Top 5 Outdoor Experiences in Maui

In March 2021, my husband and I escaped a long Ohio winter after being cooped up with our virtual-schooled children and headed to Maui. I tried not to get too excited about getting to introduce my husband to the Isles of Aloha for the first time since we had to jump through quite a few health and safety protocols before we could enjoy ourselves. Once we stepped out of the Kahului Airport into the warm tropical breezes, I knew we were going to make the most of our five nights together with the Fairmont Kea Lani as our home base. In no particular order, here’s a quick rundown of our five favorite experiences. 

Makena Beach State Park

A quick drive past Wailea’s luxury resorts will take you to Makena. The state park’s Oneloa (Big Beach) is longer and wider than most beaches you’ll find throughout the islands and is sure to impress any true beach lover. I love that the area is undeveloped so you can easily relax and soak up the views of Molokini and Kaho’olawe with the crashing waves as your soundtrack. 

While we did not have time during our visit, you can also explore nearby Puu Olai (Little Beach) and Oneuli (Black Sand Beach), and maybe get lucky enough to spot some sea turtles! Don’t forget to continue past Big Beach where the road narrows to take in the dramatic views of La Perouse Bay’s lava fields.

Kahanu Botanical Gardens

I geek out for anything related to Polynesian history and culture since visiting the Bishop Museum and Huahine a few years ago, so I was thrilled to learn about Kahanu Garden from the Shaka Guide audio tour. This National Tropical Botanical Garden is a quick detour off the Hana Highway and is home to Pi’ilanihale Heiau, the largest ancient man made structure in Polynesia and a National Historic Landmark.

The 293-acre garden offers authentic glimpses into Maui’s history, agriculture and people. We were only two of seven visitors when we stopped by, so it truly felt like a hidden gem. Don’t forget to keep an eye out to spot the rainbow eucalyptus trees on the drive back to the garden.

Shark’s Fin Cove Lana’i with Trilogy Excursions

The nearby island of Lana’i was inaccessible for day-trip visitors during our 2021 stay in Maui, but we were still able to get a taste of it one day with Trilogy Excursions on their Lana’i Coastal Snorkel Sail. Since we visited in March, we were treated to spotting humpback whales on the way to and from Lana’i in the ‘Au‘au Channel.

Once we arrived at Shark’s Fin Cove, we were able to take in the impressive views of the thousand-foot Pali Kaholo sea cliffs. The best view was underwater though as we were surprised by a large pod of curious Hawaiian spinner dolphins who swam close to us for several minutes in the cove. If you decide to sail with Trilogy, be sure to arrive hungry & thirsty as the crew serves up tasty treats from generations-old family recipes.

Waiʻānapana State Park’s Pa’iola Black Sand Beach

If you make the trek to Hana, chances are you will stop at Waiʻānapana State Park and while it is VERY popular, there’s a good reason! The black sand beach itself felt a little smaller in person than what it seems in photos, but what it may lack in size, it makes up for in surroundings as there are numerous paths and lookout points from nearby cliffs on either side of the beach.

Timed reservations are now required, so be sure to plan ahead. If you’re as fortunate as we were, you might just get to see a Hawaiian monk seal sunning itself at Pa’iola.

Outrigger Canoe Experience at Fairmont Kea Lani

As anyone who has watched Moana knows, ancient Polynesians were voyagers. You can get a small feel for their transportation method of choice, the outrigger canoe, as a guest of the Fairmont Kea Lani.

My husband and I were able to snag a last-minute reservation for a morning sail with Sol and and Ralph as our guides. We enjoyed an easy paddle, learned more about the significance of the outrigger canoe to Hawaiians and spotted a couple of honu (sea turtles) swimming nearby. Most importantly, we somehow managed to keep our balance and not wind up overboard!