10 Romantic Things To Do on a Maui Honeymoon
Linda Bibb is an award-winning writer who aims to make travel easy for everyone. From Bali to Maui, she never misses an opportunity to visit warm and tropical places. Find out more
It’s no coincidence that so many newlyweds plan a Maui honeymoon. This magnificent Hawaiian island boasts lush rainforests, towering mountains, and pristine beaches, as well as offering a wide range of romantic things to do.
Whether you want to go on a romantic sunset cruise, enjoy whale-watching from a kayak, take a spectacular road trip, or spend the day relaxing at a spa or on a beach, you’ll find so much to do on a Maui honeymoon. You can create your dream 1-week Maui honeymoon itinerary and spend a blissful vacation together, enthralled by the island’s beauty in newlywed bliss, or add some of these 10 romantic things to do to your wishlist.
Why is Maui the best honeymoon destination?
If your idea of the perfect honeymoon is enjoying a warm climate, lush tropical scenery, white sand beaches, abundant wildlife, and great tourism facilities, then Maui is your dream destination.
Look no further for romantic honeymoon experiences than Maui.
Watch the sunrise over Haleakala Crater
The Haleakala Crater is one of Maui’s most famous landmarks and one of the best things to do on a Maui honeymoon. Its highest peak is an impressive 10,023 feet above sea level and the crater expands across three-quarters of the island of Maui.
This majestic shield volcano is so impressive that Jack London, author of “The Call of the Wild,” remarked on its “incomparable grandeur.” And according to Hawaiian legend, the volcano is where the demigod Maui caught the sun: he later let it go after it promised to stay in the sky a bit longer. That’s why it’s referred to by locals as the “House of the Sun.”
Holding significant cultural and spiritual value, Haleakala Crater is a popular place to visit and watch the sunrise or sunset. You’ll need to make a reservation to enter the park between 3:00 AM and 7:00 AM, which includes a very small fee, so you can visit the crater before sunrise.
It’s best to arrive at the visitors’ center at least 30 minutes before sunrise and to take along some warm clothes as the summit can get chilly. Don’t forget to bring water and sunscreen as well.
If you’d like a guided tour, the Haleakala National Park sunrise tour includes a hotel pick-up and drop-off and breakfast at the historic Kula Lodge. The more adventurous can also hire a bike and bike down the crater from the peak, or spend the day exploring the park’s hiking trails.
Get a luxury couples’ spa massage
Pampering is one of the top things to do while on honeymoon. Enjoy a relaxing couples’ spa massage at one of the luxurious resorts on the island.
Mōhalu by Spa Grande at the Grand Wailea resort offers a luxurious wellness experience in private treatment suites with garden or ocean views. Their packages include a traditional Hawaiian-style recuperative massage (the Lomi Lomi massage), a personalized aromatherapy massage, and a deep tissue massage to loosen you up after a long flight.
Alternatively, the spa at the Four Seasons Hotel in Maui offers a range of luxury treatments and massages too, with views over Wailea Beach from the traditional open-air massage huts.
Take surf lessons
Hawaii is famous for its beaches and great surfing. If you’re feeling adventurous and want to make some great memories, try learning to surf.
You can take surf lessons at Kalama Beach Park, which is located in south Maui. Everything you need is provided in one easy lesson. Your expert instructor begins on the beach, explaining the basics of surfing and ocean safety. The rest of your surf lesson will be spent in the water with your instructor, practicing your new skills. In no time at all, you’ll be riding the waves.
Go -whale or dolphin- watching
If you’re looking for things to do on a Maui honeymoon between December and April, you may be able to see humpback whales migrating through the island’s crystal clear waters. If you visit in the summer months, there’s plenty to see too, including dolphins and green sea turtles, which are there year-round.
You may be able to spot these creatures from shore, but you’ll have a much better chance of seeing them on a guided tour. Guides track where the whales are, and they’ll take you right to the spot so you can see them up close and personal, and learn more about these majestic mammals.
One of the most unique tours takes you whale-watching from your kayak and snorkeling in Kihei, which is one of the best snorkeling spots around Maui. Another guided tour option is to kayak through Makena Bay to Turtle Town, which is where many Hawaiian green sea turtles are found. You can also hop off the tour boat to snorkel among the local marine wildlife. And if you’re lucky, you may also get to see a whale.
Fly high over Maui on a scenic helicopter tour
For a thrilling and romantic experience, and a chance to see Maui from the air, book a scenic helicopter tour. This will give you expansive views over the ocean, crater, and mountains below — an ultimate honeymoon experience.
There are several helicopter tour options to choose from, which vary in terms of the route they take and the duration of the journey. During your helicopter journey, your pilot will tell you about Maui’s history, traditions and culture and will point out some of the landmarks below.
This 65-minute helicopter flight is a circular tour of the island, flying over Haleakalā National Park and its famous crater, Lahaina, Kapalua, Kaanapali, Wailea, and Hana. Plus, you’ll see the sparkling Pacific Ocean, waterfalls, rainforest, mountains, coastline, and the Iao Valley State Park below.
The Maui and Molokai scenic helicopter flight takes you on a 55-minute journey over both Maui and Molokai. Take in the views over Honokohau Falls, Kahiwa Falls, the lush rainforest of Iao Valley State Park, the Pailolo Channel, and Elephant Rock.
Drive the Road to Hana
Driving the Road to Hana is one of the top attractions on the island. This breathtaking scenic drive takes you past beautiful beaches, lush rainforests, expansive stretches of coastline, and towering waterfalls.
The road is full of sharp bends and over 50 narrow bridges, so you’ll need to dedicate a full day to drive this 64-mile stretch of coastal road.
There are many places to stop off and explore some of the natural sights along the route like Pua’a Ka’a Falls, the caves at Wai’ānapanapa State Park, and the Garden of Eden arboretum.
If you’re keen to have your journey planned out for you, and admire the very best spots without worrying about taking your eyes off the road, there are several Road to Hana guided tours to choose from. The Maui: Road to Hana full-day tour with breakfast and lunch is a popular option. It begins around Ulupalakua Ranch where you’ll see one of the island’s oldest ranches before driving to the Kipahulu District on the edge of the rainforest.
You’ll get to see Charles Lindbergh’s grave at the Palapala Ho’omau Church and the nearby spectacular Wailua Falls. The tour includes a picnic lunch with views of Wai’ānapanapa State Park, and a visit to Koki Beach, where you can relax and swim. You’ll also get to visit the traditional villages of Wailua and Keanae, where you can learn about their customs and traditions, as well as taking in lots of other Hawaiin gems.
Another tour option is the small group Road to Hana tour with a local guide. This full-day, 12-hour tour includes a picnic lunch in Waiʻānapanapa State Park, swimming at a picturesque waterfall along the Road to Hana, and stops at Ho‘okipa Beach and Wai‘ānapanapa Black Sand Beach.
Go snorkeling in Lana’i
Lanaʻi is an island a few miles across the Au’au channel, off the coast of Maui. It’s home to sheltered waters, which are a haven for marine animals, as well as being home to several underwater attractions, including lava formations and an old shipwreck from World War II.
The best way to get there is with a day trip tour. The Lanai snorkeling and dolphin watch from Lahaina Harbor is a 5-hour tour on a 65-foot catamaran that passes popular dolphin habitats on your way to the snorkeling destination.
The crystal clear waters are known for sightings of sea turtles, toothed whales, dolphins, and occasionally monk seals. Included in the tour are a continental breakfast, barbecue lunch, and a guided reef tour by an expert marine naturalist.
Enjoy a sunset sailing cruise
A sunset cruise off the shores of Maui is the iconic thing to do on a Maui honeymoon. Watch the sun dip and the stars come out aboard a luxury yacht with your new spouse. You’ll also get a new perspective of the island from the sea, and during the winter season you might even get lucky and spot a humpback whale.
Take a 2-hour sunset sailing cruise from Lahaina while you sip on champagne or a tropical mai tai and enjoy the breathtaking scenery. Or you may prefer a sunset dinner and drinks cruise from Ma’alaea Harbor, which provides great views of Kaho’olawe and Lanai in the distance, the Molokini Crater, and the Kahalawai Mountains.
Relax on the beach for a day
No honeymoon in Maui is complete until you’ve spent a day relaxing on a beach. Maui’s beaches are some of the finest in the world and there are many options to choose from. Wailea Beach is a popular option. It’s surrounded by beautiful resorts and hotels while the beach has gentle waves for surfing and other activities like kayaking or windsurfing.
Kapalua Bay is surrounded by coral reefs and is a great place to go snorkeling for the day. Hamoa Beach, along the Hana Highway, is also a safe and sheltered option, although there’s no parking, facilities, or lifeguards.
Makena Beach, also known as Oneloa Beach or “big beach,” is one of Maui’s most scenic beaches. With its expansive wide sand and crystal clear waters, it offers a perfect setting for swimming and snorkeling.
Go hiking at Iao Valley State Park
Steeped in history, the Iao Valley boasts towering, lush mountains, cascading waterfalls, and some great hiking and walking paths that are easily accessible.
This protected rainforest area is over 10 miles wide and overlooked by the Iao Needle, a spectacularly high outcrop that’s also a sacred landmark. From the parking area, you can easily walk along a paved pedestrian pathway to see the Iao Needle and its views over the valley. You can also explore the rainforest, go hiking, and learn more about the area at the Hawaii Nature Center.
One of the best ways to explore this park and the nearby area is with a private luxury half-day Iao Valley and upcountry tour. The tour includes your hotel pick-up and drop-off, plus visits to Twin Falls and Ho’okipa beach, and the Surfing Goat Dairy Farm.
Things to do on a Maui honeymoon
Whether you want to relax on the beach or explore all that the island has to offer, there are tons of Maui activities and attractions that will help you create lasting memories as you start your new life together.
I hope my list of the best things to do on a Maui honeymoon has given you some fun ideas for your trip. Mahalo!
Linda Bibb is an award-winning writer who aims to make travel easy for everyone. From Bali to Maui, she never misses an opportunity to visit warm and tropical places. Find more fun and easy travel tips, itineraries and ideas on her website, As We Saw It.
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