Things to Do in Kihei, Maui

Kealia Pond boardwalk

Five minutes up North Kihei Road, the Kealia Coastal Boardwalk runs about 2,200 feet out over the coastal marsh of Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge. It is free, flat and needs no reservation, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service opens it every day, federal holidays included, from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. The lot off North Kihei Road between Kihei and Ma'alaea holds 14 cars, so early and late visits park most easily.

The stars live here year round. The ae'o, or Hawaiian stilt, is a sharp black-and-white wader on long pink legs, and the 'alae ke'oke'o, the Hawaiian coot, is a charcoal bird with a bright white shield on its forehead. Both are endangered, both nest in the refuge, and both are easy to see well from the rail. From August to April migrating shorebirds and ducks join them, and spring brings stilt chicks.

Interpretive panels along the way explain how the pond swells in winter and shrinks to salt flats by late summer, and benches give grandparents a place to rest. The boardwalk is raised above the marsh and stroller-friendly, and kids treat it like a scavenger hunt: count the stilts, find the coot's white forehead, spot a plover on one leg. Most families are here and back in under an hour.

For more, the refuge's visitor center and walking trails sit at milepost 6 on the Mokulele Highway, Route 311, about ten minutes away. The refuge's own visitor center, a separate building from the whale sanctuary center in town, is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on the first Saturday of each month. A little etiquette keeps the refuge wonderful: stay on the boardwalk, keep voices low and leave pets, drones and bikes at home, as the refuge asks. Our Kealia Pond page has the full guide.

Kamaole I, II and III

The three Kamaole beach parks sit in a row along South Kihei Road, 10 to 12 minutes south of the bungalows, and they are the classic Kihei swimming beaches. All three have staffed lifeguard towers every day, restrooms, outdoor showers and free parking, and all three face west for the sunset. They connect along the shore, so you can walk all three in about twenty minutes and pick a favorite.

Kamaole I is the biggest, with the longest and widest run of sand, a sandy bottom that slopes gently and an overflow lot across the street. It is our pick for big groups and beach games. Kamaole II is the middle sister, a crescent of soft sand about a quarter mile long with lava points at each end. On calm mornings snorkelers work those points and come back with reports of turtles, goatfish and needlefish.

Kamaole III is the family headquarters. Behind the sand is a huge grass lawn with pavilions, barbecue grills and the best playground on the Kihei beach strip, so when the sand gets hot or a toddler needs a break you retreat ten steps to grass and shade. The waterline mixes sandy entries with pockets of lava rock, so water shoes help little feet. The main lot holds about 35 to 40 cars, with overflow just south.

For the calmest water and the easiest parking, arrive before 9 a.m. Swim in front of the lifeguard towers, check the flags, and on the few days when the shorebreak picks up, ask the guards where the gentlest water is. Our Kihei beach guide walks you through the whole strip, north to south.

Charley Young and Keawakapu

Two more beaches round out the Kihei shore. Charley Young is the north corner of Kamaole I, reached by a public stairway at the end of Kaiau Place, about 8 minutes from the bungalows. Kiawe and palm trees hang over the top of the sand, which gives it morning shade, something rare in Kihei. The point keeps the water calm on most mornings, and turtles cruise past the rocks.

The small lot at the top of the stairs holds only a handful of cars, so arrive before nine or park on the side streets. There is an outdoor shower at the base of the stairs, and the restrooms and lifeguard tower are a short walk south at the main Kamaole I entrance. It is our favorite first-morning beach for guests who want a quiet swim.

Keawakapu is where South Kihei Road runs out of road, about 15 minutes away, and it has the softest, deepest sand in town. Three free lots serve it, one at each entrance, with outdoor showers and portable toilets. There is no lifeguard, so swim within your limits and keep kids close. On calm mornings, snorkel the lava rocks at either end before the wind picks up.

Keawakapu has a fun story offshore. In 1962 the state sank about 150 stripped car bodies half a mile out to start an artificial reef, and parts of them still sit at scuba depth, about 80 feet down, visited by local dive boats. Walk south along the sand at golden hour and you cross into Wailea at Mokapu Beach, where the paved Wailea Beach Path picks up at its Ulua and Mokapu end. Strolling back barefoot at dusk is one of our favorite free evenings.

The whale sanctuary visitor center

A few minutes down South Kihei Road from the bungalows, at 726 South Kihei Road, NOAA runs the Maui visitor center of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. It sits right on the beach at the foot of Haleakala, with views across the water to Kaho'olawe, Lana'i and West Maui. Inside are exhibits, interactive displays and weekly programs for the whole family. NOAA lists no admission fee, so it's an easy free stop.

The center is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and closed on federal holidays, so plan it for a weekday. We like it early in a trip. Once you know what a tail slap or a spy hop looks like, every spout you see from the lanai gets more interesting, and kids come away ready to call out what each whale is doing.

Out front is the Ko'ie'ie fishpond, a three-acre traditional Hawaiian fishpond that NOAA describes as one of the last intact traditional fishponds on the south Maui coast. The nonprofit 'Ao'ao O Na Loko I'a O Maui, the Association of the Fishponds of Maui, has been rebuilding its wall stone by stone, using traditional methods. It is a fine place to stand for a few minutes and picture this shore before the road.

The beach in front of the center is a good whale-watching perch in season. Check the sanctuary's program calendar before you go, since talks and family activities change through the year. If the center is your weekday plan, pair it with breakfast in town and a late-morning swim at the Kamaole beaches, about ten minutes south. Our whale-watching guide covers the season in detail.

Whale watching from shore

Every winter, humpback whales swim down from Alaska to breed, give birth and raise their calves in the warm, shallow water around Maui, and Kihei sits right on the channel they use. NOAA says humpbacks are here from late fall into early May, with sightings peaking January through March. Off Kihei we usually see our first spouts in December and our last mothers and calves in April.

Some of the best whale watching is right from the beach. Sugar Beach faces straight out into the channel toward Lana'i and Molokini, and a morning walk with binoculars is the easiest whale watch on the island. The lawn and bluff at Kamaole III sit a little higher, which helps with scanning the water, and the grass makes a comfortable seat for an hour. The Kihei boat ramp area and the paved Wailea Beach Path are two more favorite perches.

Look for the spout first, a tall plume of mist that hangs in the air for a moment, then a broad dark back rolling at the surface. With patience you will see tail slaps, pectoral fins waving and, if you are lucky, a full breach, the whale launching most of its 40-plus feet out of the water and crashing back down. Mornings are best, when the water is calm and spouts are easy to pick out against the light.

Bring polarized sunglasses to cut the glare, a hat, water and a light layer for a breezy 7 a.m. Give yourself 30 to 45 minutes and let your eyes settle on one patch of water. If you are driving toward Ma'alaea for the view along the coast, pull fully off the road before you look. Guests in our Modern Ocean View and Best Ocean Views bungalows often do their whale watching from the lanai, and our winter diary from the lanai shows what a whale morning looks like.

Whale watching by boat from Ma'alaea and the Kihei boat ramp

Shore watching is free, and a boat puts you much closer. Most whale-watch boats on the south side leave from Ma'alaea Harbor, about 10 minutes north of the bungalows, and most tours run two to two and a half hours, enough to find several whales without feeling rushed. Morning departures almost always have the calmest water, and we steer guests to the early slot whenever they have the choice.

Pick your boat by the kind of ride you want. Rafts and smaller boats sit low to the water and feel close to the action, while larger catamarans are steadier and better for anyone who prefers a smooth ride. A boat with a naturalist on board adds a running commentary on what each whale is doing. Prices vary by operator and season, so compare a few and book ahead for the peak months.

Federal rules keep every boat at least 100 yards from humpbacks, about the length of a football field, and licensed operators know them well. The same rule applies to kayaks and paddleboards. If a curious whale swims toward your boat, the crew will slow down and let the moment happen.

The Kihei boat ramp, at the south end of town about 10 minutes from the bungalows, is the other launch point. Several snorkel boats leave from it for Molokini Crater, a sunken volcanic crater about three miles offshore and a Marine Life Conservation District, where visibility often tops 100 feet. Check-ins for the morning Molokini trips mostly run between 6 and 7 a.m., and in winter the ride out often comes with whales along the way. The ramp is also a pleasant place to sit at sunset and watch the boats come home.

Snorkeling and paddling

Sugar Beach is our swimming and paddling beach, and its sandy bottom makes for easy, gentle entries. For reef fish and turtles, drive a few minutes south. The rocky points at the Kamaole beaches are the closest snorkeling, best on calm mornings, and Kamaole III's south point tends to have the most fish. Enter from the sand beside the rocks rather than off them.

Fifteen minutes away, Ulua Beach in Wailea has the easiest reef snorkeling near town, on the rocky point toward Mokapu. About 25 minutes south, Maluaka Beach in Makena has the reef locals call Turtle Town, where patient snorkelers often share the water with several green sea turtles. Our sister post on South Maui snorkeling maps every spot from Kihei to the end of the road, and our snorkeling guide covers the closest reefs.

Mornings are the rule for both snorkeling and paddling. The wind usually lies flat before ten, the light is better for seeing into the water, and the reefs are quiet. Check the daily ocean report, snorkel with a buddy, wear fins and agree on a turnaround point before you go in. NOAA asks you to stay at least 10 feet from sea turtles, in the water and on land.

Maui County allows only mineral sunscreen, with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as the active ingredients, under an ordinance in force since October 1, 2022, so pack yours before you come. For stand-up paddling, a glassy Sugar Beach morning is about as easy as it gets: launch from the sand, paddle along the shore with the West Maui Mountains in front of you and turn back before the breeze fills in. Snorkel gear for guests is in the bungalow closets.

Kalama Park and Kihei with kids

Kalama Park, about 8 minutes south of the bungalows, is the town's big green backyard. It stretches along the shore in the middle of Kihei with a large playground under a shade canopy, picnic pavilions, tennis and basketball courts, a soccer field, softball fields, an inline hockey rink and the Kalama Skate Park, which is free to use. An oceanfront walking path runs about two-thirds of a mile along the park, lovely in the early morning or evening.

Across South Kihei Road is the big whale statue, a favorite photo stop, and Kihei Kalama Village with its shops and food. Kihei Caffe, our go-to breakfast spot, faces the park, so a morning here can start with banana-mac pancakes. Outrigger crews paddle in and out from the park's shore, and the Wailea Canoe Club keeps its canoes here. For swimming, the lifeguarded Kamaole beaches are just down the road.

Each February, Kalama Park is where the World Whale Day parade ends. In 2026 the Pacific Whale Foundation's parade ran down South Kihei Road from Kamaole I to Kalama Park on February 15, and the next one is expected in February 2027. If your trip falls then, it is one of the best family days of the year in Kihei.

For more kid time, Kamaole III has the playground, lawn and lifeguarded sand together, the Kealia Pond boardwalk turns birdwatching into a game, and the Maui Ocean Center in Ma'alaea fills an afternoon. Shave ice handles the rest. Our Family Favorite bungalow is set up for families, and our Maui family itinerary shows how these fit into a week.

Farmers markets and fruit stands

A bag of island fruit on the lanai is the quickest upgrade to any Maui morning, and Kihei makes it easy. Farmers' Market Maui, at 61 South Kihei Road near the north end of town, was started nearly half a century ago by Wayne Nishiki, and it is open six days a week: Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday until 5 p.m. and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is the closest market to the bungalows, and its guacamole has its own fans.

On Saturdays there is a second, separate market, the Kihei Farmers Market, in the rear parking lot of Kukui Mall at 1819 South Kihei Road, open from 8 a.m. to noon, with fresh-picked produce from local farms plus crafts and souvenirs. If you are heading Upcountry that day, the Upcountry Farmers Market in Pukalani runs from 7 to 11 a.m. with more than a hundred vendors. Market days and hours shift now and then, so check the current listing before you go.

What to buy: apple bananas first, the small tangy island bananas, then lilikoi, the wrinkled passion fruit you scoop with a spoon. Papaya with a squeeze of lime is the island breakfast. Look for Kula strawberries and sweet Kula onions from the slopes of Haleakala, Maui Gold pineapple, mangoes in summer and banana bread from someone's family recipe.

Markets are best in the morning. The best fruit goes early, the vendors have time to talk story before the crowd, and every question about how to eat something comes with a free lesson. Bring small bills. All four of our bungalows have full kitchens, so the market haul becomes breakfast on the lanai and a fresh fish dinner later. Our post on Kihei farmers markets has our full shopping route.

Food trucks, poke and plate lunch

Kihei eats casual, and some of our favorite meals come from a truck parked in the shade. Trucks cluster in a few lots around town: around Kihei Kalama Village, at Kihei Station on Pi'ikea Avenue a block up from South Kihei Road, and at Kihei Marketplace on Alahele Place. Most serve lunch and some stay for dinner. Go by 1 p.m. for full menus, because the best trucks sell out.

South Maui Fish Company, about 10 minutes from the bungalows in the truck lot behind the 76 station, cuts line-caught fish from local boats into poke bowls, tacos and grilled plates until the day's catch runs out. The ahi poke bowl is the order, and it travels well to a Kamaole beach picnic.

Poke is lunch here, cubed raw ahi with shoyu, sesame and green onion over rice, and you can find good versions at the fish counter of the Foodland in Kihei Town Center. A plate lunch is the other local classic: teriyaki chicken, kalua pork or fresh fish with two scoops of rice and a scoop of macaroni salad. Try a loco moco once, rice with a hamburger patty, a fried egg and brown gravy, and a Spam musubi on the way to the beach.

For sit-down casual, Coconut's Fish Cafe in Azeka is famous for its grilled fish tacos, and Nalu's South Shore Grill serves breakfast all day on a big open-air patio. Kihei Caffe across from Kalama Park opens early with huge portions, and the line moves fast. Our Kihei food guide has the full list.

Shave ice and sweet stops

Shave ice is the official afternoon snack of Kihei, and Ululani's, about 10 minutes from the bungalows, is where we send everyone. The ice comes off the blade fine as powder snow, so it soaks up the syrups, and Ululani's makes its syrups in house from real fruit, and you can taste it.

Order it the local way, bottom to top. Ask for a scoop of macadamia-nut ice cream in the base, pick three flavors, and finish with a snow cap, a drizzle of sweetened condensed milk. Mango, lilikoi and coconut is a classic first order. For a salty-sweet twist, add li hing mui powder, made from dried plum, on half the dome. Kids will want the rainbow, and that is fine too.

Claim your shade before the first bite, because it melts on schedule, and grab extra napkins. The best sequence is beach first, shave ice second, wet swimsuits and all. It is also our favorite mid-afternoon treat, for the windy hours between the beach and sunset.

For other sweet stops, Ono Gelato sits in Azeka Makai, and malasadas, Portuguese fried doughnuts rolled in sugar, turn up at bakeries and stands around the island. They are best warm, so eat them on the spot. Our post on the best shave ice on Maui rounds up our favorite stands around the island.

Sunsets in Kihei

Kihei faces west, so the sun goes down over the water almost every evening. In 2026 the earliest sunset of the year comes on November 25 at about 5:43 p.m., and the latest on July 3 at about 7:10 p.m. On the day this post went up, October 29, the sun set at 5:52 p.m. Plan to arrive about half an hour early, when the light turns gold and the beach slows down.

Every beach in town works, and each has its own feel. Kamaole II faces almost due west, and the whole crescent stops swimming to watch. The lawn at Kamaole III gives you grass seating and no sand in your dinner, and the barbecue grills make it easy to cook as the sky changes. Keawakapu is the long, quiet walking beach, and Charley Young frames the sun with its point.

Closer to home, Sugar Beach is two minutes from the lanai, so a sunset there takes no planning at all: bring a towel, walk across the road and pick a spot on the sand. In whale season, keep watching after the sun drops, since spouts show up beautifully against the glowing water.

Locals watch for the green flash, a brief green spark on the horizon right as the sun disappears, which shows up on very clear evenings. For a dressed-up night out, drive 15 minutes to the Wailea Beach Path, where torches are lit along the shore at dusk, then head to Monkeypod Kitchen for a mai tai with honey-lilikoi foam. Our Kihei and Wailea post covers how guests mix the two.

Kihei at night and live music

Kihei evenings are easygoing, with live music on most nights somewhere in town. Maui Brewing Co. has its brewery and restaurant at 605 Lipoa Parkway, with live music every day, mostly in sets from about 6 to 8 p.m. Happy hour runs daily from 3 to 5 p.m., the restaurant is open until 10 p.m., and on weekends it serves breakfast from 9 a.m. The brewery runs guided tours that end with a tasting.

Kihei Kalama Village, at 1941 South Kihei Road across from Kalama Park, has about 14 restaurants and bars among its shops, Families fill it by day, and in the evening live music makes it the liveliest spot in town. At Azeka, Nalu's South Shore Grill often has a musician playing while you eat.

On the fourth Friday of every month, the Kihei 4th Friday Town Party fills Azeka Shopping Center Mauka from 6 to 9 p.m. with free live music on the main stage, food booths and trucks, local art and crafts, often classic cars, and a keiki area with balloon twisting and crafts. Free parking is a short walk away at Azeka Makai. If your stay includes a fourth Friday, put it on the list.

For a show, ProArts Playhouse in Azeka Makai is a small theater and listening room that stages musicals, plays, concerts and magic shows, with tickets sold online. In late October 2026 it had John Cruz in concert and a musical on stage, and the calendar changes every few weeks. In Wailea, 15 minutes south, Monkeypod Kitchen has live sets most days and Humble Market Kitchin serves a seafood dinner with a sunset view.

Shopping in Kihei

Kihei's shopping is a string of open-air centers along South Kihei Road, handy for everything from groceries to gifts. Azeka Shopping Center is two centers facing each other across the road at Pi'ikea Avenue, about 8 minutes from the bungalows. Azeka Mauka, on the mountain side, has Coconut's Fish Cafe and more shops and eateries, and Azeka Makai, on the ocean side, has Nalu's, Ono Gelato, the post office and ProArts Playhouse.

Kihei Kalama Village is the place for gifts. It has more than 40 vendors and boutiques, with swimwear, wearable art made from beach finds, island clothing, jewelry and souvenirs. Most shops open daily from about 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and parking is free. A handful of restaurants share the center, so it is easy to shop between meals.

For groceries, the Foodland in Kihei Town Center at 1881 South Kihei Road has a good fish and poke counter, and the Longs Drugs center at 1215 South Kihei Road covers mineral sunscreen, snacks and beach supplies. Farther south, small centers across from Kamaole I, such as Dolphin Plaza and the Kamaole Shopping Center, hold snorkel rental shops, cafes and gift stores within walking distance of the sand.

Kukui Mall hosts the Saturday farmers market. For bigger names and boutiques, The Shops at Wailea is 15 minutes south, and our Wailea guide covers the area. Everything in our bungalow kitchens is ready for whatever you bring home.

Maui Ocean Center in Ma'alaea

About 10 minutes north of the bungalows, in Ma'alaea, the Maui Ocean Center is the island's aquarium and one of the best afternoons on Maui for families. It is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last entry at 4 p.m. On Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day it closes early, at 4 p.m., so plan to go earlier on those days. The aquarium suggests booking online in advance for the best rate.

Standard admission is $49.95 for adults 13 to 64, $39.95 for children 4 to 12 and $44.95 for seniors 65 and over, plus taxes and fees. The average visit runs two to two and a half hours. The Humpbacks of Hawai'i exhibit and the Sphere theater tell the story of the whales you will be watching from the beach, and the Open Ocean exhibit holds 750,000 gallons and more than 20 sharks.

It is a perfect plan for a first afternoon after the flight, a windy afternoon or a showery hour, and it pairs well with a morning boat out of Ma'alaea Harbor right next door. Kids leave knowing the names of the reef fish they will spot at Kamaole II the next morning, which makes the snorkeling even more fun.

Ma'alaea itself is a small harbor village with the boats, a few restaurants and the shops by the aquarium. On the drive back, North Kihei Road runs along the shore past Kealia Pond, with Sugar Beach on your right, and in winter it is worth a stop at the boardwalk lot to scan the bay for spouts. You are home before the sunset.

Free things to do in Kihei

Kihei's best days often cost nothing, and everything here is within about 15 minutes of the bungalows. The beaches come first: Sugar Beach at sunrise, all three miles of it if you like, and the lifeguarded Kamaole beach parks, where parking, showers and restrooms are free. Snorkel the rocky points at Kamaole II and III on a calm morning, then picnic and grill on the lawn at Kamaole III.

Start at Keawakapu, walk the paved Wailea Beach Path at sunrise, pick a favorite of its beaches, then follow the sand back to Keawakapu. Watch the outrigger crews launch near the old Kihei wharf in the morning and the windsurfers at the Ma'alaea end of Sugar Beach in the afternoon. Let the kids loose at the Kalama Park playground, browse Kihei Kalama Village and the farmers markets, and catch the Kihei 4th Friday Town Party, with free music and a keiki area at Azeka.

Add the stops covered above, the Kealia Pond boardwalk, the whale sanctuary visitor center on a weekday and whale watching from shore in season, and finish every day with the sunset. If you add one paid treat a day, a shave ice or a plate lunch, a Kihei week stays easy on the wallet. Our Maui on a budget guide and our post on what a Maui week costs help with the rest of the plan.

Indoor and shaded ideas

Kihei sits on the sunny side of Maui, and our showers usually pass in about twenty minutes, often leaving washed air and empty sand behind them. So the first move on a gray morning is to wait a bit with another cup of coffee. For the times you want a roof or some shade, Kihei has an easy short list.

The Maui Ocean Center in Ma'alaea fills two hours and is about 10 minutes away. On weekdays, the whale sanctuary visitor center has exhibits and family programs from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. A slow breakfast in town, a browse through the shops of Kihei Kalama Village and a late afternoon at Maui Brewing Co., with a brewery tour and happy hour from 3 p.m., make a relaxed day on their own.

If the clouds settle over Kihei, drive to the bright side. Weather changes from one coast to the other, so sun is often 15 minutes away. Iao Valley, about 30 minutes away, is lovely in mist (visitors reserve ahead), and in Makawao you can duck in and out of Upcountry bakeries and galleries. Underwater, a calm drizzly morning changes very little, and the turtles are still at Kamaole II.

In the evening, a ProArts Playhouse show or the live music at Maui Brewing Co. fills the night. And the lanai is a fine option too: a passing shower over the channel, with whales still breaching off Kaho'olawe, is some of the best entertainment the bungalows offer. Our rainy day playbook has the full list.

Half-days and day trips from Kihei

Kihei is in the middle of the south shore, so some of Maui's best outings are an easy half-day away. Fifteen minutes south, the Wailea Beach Path runs a paved mile and a half each way from its Ulua and Mokapu end to Polo Beach, past five beaches and oceanfront gardens, with free public parking at the shoreline-access lots. Sunrise is the best hour, and in winter it doubles as a whale-watching rail.

Keep going and Makena opens up. Maluaka Beach and its Turtle Town reef are about 25 minutes away, and Big Beach in Makena State Park, a huge golden arc of sand with no buildings behind it, is 25 to 30 minutes. Visitors pay $5 a person and $10 a car, the park is open 5 a.m. to 7 p.m., and lifeguards are on duty. Watch the shorebreak for a few minutes first and swim near the towers. At the end of the road, about 35 minutes out, La Perouse Bay often has spinner dolphins resting on calm mornings; NOAA asks you to stay 50 yards away.

Up the mountain, Makawao is about 40 minutes from Kihei and Kula about 50, with farms, gardens, bakeries and cooler air. Our Upcountry day trip lays out the loop. Haleakala National Park is about an hour and 45 minutes from North Kihei, with a $30 vehicle entrance fee good for three days and a $1 reservation on Recreation.gov for sunrise. Our Haleakala sunrise guide covers the morning.

For a full day across the water, our sister post on a Lana'i day trip from Maui covers the trip across the channel. Most of these get you back in Kihei in time for a swim and the sunset.

Sample days in Kihei

Here is how we would spend two days in Kihei without ever driving more than about 20 minutes. The first is a weekday in whale season. At 6:45 a.m., take coffee across the road and walk Sugar Beach with binoculars. At 7:30, drive five minutes to the Kealia Pond boardwalk for the stilts. At 8:15, breakfast at Kihei Caffe across from Kalama Park.

At 9:30, when the whale sanctuary visitor center opens, spend an hour with the exhibits and the fishpond out front. At 10:45, swim at Kamaole II with the lifeguards on duty. If snorkeling is the priority, go first thing instead, when the water is calmest. At 12:30, pick up a poke bowl from South Maui Fish Company or tacos from a truck. Mid-afternoon is lanai time, then Ululani's at about 3:30 and the Kalama Park playground at 4:30. Watch the sunset from Keawakapu, then have dinner and live music at Maui Brewing Co.

The second is a Saturday. At 8 a.m., shop the Kihei Farmers Market at Kukui Mall and assemble breakfast on the lanai from the bag. At 9:30, swim in the shade at Charley Young. At 11, claim a pavilion on the Kamaole III lawn for a picnic with the kids on the playground. At 1 p.m., drive about 20 minutes to the Maui Ocean Center for the sharks and the humpback exhibit, about two hours.

Back at the bungalows by 4, rest, rinse off, then grill dinner at Kamaole III or pick up takeout and eat it on the grass as the sun goes down. Finish with a stroll through Kihei Kalama Village while the music plays. If your stay includes the fourth Friday of the month, spend that Friday evening at Azeka for the Town Party, 6 to 9 p.m. Our 7-day Maui itinerary shows where Kihei days fit in a full week.

Common questions

Sources

Dates, hours and prices change. We checked these in October 2026; confirm with the organizer before you go.

• NOAA, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary visitor centers
• NOAA, the sanctuary's native Hawaiian fishpond
• NOAA Sanctuaries, Season of Sanctuary
• NOAA Fisheries, marine life viewing guidelines
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, visiting Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge
• Maui Ocean Center, tickets and hours
• Maui Brewing Co., Kihei
• ProArts Playhouse
• Maui Now, Kihei 4th Friday Town Party (June 2026)
• Maui Now, Kihei Farmers Market at Kukui Mall
• Hawaii Guide, farmers markets on Maui
• Hawaii Guide, Kihei Kalama Village
• Maui Hawaii, Azeka Shopping Center
• Maui Hawaii, Kihei shopping centers
• Maui Hawaii, Maui food trucks
• Lotsa Fun Maps, Kalama Park playground and path
• Pacific Whale Foundation, World Whale Day 2026
• Sunrise and sunset times in Kihei