From the mountains to the sea, beautiful beaches and island explorations, build your perfect 12 day Maui itinerary
Written by Lauren
This post contains affiliate links.
When I was planning my trip to Maui, all I knew for sure was that I wanted to experience all the things. All the vibes. All the locations.
I wanted a wholistic experience—from mauna to moana, from mountain to ocean.
For me, I was also attending a wedding and partaking in wedding activities, which I’ll include below, but this itinerary is very easily adaptable for those who are not attending a wedding! (And a great resource for those who are, because you can still have a lot of fun doing things you want to do while celebrating those you love.)
I’m going to show you exactly how I did it, but am also going to include some tips for how to organize your trip better (so you might encounter some overlap in activities/places).
I also went before the Lāhainā wildfires. So my trip included a 5 night stay in Lāhainā. Out of respect (and also complete impossibility of visiting Lāhainā as I did unless you own a Time Machine, in which case, please contact me), I have removed Lāhainā and reworked the itinerary.
This 12 day Maui itinerary is, admittedly, jam-packed. But I did try to build in slower days and pockets of downtime to slow down and enjoy. Of course, take what works for you and leave the rest. Add or subtract as you see fit to create your perfect Maui itinerary (for February)!
I tried to compile all this information into one post, but it got too long. So instead, here I’ll give an overview with links to further posts breaking down each location into more detailed information (including accommodation options).
Don’t forget to also read Everything you need to know to plan your perfect Maui adventure for more crucial information that you absolutely need in conjunction with this itinerary—including a lay of the land (including where to stay), renting and driving a car in Maui, costs, packing list, reading recommendations, resources, and information you need to know to successfully navigate this lush, beautiful Hawaiian island.
Jump right to it …
What you should know about Maui in February
Sunrise
Time zone
Waves and weather
Whales
Itinerary Overview
Vibe
What’s included in this itinerary
What’s not
Maui essentials to include in your itinerary
Our three musts
Costs
Itinerary
Getting there
3 Days in South Maui
3 Days in the Upcountry
3 Days exploring Windward Maui
3 Days in West Maui
Travel day
Map
Pocket Guide
Reading Recommendations
Frequently Asked Questions
What You Should Know About Maui in February
Sunrise
7am / Sunset: 6:30pm
Time zone
Hawaii–Aleutian Standard Time
Hawaii does not observe daylight savings.
Waves and weather
We went in February and had the most gorgeous weather imaginable—sunny and 72°F everyday!
The days were perfect for hiking, exploring, and hitting the beach. The nights were perfect for beachside strolls and dining. You may want to bring a light cardigan to layer on at night, but most nights, I just went out in a sundress and was completely comfortable the entire time.
Ocean temperatures average 75°F in February.
In the winter, strong winds are common.
The windward (north shore) side of the island gets hit with large swells in the winter—can be very unsafe for swimming and snorkeling on this side of the island at this time of year. Best left to expert surfers.
But the good news is the waters on the leeward side (from South Maui to West Maui in Kāʻanapali) will be calm, and trust me—they’ll be calling your name.
Whales
February is also prime humpback whale time in Maui!
Nearly 10,000 humpback whales make their way to Maui every winter, making it nearly impossible not to see one at this time of year, even if it’s just from the shore.
Itinerary Overview
Vibe: explore the whole island (like really get in there)
What’s included in this itinerary?
◦ Lots of snorkeling, swimming, and beaching
◦ Road to Hāna
◦ Hikes
◦ Coffee
◦ Whale watching
◦ 3 Scenic Drives
◦ Food Trucks
◦ Luau
What’s not?
◦ Lāhainā
Maui essentials to include in your itinerary
Maui Essentials
Luau
Snorkeling/Scuba diving
Road to Hāna
Coffee shops
Scenic drives
Pā’ia
Food trucks
Learn how to make a lei
Surf lessons
Outrigger canoeing
Hikes
Beaching
Explore Hawaiian heritage sites + museums
Whale watching (winter months)
Our three musts:
Costs
As a solo traveler, sometimes splitting accommodation expenses,
Two weeks in Maui cost me: $8000
(More like $6800 because I used points to book my flight)
Flight = $800 – $1000 (I actually paid zero because I used points)
Accommodations = $3500
Car rental (4 door Jeep Wrangler) = $1450
Gas = $160
Luau = $240
Food (including groceries and alcohol) = $1000
Tours, excursions + activities = $900
Souvenirs = $150
Itinerary
12 Day Maui Itinerary
2 travel days
12 days on the ground
3 Days in South Maui
Day 1: Keawakapu Beach + Kīhei Kalama Village
Day 2: Po’olenalena Beach, snorkel + Kīhei Kalama Village
Day 3: Whale watching tour + luau
3 Days in the Upcountry
Day 4: Explore Kula + Makawao
Day 5: Haleakalā National Park
Day 6: Optional excursion day
3 Days Exploring Windward Maui
Day 7: North shore + Pā’ia
Day 8: Road to Hāna
Day 9: Drive the West Maui Coastline
3 Days in West Maui
Day 10: Drive the Honopiilani highway + Papalaua Wayside Beach
Day 11: Kāʻanapali Beach
Day 12: Kapalua Bay Beach and coastal trail
Getting there
➳ Fly in to Kahului Airport (OGG)
➳ Pick up rental car / take a shuttle service
➳ Check in
➳ Grab a late dinner
➳ Stock up on essentials
➳ Pick up snorkel + beach gear
At the risk of sounding like a complete idiot, I did NOT realize how far out in the middle of the freaking ocean Hawaii was until I was watching the Delta flight tracker on my connecting flight from Seattle and realized that the entire six-hour plane ride is above open waters.
Finally, land in sight!
➳ Fly in to Kahului Airport (OGG)
Kahului airport is on the smaller size with one main terminal and 39 gates.
Easy, breezy.
➳ Pick up Jeep Wrangler rental (if you’re renting, which I highly recommend) / take a shuttle service
Once you land in Maui and catch a ride out of the airport, there will be no doubt in your mind, body, and soul that you are now on a tropical island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
So get lei’d, roll down that window, let that paradise breeze blow that stale airplane cabin air right out of your hair, and rest in the assurance that, for at least the next while, you are free.
➳ Grab (a late) dinner
Kīhei Kalama Village has so many options—many of them open late.
Depending on what time you land, some things you might want to take care of that day or the next:
➳ Stock up on essentials
◦ Safeway
◦ Times
◦ Long’s Drugs (a Hawaiian classic — ya gotta go!)
➳ Pick up snorkel gear
◦ The Snorkel Store
◦ Auntie Snorkel
I had such a great experience with The Snorkel Store and can’t recommend them enough. They even replaced a flipper I broke—whoopsies, more on that later—without any problem. And I loved getting their daily snorkel report in my email every morning. You can get the report directly on their site if you’re boycotting your inbox while on the island.
I made an appointment when I reserved my gear online.
I went with the Deluxe Snorkel Set which includes a mask, snorkel, fins, and da fixins.
What’re da fixins, you ask?
Custom fitting, backpack tote, mask defogger, fish ID card beach map and daily snorkel report.
You can also rent float belts, boogie boards, chairs, coolers, beach chairs, and umbrellas.
When I arrived at my designated time, I was told to sit on the bench and was fitted for the proper sized flippers. They’ll give you the lowdown (down low?) on the local fishies, their favorite beaches, and a tutorial on how to use the mask defogger.
The whole process takes ten to fifteen minutes.
It cost me $58 to rent a Deluxe Snorkel Set and a small cooler for ten days.
After you’re done, gear in tow, stop by Island Press Coffee a few stores over (same parking lot) for the most delicious iced honey oat milk latte I had the entire time I was on the island.
Another option in Kīhei is Auntie Snorkel.
They have beach gear, snorkel gear, GoPros to catch all your action shots, wetsuits, paddle boards, and more.
3 days in South Maui: Kīhei
On the itinerary: beach time, local eats and drinks, snorkeling, luau, and whale watching tour
➳ Keawakapu Beach
- Kīhei Kalama Village
➳ Po’olenalena Beach
- Snorkel time — take a tour or get out there on your own
- Dinner at Kīhei Kalama Village
➳ Whale watching tour
- Luau
Pronounced: key-hey
I started my trip in Kīhei because this was where my friends were getting married and where everyone in attendance was staying.
You could easily base your entire stay in Maui from Kīhei or Wailea-Makena, and have the perfect chill Hawaiian vacation filled with morning coffees on the lanai, beautiful beaches, and sunset drinks.
South Maui is on the Leeward (dry) side of the island and stretches down the coast from Kīhei down to Wailea-Makena.
Stay for: 3 – 7 days (or forever)
Best for: beaching + relaxing
Great for: families, couples, uneasy travelers, getting Maui’d
3 days in the Upcountry: Kula + Haleakalā National Park
On the itinerary: small town explorations, Haleakalā National Park, farm visits
➳ Explore Kula + Makawao
➳ Haleakalā National Park➳ Optional excursion day
“Upcountry” is, well, up country. Its the elevated range (aka the slopes) around Haleakalā.
It’s beautiful countryside up here with winding roads, small towns, local grinds, farms, and Haleakalā National Park.
Up here you’ll also find cooler weather, expansive views out over the land to the sea, an even slower pace of life, and a plethora of choices to get you out and connected to the land and its people.
Stay for: 3 days
Best for: small town exploration, farm visits, and Haleakalā National Park
Great for: families, couples, explorers, hikers, birders
3 Days exploring Windward Maui
On the itinerary: small surf towns, epic coastal scenic drives with hikes and waterfalls
➳ North shore + Pā’ia
- Optional afternoon at Papalaua Wayside Beach
➳ Road to Hāna
- Could easily make this a two day event with an overnight in Hāna
➳ Drive the Central-West Maui Coastline—the Kahekili Highway—and hike
Windward Maui runs from Kapalua on the western tip to Hāna on the eastern tip—encompassing areas of West Maui, Central Maui, the north shore, and East Maui.
The Windward side of the island is the wetter (and, as the name suggests, windier) side of the island. In the winter, the water on the windward side tends to be rough. This the is the time of the year that Hawaii’s north shores get the big waves they’re known for.
The topography of the Windward side ranges from beach resorts in Kapalua on the western end through the rugged, exposed coastal cliffs of the Kahekili Highway to the surf town of Pā’ia and further east through lush, tropical seaside jungles along the Road to Hāna.
There is so much to explore on this side of the island: scenic drives along the coast, waterfalls galore, hikes, beaches, small surf towns, and art galleries.
Stay for: 3 – 5 days
Best for: surfing, scenic drives, waterfall sightseeing, getting off the beaten path
Great for: those with an adventurous spirit, surfers
Shaka Guide: History, legends, stories
I’d be completely remiss if I didn’t tell you all about
Shaka Guide’s Maui audio tours.
These audio tours are the perfect companion while driving the Road to Hāna, Maui’s West Coast, and exploring Haleakalā! Just download the tour in the app and hit start when you’re ready to hit the road.
The app connects to your GPS and will guide you along the road, where you’ll learn about the interesting Hawaiian history and legends of places along the road, as well as the best places to stop!
It’s like having an insider right in the car with you, without, you know, actually having to have a stranger in your car and having to make small talk.
You can play your music between audio points, and when you’re nearing your next destination, the audio tour will come back on. Easy, breezy, just the way we like our road trips to be.
You’ll hear some bewildering stories of Hawaii’s history, as well as some that are, quite frankly, very dire. But all in all, we loved learning about Hawaiian history and all about King Kamehameha. Also, the narrators laugh is a 10/10 dad laugh and we are here for it!
3 days in West Maui
On the itinerary: beaches, coastal hikes, and a scenic drive along the coast
➳ Drive the Honopiilani Highway
- Optional afternoon at Papalaua Wayside Beach
➳ Kāʻanapali Beach
➳ Kapalua Bay Beach + Kapalua Coastal Trail
West Maui, on the leeward side of Maui, runs from Maalaea near South Maui up through Olowalu, Lāhainā, Kāʻanapali, Napili, and just past Kapalua.
Here at wilder + wonder, we’re big fans of ending our (often whirlwind) adventures at a luxury resort to relax and unwind before embarking on the journey back home.
You’ll find beach resorts from Kāʻanapali to Kapalua.
We’re especially partial to Kāʻanapali (where our favorite beach is). Also, the stretch of boardwalk along the beach here that connects hotels, shopping, and restaurants from the Hyatt Regency on the east end to Black Rock and the Sheraton.
Stay for: 1 – 5 days
Best for: families, couples, beach-lovers, millennial women
Great for: relaxing and recuperating at the beach before heading home
➳ Drive the Honopiilani Highway
The Honopiilani Highway is a beautiful scenic drive along the coast from Maalaea Harbor to Kāʻanapali.
Stop at scenic lookouts along the way to spot humpback whale spouts out across the Kealaikahiki and ‘Au’ua Channels; pull up to Papalaua Wayside Park or Olowalu beach to swim, snorkel, and sun along the picturesque beaches; and don’t forget to stop by Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie shop for lunch. You can also visit the Olowalu farmers market and the Maui Butterfly Farm while you’re there.
➳ Kāʻanapali Beach
Spend day two relaxing Kāʻanapali Beach: Snorkel Black Rock, shop Whaler’s Village, watch the sunset as you dine at a beachside restaurant.
➳ Kapalua Bay Beach + Kapalua Coastal Trail
Spend the morning of day three walking the Kapalua Coastal Trail before lunching oceanside at The Burger Shack, Merriman’s Kapalua, or The Sea House Restaurant; and then, spend the afternoon luxuriating underneath the palm trees at Oneloa Beach or Kapalua Bay Beach.
West Maui Accommodations
Montage Kapalua Bay
Find your sanctuary here along the waters of Namalu Bay
Expedia
Expedia
Expedia
Expedia
Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows
Stay in one of Kaanapali’s first resorts—sip oceanside, spend a day at the spa, and explore the myths of Maui with the on-site luau—all with a touch of retro flare
Expedia
Expedia
Expedia
Expedia
The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua
Nothing says luxury like staying at the Ritz
Expedia
Expedia
Expedia
Expedia
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa
Spend your Hawaiian retreat under the palms of Hyatt’s sprawling resort—with 6 outdoor pools, cabanas, four restaurants, three bars, and spa there is so much to explore here!
Expedia
Expedia
Expedia
Expedia
Aston Maui Kaanapali Villas
Stroll the tropical gardens on the grounds of this 11 acre condo resort with a nod to old Hawaii
Expedia
Expedia
Expedia
OUTRIGGER Honua Kai Resort & Spa
The perfect stay for the whole family with a dedicated children’s pool, lazy river, and waterslide
Expedia
Expedia
Expedia
Expedia
West Maui
Stay
Montage Kapalua Bay
Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows
The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa
Aston Maui Kaanapali Villas
OUTRIGGER Honua Kai Resort & Spa
Shop
Whaler’s Village
Eat
Duke’s Beach House Maui
Hula Grill Kaanapali
Leilani’s on the Beach
Merriman’s Kapalua
The Sea House Restaurant
The Burger Shack at Fleming Beach
Explore
The Honopiilani highway
Papalaua Wayside Beach
Kāʻanapali Beach
Kapalua Bay Beach
Kapalua Coastal Trail
Travel Day
If your flight leaves in the evening, take this as an opportunity to rest up.
If you, like me, found yourself with leftover foodstuffs and beverages that you’ve accumulated during your stay (I was the last man standing after the wedding—even after the grooms themselves!), divvy up the goods into separate bags and pass them out to those in need.
If you go to basically any beach park, you’ll find several folks living the van life (by choice or not). I just drove around, and when I saw someone I thought wouldn’t mind taking the goods off my hands, I approached them and asked them if they wanted it.
“Hey, I’m heading out of town today. Anyway you want to take these beers and chips off my hands? I’d hate to see them go to waste.”
Almost everyone I encountered already knew I was heading out of town (so I can’t be the only one who’s had this idea), and everyone I interacted with was grateful to take a bag.
And then, alas, if you’re anything like me, after you’ve returned your snorkel and beach gear, and dropped off your rental car, you’ll find yourself at the airport bar. Drown your sorrows—err, I mean, enjoy one last Blue Hawaiian while in Hawaii before leaving these sacred shores.
X marks the spot
Reading Recommendations
Maui Revealed
This is my go-to resource for Maui and I cannot recommend this book enough!
Andrew is the real deal. He (and now his team) live and breathe Hawaii in a way that seriously makes me jealous, spending two years on the ground researching, exploring, and doing all the things before publishing their blue guidebooks.
All written with a dash of humor and a smattering of sarcasm, it’s the perfect companion for your Maui trip planning.
In Maui Revealed, he covers:
- Maui’s history
- Everything you need to know about Maui
- All 6 areas of the island, plus 3 offshore islands
- Reviews of all beaches
- Activities
- Adventures
- Dining
Frequently Asked Questions
Depends on how much you want to see and accomplish.
If you’re just interested in relaxing beachside at a resort, four days would be the minimum.
If you want to get out and experience more of the island, seven to ten days would be ideal.
And if you want to experience all that Maui has to offer, a minimum of twelve days.
Any month, really!
But for whale watching, specifically, February is the peak month to go to Maui!
Maui is the second largest Hawaiian island and is called “The Valley Isle” because the island is made up of two volcanoes with a valley in between them.
Yes.
Due to the fact that Hawaii is the most isolated island chain on the planet—at over 1800 miles from the nearest continent—it costs a lot to ship anything here, translating to higher cost of just about everything.
Not to mention the airfare to get there.
Though, you can go as high-end and luxurious or budget-friendly as you want once you arrive.
As a solo traveller, two weeks in Maui in 2022 cost me $8000 with airfare ($6800 without airfare)
Here you have it—from Mauna to Moana: the perfect 12 Day Maui Itinerary (for February)!
Covering three days (each) in four different regions—South Maui, Upcountry, Windward Maui, and West Maui—this itinerary will take you on an adventure of a lifetime from beachside, up into the mountains, through the jungle, and along rugged, exposed seaside cliffs.
This itinerary covers upwards of nine different beaches; several snorkeling excursions; traditional Hawaiian vacation staples like getting lei’d at a luau and sunset beachside dining; hikes ranging from the coast to the jungle to volcanic craters; whale watching; three scenic drives; food truck parks and coffee shops; and so much more.
Balanced (relatively) between living your best jam-packed action adventure life and relaxing beachside with a Mai Tai, this twelve day itinerary covers the wholistic Maui experience.
To your next adventure, friends!
Mahalo!
About Lauren
Reader, writer, traveller, itinerary-creator & mapmaker extraordinaire
Detroit-born, Nashville-bent, everywhere-bound, some of her favorite things include drinking coffee, eating in roadside diners frequented by locals and truckers alike, reading entire guidebooks front to back, visiting local bookshops, spirit questing in New Mexico, watching wildlife documentaries, listening to unapologetic amounts of Taylor Swift, and sitting in aisle seats. To name a few.
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