• Note before reading tips below: You need to be aware that there are usually over 100,000 tourists on the island of Maui at any given time. This means that if you choose some of the more popular activities and the most popular times, you will be with LARGE CROWDS.  The following activities to be popular and thus crowded:

1. Molokini - during the afternoon, although these trips are generally cheaper than the early morning excursions.
2. Haleakala - Sunrise, although the summit is completely deserted 20 minutes after the sun comes up.
3. Turtle Town
4. The Aquarium on rainy days
5. Biking Down Haleakala - Morning (guided groups of 15-25)

• After watching the sun, hike down the Sliding Sands trail and have a picnic in the crater.  The scenery there truly is other-worldly.  It is so quiet, sunny and still.  You will feel like the only people on Earth.  Try whispering something while the other person is far away, as you are down in the crater (they will hear you - it's quite remarkable).
  
• Enjoy fine seafood - try something you can’t get at home.  The most perfect place to do that is Mama's Fish House.  The restaurant is located on the Road to Hana right past Pa'ia.  Walk around for a bit and take in the gorgeous scenery - the impossibly blue ocean and beautiful flowering trees.  After that, walk down a set of stairs to the most wonderful little cove.  The restaurant is as picturesque as can be, and great service.  Now, the food.  Try the Ahi Sashimi, ceviche served in a half coconut. They make home-made wheat bread and samples of delicious soup from the chef.  Also, try the Sashimi Salad and the Wild Fish Curry with various sides.  Wonderful food and drinks. Definitely do not miss this one.
  
• If you haven’t done a Luau (and even if you have!) - attend one and make it the Old Lahaina Luau. Check out the Old Lahaina Luau, great drinks - try their Lava Flow. This luau has many options for interaction with the dancers, local native arts and crafts. Options for professional photos to be taken of you in three different settings, and a seating arrangement that cricles a stage so that every seat is a good seat.
  Tip: Call many months in advance to make your resevations as they seat you "First Reservation- Best seats."  Also after the luau - dancers all line up on your path out.
  
• For first timers - and maybe even many timers - Drive the road to Hana. The Hana Highway snakes through some of the most lush scenery on Maui, and is famous for its winding trajectory, dozens of one-lane bridges, and myriad waterfalls. Tip:  Leave early to avoid crowds and afternoon showers.  If you aim to leave Kahului by 8 am, you should be fine.  You could either turn around at Hana and retrace your drive back to Kahului, or drive entirely around Haleakala before a rock slide closed the road in 2007 The Road will remain closed till at least 2009.  This second option used to be a no-no due to poor road conditions, but the gravel road is graded regularly and hundreds of cars traverse the road succesfully every week.  As mentioned above, stop at Mama's Fish House in Paia on the way back for wonderful meal (fish caught fresh daily) with extraordinary ocean views.  However, if you're muddy from hiking around waterfalls, you might want to save Mama's for another night. 
  Tip: Stop at Mile Marker 2- you'll see lots of cars parked on the side of the street. You will see lots of people entering and exiting a gate. Follow the stone markers to the Twin Falls. Follow the path to the left when the path forks. You will have to do short creek walk that is about thigh deep depending on your height- but it is worth the wet walk. Be prepared to get wet- as you can take a dip into the cool waters of the lagoon. Once you swim to the falls- the water becomes shallow so that you can stand. Don't forget to bring your camera and towel!
  Tip:   On your way to Hana- try to stop at Mile marker 32 which is near Waianapanapa State Park. 
  
• The park features a large parking area and restrooms.  Follow the road to the end where there will be a small parking lot. But don't forget to stop at the flower and fruit stands along the road. Be sure to have many dollar bills ready to sample the fruits that the local residents have picked and have displayed. There will be a box where you can put the money. Once you park follow the signs to the beach access area. You will walk through an old cemetery and if you're lucky will see some spray come through a blowhole located out on the lava rock. The Black Sand Beach here is amazing for photos. Just be aware that the black sand hurts your feet so bring your flip flops and that it is a bit dangerous for swimming.
  Tip: You can stop for lunch at the Hana Hotel for some fancy sandwiches (the kalua pork is very good) or drive just past the hotel on your way to the Seven Sacred Pools- look out for a family house on your left that will have a huge BBQ going. You can get some great BBQ and an affordable lunch plate.
  Tip: Once you are on your way to the Seven Sacred Pools past Hana- there may be some people who have set up stalls on the side of the road. If you notice one that sells shave ice in a white tent on the right side of the road- take the time to stop here. You will have to park on the left side of the road so watch out for on coming cars. The lady who runs this stall has some great local knowledge and will tell you all about the stars who have homes in the Hana area. Her shave ice isn't bad either and is a nice treat on your way to Haleakala National Park.
  Tip:  Once you have reached Haleakala National Park- find your way to the trail to the O'heo Gulch or the Seven Sacred pools. The pools near the bottom and the ocean are the most populated. Hike up to the upper pools if you want to go for dip without the crowds.
  
• The Twin Falls - if you get there at the right time, you will have a waterfall all to yourself!
• Red Sand beach
• Smile and say Aloha and Mahalo often
• A unique place for lunch: The Maui Tropical Plantation. The Plantation is off Highway 30 between mile markers 2 and 3- look for the windmill. There is a small restaurant here that stops serving lunch at 2:00 pm. Try the fruit salad and the pupus plate. The grounds are simply beautiful and make for amazing photos. You can also buy $1 bags of the freshest and sweetest pineapple. You can also write on and mail a coconut from the gift shop here. They offer tram tours of the grounds- but I go just to enjoy the beautiful scenery.
• Snorkeling:  Maui offers many places for snorkeling either with a guided tour or on your own.  Molokini is an extinct volcano off the coast of Maui that offers excellent snorkeling.   This is one snorkel spot that you can't reach on your own.  Maui Dive Shop offers a great snorkel package with Molokini and Turtle Town. They leave from the Kihei boat ramp and offer a short boat ride out to Molokini. Some of the tours leave from Ma'alea Harbour which involves a slightly longer boat ride out to the crater.  Afternoon trips are generally cheaper than the morning excursions, but also tend to be more crowded with poorer visibility.  If you are looking for a snorkeling trip that is not as crazy crowded as Molokini during the day, try one of the smaller boats from Trilogy. They go to some smaller less crowded dive spots around Maui and even off Molokai. Also, if you are prone to sunburn, the afternoon sun is more intense.  Wear a t-shirt and lots of sunscreen - more than you think you need.  Molokini has the best snorkeling where I have seen reef sharks, small octupus, and a large variety of colorful fish. The visibility is super and you are taken into another world there. Most of the time the water is like glass but I have been after a hurricane passed and the water was very choppy. Check out the weather reports once you get to Maui to see which day would be best to go. If you are not a strong swimmer- ask your boat tour for a noodle, flotation belt, or a boogie board to help you float. You will be happy you decided to go! 
  
• The Pacific Whale Foundation offers snorkel trips to Lana' i, departing from Lahaina Harbor.  However, the boat trip to Lana' i can be extremely rough, so you may want to avoid this otherwise wonderful snorkeling spot of you are prone to seasickness.  Snorkeling on your own can also be very rewarding, and there are numerous spots with calm waters and easy entrances to the water.  Honolua Bay in west Maui, Black Rock in Ka'anapali, and La Perouse Bay in South Maui are all popular spots.
  
• Turtle Town:  Turtle Town is a location off the Maui shore near Wailea. Again Maui Dive Shop and Snorkel Bobs offer affordable packages to get to Turtle Town.  Once you swim and find the rock reef- you will see lots of marine life. Follow the reef and you will hopefully run into a turtle or two!
  
• Treat Yourself to one of the best beaches in the world: If you happen to get to Wailea , check out Ulua Beach and Makapu Beach.  There is fantastic snorkeling right off the beach.  Ulua Beach  offers a huge variety of fish. We have seen eels, octopus, and turtles here. From Makapu Beach follow the reef to the left. On the Ulua side- follow the rocks and reef to the right. Swim out towards the ocean and you will soon find yourself swimming with turtles. We got the best photos with your regular underwater disposable cameras here.  Kapalua Bay has one of the best beaches in all of America for swimming.  It is north of Lahaina and is significantly larger than Ulua beach. Beware, it is sometimes quite windy in Kapalua.
  
• Whale Watching In December through March, the humpback whales visit Maui too!  The mothers give birth here and then take their babies back to Alaska for the summer.  You can take one of the many whale watching cruises or simply watch them from the shore.  You should know that there is NO correlation between the price of the whale watching trip and the quality of the whales you see.
  
• Ziplining.  Try ziplining on the slopes of Haleakala.  We felt it was fun and safe.  Nobody in our group was scared.  We learned many things about Hawaiian nature, particularly endangered birds.  Each of the five ziplines is named after a bird.  Before zipping, the guides narrate various fascinating facts about each species.  There is a suspension bridge as well, which is not quite as much fun as the ziplines.
  
• Upcountry. On the way to Haleakala Crater is an area referred to by the locals as "Upcountry" It is a beautiful area with views of the entire island and beyond.  The area has wonderful views and nice gardens, if you want to take a stroll. There is also an outdoor fireplace. You can also visit the Tedeschi Winery. It is a beautiful drive (half hour) with great views. It is also far less crowded than the Road To Hana.
  

There are, of course, many things to do on a beautiful island like Maui. But the things most people remember are the fine sunrises and sunsets, the PERFECT weather (after all, it is paradise), driving around - preferably in a convertible, amazing hiking trails, wonderful seafood, scrumptious desserts, soaking up the sun and napping to the sounds of waves lapping onshore.