Traveling to Maui?
Pack Light. Travel Happy.™ Rent baby gear in Maui.More aloha anyone? Who doesn’t love a Hawaiian vacation? We sure do! Let’s be real, regardless of which island you land on, you’re going to have an amazing time. But we wanted to take a closer look and find unique and unusual things to do in Maui; specifically on “The Valley Isle”.
While we definitely encourage you to do all the traditional touristy stuff like visit Lahaina, watch a Luau, snorkel, spend time at Whalers Park and Ka’anapali Beach, and of course…soak up plenty of sunshine and beach time; we also think you should add these lesser-known attractions in Maui and “things to do” to your itinerary! They are perfect for kids of all ages (that includes mom and dad!) and you’ll be thrilled to experience some of what Maui locals love about the island.
So here you have it! 11 unusual, unique, special, and off-the-beaten-path Maui attractions you should definitely add to your “must-do” list!
Unusual Things To Do In Maui:
1. Take a behind-the-scenes tour of Maui Ocean Center.
You’re right. Visiting Maui Ocean Center is a pretty popular decision by most tourists. But, why not step it up a notch and schedule a behind-the-scenes tour? You’ll get up close and personal with lots of their animals and even get to assist with a feeding! This tour is perfect for ages 5 and up; you’ll definitely want to make reservations ahead of time because space is limited. Don’t forget to stop by the gift shop to grab a souvenir! The kids will love picking out a stuffed animal that they got to help feed in real life!
2. Fill one of your nights with an astrology lesson.
Need something to keep the kiddos busy at night? We highly recommend the Tour of the Stars at the Hyatt Regency. This is the perfect post-dinner, pre-bedtime activity. You’ll get to gaze up at the stars, 9 stories high on the hotel’s rooftop! We know this list is all about family activities, but we have to mention this: there is a late-night, romantic tour that includes sparkling wine and chocolate strawberries…..so maybe you want to save this for when the kids are with grandma and grandpa! This is definitely a unique and unusual thing to do in Maui!
3. Food trucks, Maui style.
Apparently, Maui has a TON of food trucks. So you’re bound to run into some throughout your trip. We found a hot spot of food trucks at a surprising location…Costco! Yep! If you’re heading to the Maui Costco to stock up for your week-long, Airbnb stays, we recommend that you go hungry and have lunch at one of the many food trucks that park there. Here’s a list of food trucks you’ve got to try; make sure to follow them on social media or head to their website to see where they’ll be each day.
PS: Eat before you go shopping at Costco…we all know what happens when you shop on an empty stomach!
4. Smell the lavender!
The Ali’l Kula Lavender Farm in Maui is breathtaking. It’s located in Kula which is in the middle of the island (the Upcountry Region), so you’ll have to drive there if you’re staying in one of the main beach areas. It isn’t exactly a lesser-known or unusual thing to do in Maui, but we promise it is worth it!
There are both guided and self-guided tours, and there’s even a Lavender Treasure Hunt that the kids will love! If you’re going to take a walking tour, make sure to bring a front pack or stroller. You can also book a cart tour if folks aren’t up for the walk. Check out the gift shop for fun souvenirs! Pro tip: Stop here on the way to Haleakala!
5. Shiver me timbers! There’s treasure on the island!
Make sure you reserve one of your mornings or afternoons for a good old-fashioned treasure hunt! Kids love this unusual Maui activity. You can even stuff some dress-up clothes in your suitcase to make it a themed hunt! Maui Treasure Hunt has several options to choose from. Look at the age requirements prior to booking; but no matter what, there are options for all ages!
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6. Visit Haleakala National Park.
This is one of Maui’s go-to destinations so although it’s not entirely “unusual”, it is absolutely breathtaking and is “uniquely” Maui. It’s definitely a must-see! And you’re in luck. We’ve done all the research for you and have outlined the best tips and tricks for visiting Haleakalā National Park with kids. Click here! Take a look at tip #8; that’s a great way to make this popular destination even more unique!
7. Check out all the Maui farms.
Liza Pierce, the Maui mommy blogger of A Maui Blog, says, “I suggest visiting farms. There are many wonderful farms to visit on Maui. One suggestion is the Surfing Goat Dairy. It is great fun for all ages! Animal lovers will love their tours of the dairy farm. These goats are entertaining to watch, and you can feed them. Check out their website for the schedule of tours; when you go late in the afternoon, you can join the evening chores tour where you can milk the goats too! There are delicious samples of their fresh goat cheeses you can enjoy.” Yum!
8. See the sea turtles.
The Ho’okipa Beach Park is home to “beached” turtles – don’t worry, they aren’t hurt or anything; they are just enjoying the beach! They are awesome to see and there are sometimes even hundreds on the beach. Not only can you visit the turtles, but you can also watch surfers catch some waves, play in the ocean, and relax on the sand. Pack a lunch and make a full day of it. You’ll be so glad you got to see these amazing “honu”.
9. Become a mermaid!
We might be most excited about this unusual thing to do in Maui. Did you know that you can literally become a mermaid by taking “mermaid swimming lessons” with Hawaiian Mermaid Adventures. I mean, how can you not add this to your to-do list! Mermaids of all sizes can participate, so this can definitely be a family activity.
Also, all of the “mer-teachers” are trained in safety, CPR, and are certified lifeguards. You’re in safe hands and will have the BEST time! Oh, and the best part is you get to wear a tail! Not up for swimming but want to meet a real-life mermaid? You can do that too! Sounds like a must-do to us!
10. Take part in traditional body art and get some henna!
Henna is a form of traditional tattoo body art that is rich in cultural significance across the Hawaiian islands. It’s all-natural and temporary, so it won’t do you or the kiddos any harm. If you’re traveling with extended family, we guarantee all the cousins will love getting unusual matching henna. This is a great list of the best henna shops on Maui.
11. Wrap up your trip with a visit to Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop, in Lahaina.
Honestly, we don’t need to say much about Leoda’s; just take a look at their website or social media and you’ll know why we recommend it! Leoda’s is known for its pies, but they have a full menu of delicious meals, including savory pies and handhelds! The Macnut Chocolate Pie and the Olowalu Lime are must-haves. If you’re celebrating a birthday or special event while on vacation, why not pick up some of Leoda’s pies for the event!
We hope you enjoy these lesser-known, kid-friendly, unique, and unusual things to do in Maui! Make sure to take pictures if you’re visiting one of our recommendations and tag us on social media so we can see your fun Maui adventures!
As always, if you don’t want to haul baby gear on your next family travel adventure on Maui, check out BabyQuip for crib rental, car seat rental, stroller rental, baby furniture rental, or other baby gear!
Traveling to Maui?
Pack Light. Travel Happy.™ Rent baby gear in Maui.
Kaylee Garcia is the mama to one sweet boy and one sweet girl, and wife to an awesome husband. Kaylee and her son (he’s only 4!) have completed over 20 trips via air travel (thank you, Alaska Airlines!) on over 40+ airplane rides! They love sharing travel tips with other families since they’ve learned a lot in the last 4 years. Kaylee enjoys spending time with family, researching baby gear, and exploring the Pacific Northwest.
I loved what you said about visiting beached sea turtles! My husband and I are thinking about taking our kids to Maui next summer as a surprise trip. I think it would be really cool if we could get a private tour of the island.
We’ve been lucky enough to visit Maui twice in recent years. We loved Haleakala, we camped up there! We loved Hookipa and watching the sea turtles soak up the sun. Leodas pie shop is also a GREAT place to stop, we visited often as we camped at Olowalu! And the food trucks were amazing, great variety, reasonable price and huge portions! We will be sure to check out a farm and lavender fields our next visit! Great suggestions!
The astrology lessons sound great. My youngest son is obsessed with outer space and planets!
The lavendar farm sounds amazing.
This list is great! We have been on the fence about whether Maui would have enough to do with the kiddos. Definitely on the travel list after reading this!
The lavender farm looks like a beautiful place to go. Great list of go to places. Will have to consider when traveling.
We are heading to Hawaii in a few months and have never been to Maui…we might just have to stay there too! Thanks!
I would have never thought lavender grows in Maui!
So much to do. Beautiful! Seeiing a live Seatirtle would be so cool! Bucket list place to visit for sure!
Our family is considering a trip to Hawaii. Thanks for the great ideas! Leoda’s and Ho’okipa Beach Park are now on our to do list.