The Sun Salt Bloom Guide to Maui: Things Worth Doing
Aloha, and welcome. We live on Maui, and this is the guide we wish someone had handed us before our first visit. Not the brochure version, the real one: what to pack, where to go, what to bring, and the little things nobody tells you until you have already made the mistake.
Everything below comes from our own days on this island. Each section links to a deeper guide. Read what you need, skip what you do not, and come see us at the shop when you are ready to gear up.
Did you know we offer full Maui Concierge service? For $499 we will map out your full trip. Book events, tours and set you up with Maui's best. Contact us if you need our concierge hosting service. Make it great. Make it memorable. Get it right the first time.
Beach Days, Done Right
The best beach days on Maui run light. The island does most of the work. Our packing guide covers what actually earns a place in the bag: reef-safe sunscreen (the mineral kind, since Hawaii bans the chemical ones), a rash guard, and the local tricks like going before 11 when the water is glassiest. Read the full guide: What to Pack for a Maui Beach Day
Sunrise at Haleakala
Everyone says to do it, almost nobody tells you it is freezing at 10,023 feet before dawn. Our guide covers the sunrise reservation you absolutely need, why you should fill the gas tank the night before, what to wear so you are not miserable in the parking lot at 4 a.m., and the local secret that sunset is just as good with a fraction of the crowd. Read the full guide
Snorkeling for Beginners
Warm water, coral gardens a few kicks from shore, and turtles gliding past (keep your distance from the turtles). Maui is one of the best places on earth to learn. Our guide names the beginner-friendly spots, Kapalua Bay, Napili Bay, Ulua Beach, Black Rock for the confident, and Honolua Bay in summer only, plus the golden rules: go in the morning, never stand on coral, and give the honu their space. Read the full guide: The Best Snorkel Spots on Maui for Beginners
When It Rains
It happens, and it is not a ruined day. Some of our favorite island days have been rainy ones. Our guide has seven real alternatives: misty Iao Valley, the Maui Ocean Center, wandering Makawao town, Kula farm stands, the Bailey House Museum, a distillery tasting, and full permission to book the spa day. Read the full guide: Rainy Day on Maui? 7 Things Worth Doing Anyway
Kula Botanical Gardens - picnic afternoons, after-hours private tours, weddings and elopements among the blooms, and the new owners tour from White Protea Hawaii, all written as a recommendation. Read more.
Farmers Markets Like a Local
Saturday mornings upcountry are the most local thing on this island. Our guide covers where to go, what to buy, why you should bring cash and a tote, and why a ten-dollar bouquet of protea is the best deal on Maui. Read the full guide: How to Do a Maui Farmers Market Like a Local
Gear Up at Sun Salt Bloom
Cool stuff for your beautiful self and active life. That is what we sell, and it is all picked by people who live here and do all of the above. Beach essentials, sun care, active gear, and Maui-made lifestyle goods. Come by the shop before your adventure, or after, when you know exactly what you wish you had brought. https://sunsaltbloom.com/
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*Some of the most recommended companies on Maui: fresh Maui flowers (UpcountryFloral.com), Made-on-Maui gifts delivered to your hotel, home, or a friend (MahaloBaskets.com), weddings and events at Kula's most magical garden (WhiteProtea.com), and plant decor for any space, from pop-up staging to full setup and breakdown (PlantRentalsMaui.com).*
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