Are you looking for fun things to do in Wailea Maui? Keep scrolling for this list of the coolest Wailea activities to add to your Maui itinerary.
This list of the best things to do in Wailea Maui was written by Marcie Cheung (a Hawaii travel expert) and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
Is Wailea worth it? Yes, but not for the reasons most travel sites tell you.
It’s not the “most authentic” part of Maui. It’s expensive. The resorts run $1,000+ a night in peak season and even a luau will set you back $300 per person.
But the beaches are genuinely beautiful, the sun shows up almost every day, and you’re 25 minutes from the airport with easy access to some of the best day trips on the island.
After 40+ visits to Hawaii over 20 years, Wailea is still somewhere I keep coming back to. Not for the luxury bubble, but because south Maui as a whole is just that good.
A few things changed recently that are worth knowing before you book. Makena Stables permanently closed in 2025. The Grand Luau quietly changed its name. Ferraro’s got a full redesign. And luau prices went up significantly.
Here’s what I’d actually do.
One thing you’ll need: a car. The resort strip is walkable, but you’ll want to get beyond it. I always book through Discount Hawaii Car Rental, which consistently beats the airport counter rates.
Book These Before You Even Pack
1. Feast at Mokapu (Andaz Maui)
I’ve been to a lot of luaus. More than most people, honestly, because I danced hula professionally for 20 years and attended more cultural performances than I can count.
This one stands out because it doesn’t feel like a production line.
It’s set on the grassy lawn at Mokapu Beach, ocean right in front of you, small group, food plated family-style rather than a buffet scramble.
The menu runs kalua pig, fresh local fish, braised beef short rib, Moloka’i sweet potato mash, handcrafted cocktails. The cultural performance is thoughtfully done, not just choreography for tourists.
Realistically, you’re spending around $300+ per adult in 2026. Standard seating puts you at shared tables, which a few people I know weren’t expecting. If you want your own space, upgrade to premium.
Worth it for an intimate, cultural luau experience. Not the right fit if the price hurts or you want a massive high-energy Polynesian revue.
Book the Feast at Mokapu on Viator — and read my full Feast at Mokapu review for everything you need to know.
2. Grand Luau ‘Aha’aina (Grand Wailea)
If you’ve seen this called the Honua’ula Luau, same event, just a name change.
The oceanfront location at Grand Wailea, the private tables overlooking Wailea Beach, the hula lessons before showtime, the fire knife dancing, all still there. Named one of USA Today’s 10 Best luaus in Hawaii for 2025.
A friend reviewed this one in detail over at Hawaii Travel With Kids. Worth reading before you commit.
Runs select evenings only.
The Beaches
All of Wailea’s beaches are public. All are free. Parking is the variable.
3. Wailea Beach
The main one. Bookended by Four Seasons and Grand Wailea, consistently ranked among the best beaches in the US. Calm water, good snorkeling off the rocks, lifeguards on duty, free parking, paved path behind it.
Gets crowded by mid-morning. Go early or go at sunset when most people have cleared out and the light goes pink over the ocean. December through April, humpback whales are often visible right from shore.
4. Polo Beach
Between the Fairmont Kea Lani and Polo Beach Club, quieter than Wailea Beach, with BBQ grills, picnic tables, a playground, and showers.
Solid snorkeling on the south end. Good pick if you’re with kids or just want a calmer scene.
5. Makena Beach (Big Beach)
South of Wailea where the resort area ends and the landscape goes lava-field wild. One of the most beautiful stretches of white sand in Hawaii, no question. Wide views of Molokini and Kaho’olawe, dramatic and open.
It also has powerful shorebreak that injures people every single season. Go. Take photos, sunbathe, watch the waves. Swim only if you know what you’re doing in that kind of surf.
Water Activities
6. Molokini Crater
If you do one ocean activity on this trip, this is the one. Molokini is a partially submerged volcanic crater about 2.5 miles offshore.
Visibility often reaches 100+ feet. Moorish idols, moray eels, sea turtles, parrotfish, and on lucky days, whale sharks.
Tours leave from Maalaea Harbor, about 20 minutes from Wailea. Morning departures sell out first, especially December through April when humpbacks are around and everyone wants to be on the water.
Book a Molokini snorkeling tour here and read my full Molokini guide for what to expect.
7. La Perouse Bay
South of Makena, past where the pavement ends, La Perouse sits in an old lava field and feels nothing like the resort Wailea you just came from.
Spinner dolphins show up regularly, especially in the morning before the boat tours arrive.
Snorkeling in the protected coves is good when conditions cooperate. This is inside Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve.
Reef-safe sunscreen is required and the rules around wildlife interaction are enforced. No following or cornering dolphins.
Book a La Perouse snorkeling tour here.
8. Kayaking to Turtle Town
Wailea and Makena are popular departure points because Turtle Town is close. Paddling out and spotting Hawaiian green sea turtles (honu) from a kayak is one of those experiences people talk about for years.
Check current tour prices and availability here.
9. Scuba at Keawakapu Beach
Two distinct snorkel and dive areas separated by a stretch of sand. Coral formations, lava rock, sea turtles, eels. PADI-certified guided dives run regularly from here.
Good spot for first-timers who want professional instruction in calm conditions.
10. Sea Scooter Snorkeling
Battery-powered devices that push you through the water so you cover more ground without exhausting yourself.
Sounds gimmicky. People love them, especially those who don’t love swimming but want to actually see the marine life rather than just float above it.
Check sea scooter tour options here.
11. Stand-Up Paddleboarding
The protected beaches around Wailea are calm enough for beginners. Rentals near most resort beaches, guided tours available if you want instruction.
Low-impact, works for most ages, genuinely enjoyable even if you fall in a few times getting started.
Hiking
12. The King’s Trail (Hoapili Trail)
Not what most people picture when they hear “Hawaii hike.” No waterfall, no jungle.
You’re walking across ancient black lava fields along the coast, past ahu (shrines), heiau (temples), and homesites that King Pi’ilani and his son built centuries ago.
The lava fields stretch for miles, completely exposed, with the ocean right beside you. It feels remote in a way that surprises people who just came from a luxury resort 20 minutes away.
The full trail runs over 10 miles, but even a short out-and-back gives you a real sense of it.
No shade at all. Go early morning. Bring significantly more water than you think you’ll need. Wear sun protection and closed-toe shoes because the lava is uneven.
Food
13. Monkeypod Kitchen
I’ll be honest with you: I come here mostly for the mai tai. It’s made with macadamia nut orgeat, organic rum, and orange Curaçao, and it’s topped with honey lilikoi foam, which is passion fruit and honey whipped together, and I am seriously a little obsessed with it.
There’s a reason people talk about this drink specifically, not just “the mai tais at Monkeypod.”
The food is good too. Peter Merriman’s kitchen sources about 90% of ingredients locally, and the Hawaiian takes on fresh fish, tacos, and burgers are solid. Live music most evenings at the Wailea location.
Two locations on Maui: the original in Wailea and one in Ka’anapali. Both need a reservation. Happy hour runs 3:30 to 5pm daily if you want the drinks without the full dinner commitment.
14. Ferraro’s (Four Seasons Maui)
This restaurant went through a full redesign in 2024 and came out looking genuinely different.
New upper and lower deck seating arranged around sunset views, marble bar, and a new menu from Chef Russell Rummer that leans into coastal Italian with local ingredients: Kona lobster, whole roasted Hawaiian snapper, fresh Ahi crudo.
They also now run an extensive amaro program, which is unusual for Hawaii.
Honest caveat: recent reviews are mixed on consistency. Some nights it’s exceptional.
A few people have noted service gaps and food arriving at the wrong temperature. It’s a Four Seasons, so they’ll fix things if you speak up, but it’s not perfect every time. Plan on spending $150-$200 per person for dinner.
Make a reservation. Open for lunch and dinner daily.
15. The Shops at Wailea
More practical than it sounds. Lappert’s Ice Cream is here (Kona coffee flavor is the right call), Honolulu Cookie Company, Ruth’s Chris, Tommy Bahama. Open-air, walkable, live entertainment most evenings on the center stage.
Good for a rainy afternoon or a leisurely post-beach evening when you don’t want to go anywhere complicated.
Everything Else
16. Wailea Golf Club
Three courses: Emerald, Gold, and Blue. Green fees run around $285 per round as of 2025, though a 3-day unlimited play package can bring that down considerably if you’re playing 36 holes a day.
Ocean views on almost every hole. Golf academy on site. Consistently rated among the best resort golf in Hawaii, and from what I hear from golfers who visit Maui repeatedly, it holds up.
17. Wailea Coastal Walkway
1.6 miles of paved path connecting the resort area along the coast. Eight major resorts, coffee stands, public art installations, benches to sit and watch the ocean.
I did a Flytographer photo shoot here a few years back and what I remember most wasn’t the views, it was watching who was on the path.
Elderly couples with coffee cups walking slowly, families with strollers, joggers, kids sprinting ahead, honeymooners stopping every few steps to look at the water. It’s completely flat and paved so it works for genuinely everyone, which is rarer than it sounds.
Morning is less crowded and the light is better. Sunset is beautiful but narrow sections can back up.
18. Wailea Tennis Club
Eleven courts, pro shop, instruction, round robins, competitions. One of the top-rated tennis facilities in the US for over a decade. Pickleball courts added in recent years, which has opened it up for people who don’t play tennis at all.
19. Horseback Riding in South Maui
Makena Stables ran for over 30 years in this area and permanently closed in 2025. The current top-rated replacement for small-group trail rides near Wailea is Circle M Ranch, consistently getting strong reviews.
Check availability and book here.
20. Wailea Healing Center
Started as a massage and yoga spot and has expanded quite a bit. Now offers lomi lomi, deep tissue massage, acupuncture, chiropractic care, sound baths, IV therapy, and moon circle gatherings.
Founder Rebecca Wilson built it as a collective of practitioners rather than a corporate spa operation, and you feel that difference.
Located at 120 Kaukahi Street, free parking, open by appointment Monday through Saturday. Book ahead, especially for couples sessions.
21. Mandara Spa
The full resort spa experience. Ocean views, treatments using Hawaiian ingredients like Pikake flowers, coconut, sea salt, and island coffee, overlooking Molokini Crater and Kaho’olawe.
This is the decision you make when you’re celebrating something or when you’ve been hiking lava fields and your body is asking nicely for a break.
Where to Stay in Wailea
Resort rates in Wailea are running $997-$1,400+ per night in 2026 depending on season and property. That’s not a typo. Here’s how I’d sort them:
Grand Wailea (Expedia) — Nine pools, Nobu just opened here, beach access, seven restaurants on property. Big, loud, spectacular. Not the place for a quiet trip. Exactly right if you want maximum amenities and don’t mind sharing them with a lot of other guests.
Fairmont Kea Lani (Expedia) — All-suite accommodations, so you get more room than a standard hotel setup. Direct access to Polo Beach, exceptional service scores, noticeably less hectic than Grand Wailea. Better for honeymoons or anyone who wants to feel like a person rather than a guest number.
Residence Inn by Marriott Maui Wailea (Expedia) — Kitchens, larger rooms, grocery shuttle. Lower price point than the luxury options. Right for families or longer stays where eating out three times a day stops being fun after day four.
Choosing between these is one of the questions I get most in my Hawaii travel consultations.
The answer changes based on who you’re traveling with, how you actually spend time at a resort, and what you’re actually willing to pay. Sometimes a short conversation saves a very expensive mistake.
Day Trips Worth Planning
Road to Hana — The most famous drive in Hawaii. Long, winding, longer than people expect. Worth it. Book a guided tour if you’d rather not navigate it yourself.
Haleakala Crater — Sunrise from the summit is something people remember for the rest of their lives. You need a timed-entry reservation and they fill up well before your trip. Book this from home, not the night before. Check permits and tours here.
Twin Falls — A shorter, easier waterfall outing on the north side of the island if you want lush Maui without the full Road to Hana commitment.
All three require a car.
A Few Things People Ask Me
Is Wailea worth the money?
If you’re going to splurge anywhere in Hawaii, south Maui is a reasonable place to do it. The beaches are legitimately beautiful, the weather is reliable, and the quality of restaurants and activities is consistently high.
The honest answer is it depends what you’re comparing it to. Wailea is not a budget destination and doesn’t pretend to be.
Wailea or Ka’anapali?
Wailea is more polished, sunnier, and closer to south Maui’s best spots like Makena, Molokini, and La Perouse.
Ka’anapali is livelier, has a longer beach, and sits closer to the Lahaina area, which is in active recovery after the 2023 fires. They attract different travelers. My Maui travel guide breaks this down in more detail.
What if it rains?
Wailea is one of the driest spots on Maui so this is genuinely less common here than elsewhere on the island. If it happens, Maui Ocean Center in Maalaea (20 minutes away) is excellent. The Shops at Wailea, Monkeypod, and a spa day at Wailea Healing Center are solid fallbacks.
Do I need a car?
For the resort strip, no. For everything worth doing beyond it, yes. Book early because rental cars sell out in peak season faster than you’d think. Discount Hawaii Car Rental consistently beats airport counter pricing.
Planning Your Trip
If you’re sorting through too many options and the itinerary is starting to feel like a project, that’s usually when people reach out for a Hawaii travel consultation.
I have 20+ years of on-the-ground Hawaii travel experience and I help people figure out exactly these decisions without wasting time going in circles on travel forums.
The Hawaii Travel Made Easy podcast covers Maui specifically if you’d rather listen while you commute. And my Maui travel guide goes deeper on the island overall.
Book the luau early. Secure the car before it sells out. And leave at least one morning with nothing on the schedule. Wailea has a way of making you forget you were ever stressed about planning it.
Want professional photos from your trip? Flytographer is who I recommend every time. Save $20 with my link.
More Maui: How Many Days in Maui? | Best Maui Kayak Tours | Maui with Kids | Maui Packing List | Hawaii Island Hopping Guide
