Things to do on Maui on a Budget
Visiting Maui can be a very expensive vacation between the cost of travel, transportation, excursions and especially food. All of these costs add up quickly, but traveling here on a budget is definitely possible!
Reduce Rental Periods
Instead of renting a car for your entire vacation, pick a few days where you think you will be adventuring around the island, and a few days to hang around your resort, hotel, or condo. If you are looking to explore the Road to Hana, Haleakalā, or the other side of the island on your own, you may only need a car for 3 days! This will greatly reduce the cost of transportation, and also gives you time to relax around your resort or condo.
Grocery shop & eat in
Eating out all the time can be convenient, but extremely costly. Avoid those extra costs by eating in more often than not. Most hotels have areas to barbeque if you don’t have a full kitchen, or if you are staying in a condo, you will most likely have a full kitchen to use. Here are some of our favorite places to grocery shop around the island:
- Costco in Kahului (Close to the airport!)
- Foodland in Kahului, Kihei and Lahaina
- Safeway in Kihei and Lahaina
- Whole Foods in Kahului
- Mana in Paia
- Farmers Markets located in lots of towns on the island
Go for a hike
Hiking around Maui is very accessible and incredibly beautiful! You can do all of these hikes on your own without a guide:
- Twin Falls on Road to Hana
- Waihee Ridge Trail in Waiehu
- Iao Valley in Wailuku
- La Perouse King’s Trail in Wailea/Makena
- Kapalua Coastal Trail in Kapalua
- Poli Poli State Recreation Area in Kula
- Haleakalā Sliding Sands in Haleakalā National Park
Pick one Must-Do Excursion
Doing a lot of excursions over a 10-day vacation can add up. So if you are on a budget, pick one “must-do” tour to splurge on! Some parts of the island you don’t want to miss are Haleakalā and Hana. These are best seen with trained interpretive guides. You can find these tours on skylinehawaii.com:
Snorkel from Shore
Many visitors want to experience the beautiful coral reefs of Hawaii. We don’t blame you! Snorkeling is a must do, but boat trips are just another cost, especially for big groups. There are beautiful places to snorkel right off the beach as well as multiple places to rent your own snorkel gear. Keep in mind to wear rash guards or wetsuits to avoid using too much sunscreen. If you are using sunscreen, make sure it is reef safe! Avoid chemicals called oxybenzone and octinoxate as they are known to harm corals.