10 Maui Travel Tips in Under 10 Minutes

Did you know that a simple mistake could make your Maui vacation more stressful and expensive than it needs to be?

Whether you’re planning your first trip or you’ve visited before, it’s easy to overlook the details that set an average Maui experience apart from a truly memorable one.

If you want to avoid common tourist pitfalls, save money, and connect with the island like a local, this episode is for you. Get straightforward advice on travel planning, eating local, and making the most of your time on Maui—all in less than 10 minutes.

In this episode, you will:

• Find out how to handle the Road to Hana without unnecessary stress.
• Learn which food trucks and local eats are worth your time.
• Discover proven strategies to save on activities, lodging, and rental cars.
• Get up-to-date info on what’s open in Lahaina and how to be a respectful visitor during recovery.

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Scroll up ⬆️ and hit play to make your next Maui trip smoother, more affordable, and memorable for all the right reasons.

If you’re looking for a travel podcast that delivers practical travel tips and up-to-date advice for your next trip to Hawaii, this episode covers everything you need for a successful Maui adventure. Support local businesses, travel smarter with actionable travel hacks, and experience Hawaiian culture the right way. Whether you’re planning to visit Hawaii or just love learning about the Hawaiian Islands, this is your go-to resource for a better Hawaii vacation.

🎧Related episodes:

• Maui Food Guide: Part 1
  • Listen
•  Maui Food Guide: Part 2
  • Listen
• Illegal Vacation Rentals
  • Listen
• Road to Hana
  • Listen

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🤓Chapters:

• 0:59 - Exploring Maui's Food Truck Scene
• 1:56 - Maui Ocean Center
• 2:51 - Booking Activities and Accommodations
• 4:26 - Discovering Maui's Natural Beauty
• 5:10 - Traveling During Shoulder Season
• 5:57 - Navigating the Road to Hana
• 7:01 - Lahaina's Recovery and Support
• 7:57 - Essential Tips for Car Rentals and Local Eats

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This podcast is for travelers looking to plan a trip to Hawaii. Discover travel tips, itineraries, and traveling tips & hacks with guides to help you explore Hawaii. Whether you’re planning a vacation to the Hawaiian islands, dreaming of a Hawaiian getaway, or visiting Honolulu, Maui, Kauai, Oahu, or Big Island we’ll help you travel with aloha.

Edge of the Ocean, Stick Figure (w/ permission)

Ukulele and Chill, Coby G (w/ permission)

Chapters

• 0:59 Exploring Maui's Food Truck Scene
• 1:56 Maui Ocean Center
• 2:51 Booking Activities and Accommodations
• 4:26 Discovering Maui's Natural Beauty
• 5:10 Traveling During Shoulder Season
• 5:57 Navigating the Road to Hana
• 7:01 Lahaina's Recovery and Support
• 7:57 Essential Tips for Car Rentals and Local Eats

Transcript

150_10 Maui Travel Tips in Under 10 Minutes

[00:00:00] Bryan Murphy: In this episode, you'll discover 10 Maui travel tips that even seasoned travelers often miss, plus the costly mistakes you might be making without realizing it.

[00:00:12] Bryan Murphy: Aloha. Welcome to Hawaii's Best, the podcast, helping Travelers plan an unforgettable Hawaii vacation with insider tips in featuring local voices. I'm Brian Murphy, a husband Data three and certified Hawaii destination expert. Each week I share local insights, travel tips, and up-to-date news, sometimes with guests across Hawaii and sometimes solo.

[00:00:33] Bryan Murphy: All to help you plan your next trip to Hawaii.

[00:00:40] Bryan Murphy: Aloha and welcome to episode one. 50 of Hawaii's best, and we'll be talking about 10 Maui travel tips you can use right now as you're planning for your trip all in under 10 minutes. And by the end of this episode, you'll know if you're making one of these common mistakes that can cost you time, money, or the chance to experience.

[00:00:57] Bryan Murphy: Real Maui. Number eight on this list is probably the most controversial tip in my opinion, but number one is try the food trucks on the North Shore and in KeHE. We spent a lot of time the last couple weeks talking about Maui food. I'll link in the show notes description of this episode and you can listen to those two episodes about all the amazing food across the island of Maui, but specifically wanna talk about the food truck scene.

[00:01:21] Bryan Murphy: For example, on the North Shore, just outside of the airport there, behind the Costco, there's a spot over there that has some amazing food trucks. And then South Maui, you got Kia and there's a food truck pod over there, maybe where you're from, food truck. You think about why would I go to a food truck?

[00:01:38] Bryan Murphy: But it's totally different in Hawaii. They are amazing. You can definitely get a variety. They're cost effective and they're also, if you have picky eaters or you just go in with a group of people who want a different variety of foods, go into a food truck. Pod on Maui is definitely a great option. Number two, visit the Maui Ocean Center.

[00:02:00] Bryan Murphy: In the afternoon. Now the Ocean Center is definitely a popular destination for a lot of visitors, especially those traveling with families. It's a great destination for experiencing Hawaii's marine life, and this facility focuses on local ecosystems showcasing over 60 interactive exhibits, including a living reef in an open ocean tunnel with sharks and rays.

[00:02:23] Bryan Murphy: Most families tend to arrive earlier in the morning. The center is open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM but always check no matter where you're at. Always just double check when things are open. Sometimes it could change. Sometimes there's special events and purchasing tickets online directly in advance can definitely help save some money.

[00:02:41] Bryan Murphy: This is an excellent option for an educational and relaxing activity, especially if you need a break from the beach or maybe some unfavorable weather that is happening on Maui at the moment. Number three, booking your Maui activities directly instead of through your hotel. Concierge can help save you money in most cases.

[00:02:59] Bryan Murphy: Some tours and excursions are marked up by somewhere in the amount of like $60 for some tickets when you go through a hotel. Direct booking is simple and you can go to the company's website, see realtime availability, and often find discounts or promo codes that aren't advertised anywhere else. Another benefit is flexibility.

[00:03:17] Bryan Murphy: You can compare a few options, so check your reviews. Lock in your spot without having to commit on a spot right there in the hotel lobby. Sometimes that can be stressful, especially if you have kids and you're just trying to book something. Just take some time before visiting your hotel lobby to book an excursion because you definitely could save some money with that.

[00:03:35] Bryan Murphy: Number four, consider vacation rentals instead of hotels. Vacation rentals are often a smarter choice than hotels on Maui, especially if you want a little bit more space privacy, you're traveling with a larger group. The average nightly rate for a vacation rental in late 2024 was about $300 compared to 330 for hotels.

[00:03:55] Bryan Murphy: That's before you factor in the extra resort fees. Most hotels tack on, uh, that's usually another, you know, 40 to $70 a night with a rental. You usually get a full kitchen laundry, and sometimes multiple bedrooms. You also wanna be aware that some of these rentals might be illegal, so I want to encourage you to go back and listen to the episode I talked about and how to identify an illegal vacation rental, and I'll link that below just so you're not unknowingly booking any rental that isn't authorized through the state of Hawaii.

[00:04:26] Bryan Murphy: Number five, visit Kaylee upon National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge offers a quiet outdoor experience away from busy tourist areas. The refuge features a boardwalk with interactive panels that allows you to observe wetlands without disturbing the habitat. The location is ideal for viewing endangered Hawaiian waterbirds, especially from August to April when migrating birds are more present during that time.

[00:04:51] Bryan Murphy: The Visitor Center operates on weekdays from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The boardwalk is accessible daily from the early morning until just about sunset. Since it's typically less crowded here, you can take your time exploring and enjoying the space. And if you want a break from the standard tourist attractions, definitely consider visiting the refuge.

[00:05:10] Bryan Murphy: Number six is visit during shoulder season. Visit during if you can, April through May or September through November. Visiting Maui during the shoulder seasons makes a big difference. You'll see fewer crowds everywhere from the airport to beaches and even popular restaurants. Prices are usually more competitive too, and airfare tends to be a little bit lower during these months, and you can often find better deals on hotels or vacation rentals as well.

[00:05:35] Bryan Murphy: The weather is also another bonus. It's a bit milder and less humid than in the summer, and you can avoid the winter rain typically, and it's easier to get last minute reservations. Parking is less of a hassle. And the overall experience just feels a little bit less rushed. We love visiting in October, so if you're able to choose to visit during the shoulder season, it's definitely a plus to consider.

[00:05:57] Bryan Murphy: And number seven, probably one of the most controversial, but it's to not drive the road to Hana. Still do the road ohana, but don't drive it yourself. The road to Hana is definitely a popular experience on Maui, but many underestimate this challenge, especially driving for the very first time on that road.

[00:06:13] Bryan Murphy: The drive features over 600 curves in numerous one-lane bridges for people who are wanting to sightsee and travel at their own leisurely pace. This is a commute road for those who live on the east side of Maui. There are a lot of places that aren't legal to park, and a lot of that honestly has caused some friction between locals and tourists over the last few years in particular.

[00:06:37] Bryan Murphy: Definitely would recommend booking with a Certified Road Ohana Tour instead of driving it yourself. If you're looking to support a local business, HANA and beyond a native Hawaiian owned company offers tours, a guided tour, handles all the logistics so you don't have to worry about traffic, parking, road navigation.

[00:06:54] Bryan Murphy: Most tours include meals. Emission fees and stops at key attractions that you're gonna hit anyways if you were to drive it yourself. Number eight, be aware that La Hna is mostly still closed. As you're aware, LA Hna was devastated by the 2023 wildfires, and many areas are still recovering. Rebuilding. The harbor itself is undergoing a $30 million rebuild.

[00:07:16] Bryan Murphy: And is expected to be completed by late 2026. While some parts of West Maui have reopened, the most impacted areas remain closed to visitors. There have been restaurants that have reopened, and I wanna direct you back towards the episode we just did last week about restaurants on South Maui and West Maui.

[00:07:34] Bryan Murphy: Include some Laina restaurants that have reopened. Also old Loa luau has reopened, so if you want to catch a luau, this would be a great opportunity to support old Loa luau. Just obviously be respectful about the ongoing recovery efforts. Be aware of some of the spots that are closed off, but supporting those open businesses are a great way to give back in helping Laina rebuild.

[00:07:57] Bryan Murphy: Number nine, book your rental car at least six months in advance. Renting a car in Maui is definitely essential for exploring the island as public transportation is limited on the island and and ride shares can be costly. Rental car prices typically vary based on when you book in the time of year, you book your rental.

[00:08:16] Bryan Murphy: I. You go to Maui for the first time, you don't want to have any extra bumps or hiccups, you know, book at least six months in advance for the best rates and availability on Maui. And number 10, try Sam Sotos in WA Luco. This is a callback from two weeks ago when we talked about Central Maui and North Shore about where to eat.

[00:08:37] Bryan Murphy: And Sam Sotos is one of those places in Y Luco that locals love and have love for many years. It's not fancy. But it's always busy and it's good for a reason. It's straightforward, affordable meal in a good way to experience what locals actually eat on Maui. So as you plan your trip to Maui, a little preparation can go a long way.

[00:08:57] Bryan Murphy: Booking early, checking what's open, supporting local businesses all make a big difference for your experience on Maui. If you found any value in listening to Hawaii's best. This is simply hit follow. It doesn't cost you anything, but it definitely helps trigger those apps to share this podcast with more people who love Hawaii just as much as you and me, as we all do our best to travel with Aloha to Hawaii.

[00:09:19] Bryan Murphy: And until next time, as always, live with Aloha.

[00:09:26] Bryan Murphy: Mala for listening to this episode of Hawaii's. Best to stay up to date on future episodes. Hit follow on your podcast app. Hawaii's Best is a production of shore break media group with editing by easy podcast solutions and music courtesy of our friends stick figure.