38 Free Things to Do on Maui

Looking for free things to do on Maui that go beyond the usual lists? Whether you’re here for surf, sunsets, or simply soaking up island life, Maui has countless hidden gems that won’t cost you a dime. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite spots and experiences—beyond the obvious beaches—to help you make the most out of your Maui vacation!

When we started looking for a list of free things to do on Maui to share with our surf school guests, we noticed something: most blogs and websites all repeat the same ten activities—and many haven’t been updated since the fires. The truth is, there are far more than ten free things to enjoy on Maui, so we decided to create our own guide. We’ve even organized them into categories so you can quickly find what interests you most.

Before we dive in, a few quick notes:

• This isn’t meant to be a complete list of every free activity on Maui—we’re focusing on some of the lesser-known gems that often get overlooked.
• A few of the activities we’ve included aren’t technically free, but we think they’re still worth adding to your Maui bucket list.
• And finally, we’re not listing beaches here (unless they fit into another category) since they already appear on just about every free Maui guide out there.

Free Attractions on Maui 

• 1. Kepaniwai Park and Cultural Gardens 
• Location: Wailuku 
• Days and Times: 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM daily 
• Notes: Adjacent to the Wailuku Stream, Kepaniwai is a beautiful public park, honoring the cultures that helped to share Maui into the unique island that is it today. Explore amongst an early-Hawaiian hale (house), a New England–style saltbox, a Portuguese-style villa with gardens and more. Take a dip in the stream to cool off on a hot day, and bring a picnic lunch!
• Website for more info: https://www.hvcb.org/listing/kepaniwai-park-&-heritage-gardens/109419/

• 2.  Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge and Visitor Center 
• Location: North Kihei 
• Days and Times: Visitor Center: Monday to  Friday from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm and the first Saturday of each month from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm. (closed weekends and federal holidays)
• Keālia Coastal Boardwalk: Open daily from 6:30 am to 7:00 pm, including federal holidays.
• Notes: Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge encompasses approximately 700 acres and is one of the few natural wetlands remaining in the Hawaiian Islands. The Keālia Coastal Boardwalk is a scenic oceanfront walkway and bird sanctuary that takes you through ancient wetlands where you can watch two of Hawaii’s native and endangered waterbirds – the Hawaiian coot and Hawaiian stilt. Across the highway you can see Keālia Pond where waterfowl from Asia and North America come for rest and warmer climate. The Visitor Center has fascinating interactive exhibits that are fun and educational for kids and adults alike! 
• Website for more info: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/kealia-pond

 

• 3. NOAA Humpback Whale Visitor’s Center 
• Location: North Kihei 
• Days and Times: Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
• Notes: The visitor center features exhibits, interactive displays, and weekly programs for the whole family. During humpback whale season, you may even see humpback whales breaching from their beachfront location! 
• Website for more info: https://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/visit/visitor-centers.html
• Follow on Instagram: @hihumpbackwhalenms

 

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  4. Hui Noeau Visual Arts Center 

• Location: Makawao 
• Days and Times: Tuesday – Saturday, 9am – 4pm 
• Notes: Built by Harry & Ethel Baldwin as a family home in 1917, Kaluanui now provides an inspiring and creative space for Hui No‘eau Visual Arts Center—a non-profit visual arts organization founded in 1934. With up to eight rotating fine art exhibitions each year, you’ll be sure to view some outstanding work created by local and international artists.  The Hui also features one of the island’s best art and gift shops. View the current exhibition, see working art studios, discover fascinating Maui history, and walk around the beautiful Kaluanui Estate. On the grounds, you will see two of Maui’s largest Norfolk Island Pines, many endemic and indigenous plants, and the remains of one of Maui’s earliest sugar mills. 
• Website for more info: https://www.huinoeau.com/
• Follow on Instagram: @huinoeau

 

• 5. Maui Tropical Plantation 
• Location: Wailuku
• Days and Times: Country Market Open Tue – Sun, 9 AM – 4 PM Mon, 9 AM – 2 PM 
• Notes: It’s free to walk around this centrally located attraction, with a few shops, some informational exhibits about Maui’s deep history with farming and agriculture, and take in the beauty of the West Maui Mountains. There’s a farm and coffee stand, duck pond, a restaurant, and optional (paid) activities include zip lines or a tram tour.  
• Website for more info: https://mauitropicalplantation.com/

 

• 6. Maui Arts & Cultural Center 
• Location: Kahului 
• Days and Times: Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm when exhibits are open.
• Notes: Head to Schaefer International Gallery for a frequently updated art exhibition. At time of posting, they are featuring the MACC Biennial, which showcases the voices of artists from across Hawai‘i in a contemporary dialogue of relevant ideas and innovative approaches. From a statewide open call, juror Elissa Auther selected 45 artists for the exhibition, with works representing a cross-disciplinary spectrum of conceptual depth, technical prowess, and explorative forms.  In addition to the art gallery, the MACC also hosts paid and free concerts, stand up comedians, community events and more more!
• Website for more info: https://mauiarts.org/exhibits
• Follow on Instagram: @mauiartsculture

 

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  7. Resort Hopping 

• Location: Around the Island
• Days and Times: Always open, but probably best to explore in the day or around dinner time. 
• Notes: Did you know that the fancy hotels around Maui are open to the public? They have beautiful lobbies, fun shops, fantastic restaurants and gorgeous grounds to explore!  Off limits are pools, pool loungers, cabanas, game rooms, etc, but other than that (within reason), guests are welcome to explore! One resort not to miss is the Grand Wailea, with hundreds of thousands of dollars of artwork in the main lobby area and all around the resort. If you are staying anywhere in Wailea, just jump on the Wailea Beach Path and head on in! The resorts are especially beautiful just around or after sunset, when all the tiki torches are lit up! Anyone is welcome to dine at the hotel restaurants as well, but the fancier ones will require advanced reservations. And don’t skip walking around the Four Seasons to have your White Lotus moment! 

 

• 8. (NOT FREE) Iao Valley State Monument 
• Location: Wailuku 
• Days and Times: 7am – 6pm Daily 
• How to Make Reservations: Reservations may be made up to 30 days in advance. https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/maui/iao-valley-state-monument/ 
• Cost: $5/person and $10 to park (free admission and parking for Hawaii residents with valid ID) 
• Notes: A paved 0.6 mile walk provides a scenic viewpoint of Kuka‘emoku (a.k.a. the ʻIao Needle), an erosional feature which abruptly rises 1200 feet from the valley floor.  Learn about the plants brought by the Hawaiians who settled in ʻIao Valley by taking a short walk through a botanical garden. This valley is rich in cultural and spiritual values and is the site of the battle of Kepaniwai where the forces of Kamehameha I conquered the Maui army in 1790.

 

Free Hikes and Walks on Maui 

• 9. Historic Maui Walking Tours 
• Locations: Kihei or Wailuku 
• Days and Times: Kihei: Mondays and Wednesdays, Wailuku: Every Other Saturday 
• Notes: Maui Walking Tours has done extensive research to uncover the best local stories that prove why Maui is no ka oi (the best). Learn about how land was divided and cared for by the early Hawaiians, the influence of the first missionary families, the formation of large plantations, and the transition to a tourism-based economy. Become more familiar with the colorful flora and fauna seen throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Hawaii is unlike anywhere else in the world and we want to help you discover why. Activity is free but requires reservations! 
• Website for more info: https://www.mauiwalkingtours.com/
• Follow on Instagram: @mauiwalkingtours/

 

• 10. Makawao Forest / Kahakapao Loop Trail 
• Location: Makawao 
• Days and Times: 630am – 8pm 
• Notes: According to Alltrails.com, Kahakapao Loop Trail is considered a moderately challenging loop, taking about 3 hours to complete. This is a very popular area for birding, hiking, biking and horseback riding, so you’ll likely encounter other people while exploring. The trail is well-marked and easy to follow. 
• Website for more info: https://maps.app.goo.gl/T2DozrRinttXRwgG7

 

• 12. Wailea Beach Path 
• Location: Wailea 
• Days and Times: always open 
• Notes: Even if you aren’t staying in Wailea, there are still plenty of public beach access parking areas to enjoy the beaches and beach path! This is a popular sight-seeing and exercising path, but it does get warm during mid-day, so we recommend going early, or enjoying the cool breeze around sunset!  

 

• 13. Hoapili Trail (King’s Highway)
• Location: Makena 
• Days and Times: always open 
• Notes: According to maui-hikes.com, ‘This moderate South Maui hike travels along historic trails amid the harsh lava from one of the last eruptions on Maui in 1790. This Nā Ala Hele trail was improved to the eight-feet wide path you see today in 1824 by Governor Hoapili. Hundreds of years earlier, the path was the King’s Trail or Ala Loa built by King Piʻilani and his son that circled around much of the island.’ (content shared with permission)
• Website for more info: https://www.maui-hikes.com/hoapili-trail

 

• 14. Kaanapali Historical Trail 
• Location: Kaanapali 
• Days and Times: open 
• Notes: The Kaanapali Historical Trail is a self-guided walking tour that highlights significant historical and cultural sites in the Kaanapali area of Maui. It’s a 10-stop trail, developed by the Kaanapali Beach Resort Association, that explores the rich past of this once-ancient Hawaiian village.
• Website for more info: https://kaanapaliresort.com/wp-content/uploads/KBRAHistoric-Brochure.pdf
• Follow on Instagram: @kaanapalimaui 

 

• 15. Waihee Coastal Dunes and Wetlands Refuge / Ridge Trail 
• Location: Wailuku 
• Days and Times: Public access for passive recreational activities (hiking, fishing, bird-watching, photography, plein-air painting, etc.) is allowed at all times, although some areas of the Refuge may be placed off limits during breeding season or to protect cultural or burial sites. The gate along Halewaiu Road is locked at night.
• Notes: Once populated with two thriving ancient Hawaiian villages, an extensive inland fishpond and several heiau (temples), the Waihe‘e Refuge is one of the most significant cultural sites in the state. Active restoration programs have enhanced critical native wildlife habitat, while preserving the area’s rich archaeological and cultural resources.  As a testament to the returning health of the ecosystem, five different endangered species have taken up residence at the Refuge, now owned and managed by Hawaii Land Trust, in recent years.
• Website for more info: https://www.hilt.org/waihee
• For upcoming FREE Talk Story on the Land Programs: https://www.hilt.org/talk-story-on-the-land

 

 

• 16. Keanae Arboretum
• Location: Road to Hana 
• Days and Times: Open daily 
• Notes: Nestled along the scenic Road to Hana, Keʻanae Arboretum offers a peaceful stop rich with history and natural beauty. Before the 1940s, this land was used to cultivate food, medicinal, and fiber-producing plants by local communities. From 1946 to the mid-1950s, it served as an agricultural work site for inmates from the nearby Keʻanae Prison Camp. In 1971, the area was officially transformed into an arboretum. Today, the arboretum stretches along the Piʻinaʻau Stream, set on ancient taro terraces within a lush rainforest. Visitors can explore two easy walking trails that showcase around 150 species of native and introduced tropical plants—including colorful gingers, vibrant hibiscus, papaya trees, and several varieties of taro. Many of the trees are thoughtfully labeled with their common and scientific names, as well as their place of origin, making it an educational and serene detour on your Hana adventure.
• Website for more info: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g29220-d3870420-Reviews-Ke_anae_Arboretum-Maui_Hawaii.html

 

• 17. (Not Free) Hosmer Grove / Haleakala National Park 
• Location: Haleakala 
• Days and Times: Always open 
• Notes: Hosmer Grove is .6 mile loop trail (with a .45 m short cut option) through an “alien” forest and native shrubland located inside Haleakala National Park at 7,000-foot elevation. The trail, along with a picnic pavilion and campground, is located .5 mile past the Haleakalā entrance station. This self-guided nature trail takes hikers through introduced conifer and Eucalyptus trees that were planted in 1909 by Ralph S. Hosmer. It is an ideal place to have a picnic or let the kids run around, with a grassy lawn, numerous trees to provide shade, and a covered picnic area to rest under or take a seat. It is one of the few places in the park where you can get out of the sun, or rain, with a tall canopy of trees overhead for protection. Admission: to the National Park is required. 
• Website for more info: https://www.nps.gov/places/hosmer-grove-trailhead.htm
• Follow on Instagram: @haleakalanps

 

 

 

• 18. (Not Free) Twin Falls
• Location: Haiku/ Road to Hana 
• Days and Times: 7:10am – 5pm daily. Open ONLY to Hawaii residents on the first Saturday of each month. 
• Notes: The Twin Falls hike on Maui is relatively short, with the main trail being about 1.8 miles roundtrip. It typically takes 45 minutes to 1 hour to complete, but this can vary depending on how much time is spent exploring the waterfalls and swimming holes.
• Admission: $10 per car for parking. 
• Website for more info: https://www.twinfallsmaui.net

 

• 19. (Not Free) Pipiwai Trail at Kipahulu District of Haleakala National Park 
• Location: Hana 
• Days and Times: always open. 
• Notes:The Pipiwai Trail is a 4-mile roundtrip hike passing through a dense and dramatic bamboo forest, past a massive banyan tree, and ending at the dramatic 400-foot high Waimoku Falls. The trail is considered moderately challenging, taking most hikers 2-4 hours to complete, with some elevation gain and potential muddy or slippery conditions.
• Admission: $30 per car. Haleakala National Park pass (for the summit) is also valid for Kipahulu District within 3 days. No reservations necessary for Kipahulu. 
• Website for more info:

Free Live Music 

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  20. Ocean Vodka

• Location: Kula
• Days and Times: Live music daily 4:30pm to 7pm (most nights are free, but occasionally there are special paid / reservations required events, check Instagram for the schedule)
• Notes: Enjoy the spectacular bi-coastal views while you relax in the casual, open-air dining environment. Sip on delicious cocktails, dine on some of the island’s best food, and stay for the live music and incredible sunset views! 
• Website for more info: https://oceanvodka.com/
• Follow on Instagram: @oceanvodka

• 21. Hula Grill 
• Location: Kaanapali 
• Days and Times: Live music daily 6:00pm – 8:30pm 
• Notes: Experience the true flavors of Maui delivered daily by Local Fisherman and Farmers to the open-air kitchen and Barefoot Bar on the water’s edge in Ka’anapali. Reservations highly recommended. 
• Website for more info: https://www.hulagrillkaanapali.com/
• Follow on Instagram:@hulagrillkaanapali

 

• 22. South Shore Tiki Lounge
• Location: Kihei 
• Days and Times: Live Music Daily 4-6pm, plus later shows and DJ/dancing some nights as well! Check calendar for details 
• Notes: There’s not a lot of nightlife on Maui, so if you are looking for something to doonce the sun goes down, head to the Tiki Lounge! 
• Website for more info: https://www.southshoretiki.com/
• Follow on Instagram: @southshoretiki

 

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  23. Mahalo Brewery

• Location: Makawao 
• Days and Times: Live Music Daily 6-8pm (Tuesday is Trivia Night and they add on Saturday 12-2pm so you can enjoy after the Upcountry Farmer’s Market) 
• Notes: Grab a beer and some sausage (or smash burger or delicious chicken tacos) from the Upcountry Sausage Food Truck on property. You are also welcome to bring in pizza from the neighbor Marlow, but not the other adjacent food trucks. Head upstairs for another excellent place to watch the sunset!  Each week they post a helpful event calendar on Instagram! 
• Website for more info: https://www.mahaloaleworks.com/
• Follow on Instagram: @mahaloaleworks

 

• 26. Shops at Wailea 
• Location: Wailea 
• Days and Times: Wednesdays – 4:30-6pm 
• Notes: Wailea Wednesdays is a weekly Live Music Series Featuring Local Entertainers
• Website for more info: https://www.theshopsatwailea.com/events
• Follow on Instagram: @theshopsatwailea

 

• 27. Duke’s Beach House
• Location: Kaanapali 
• Days and Times: Daily, 12:30 – 8pm 
• Notes: Three entertainers perform during lunch, happy hour and dinner… complete schedule is online!
• Website for more info: https://www.dukesmaui.com/livemusic/
• Follow on Instagram: @dukesmaui

 

Scenic Drives and Lookouts 

Everyone knows about the famous Road to Hana and Haleakala Highway, but there are so many other beautiful drives and destinations to explore!

• 28. Out to Ulupalakua Ranch / Maui Wine (Keokea)
• Notes: This drive, through Kula and out towards Ulupalakua, is often known as the start of the ‘back-side’ or back road to Hana (going on the southern route). The back road has been closed off and on recently, and more often closed then not, but it’s not a reason to avoid the area!  It’s a bucolic drive through ranch lands, with dramatic ocean views. There are fun little spots to stop, including Kula Country Farms (that features strawberry picking in the spring and a huge pumpkin patch the entire month of October), Grandma’s Coffee, Maui Wine (make tasting reservations) and Ulupalakua Ranch for a lunch, featuring locally raised elk and venison burgers and more! 
• Days and Times: Check times for each business directly (linked in text). 

 

• 29. Pali Lookout
• Location: Hwy 30
• Days and Times: always open
• Notes: After you pass the aquarium and Maalaea Harbor, keep an eye on the ocean side for the Pali lookout, especially during whale season!  It’s a great pullout to get a full view of Molokini, Kahoolawe, and watch all the boats coming and going from the harbor.  In the winter, naturalists from Pacific Whale Foundation are often present to help sightseers spot whales and share information about the migrating humpbacks.  

 

• 30. Honolua Bay Lookout 
• Notes: If you are on the west side and just out for a mellow drive, looking for something fun to watch with an easy stop off the road, you can park at the Honolua Bay Lookout and watch the snorkelers in the summer, and the surfers in the winter!  There’s a stunning photo op just right off the convenient parking area and highway.  
• Website for more info: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g29220-d106158-Reviews-Honolua_Bay-Maui_Hawaii.html

 

• 31. Keanae Point 
• Location: Along the road to Hana 
• Notes: This is another spot that’s a simple stop off the busy road to Hana, where you can get right down to the ocean, get out an stretch your legs, get some great photos and even better banana bread!  If you aren’t intending to drive all the way to Hana, this is also a great spot to turn around. 
• Website for more info:  https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g29220-d8453256-Reviews-Ke_anae_Point-Maui_Hawaii.html

 

Get Into Nature 

• 32. Stargazing
• Notes: Once the sun sets on Maui, there’s not a lot to do, but the minimal light pollution and crystal-clear skies combine to create an epic experience for stargazing. All you need is a blanket or lounge chair, and maybe a free stargazing app so you can know what you are looking at! Even with the naked eye, you can see the Milky Way stretch across the night sky in breathtaking detail. 

 

• 33. Watch the sunrise or sunset. 
• Notes: It’s amazing how something that happens every single day, around the world, can create such a memorable event while you are on Maui. People plan their entire trip to Maui around when they can get a sunrise reservation to Haleakala (hot tip, the sunset looks the same, you are just facing the other direction) and stop eating right in the middle of their dinner to run out to get a photo of the sun setting over the ocean.  It is a wonderful ritual to truely take a moment to appreciate the wonder that is Maui.  So check the weather app for today’s sunset time, grab some beach chairs and cold beverages, and find your way to the closest beach to sit and savor a few moments with loved one.  

 

• 34. Look out for Sea Turtles and Monk Seals and Whales
• Location: All along the coast! 
• Notes: There are green sea turtles all over Maui’s coastlines!  They feed on the algae growing on the rocks in the shallows, but the best way to see them is with polarized sunglasses! It’s amazing what a difference it makes when you are trying to see under the water.  You can also see them on sandy beaches when they come up to rest.  They really look just like brown rocks, so it can be hard to see them unless you really know what you are looking for.  One of the most reliable spots to see them in the last few years is at Ho’okipa Beach Park, on the right hand side of the beach in the afternoon. Less common are monk seals (they are critically endangered) but you can also see them when they come up along the beaches, or swimming in shallow waters.  Just remember to give all the animals plenty of space, in the water or on the beach! In the winter (December – April) humpback whales are just about everywhere!  Pull up a chair along the coastline and enjoy the free show!

 

• 35. Go Bird Watching 
• Location: Bird watching can happen all over the island, but bird sanctuaries are located at Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge, Kanaha Pond Wildlife Sanctuary, and Hosmer Grove (Haleakala Park admission required for Hosmer) 
• Notes: Learn about the Nene Goose, see the home of the endangered Hawaiian stilt, and discover the cultural significance of the use of colorful bird feathers in ancient Hawaiian artifacts. https://www.mauiforestbirds.org/cultural-significance/ 

 

• 36.Have a picnic 
• Notes: You are going to have lunch, why not have it somewhere fun?  This island is filled with great parks that are perfect for a family picnic!  Some of our favorite spots are Launiopoko Beach Park (with shaded picnic tables, a fantastic kiddie/ tidal pool, and great surf!), Rice Park (with epic sunset views), or Giggle Hill (featuring the island’s best playground and lots of room for kids to run around.  

 

• 37. Explore Cultural Activities & Museums 
• Check out this extensive blog post that we created about Free Hula Shows and other cultural activities. 

 

• 38. Help out the beaches and ocean !
• Location: All around Maui 
• Notes: If you are taking a stroll around Maui, grab a trash bag and pick up some litter!  Help leave the island a little cleaner!  
• Website for more info: https://mauioceancenter.com/volunteer-opportunities/