Whether you’re on a romantic getaway, a honeymoon, or a milestone anniversary trip, Maui sets a stunning stage for memorable bonding experiences with your significant other. To keep expenses down, this itinerary includes only 5 nights, but by all means extend your stay if you can—sometimes there’s nothing more idyllic than just relaxing with the one you love on the Valley Isle. Note: Make reservations well in advance for all lodging, sit-down restaurants, and paid activities mentioned here.
Day 1: Experience Aloha
After your flight lands in Kahului, your first day begins with a short but scenic drive to Paia to check in to intimate Inn at Mama’s Fish House, part of its namesake restaurant’s compound on a sandy cove where you can dip your toes in the water under swaying palms. Refresh in your adults-only suite before an early dinner at famed Mama’s Fish House, also overlooking the cove. Even though it’s just a few steps from your room (meaning no one has to be designated driver), you’ll want to allow plenty of time to soak in the restaurant's traditional Hawaiian hospitality and savor its exquisitely plated, locally sourced island fare. Plus, you’ll also be making an early start in the morning—good to do while you’re still adjusting to the time difference.
Day 2: Head off to Hana
Grab a healthy breakfast and picnic fare at nearby Kuau Store before beating the crowds on the scenic Hana Highway. Pull over often to take photos of waterfalls, explore nature trails, and sample the wares at roadside stands. Take turns driving, yield to all those speeding by, and breathe in Hawaii. Stretch your legs before sunset on the black sands of Waianapanapa State Park before spending the night at in a luxurious bungalow at serene Travaasa Hana, Maui, where you’ll also have an elegant dinner at its Preserve Kitchen + Bar, ideally with live Hawaiian music and hula in its lounge afterwards. Or book a cozy and more affordable oceanfront studio at Hana Kai Maui, where lush rainforest meets the black sand of Hana Bay.
Day 3: Hike to Waterfalls & Hit the Beach
After breakfast—whether a simple beachfront affair at the Barefoot Cafe or something more gourmet at Preserve Kitchen + Bar—take another scenic (but shorter) drive to the lush Kipahulu District of Haleakala National Park, where you’ll dip into the tiered pools of Oheo Gulch if conditions permit. Hike the Pipiwai Trail through lush forest, where towering stalks of bamboo act as nature’s wind chimes, to 400-foot Waimoku Falls. On your return, stop for a roadside barbecue lunch at Hulihuli Chicken at Koki Beach, then backtrack slightly to relax at dreamy Hamoa Beach before dinner at Preserve or a food stand.
Day 4: Drive to a Sunnyside Oasis
Hana may have been too misty or rainy for sunbathing, but that’s just more incentive for snuggling. You can do both in South Maui, where you’ll spend your last 2 nights. Since you’re seeking romance, head there from Hana via narrow, winding Piilani Highway across the sere southern flanks of Haleakala. You may feel as if you're the only souls alive all the way to Upcountry Maui, where you can stop for lunch at a cozy bistro in Kula or Makawao before descending through former sugarcane fields. In the afternoon, check in at one of Wailea’s luxury oases known for cossetting couples. In fall, the Four Seasons Maui Resort at Wailea offers special classes and activities for couples, from sushi-making to stargazing and sunset photography. Couples feel special year-round at the adults-only, hillside retreat of Hotel Wailea, thanks to spacious suites, daybed cabanas by the pool, beautiful garden paths, and the option of a private chef’s dinner in a treehouse. Enjoy a sunset walk on the beach before dinner and drinks at one of Wailea’s top-notch restaurants, including the Four Seasons’ lively lobby lounge.
Day 5: End a Leisurely Day at a Luau
On your last full day, enjoy time at one of Wailea’s outstanding beaches or on the broad sand of rugged Makena State Park; you can also take a private kayak tour from Makena Landing with Hawaiian Paddle Sports. In the afternoon, snooze by the pool in a private cabana, or experience even deeper relaxation with a spa treatment and island-inspired rain showers at Willow Stream Spa in the Fairmont Kea Lani. End your day with Maui’s most romantic luau, the Feast at Lele, featuring private tables with waiter service, chef-prepared cuisine with open bar, and expert Polynesian dancers who perform on the beach as the sun sets behind them.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
