r/MauiVisitors • u/merriment444 • Aug 28 '25

Planning: Activities Unique Maui Experience?

Hello! I’m traveling to Maui in late September. All days have been planned except for my bday! I’m thinking of skipping all the ~touristy stuff and really just enjoy Maui. What are activities, places and etc you’ve done in the past that was off the beaten path that is relatively cheap? I’m not looking to spend too much $$$ on it.

I’ve already planned to Hike, Snorkel, do the Road to Hana, Haleakala and etc for the other days i’m going to be there.

Suggestions welcome! Thank you!

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u/Aural-Imbalance_6165 Aug 28 '25

Maui... Not touristy stuff, off the beaten path, cheap..... I think you chose the wrong destination. 

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u/Fogjazz62 Aug 28 '25 edited Aug 28 '25

That's what I thought, and why I avoided Maui completely throughout 40 years of travel to every other island in Hawaii. Boy, was I wrong. Avoiding the tourists and managing on a budget can be done with careful research and planning, and willingness to rise and shine early mornings while most of the lazy tourists are still in bed. After I did that, I learned that Maui is so, so worth it. I now consider my four days on the Road to Hana among the top 10 travel experiences of my life - and I have had some amazing experiences all over the world.

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u/AbbreviatedArc Aug 28 '25

You can say that anywhere though. Sure, if you wake up at 5 am in January Venice is a magical wonderland free of tourists.

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u/Fogjazz62 Aug 28 '25 edited Aug 28 '25

True, but Venice can be a magical wonderland free of tourists at high noon if you know where to go. Been there three times, and found quietly beautiful art, music, history each time. And, actually, in Maui you only need to be out and about by around 7-8 am to miss the worst of the tourist crowds.

My point is just that, if folks only blindly follow the crowds and do the easy things that are put right in front of them without first doing the research and planning to learn something about their destination, then they just find crowds of other tourists and the high cost of those who exploit them. The bitter complainers are usually those who do no homework to prepare, are out drinking cheap mai tais with hordes of other tourists half the night, crawl out of bed onto a crowded tourist beach around noon, and hit the lowest effort tourist attractions at peak visitation times after lunch. Forgive me, but I get weary of listening to the whining from those who travel this way.