5 Spots on Maui Locals Actually Go To
Everyone's got a list of "must-see" Maui spots — but those lists are usually written by someone who visited for a week, not by someone who actually lives here.
So here's mine: the places my husband and I go with our dogs, and our friends would actually spend on a Saturdays. No tour buses, no ten-dollar parking. Just the real stuff.
Another beautiful Maui sunset.
1. NASKA's (aka Spreckelsville Beach)
This is our go-to for letting the dogs run wild. Locals call it NASKA's — you won't find that on a map, but ask around. Close to the airport & Paia town, it’s virtually a crowd free beach. Early morning or golden hour, it's just you, the sand, and a couple of dogs having the best day of their lives.
2. Poli Poli to Kula Forest Reserve
When we want to trade the heat for something cooler, we drive up through Poli Poli into the Kula Forest Reserve. It's still Maui, but TOTALLY different — misty, quiet, pine trees instead of palm trees. We go for a walk, stay for the sunset & always bring an extra layer cause you’ll forget how cold it gets after the sun goes down.
3. Saturday mornings in Makawao
A carefree Saturday morning: hit up Espresso Mafia for coffee, then walk straight to Komoda's for donuts. Komoda's has been family run & owned for over a hundred years! Honestly, that's not an exaggeration for effect — it's just true, and it shows in every bite. Get the glazed stick donut and guava malasada. If you're not there early, they sell out, so don't sleep on this one.
4. A full morning in Wailuku town
This one's a whole itinerary. Start with coffee and a pastry from Wailuku Coffee Co., then walk Main Street for some window shopping, but make sure to pop into Maui Sporting Goods to check out the fishing and diving gear … and talk story with whoever's behind the counter. If we've got extra time, we'll swing by Wailuku Lanes — Maui's only bowling alley — for a game or two. It's a slow morning, and that's the whole point.
5. Under a Tree at Big Beach
South side is all about meeting up with friends — and Big Beach is no exception! It’s not a secret spot, but find a particular tree that gives just the right amount of shade for a full day down there. Otherwise it’s full on fun in the sun. So pack extra sun screen, and maybe some aloe vera for after.
None of these are secrets, exactly. They're just the places that I want to go and spend my free time at — which, if you ask me, is exactly what makes them worth knowing about.
