to go back to Maui soon!
I’ve only been to Oahu, but I totally fell in love with Hawaii the minute I set foot on the island! I’m dying to return and explore the other islands a bit more, so thank you for sharing things to do on Maui 🙂
Maui truly took my heart when I visited! So glad to see you had an equally great time.
I’m dying to go to Maui after our trip to Oahu! I love all your recommendations. The pineapple wine sounds awesome! Thanks for sharing, Taylor! 🙂
Loved this post and all of these suggestions! I’m missing Hawaii so much, I haven’t been to Maui yet but I will definitely attempt to check all of these off when I go 🙂
Great blog post, especially with all the info for travelling right now. Your photos of the cocktails and food looked amazing. Also, super beautiful photo of you with the flower crown.
I really need to get back to Maui. It looks so gorgeous. I would love to drink some Pinappple Champagne from Maui wine and visit Wailea.
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What a great informative guide on top 5 things to do in Maui. It was so nice to see all your breathtaking photos ~ it took me back to my beautiful honeymoon back in 1989 ~ Love all the beautiful beaches and mountains ~ and of course, the wonderful Hawaiian food! Love all the stunning photos of you with the beautiful floral head pieces made by Alex’s mom ~ They were all so vibrant and colorful! They complemented your beautiful bathing suit and outfits! Hope to visit Maui again soon ~ especially after seeing these amazing, breathtaking photos!
Such an awesome blog ~
Love you,
Mom xoxo
Thank you so much mom! Maui was such a beautiful island. Love you too!
Great guide. The food looks so good. Having dinner at the beach with a sunset, sounds great.
Thank you Cosette! The food really was amazing! 🙂
Your trip looked amazing Taylor! I would love to try the pineapple champagne!
It really was an amazing trip Katie! The pineapple champagne was absolutely delicious! 🙂
We enjoyed having you experience Napili Kai Beach Resort and are thrilled you loved your stay! This is a wonderful and informative post about traveling to Maui. Mahalo!
Thank you so much again for having me! Napili Kai is absolutely beautiful and a great place to stay on Maui. 🙂
I love Maui! This is such a great detailed post, makes me want to go back to Maui soon!
Thank you so much Sue! It was such a great trip. 🙂
I’ve only been to Oahu, but I totally fell in love with Hawaii the minute I set foot on the island! I’m dying to return and explore the other islands a bit more, so thank you for sharing things to do on Maui 🙂
It really is such a beautiful destination! You definitely have to visit Maui next time you go. 🙂
Maui truly took my heart when I visited! So glad to see you had an equally great time.
It took my heart too! It’s such a beautiful place! Also, thank you Liz. 🙂
I’m dying to go to Maui after our trip to Oahu! I love all your recommendations. The pineapple wine sounds awesome! Thanks for sharing, Taylor! 🙂
You would love it so much! I will admit that even though I loved both islands, Maui was my fav! 🙂
Loved this post and all of these suggestions! I’m missing Hawaii so much, I haven’t been to Maui yet but I will definitely attempt to check all of these off when I go 🙂
Thank you Destiny! You would love Maui! 🙂
Great blog post, especially with all the info for travelling right now. Your photos of the cocktails and food looked amazing. Also, super beautiful photo of you with the flower crown.
Thank you so much! All of the food was amazing there. 🙂
I really need to get back to Maui. It looks so gorgeous. I would love to drink some Pinappple Champagne from Maui wine and visit Wailea.
I loved it so much there! The beaches at Wailea were so beautiful. 🙂